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Substance Use Disorder

Gaudenzia recently hosted its annual “From Adversity to Hope” event in Philadelphia, convening community leaders, partners, and advocates to highlight the impact of recovery and the importance of expanding access to care.

Prior to the event, keynote speaker and national recovery advocate Darryl Strawberry, an eight-time Major League Baseball All-Star and four-time World Series Champion, visited two Gaudenzia programs—Riverview Wellness Village and the Diagnostic & Rehabilitation Center (DRC)—where he spent time with individuals in recovery. Through small-group engagement and personal connection, he shared his lived experience and reinforced a powerful message: recovery is possible.

These visits underscore the importance of community-based treatment, peer connection, and integrated care models that support individuals and families across the recovery journey—particularly as providers continue working to meet growing and increasingly complex behavioral health needs.

 

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For Immediate Release: May 11, 2026
Media Contact: Mike Dunn, 215-570-3432

The goal is to ensure the sustainability of NET’s behavioral health services, benefiting thousands of clients who receive critical services.

(Philadelphia) – JEVS Human Services (JEVS) and Northeast Treatment Centers (NET) today announced they are finalizing a plan to enhance the sustainability of NET’s behavioral health services, strengthen both organizations, and ensure continued quality care for clients. The plan will allow both JEVS and NET to continue their missions [read full release].

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET
Register Today

How will proposed immigration policy changes impact your organization? Find out in this webinar on the latest issues affecting the health care workforce.

Kerri-Ann Griggs, a partner with the Alston & Bird law firm’s Labor and Employment Group, will explain key immigration updates and what they mean for you, including:

  • Recent changes in immigration laws affecting the health care workforce.
  • The Department of Labor’s proposed wage level rule, which would substantially increase the prevailing wage levels employers must pay to foreign workers under the H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and PERM visa programs.
  • Immigration law and I-9 compliance considerations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and prepared so you can navigate upcoming changes with confidence. Questions? Contact us.

From the Policy and Advocacy Team
National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Medical insurance and Medicaid and stethoscope.

RCPA Presents HR 1 Medicaid Summit

RCPA would like to thank our members and stakeholders for joining the RCPA HR 1 Medicaid Summit this morning with our Federal and State partners. The Summit provided an excellent opportunity to hear about the Federal and State landscape of HR 1 implementation and act as a call for collaboration in ensuring vulnerable Pennsylvanians have ongoing access to care. RCPA will be providing a follow up to the webinar as well as an RCPA HR 1 Medicaid Resource Guide in the coming weeks.

This morning, DHS released the following set of communications and documents related to the State’s HR 1 implementation. The release of these preliminary guidances provides the backdrop for members to review and provide feedback. This activity supports the collaborative process of a successful implementation and we hope stakeholders take advantage of this opportunity. Organizations and individuals can submit their feedback via this email or through RCPA by Friday, May 29.

Documents List

  1. Pennsylvania’s Proposed Medical Frailty Process
  2. DRAFT PA Medical Frailty Codes
  3. CER Overview Slides
  4. Visuals of COMPASS New Application
  5. Visuals of COMPASS Renewal
  6. CER Initial Outreach Letterinitial outreach letter informing individuals currently in the Medicaid Expansion Population, and those joining the Medicaid Expansion population prior to 1/1/27, of upcoming CER requirements and key information
  7. CER Outreach Letter Periodicrecurring outreach will be periodic as determined by CMS
  8. CER Non-compliance Notice Application – CER non-compliance notice informing new applicants of the specific due date (35 days from the mail date) by which they must demonstrate CER compliance or exclusion
  9. CER Non-compliance Notice Renewalif CER exemption/compliance cannot be determined during ex parte, notice informing individuals of the specific due date (35 days from the mail date) by which they must demonstrate CER compliance or exclusion
  10. CER Self-AssessmentCER self-assessment form allowing individuals to self-attest to CER activities and exemptions when that information is not provided on the application; mailed with the CER Non-Compliance Notice

Regarding the medical frailty overview and draft code list – in 2025, federal changes to the Medicaid program created community engagement requirements for certain individuals in the adult Medicaid expansion population beginning in January 2027. The law exempts certain individuals from these requirements, including an individual who is “medically frail or otherwise has special medical needs.”

The attached code list is a preliminary technical reference intended to support administrative review of existing records. It is not the only pathway for identifying medical frailty. DHS also expects to use additional available information, and some individuals may need to provide information when medical frailty cannot be identified through administrative records.

Please note that the documents are drafts and remain subject to change. The code list has not been approved by CMS and may be updated as implementation planning continues, clinical and operational review advances, and final CMS guidance is issued.

If you have questions and or would like your organizations feedback for included in the RCPA comments, please contact RCPA COO Jim Sharp or Policy Specialist Emma Sharp.

Registration is closed for this webinar.

On Monday, May 11, 2026, RCPA will be hosting a virtual H.R. 1 Medicaid Summit for all members, non-members, and stakeholders from 9:00 am – 10:00 am. This virtual summit will explore the role of providers, advocates, and stakeholders in the process of ensuring access and care for vulnerable Pennsylvanias. Panelists will include:

  • Hoa Pham, Deputy Secretary, Office of Income Maintenance, Department of Human Services;
  • Peter Delia, JD, Federal Policy & Advocacy Strategist, National Council for Mental Wellbeing;
  • Dr. Matthew Hurford, President and CEO, Community Care Behavioral Health;
  • Leesa Allen, CEO and Medicaid Consultant, Leesa Allen Consulting LLC; and
  • Dr. Richard S. Edley, President and CEO, RCPA.

As part of the event, we will have a Q&A segment. If you have any questions you would like to ask during the Q&A segment, or if you have any general questions regarding the virtual summit, please forward them to RCPA Behavioral Health Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

There’s still time to vote in the National Council Board of Directors election!

You should have received an email from eBallot ([email protected]) on April 27 with instructions to review the candidates and cast your vote.

Can’t find it? Check your spam or contact [email protected] to have the link resent. All ballots are due by May 21 (11:59 pm ET).

Voting is a powerful member benefit — and you voice matters. Here’s Board member Heather Gates talking about the importance of being heard.

Board Member Heather Gates Talks Voting – Video

Thank you for shaping the future! Together, we will elect a Board that reflects the breadth of our field and the communities our members serve.

Warm regards,

David J. Ley, PhD
Executive Director, New Mexico Solutions
Chair, Nominating Committee
National Council for Mental Wellbeing Board of Directors

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) will be hosting an hour-long virtual listening session on the 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5250 Crisis Licensing Regulations. The listening session is intended to provide an overview of selected updates currently being advanced and to gather provider perspectives on those specific areas.

The listening session will be offered on two different dates. Please mark your calendars for one of the following:

  • Session 1: Tuesday, June 9 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am
  • Session 2: Monday, June 15 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Additional details, including registration information, will be coming soon.

Also, the RCPA 988 Crisis Services meeting will take place on Tuesday May 19, 2026 at 10:00 am. In addition to our regular updates, OMHSAS Crisis Services Specialist Steve Ross will be joining the call. Register for the meeting here.

For questions, please contact Jim Sharp.

Please disregard this reminder if you have already registered.

Strengthening Behavioral Health Self‑Pay Collections: Best Practices & Strategies
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 1:00 pm
Register Here

Join Heather Hearn, Chief Revenue Officer, RCPA Business Member ZMark Health, for a focused session on strengthening self‑pay collections through clear communication, consistent processes, and thoughtfully designed workflows for behavioral health settings. Co-hosting this webinar will be RCPA COO and Mental Health Services Division Director Jim Sharp.

During this session, ZMark Health will cover:

  • Setting financial expectations early and with clarity;
  • Normalizing collections at the point of service;
  • Applying financial policies consistently; and
  • Additional best practices.

As a leader in revenue cycle services for behavioral health organizations, ZMark Health will share practical insights and actionable strategies to help streamline self‑pay workflows and enhance the patient financial experience.

This session supports our ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency, strengthen financial performance, and deliver service excellence. We hope you can join us!