Governor Shapiro Delivers First Budget Address; Acting Secretary Arkoosh to Speak Regarding DHS Proposed Budget
PCCD to Host State CIT Symposium on April 20
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 Statewide Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Symposium! PCCD, in collaboration with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and Centre County CIT, will hold the annual Statewide CIT Symposium at the Wyndham Garden State College on April 20, 2023.
This one-day event will feature informative sessions covering topics on building a certified CIT program, first responders, and collecting data, as well as a special virtual reality session focused on the evolution of a CIT scenario. PCCD is pleased to host Brian Peete, Director with the Riley County Police Department in Manhattan, Kansas, who will provide attendees with information on tactical-based concepts to help increase survivability for both responders and the person in crisis, allowing for verbal de-escalation to start.
To register, view the agenda, and session descriptions, please follow the link to the CIT Symposium web page.
Deadline for RCPA 2023 Annual Conference Call for Proposals is March 13 — Submit Your Proposal Today!
The 2023 RCPA Conference, which will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a leader in shaping policy and enhancing lives, will be held October 10 – 13 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. The Conference Committee is seeking workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:
- Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as telehealth innovations, suicide prevention, and employing people with disabilities;
- Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
- Discuss advanced ethics practices;
- Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, acquisitions/mergers, and alternative payment models;
- Provide guidance on building a culture of a committed workforce, including recruitment and employee development as well as effective remote workforce strategies;
- Offer concrete skills and tools to operate more efficient, effective agencies; and
- Inspire ideas for organizations to be leaders in their field.
The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting and to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.
The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 13, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.
Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by Friday, May 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.
Registration for the RCPA PAC Golf Outing is Now Open!
Enjoy golfing? Join RCPA for an afternoon of golf on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, immediately following the RCPA Annual Membership Meeting. The event will be held in support of the RCPA PAC and take place at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course, Harrisburg, PA. Lunch will be at 11:30 am, with a shotgun start at 1:00 pm. Register to attend today!
We hope you will consider becoming a sponsor in support of this fundraiser. Sponsorship will allow your company to receive name recognition.
Not a golfer but would still like to support the RCPA PAC? For your convenience, you can now make a personal online contribution, which will provide financial support to state legislators or representatives who have demonstrated a strong, consistent, and positive interest in our legislative priorities. If you are interested in learning more about the RCPA PAC or donating, please visit our website, download the PAC FAQ Card and Donation Card, or email Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.
We look forward to seeing you on the golf course!
DHS 2023/24 Proposed Budget Briefing Scheduled for March 9
Acting Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and leadership from the Department of Human Services (DHS) will host a webinar to discuss the proposed 2023/24 budget for the department. The briefing will take place at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 9.
Visit here to register for the briefing. DHS encourages you to submit questions ahead of the briefing so they can prepare as much information as possible. DHS will follow up on any questions that they are unable to answer during the webinar.
RCPA to Host Webinar Featuring Sen. Phillips-Hill and Rep. Grove on Integration of Health Services in PA — March 14
Pennsylvania’s 2023 Health Equity Conference Announced for April 4
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
9:00 am — 3:00 pm
Register Here
Registration for the 2023 Health Equity Conference is now open!
Join the Office of Health Equity for a day of expert speakers as they provide valuable insight on health equity, whole person care, and chronic disease prevention. The conference will be held on April 4, 2023, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and is entirely virtual. Hear from our keynote speakers before heading into a breakout room of your choice to get more in-depth information on a variety of health equity related topics. Registration is open until April 3, so don’t miss out on an opportunity to connect with others in the field from the comfort of your own home.
Questions about this year’s summit? Please contact Judelissa Rosario or Emily Lebo for support. We hope to see you there!
Mental Health Safety Net Coalition County-Based MH Funding Advocacy Letter: “The Time is Now”
The sustained funding of community-based mental health services, such as community residential programs, family-based support, outpatient care, and crisis intervention, are critical to the wellbeing of our constituents and our communities. Funding levels for county mental health services have direct impacts on whether these important community and family supports will be available. Yet for too many years, state funding for mental health services has lagged far behind its needs. Counties find themselves advocating for the prevention of funds being cut instead of achieving the increases that are needed to catch up from years of underfunding.
This week’s letter of advocacy, sent on behalf of the Coalition, stands as an open call to the PA General Assembly and stakeholders. As we await Governor Shapiro’s budget address, the “Time is Now” for action to sustain the funding of community-based mental health services and to create the legislation to move on the allocation of the $100 million dollars in funding as outlined by the Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Commission.
The Coalition is open to all new partners to join our mission of advocacy for this 2023–24 initiative, as the time to act is now for engaging with your representative. The Coalition will also be developing an advocacy toolkit for members to come together to sustain the safety net and serve those who need it most. The reality is that the demand for service far outweighs capacity and rate structures to serve this population.
If you have additional questions or would like to join the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
CMS Release: Public Health Emergency (PHE) New Overview Fact Sheet
As part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) ongoing efforts to provide up-to-date information to prepare for the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, expected on May 11, 2023, we are providing a new overview fact sheet on CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the Transition Forward from the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. COVID-19 efforts have been a significant priority for the current administration, and with the use of whole-of-government approach, the country is in a better place. Over the next several months, CMS will work to ensure a smooth transition back to normal operations.
The fact sheet provides clarity on several topics, including:
- COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatments;
- Telehealth services; and
- Health care access.
There are several telehealth flexibilities listed within the document, including the continuation of virtual supervision to the end of the calendar year. See below for an excerpt from CMS’ PHE release:
Virtual Supervision
To allow more people to receive care during the PHE, CMS temporarily changed the definition of “direct supervision” to allow the supervising health care professional to be immediately available through virtual presence using real-time audio/video technology instead of requiring their physical presence. CMS also clarified that the temporary exception to allow immediate availability for direct supervision through virtual presence also facilitates the provision of telehealth services by clinical staff “incident to” the professional services of physicians and other practitioners. This flexibility will expire on December 31, 2023.
What is missing is guidance around the intersect of telehealth and the prescribing of buprenorphine as directed under the Ryan Haight Act of 2008. As part of the CMS Physicians Fee Schedule of 2023, CMS was in the process of writing language extending this as a flexibility. To date, there has been no guidance, though RCPA continues its advocacy efforts with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, as well as state and federal stakeholders.
Deadline Approaching for RCPA 2023 Annual Conference Call for Proposals
The 2023 RCPA Conference, which will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a leader in shaping policy and enhancing lives, will be held October 10 – 13 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. The Conference Committee is seeking workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:
- Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as telehealth innovations, suicide prevention, and employing people with disabilities;
- Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
- Discuss advanced ethics practices;
- Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, acquisitions/mergers, and alternative payment models;
- Provide guidance on building a culture of a committed workforce, including recruitment and employee development as well as effective remote workforce strategies;
- Offer concrete skills and tools to operate more efficient, effective agencies; and
- Inspire ideas for organizations to be leaders in their field.
The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting and to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.
The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 13, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.
Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by Friday, May 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.
Prev