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Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series:
Trauma Informed Care — Overview and Practical Applications
The Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series, which offers presentations focused on supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (IDA) and mental health needs. The selected presenters share their expertise on best and promising practices as well as provide general knowledge. Session topics, which focus on increasing capacity to serve individuals with dual diagnosis in the community, are chosen based on identified needs and with input from the field of professional stakeholders.
Please see the flyer for additional information, including registration information.
If you have questions or concerns regarding registration for this event, please email PA Training.
CMS just released an Interim Final Rule With Comment Period (IFC-6) requiring COVID-19 vaccination of staff within all Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities. Please join John Blum, CMS’s Principal Deputy Administrator, and Dr. Lee Fleisher, Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, in a discussion of this important rule.
When: Thursday, November 4, 2021 2:00 pm–3:00 pm ET
Who should attend: Leaders and administrators of Medicare and Medicaid Certified Facilities as well as representatives of those who work in such facilities.
RSVP Here. Please RSVP by Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 12:00 pm ET. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Questions: Please submit questions in advance, with the Subject heading “IFC-6 Stakeholder Call Question” here. On the call, we will answer as many of the questions received by noon as possible. We’ll also post a subsequent FAQ document.
Web links:
To view a list of frequently asked questions, visit here. External FAQs are also posted to CMS Current Emergencies Page under ‘Clinical & Technical Guidance for All Health Care Providers.’
Interim Final Rule with Comment Period in Federal Register: web page and PDF forms.
As required by the Biden-Harris Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an emergency regulation that requires the COVID-19 vaccination of eligible staff at heath care facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
The regulation will create a consistent standard within Medicare and Medicaid while giving patients assurance of the vaccination status of those delivering care. These requirements will apply to approximately 76,000 providers and cover over 17 million health care workers across the country.
Facilities covered by this regulation must establish a policy ensuring all eligible staff have received the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine prior to providing any care, treatment, or other services by December 5, 2021. All eligible staff must have received the necessary shots to be fully vaccinated (either two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson) by January 4, 2022.
The regulation also provides for exemptions based on recognized medical conditions or religious beliefs, observances, or practices. Facilities must develop a similar process or plan for permitting exemptions in alignment with federal law.
CMS will ensure compliance with these requirements through established survey and enforcement processes. If a provider or supplier does not meet the requirements, it will be cited by a surveyor as being non-compliant and have an opportunity to return to compliance before additional actions occur. CMS’s goal is to bring health care providers into compliance. However, the Agency will not hesitate to use its full enforcement authority to protect the health and safety of patients.
The requirements apply to: Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Hospices, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, Hospitals, Long Term Care facilities, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Home Health Agencies, Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Critical Access Hospitals, Clinics (rehabilitation agencies, and public health agencies as providers of outpatient physical therapy and speech-language pathology services), Community Mental Health Centers, Home Infusion Therapy suppliers, Rural Health Clinics/Federally Qualified Health Centers, and End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities.
Source: Capitolwire, Nov. 3, 2021
Municipal Elections were held yesterday in the Commonwealth. A few special elections were held to fill vacant State House seats.
In the 164th District, representing Delaware County, Democrat Gina Curry, president of the Upper Darby School board, won the race to succeed former Rep. Margo Davidson who resigned in July after being charged with filing false expense reports. Curry had almost 85 percent of the votes counted by this morning, according to unofficial results.
In the 113th District, representing Lackawanna County, Democrat Thom Welby was elected to succeed Sen. Marty Flynn, a Democrat. Welby, who had been Flynn’s chief of staff, got almost 69 percent of the vote.
Other statewide races were judge races for PA Supreme Court, PA Superior Court and PA Commonwealth Court. Republican Commonwealth Court Judge Kevin Brobson won election to the state Supreme Court Tuesday, beating Democratic nominee Superior Court Judge Maria McLaughlin.
Democrats will retain their 5–2 majority on the court because the race was a contest to fill the seat being vacated by one of the two Republicans who’d been on the court — Thomas Saylor, who was forced to retire due to hitting the mandatory retirement age for judges of 75.
Republican Megan Sullivan won a race for a seat on Superior Court, and Republicans Drew Crompton and Stacy Wallace won seats on the Commonwealth Court.
In a historic first, Rep. Ed Gainey won his race for Mayor of Pittsburgh. Rep. Gainey will be the first African-American to serve as the Mayor of Pittsburgh. A special election will be held in the future to fill his State House seat.
RCPA will hold its next member update webinar on Friday, November 19 at 9:00 am. Please register here to participate. This update will feature a presentation by Jeffrey J. Worley, Esq. of Gibbel, Kraybill & Hess LLP entitled “Federal Vaccine Mandate — Managing Your Workforce Through the Requirements and the Exemptions.” In addition, RCPA will provide updates in each policy area.
We look forward to your participation.
Invitation to Greenspace Free Webinar on the System-Wide Impact of Measurement-Based Care on BH Organizations
Join Greenspace Mental Health, the Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association (RCPA), and the Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland (MDCBH) to learn from an esteemed panel of experts as they share their insights regarding the impact of measurement-based care (MBC) on behavioral health organizations and how it helps inform treatment planning, improve client outcomes, and future-proof organizations for Value-Based Care. Space is limited, so be sure to register today for this informative webinar!
PANELISTS:
HOST:
DATE: Monday, November 15, 2021
TIME: 11:00 am EST
DURATION: 1 hour
REGISTER HERE
This is a free, online event hosted through Zoom Webinars. Registration is required.
We are very pleased to bring you this opportunity to hear fellow industry leaders discuss their views on the system-wide impact of MBC. We hope you can join us!
Join Greenspace Mental Health, the Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association (RCPA), and the Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland (MDCBH) to learn from an esteemed panel of experts as they share their insights regarding the impact of measurement-based care (MBC) on behavioral health organizations and how it helps inform treatment planning, improve client outcomes, and future-proof organizations for Value-Based Care.
PANELISTS:
HOST:
DATE: Monday, November 15, 2021
TIME: 11:00 am EST
DURATION: 1 hour
REGISTER HERE
This is a free, online event hosted through Zoom Webinars. Registration is required.
We are very pleased to bring you this opportunity to hear fellow industry leaders discuss their views on the system-wide impact of MBC. Hope you can make it!