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Mental Health

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Join Drexel University Behavioral Healthcare Education’s visiting resident Radhika Rani, DO, for a special presentation titled “Mental Health Care for Migrants and Refugees in the U.S.: Culturally Informed Practices.”

Thursday, November 21, 2024
9:00 am – 12:15 pm ET
3 CE Hours
Live Webinar

This course aims to provide behavioral health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively address the mental health needs of migrant and refugee populations in the United States. Participants will explore the unique challenges and stressors encountered by these groups, including trauma, displacement, acculturation, and systemic barriers to care. Emphasis will be placed on culturally informed, trauma-sensitive approaches to diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the course will explore the legal, social, and policy implications impacting migrant and refugee communities as well as outline strategies for patient advocacy. Participants will also be able to gain practical skills while reflecting on personal biases and assumptions to foster more inclusive care and improve patient outcomes.

Register at the BHE website.

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The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Physician Fee Schedule CY 2025 Final Rule. You can view CMS’ press release, fact sheet, and final rule page in the Federal Register for more information. There were critical areas addressed in this year’s Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), including:

  • The extension of some telehealth flexibilities permitted under CMS’ authority absent Congressional action;
  • Updated payment for social determinants of health risk assessments as a part of Opioid Use Disorder intake activities furnished at Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP);
  • The establishment of a new add-on code to account for coordinated care, referral services, and peer supports at OTPs;
  • Payment for safety planning intervention and post-discharge follow-up;
  • The establishment of six G codes that mirror current interprofessional consultation Common Procedural Terminology codes used by practitioners who are eligible to bill E/M visits; and
  • Recognition of responses to CMS’ request for information on Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

For the OPPS Final Rule, please see links to CMS’ press release, fact sheet, and final rule page in the Federal Register. Some highlights from this final rule include:

  • The maintenance of the Partial Hospitalization Program and Intensive Outpatient Program rate structures;
  • Narrowing the definition of “custody” in Medicare’s payment exclusion rule to mitigate barriers to Medicare access by individuals who have recently been released from incarceration or are on parole, probation, or home detention; and
  • Changes to Medicaid regulation, allowing states implementing the Medicaid clinic services benefit to cover clinic services outside the “four walls” of behavioral health clinics.

If you have any further questions regarding these final rulings or the application of the “four walls” impacts on Pennsylvania, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.

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The PA Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has further developed the draft of the Financial Needs Test (FNT) policy after incorporating feedback received during the September 2024 public comment period. As a result, there will be a second, shorter public comment period on the draft. The draft will be posted on OVR’s website for public review beginning November 11, 2024.

Virtual meetings will be held via Zoom at 9:00 am and 2:30 pm on Monday, November 18, 2024, to provide an overview of the policy and accept comments (content will be the same in both meetings). The public is invited to comment on the draft policy through November 22, 2024. Comments may be directed to OVR’s Public Comment inbox.

Zoom Meeting Information:

CART and sign language interpreters will be available for these meetings via the Zoom link.

Additional auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please send your request to OVR’s Public Comment inbox.

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Image by DarkmoonArt_de from Pixabay

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced the 2025 quarterly meeting dates for next year’s OMHSAS Stakeholder Webinars and asks that you mark your calendars.

2025 OMHSAS STAKEHOLDER WEBINAR DATES:

  • January 30, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • April 24, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • July 17, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • October 23, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

In the meantime, if you have suggestions for agenda topics for January’s webinar, please submit them via email. We will monitor the account and will only reply to the sender if more information is needed. Responses will not be provided if additional information is not needed.

Please note that webinar links will be provided closer to each of the meeting dates as shown above.

Thank you for your review and please – SAVE THE DATE.

If members have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.

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Northern Tier Counseling Inc. held the ribbon cutting of their Drug and Alcohol Wellness Treatment Center, dedicated to State Representative Tina Pickett, on Friday, May 24.

NTC, Inc. President Paul DeNault explained that this grand opening is thanks to not only the staff at NTC, Inc., but also the All One Foundation, who granted NTC, Inc. the All In One Grant to help the idea come to life as well as Tina Pickett, whose legislation allows for the progression of drug and alcohol treatment.

View the full press release here.

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Living the D.R.E.A.M! Creating a Culture of Health and Wellness for All
December 4, 2024
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference “Living the D.R.E.A.M.” During this session, SPIN will provide an historical overview of how they created a culture of health and wellness by engaging all stakeholders in living a healthy lifestyle. Presenters will showcase SPIN’s mission of inclusive and holistic meaningful activities in the community and SPIN Community & Fitness, a gathering and welcoming place for the whole community. The D.R.E.A.M team model, including the vision and purpose, elements of “Living the D.R.E.A.M,” and lessons learned for successful incorporation into everyday lives, will be featured.

Registration is now open.

See the announcement for a full session description, presenter biographies, and how to register.

Email with any questions.

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Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

Message from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL):

The Commonwealth is working collaboratively — Governor Shapiro’s office and the health hub agencies (Health, Human Services, Drug and Alcohol Programs, and Insurance) — to develop a statewide maternal health strategic plan. We need your help to make it a robust, comprehensive, collaborative, living, and most importantly, active plan.

As you are likely aware, Pennsylvania, like the nation, is experiencing a maternal health crisis.

According to the Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee report, in 2020, Pennsylvania residents experienced a pregnancy-associated mortality ratio of 83 deaths per 100,000 live births with large disparities identified. In total, 107 individuals lost their lives during pregnancy, delivery, or up to one year postpartum.

Those numbers are far worse for Black women, where the rate was twice as high at 163 deaths per 100,000.

We also know that women and birthing people with disabilities experience unique challenges and needs on their health journey, so we are inviting you to join us for a 90-minute Zoom listening session where members of the Commonwealth’s health agencies and members of the statewide maternal health strategic plan can engage with you to learn what specific needs you have and how you feel the Commonwealth should address those needs.

We want our strategic plan to address all Pennsylvania women and birthing people, and sharing your voice at this listening session will help inform our plan.

The Zoom listening session is scheduled from 10:00 am – 11:30 am, on Friday, December 6, 2024. Please RSVP electronically by December 1 if you plan to attend. We will send the Zoom link by end of day December 4 to those who RSVP.

Thank you for considering spending 90 minutes with the disability community and state health team members to share your thoughts and needs around maternal health.

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On Friday, November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an anticipated Final Rule titled “CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1809-FC),” which includes three new exceptions for the federal “four walls” rule. At present, the “four walls” rule prohibits Medicaid payment for clinic services when both the practitioner and individual receiving service are outside of the “four walls” of the clinic unless the services are being provided to unhoused individuals (such as through street medicine). The new exception for Indian Health Services and Tribal Facilities is required nationally. The exceptions for Behavioral Health Clinics and Rural clinics are optional. States who determine that their Behavioral Health Clinic and/or Rural Health Clinic populations served meet the four criteria established by CMS (see page 1323 of the final rule) must submit a Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) and receive approval from CMS for these exceptions to be in place for their state.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) had been working toward a short-term state level solution to the four walls issue for both Outpatient Psychiatric Clinics and Drug and Alcohol Clinics. However, now that a long-term federal option has been made available, the team in OMHSAS will be pivoting to pursue this newly available federal exception for Behavioral Health Clinics. While OMHSAS is still in the process of developing a timeline for the new State Plan Amendment, their team will be working on this as a top priority, with the goal of having a SPA in place in early 2025.

It has been confirmed that OMHSAS will not be shifting their current enforcement policy around the four walls while they work through getting this waiver in place. RCPA will continue its collaboration with OMHSAS on the process as this move forwards. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

For additional information, please see the following:

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