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Criminal Justice

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On August 6, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s (DOH) Holly Simpson, Infection Preventionist in the Bureau of Epidemiology, conducted a webinar titled “PAHAN 569 Update: Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Exposure to COVID-19.” This webinar provided a lot of great information, and a recording of the webinar is now available to view.

Included in the presentation was a review of the information contained in PA HAN 569. This review included topics such as defining a “high-risk” exposure for healthcare personnel (HCP), how and when work exclusion for HCP should occur, testing strategy for HCP, and criteria for reducing work exclusion for HCP to mitigate staffing shortages.

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The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), in a collaboration with the Department of Human Services and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (DHS/OMHSAS), announces the availability of $1,000,000 in funds for the implementation of crisis response or pretrial diversion strategies for justice-involved individuals with Mental Illness/Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders (MI/COD), Intellectual Disorders (ID), and/or autism spectrum disorders.

RCPA is recommending that members connect with their county courts and agencies to gauge interest and potential service provision opportunities. View the memorandum for further details, and please contact your respective Mental Health/Drug & Alcohol/IDD RCPA Policy Director with any questions.

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As announced last week, the COVID-19 pandemic-related Department of Human Services (DHS) Regulatory Suspensions are set to expire on September 30, 2021. RCPA has fielded numerous inquiries as to the ongoing status of telehealth and the implications to the pending end of the regulatory suspensions. The following is a review of this status.

PA Perspective
In February 2020, DHS and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) released an updated Telehealth Bulletin in advance of the pandemic and updated it again in March 2020 with additional flexibilities and guidelines for the use of telehealth. That bulletin is separate and apart from the regulatory suspension standards with the exception of the following:

  1. The signatory responsibility for telehealth encounters;
  2. Audio/telephonic only telehealth for Outpatient Behavioral Health services; and
  3. Audio/telephonic only telehealth for Drug and Alcohol services.

There currently is no Pennsylvania State statute prohibiting the use of telehealth/telemedicine. However, the ending of the regulatory suspensions would specifically affect those three service operations mentioned above.

PA Telehealth Bulletin
Since June of 2020, a statewide Group of Stakeholders, including RCPA, has been engaged in the development of an updated PA DHS/OMHSAS Telehealth Bulletin. This group developed a set of recommendations for operating standards and practices for telehealth in PA.

In our ongoing work and partnership with OMHSAS, we expect the PA Telehealth Bulletin to be released in advance of the Regulatory Suspension end date of September 30, 2021. It is our further expectation that the bulletin will reflect the recommendations of the PA Telehealth Steering Committee and the many operating efficiencies and practices that have been implemented during the last 18 months, including a pathway for audio only communication allowances. This referenced bulletin will only be for OMHSAS-licensed agencies, and we have been informed that other DHS divisions will subsequently release their own telehealth guidelines.

PA Telehealth Legislation
Currently in the PA State House and Senate, there are also two compatible telehealth bills that have been drafted. RCPA has been working with the legislators on the impacts of House Bill 1573 and Senate Bill 705. The bills essentially address many of the current practices of telehealth, including audio-only, but many of the current flexibilities have not been adequately addressed. RCPA continues its work in both the House and Senate on language and practices that ensure parity, equity, and access should this legislation continue through its process.

Federal Telehealth
There are more than 100 telehealth-related bills that have been introduced in this 117th Congress, and many capture the needed flexibilities that ensure best practices and access to services for practitioners and consumers. The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) as well as the Office of Civil Rights and Compliance are reviewing these standards, including the use of audio/telephonic only telehealth delivery. RCPA continues to advocate through our State and Federal Legislators and the National Council of Wellbeing on any pending telehealth legislation.

If you have questions of feedback, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp or your RCPA Policy Director.

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Black and Brown Mental Health vs. Criminal Justice & Policing

Tuesday, August 17, 2021, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm

Subject: Criminal Justice and Policing

Learning Objectives:
• Discuss the impact of Mental Health within the Criminal Justice System and Policing
• Discuss the current data as it relates to communities of color and these systems
• Learn what a community should know about how mental health needs are addressed within Criminal Justice and Policing

Handout: Black and Brown Mental Health vs Criminal Justice & Policing

Registration Link

For more information, contact System of Care Family Peer Support Specialist Lisa Kennedy. If you have further questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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RCPA regrets to inform our members that Charles Ray, former President/CEO for the National Council, has passed away. In his long and remarkable career, Charles effected broad changes in the behavioral health field, of which the impact is long-lasting and felt by many. Please see the message below from Chuck Ingoglia, current President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. The RCPA staff would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Charles’ family, colleagues, peers, and the rest of the behavioral health community.

One of the many things that makes the National Council special is our people. Today I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of a former employee who served with distinction.

Former President & Chief Executive Officer Charles Ray led the National Council for 15 years. He was a visionary leader of the managed care movement within the mental health community. After he left the National Council, Charles went on to work with and lead several organizations, most recently serving as Chair of the Board of Directors of The REACH Institute in New York, whose mission is to bring evidence based behavioral treatment to children and adolescents.

He was a wonderful leader, but don’t just take my word for it.

Carl Clark, a former National Council Board member, also remembered Charles fondly:
“Charles Ray understood community behavioral health deeply from his running a center to the policy work he did through the National Council in Washington. He kept the needs of the people we serve and providers as the focus for making behavioral health services better in our country. I am thankful for his leadership and the lasting impact of his work.”

Betty Funk, former National Council Board member, provided this thoughtful remembrance:
“In the early days, Charles was a visionary leader of the managed care movement within the community mental health arena. It was a challenging time for all of us because we didn’t fit neatly into the complex health systems that needed to get geared up, and for the most part at the community level nationwide, we lacked comprehensive structure among ourselves. Through the National Council, and to some extent privately, Charles held the hands of all of us that got the message that we had to restructure and reorganize and learn how to collaborate, cooperative, count and compete. From the perspective of the Massachusetts system, Charles nurtured the creation of the best management practices that exist today.”

His lasting impact can be seen in many aspects of the work we continue to do, and we ask that you keep his family, friends and loved ones in your thoughts during this difficult time.

Rest in Peace, Charles.

– Chuck

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Today, Governor Wolf announced that Commonwealth employees in state health care facilities and high-risk congregate facilities will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 7, 2021. Individuals who are not vaccinated will be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. Additionally, beginning September 7, 2021, all new external hires in these facilities must be vaccinated before commencing employment.

In addition to the ​”vaccine or test​” requirement, Governor Wolf announced a vaccine incentive for state employees under the governor’s jurisdiction. Starting October 1, 2021, ​all vaccinated state employees under the governor’s jurisdiction are eligible for an additional 7.5 or 8 hours paid time off. The Office of Administration will work with employees and agencies to develop a mechanism for employees to confirm proof of vaccination.

Currently, more than 63​% of Pennsylvanians 18 and older are fully vaccinated, with the state ranking fifth among all 50 states for total doses administered. Members are encouraged to review the vaccine outreach letter to help in promoting vaccinations to those in your facilities. Additional free resources are available on the PA Unites Against COVID website.

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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Health information technology — Electronic Health Records, Health Information Exchange, telemedicine, patient portals, electronic Clinical Quality Measures, and more — is continuing to change the healthcare industry in dramatic ways. More importantly, Health IT (HIT) is providing powerful tools to drive improvements in patient care and population health. The Department conducted a survey in October and November 2020, at the request of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), to determine the extent of Health Information Technology and Health Information Exchange (HIT/E) adoption and usage among Pennsylvania’s healthcare providers. A link to the Executive Summary and the Environmental Scan can be found on the DHS home page.

If you have any further questions, please email here.

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