Wolf Administration Outlines Impacts of Ending Disaster Declaration
HHS Announces Relief Fund Distributions for Safety Net Hospitals, Medicaid & CHIP Providers
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced additional distributions from the Provider Relief Fund to eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs. HHS expects to distribute approximately $15 billion to eligible providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs and have not received a payment from the Provider Relief Fund General Distribution. HHS also announced the distribution of $10 billion in Provider Relief Funds to safety net hospitals that serve our most vulnerable citizens. The safety net distribution will occur this week. For further information on provider eligibility and FAQs, please see the HHS website.
Message from National Council: Surgical Face Masks Still Available
Good Morning,
Here at the National Council we work to support the behavioral health community through advocacy, information exchange, resource development and even the acquisition of material goods for those in need.
If you need medical face masks, we still have a limited supply available for purchase. These masks come in batches of 200 and are being sold “at cost,” with shipping charges included. Secure your order today!
We expect these to ship within three working days of receiving your order. All masks will be shipped via UPS ground.
If you have any questions, please email Orders@TheNationalCouncil.org and we will be happy to help.
Thank you,
The National Council for Behavioral Health
Governor Renews Disaster Declaration; Telehealth Extended
On June 3, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf renewed the 90-day disaster declaration that he originally signed on March 6, 2020. The Proclamation to extend the Disaster Declaration can be found here.
This renewal will, for the duration of the extended disaster declaration, extend the approval of telehealth as a means of service delivery. This is in conjunction with the original memorandum from DHS and OMHSAS, “Telehealth Guidelines Related to COVID-19 (Updated),” published on May 5, 2020. See the May 5 OMHSAS Telehealth Memorandum.
The continued use and approval of telehealth services has been reviewed and confirm with OMHSAS. If you have additional questions or feedback, please contact your RCPA Policy Division Director.
CMS Releases Recommendations for Reopening Health Care Facilities
Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a guide for health systems and patients as they consider their in-person care options while COVID-19 cases decline. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, many health care systems and patients postponed non-emergency, in-person care in order to keep patients and providers safe and to ensure capacity to care for the COVID-19 patients. As the cases of COVID-19 decline, CMS is providing these recommendations to ensure that non-emergency health care resumes safely and that patients receive in-person treatment that may have been postponed. On April 19, 2020, CMS issued Phase 1 recommendations to safely resume in-person care in areas with low incidence of COVID-19 cases. As with these Phase 1 recommendations, decisions to reopen should be consistent with federal, state, and local orders, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, and in collaboration with state and local public health authorities.
A Message from DDAP Secretary Jen Smith
RCPA Member Telehealth Survey Overview
The RCPA Member Telehealth Survey elicited responses from more than 300 respondents, representing nearly half of the RCPA member agencies. The data we collected provided an insightful overview of member implementation of telehealth as well as the impacts it had on practitioners and clients.
Your responses, feedback, and ongoing dialogue provided a foundation to a set of recommendations that will be shared with our stakeholder community in efforts to create a viable a platform for the expansion and sustained platform for telehealth.
RCPA thanks the members for their participation in the survey and your ongoing efforts to service those in need. View the RCPA Telehealth Survey Overview. If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.
RCPA Urges BH, D&A, and Nonprofit Providers to Reach out to Counties for Block Grant Funding
COVID COURAGE: Profiles in Courage During the COVID-19 Crisis
Reminder: RCPA Drug and Alcohol Reform Survey Due Friday, June 12
As a reminder, the RCPA Drug and Alcohol Reform Survey is due on Friday, June 12. The survey consists of 16 questions, and the results will be used to determine which legislation and/or regulations are the most burdensome to our drug and alcohol members.
Once RCPA D&A members complete the survey, RCPA staff will compile the data and have it available for our Tuesday, June 16 Drug and Alcohol Committee meeting. Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.
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