OMHSAS Telehealth Presentation Overview
Telehealth Alert: Guidance on Previous Client Verbal Consent Directives
Resolution Directing Study of Addiction Treatment Rate-Setting Passes Senate Committee
One-Time Federal Student Debt Relief Announced
Up to $20,000 in debt relief is available to those who received a Federal Pell Grant in college and meet the income requirements. Up to $10,000 in debt relief is available to those who received a Federal Pell Grant in college and meet the income requirements.
The U.S. Department of Education is providing this one-time debt relief as part of the Biden-Harris Administration student debt relief plan.
Apply for student debt relief, or get more information at Federal Student Aid.
A Measurement-Based Care Q&A With the Experts at Yale Webinar — November 3
The team at Greenspace Health is hosting their third and final educational panel with the researchers and renowned psychologists at the Yale Measurement-Based Care Collaborative. You won’t want to miss this session with The Collaborative— it’s your chance to build on your knowledge of MBC and learn from the researchers driving its momentum.
Greenspace is excited to invite you to this live Q&A session with the Yale MBC experts to build on your knowledge of MBC and learn from those driving its momentum. Over 650 clinicians and clinical leaders attended the first two sessions. You won’t want to miss this event!
ASK ME ANYTHING: A Measurement-Based Care Q&A With the Experts at Yale is coming up on November 3 at 1:00 pm EDT. Visit here to register now! Greenspace hopes you can make it, and please feel free to share the event with anyone on your team.
Watch this short video for highlights from the last panel!
RCPA-Backed Prudent Pay Bill Passes Senate Committee
Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously voted HB 2530, which focused on the elimination of prudent pay for IDD providers, out of committee. The bill will be placed on the Senate voting calendar and is expected to have a final vote next week, which is the final fall session week for the Senate. Once the bill is approved, it will go to the Governor for his signature.
RCPA is grateful for all the technical assistance Bill Harriger, President and CEO of Verland, provided throughout the legislative process, and to all RCPA members who contacted their state legislators.
If you have questions, please contact Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.
OMHSAS Releases BH Telehealth Phase II Roadmap
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to share the Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Telehealth Phase II Roadmap, which was developed in collaboration with the OMHSAS Telehealth Steering Committee and Mercer Government Services Consulting. This report focuses on identifying and prioritizing recommendations for short-term and long-term implementation of telehealth services in the Commonwealth. The roadmap includes example documents developed by the Steering Committee that can be used and personalized by the provider when implementing telehealth services. The work of the Steering Committee and other stakeholders has been and will continue to be vital in ensuring that the behavioral health needs of Pennsylvanians continue to be met.
RCPA recommends that your agency reviews the document with your teams as well as compares it to your current policies and practices. These recommendations are not mandates but offer a series of best practices as developed by the Behavioral Health Steering Committee. Additionally, RCPA will conduct an internal review and will request OMHSAS attend the next Telehealth Committee Meeting.
If you have questions regarding this report, please email OMHSAS and/or RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
OMHSAS Monthly Stakeholder Call Registration
The next OMHSAS County/County Affiliate/Provider/Advocate Stakeholder Meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Please register to participate.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Call-in Number: 213-929-4212 / Access Code: 577224169#
We expect there to be several critical updates on telehealth questions that have been submitted, including clarifications on the new verbal consent requirements.
In the meantime, if you have suggestions for agenda topics for October’s webinar, please submit them via email by COB this Friday, 10/14/22.
Senate Resolution Directs Study of How DHS Determines Funding Allocations, Rates for D&A System
Sen. Brooks will introduce a resolution today that directs the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) to study and issue a report on the specific data, calculations, and mechanisms that the Department of Human Services uses to determine the amount of Medical Assistance capitation funding ultimately paid to drug and alcohol addiction treatment providers within the Commonwealth.
The complete resolution, which includes a detailed listing of requirements of what the JSGC must analyze and report, can be viewed here.
PA Department of Labor Offering $250k Grants
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry has the following grant opportunities that are currently available:
Pennsylvania Industry Partnership Program (IP) Grant:
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of approximately $4,000,000 in funding for the Pennsylvania Industry Partnership (IP) Program Grant awards. L&I will be supporting Industry Partnership Programming through the competitive award of grants of up to $250,000 to support Industry Partnerships across the commonwealth to improve economic growth, while preparing workers with training for their current positions and future advancement. Projects funded through Industry Partnership grants should identify workforce, education and training, and economic development gaps; coordinate regional needs to support industry needs; identify public and community resources to address industry-identified needs; and increase collaboration among businesses within a targeted industry sector. Eligible applicants include local workforce development boards, non-profit and non-governmental entities, community-based organizations, educational and post-secondary educational organizations, labor organizations, business associations, and economic development entities.
More information can be found here, including info on an upcoming bidder webinar on 10/6/22. The IP grants close on 10/28/22. If you have questions or concerns regarding this grant opportunity, please email L&I.
Schools-to-Work Program (STWP) Grant — Round 3:
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announces the availability of approximately $2,500,000.00 of funding for the Schools-to-Work Program (STWP) Grant award(s). L&I will be establishing a STW Program through the competitive award of a grant(s) to a sponsor(s) in partnership with schools in the commonwealth to support the establishment or enhancement of a workforce development partnership between schools, employers, organizations, or associations to create pre-apprenticeship apprenticeship pathways. This NGA seeks applications to support this statewide initiative. Grant awards may not exceed $250,000.00.
L&I also has funding currently available for school-to-work program grants. The STWP grant closes on 10/12/22. If you have questions or concerns regarding this grant opportunity, please email L&I.
If you have further questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.
Prev