Webinar on Benefits Solution With the RCPA Captive Health Plan to Be Held January 22
OMHSAS Releases Peer Support Services Bulletin and Provider Handbook
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released the OMHSAS-24-05 Peer Support Services (PSS) Bulletin and PSS Provider Handbook, updating the requirements for Peer Support Services. OMHSAS significantly reorganized the existing language in the Handbook to better clarify which requirements apply to OMHSAS licensure and which apply to Medical Assistance payment. Along with these formatting changes, OMHSAS-24-05 includes the following updates:
- Staff Qualifications and Requirements for Certified Peer Specialists (CPS)
- The requirement for a CPS to have a high school diploma or GED has been removed.
- The requirement for a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) or Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) has been replaced with a requirement to have a mental health diagnosis. Please note, to be eligible to receive PSS services, there is still a requirement for “the presence or history of an SMI or SED.”
- The clause requiring CPSs “to attain certification through the PCB within six months of hire” has been removed, as the certification examination is now available on-demand, eliminating the need for a grace period for testing to be completed.
- Staff Qualifications and Requirements for CPS Supervisors
- Adding a new qualification category for individuals with an associate degree.
- Supervisory meetings held in an audio-only format shall not be considered supervision.
- Supervisory meetings shall be provided at a minimum of one hour each week.
- Telehealth
- The prior requirement that only 25% of total services provided per beneficiary per calendar year can be delivered by telephone has been removed.
- PSS may be provided via telehealth technology, including audio-only service delivery, when it is clinically appropriate to do so.
- PSS providers must ensure that the preference of individuals receiving services (or their legal guardian) is given a high priority when determining the appropriate service delivery modality.
Please review all other revisions to OMHSAS-24-05 here.
Comments and questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to:
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Bureau of Policy, Planning and Program Development,
P.O. Box 2675,
Harrisburg, PA 17105
General Office Number: 717-772-7900
Email
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.
Congress Passes American Relief Act: Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities Extended to March 2025
On December 21, President Biden signed into law the 2025 American Relief Act, a stopgap funding bill passed by Congress on December 20 that funds the federal government through March 14, 2025, and includes over $110 billion for disaster relief.
The bill extends certain Medicare telehealth flexibilities through March 31, 2025, under Section 3207, including the six-month in-person requirement for mental health services, the expanded originating sites, and coverage of audio-only services.
The bill also extends funding for several expiring health care programs through March 31, 2025, including the National Health Service Corps at $85 million and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program at $43 million, both under Section 3101.
In addition, the stopgap bill delays scheduled reductions to the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospitals allotments, which are currently set to result in a total reduction of $32 billion between 2025 and 2027. Under Section 3401, the bill delays these cuts through April 1, 2025.
You can read the bill text and a summary of the health care provisions.
Pennsylvania Healthcare Summit to Be Held January 30, 2025
OMAP Pediatric Shift Care Stakeholder Update
The Pennsylvania Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) Pediatric Shift Care Team held a Stakeholder Update Call on December 16, 2024. The presentation provided an overview of the Pediatric Shift Care Initiative Updates, implementation of the Pediatric Complex Care Resource Centers, and online training curriculum as well as content development.
Please send any questions electronically to the Pediatric Shift Care Team.
OMHSAS Issues Revised Waiver Regulations and Standards
The Department of Human Services (Department) issued bulletin OMHSAS-16-03, “Revised Procedure for Waiver of Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Program Regulations and Standards,” on April 19, 2016, to update and clarify the procedure for submitting and processing of waiver requests to OMHSAS. OMHSAS has issued OMHSAS-24-04 to further update regulatory waiver language and the process to appeal a waiver determination. The issued bulletin can be found here. OMHSAS-16-03 is obsoleted by this bulletin.
OMHSAS licenses or approves community mental health facilities and agencies and other service providers operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In accordance with this responsibility, the Department’s authorized agents periodically inspect mental health facilities and agencies. If regulatory requirements are met, certificates of compliance or approvals are granted under Article IX of the Human Services Code (62 P.S. §§ 901 – 922) or under Article X of the Human Services Code (62 P.S. §§ 1001 – 1080).
Pursuant to applicable regulations, a facility or agency may request a time limited waiver of regulations or program standards, or a portion of regulations or program standards. All regulatory waiver requests are subject to applicable waiver of standard requirements as outlined by each chapter or bulletin. In reviewing any such waiver request, OMHSAS will consider whether the facility or agency has demonstrated that substitute measures assure the health, safety, and welfare of all individuals who reside in the facility or who receive services from the agency.
Please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp with any questions.
Discover RCPA Membership Benefits on January 15
RCPA is excited to host a Membership Benefits webinar on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 1:00 pm, as an opportunity for members to orient themselves with all that RCPA membership includes. This is not just for new and future members. For current members, there may be benefits associated with our membership that you may not be aware of, including targeted meetings and groups that occur throughout the year.
Registration is required; please register here to attend the webinar. Items we will review include the below and much more:
- Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and RCPA lobbyists;
- Discuss the 2025 Legislative and Administrative priorities;
- Preview RCPA divisional committee and subcommittee meetings and what they offer;
- View the RCPA member-only website;
- Review exclusive yearly educational and networking events; and
- Understand the value of the National Association memberships included with RCPA membership.
Visit the RCPA member benefits web page for more information, or contact Tieanna Lloyd for benefit details.
RCPA Member Pittsburgh Mercy Announces Two Appointments to 2025 Board of Directors
PITTSBURGH (December 17, 2024) – Pittsburgh Mercy, one of the region’s largest social service nonprofit organizations serving more than 18,000 vulnerable individuals annually, a member of Trinity Health, and serving in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, today announced two appointments to its 2025 Board of Directors: Denise R. Hughes, director of Public Relations at UPMC Health Plan, and Paul K. Rudoy, a tax partner at H2R CPA.
Each will serve a three-year term, effective January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027.
Rudoy served for over 20 years and Hughes served for three years on the Bethlehem Haven Board of Directors. Bethlehem Haven became part of Pittsburgh Mercy and its award-winning homeless services continuum of care in 2016.
“We are thrilled to have Denise and Paul join the Pittsburgh Mercy Board. Having a strong, deeply committed, and diverse group of trustees who have hearts for our Sisters of Mercy legacy and tradition of service to the most vulnerable is core to our mission and who we are as an organization,” stated Tony Beltran, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Mercy. “In addition to bringing their own unique talents and expertise, as legacy members of the Bethlehem Haven Board of Directors, Denise and Paul also will bring valuable perspectives to help our Board ensure the continued growth and success of our health ministry, our revered mission, and our renowned tradition of service to the most vulnerable in our community.”
Hughes brings to the Pittsburgh Mercy Board more than 20 years of experience and expertise as an award-winning, senior-level marketing and public relations professional in nonprofit and for-profit corporate communications. She currently leads all facets of public relations strategy for UPMC Health Plan, one of the nation’s fastest growing health plans, including public and media relations, content creation, and crisis communications. Before joining UPMC Health Plan, Hughes previously held management-level marketing-communications positions at Westinghouse Electric Company and Peoples Natural Gas and served as a communications consultant to The McCreary Group.
In addition to her service to the Pittsburgh Mercy Board and her former service on the Bethlehem Haven Board, Hughes is a board member and treasurer of the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania and a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Hughes is the recipient of numerous business and health care marketing communications industry awards, including PR Daily’s Nonprofit PR Awards (2021, 2024), a Ragan’s PR Daily’s Social Media & Digital Awardee (2023), and a graduate of The Advanced Leadership Institute’s Emerging Leaders Program (2023).
Hughes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications at Carlow University, founded by the Pittsburgh Sisters of Mercy, and a Master of Science degree in leadership with a concentration in business ethics at Duquesne University.
Hughes resides in Cranberry Township, Pa.
Rudoy, who is a certified public accountant (CPA), a personal financial specialist (PFS), and a licensed life insurance and annuities agent, has more than 30 years of experience in tax, strategic consulting, and estate and succession planning for individuals and closely held businesses. He spends most of his professional time devoted to growth strategies, succession planning, tax and investment matters, and business consulting services.
Rudoy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting at Pennsylvania State University.
He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), where he served as past president and a member of the State Taxation Committee.
In addition to his past service as treasurer and a board member on the Bethlehem Haven Board of Directors, Rudoy is also past president of the Pittsburgh Glass Center Board of Directors.
He also serves as treasurer of the Jewish Residential Foundation Board and a board member of the North American Board – MGI Association.
Rudoy and his family reside in Mt. Lebanon, Pa.
With the appointments of Hughes and Rudoy, the 2025 Pittsburgh Mercy Board of Directors and officers are:
Mark D. Gibbons, CPA (Chairperson)
Audit Partner, Assurance Service Practice Leader
Urish Popeck & Co., LLC
Tony Beltran, MBA (Secretary)
President & CEO
Pittsburgh Mercy
Rhonda N. Curry
Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
Gateway Health Plan
Jaime C. Dircksen
Vice President, Community Health & Well-Being
Trinity Health
Denise R. Hughes
Director of Public Relations
UPMC Health Plan
Robert A. James, JD, MBA, MHA
Chief Diversity & Strategic Growth Officer
CGT Staffing
Sister Diane Matje, RSM, RN, MSN
Pittsburgh Sisters of Mercy
Manzoor Mohideen, PhD
Director of Clinical Trial Operations, Academic Research Center for Hematology, Section of Benign Hematology, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Visala S. Muluk, MD
Director of Medicine
Pittsburgh Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center
Suresh C. Ramanathan
President & CEO
KORYAK
Paul K. Rudoy, CPA/PFS
Partner
H2R CPA
Jared S. Weiner
Chief Financial Officer, Western PA Hospital Division
UPMC
Olga Ziegler
Vice President, Revenue Program Management
Highmark Health Inc.
Editor’s note: Color headshots of Denise R. Hughes and Paul K. Rudoy accompany this release. Kindly credit: Photos courtesy of Pittsburgh Mercy.
About Pittsburgh Mercy
Pittsburgh Mercy is one of the largest community health and social service providers and employers in Southwestern Pennsylvania. We offer help – and hope – to 18,000 of our community’s most vulnerable in 60+ locations:
- People who have complex behavioral and physical health challenges.
- People who have intellectual and developmental disabilities
- People who are experiencing homelessness
- People who need wrap-around services to live safe, healthy, and well in the community.
We are the largest Integrated Community Wellness Center (ICWC) in Pennsylvania and the only one in Southwestern Pennsylvania. We are a five-time awardee of Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) expansion grants. Pittsburgh Mercy is a member of Trinity Health, serving in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy. Our mission is to be a compassionate and transforming, healing presence within our communities. To learn more about Pittsburgh Mercy or to donate in support of its important work in the community, please visit www.pittsburghmercy.org. Follow Pittsburgh Mercy on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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OMHSAS Releases Partial Hospitalization Regulatory Compliance Guide
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to release the Partial Hospitalization Regulatory Compliance Guide (RCG). This guide has been developed to provide clear explanations of the regulatory requirements of Title 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5210 “Partial Hospitalization” regulations. It is meant to help agencies providing partial hospitalization services with the goal of ensuring safe environments and effective services to individuals through regulatory compliance, and to help OMHSAS Licensing Representatives protect individuals served by these programs by conducting consistent and comprehensive inspections.
This guide is a companion piece to Title 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5210 regulations. It is intended to be a helpful reference for these regulations. The explanatory material contained in this guide in no way supplants the plain meaning and intent of the regulations set forth in 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5210.
The guide can be accessed here.
Feedback or questions on the RCG can be sent electronically. If you have additional questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.
