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OMHSAS has released the following Telehealth Regulatory Waiver Request template in order to streamline regulatory waiver requests for the continued delivery of telehealth services following the 9-30-21 end date of statewide regulatory waivers based on the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration.
The waiver submission process will adhere to the revised OMHSAS Waiver Bulletin 16-13.
The waiver will cover deliverable considerations for the following services
Each waiver request will remain in place for a 1-year period and will require providers also have documented policies in place for clinical appropriateness and the delivery of telehealth in emergencies. RCPA recommends agencies carefully review each section of the waiver request as they complete their submission.
The waiver will outline the following service considerations:
Submission Considerations:
Providers may utilize the following language in your waiver request letter:
Kristen Houser, Deputy Secretary
OMHSAS
Commonwealth Tower, 11th Floor
303 Walnut Street, Harrisburg 17101
Dear Deputy Secretary Houser:
This letter is a request for a waiver of Department of Human Services regulation(s) to continue the delivery of services through telehealth after September 30, 2021, which is the end date of the Governor’s COVID -19 Emergency Disaster Declaration which authorized certain regulatory suspensions. The details for this request for waiver are included in the form below. In addition, a letter of support from the County MH/ID Administrator for this request for waiver is attached. (REMOVE if Outpatient D&A Clinic Waiver)
Your consideration for approval is appreciated. I look forward to your response. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this regulatory waiver request, please contact me at (Phone and e-mail address.)
Sincerely,
(Signature)
(Name)
Members may contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp or their respective Policy Director with questions or feedback.
RCPA was approached by a coalition of organizations in support of federal nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community, including Freedom for All Americans, the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center of Allentown, and other state and local partners.
The RCPA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee purpose statement reads that “the committee will actively challenge systemic racism and social injustice through advocacy for legislation, policies, and practices that promote equity, providing guidance and support for DEI initiatives within RCPA member organizations…” This initiative is in alignment with RCPA DEI efforts.
Currently, federal law lacks explicit nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community in housing, credit, lending, federally funded programs, and public spaces like restaurants, stores, theaters, and hospitals. Additionally, 29 states, including Pennsylvania, lack state laws that explicitly protect LGBT people from discrimination.
This coalition is soliciting supporters from Pennsylvania’s community of service providers — those who support and care for the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, including LGBT Pennsylvanians who face additional challenges due to the lack of nondiscrimination protections. Service providers are an important and trusted voice in Pennsylvania, and your inclusion will help to demonstrate the broad level of support for nondiscrimination statewide.
By signing on you to this initiative, your organization will join a diverse coalition of service providers supporting the nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community. Your organization’s name will be shared publicly and will also be shared with Pennsylvania’s US Senators.
To offer your organization’s support, follow this link to join Pennsylvania Service Providers for LGBT Nondiscrimination Protections and make your voice heard.
Please reach out to Jack Phillips or Cindi Hobbes with any questions.
In addition to the general sessions, including national updates that will provide valuable information to all, we have several break-out sessions that will be offered live each day during our 2021 Conference. These sessions include:
Tuesday September 28, 2021
Wednesday September 29, 2021
Thursday September 30, 2021
There will also be over 20 “on-demand” sessions on many timely subjects and topics, such as Leadership, Diversity, and Remote Supports and Services.
Visit the RCPA Conference website for specific updates to the schedule, posted as they become finalized.
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced that the Financial Management Services (FMS) stakeholder meeting has been scheduled for September 3, 2021 from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm. This public meeting will focus on the upcoming changes for the administration of FMS under the Community HealthChoices (CHC), OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs. Representatives from OLTL and the CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will be in attendance to discuss upcoming changes. The meeting details are below:
Join from the meeting link
Join by meeting number
Meeting number (access code): 132 810 8394
Meeting password: wyB6SHMKn33
Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-408-418-9388,,1328108394## United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110,,1328108394## United States Toll (Washington D.C.)
Join by phone
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)
Global call-in numbers
Join from a video system or application
Dial 1328108394@pa-hhs.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
3:00 pm–4:00 pm EDT, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm CDT,
1:00 pm–2:00 pm MDT, 12:00 pm–1:00 pm PDT
Cora Collette Bruener, MD, MPH, FAAP
Instructor Bio:
Dr. Cora Breuner is a member of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington. She is a Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Professor of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Breuner earned her MD at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and completed an internship and residency at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, as well as an Adolescent Medicine fellowship at the University of Washington. She received her master’s in Public Health at the University of Washington.
Dr. Bruener is board certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Her clinical interests include the treatment of eating disorders and obesity in the adolescent as well as in sports and trauma-related injuries in the child and adolescent. She is also interested in the management and treatment of adolescents with headaches, abdominal pain, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. She is particularly focused on the use of holistic, mindfulness, and integrative approaches such as biofeedback, yoga, and massage in the management of these conditions. She is president of the Northwest Society of Adolescent Medicine and faculty at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Her research interests include the evaluation of yoga as an adjunctive intervention for eating disorders, biofeedback for chronic headache, and the assessment of complementary medicine for diabetes. Her goal is to incorporate complementary, holistic and integrative medicine into the outpatient and inpatient arenas. She is an active participant in the American Academy of Pediatrics and serves on the Committee for Adolescence and the PREP academic board review course for Adolescent Medicine.
Objectives: At the end of the session the learner will:
Audience: This webinar is intended for all members of the rehabilitation team, including medical staff, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, licensed psychologists, mental health professionals, and other interested professionals.
Level: Intermediate
Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEUs are provided for this session.
Registration: Registration is complimentary for members of IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today. Multiple registrations per organization are permitted.