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Mental Health

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking comments on a draft bulletin regarding Consent to Mental Health Treatment for Minor Children. Please submit any comments you have on this draft bulletin via email no later than the close of business on Thursday, June 7, 2018. Should you decide to submit comments, please feel free to copy Robena Spangler, RCPA Children’s Division Director. Thank you for your interest and participation.

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CMS’ Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP) Maternal and Infant Health Initiative (MIHI) Value-Based Payment (VBP) team is hosting a national webinar on Thursday, May 17, 2018, from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET about using VBP strategies to incentivize change in maternal and infant health care delivery models.

During this webinar, participants will learn about VBP and contractual approaches that incentivize the use of innovative maternal and infant health care delivery models within Medicaid and CHIP. The speakers will also describe the considerations for implementing VBP approaches to finance care delivery models that improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Finally, presenters from Ohio and New York will describe the opportunities and challenges they faced when aligning maternal and infant health care delivery models with VBP approaches.

To register for this webinar, please visit this link.

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Earlier this week, RCPA staff attended the 2018 Pennsylvania Interagency Conference in State College, PA. During this event, RCPA was made aware of the following two upcoming conferences on suicide prevention, also to be held during the month of May:

  • State Suicide Prevention Conference on Thursday, May 10 & Friday, May 11 at the Best Western Premier – Harrisburg. Full conference information can be found by visiting this web page.
  • Higher Education Suicide Prevention Conference on Monday, May 21 & Tuesday, May 22 at the Penn Stater – State College. Full conference information can be found here.

Further questions may be directed to Jack Phillips, RCPA Director of Government Affairs.

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On Wednesday, April 25, the State Senate passed HB 478 – the Outpatient Psychiatric Oversight Act – unanimously (49–0). The Senate made technical amendments to the bill, so the bill will now be sent back to the House for a concurrence vote. Once the House votes to concur with the Senate amendments, the bill will head to the Governor’s desk for his signature. The bill was introduced by Rep. Tina Pickett (R – Bradford) after being contacted by RCPA members in her district. RCPA worked with Rep. Pickett, Garth Shipman, Executive Director of the House Insurance Committee, Senator Lisa Baker (R–Luzerne), and Mike Cortez, Executive Director of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee through the legislative process.

Under this legislation, an outpatient psychiatric clinic is required to have a psychiatrist on site for two (2) hours of psychiatric time per week for each full-time equivalent treatment staff member employed by the outpatient psychiatric clinic. HB 478 permits 50 percent of the required onsite psychiatric time be provided by an advanced practice professional specializing in behavioral health with prescriptive authority in this Commonwealth. Telepsychiatry provided by a psychiatrist that is not on site with prescriptive authority in the Commonwealth may be utilized with a service description approved by the Department of Human Services (DHS) but shall not be included in the required psychiatric time required. DHS is directed to promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

HB 478 defines the following terms:

“Advanced practice professional.” A registered, licensed, or certified health care practitioner who has gained additional specialized knowledge, skills, and experience through a program of study in that specialty. A person who:

  1. (I) holds a current Pennsylvania license as a certified registered nurse practitioner with a mental health certification; or

    (II) obtains a mental health certification within two years of being hired by a psychiatric outpatient clinic or within two years of the effective date of this section, whichever is later; or

  1. (I) holds a current Pennsylvania license as a physician assistant with a mental health certification; or

    (II) obtains a mental health certification within two years of being hired by a psychiatric outpatient clinic or within two years of the effective date of this section, whichever is later.

“Full-time equivalent.” Thirty-seven and one-half hours per week.

“Interactive Audio and Video.” Real-time two-way or multiple-way communication between a psychiatrist and an individual.

“Outpatient psychiatric clinic.” A nonresidential treatment setting in which psychiatric, psychological, social, educational, and other related services are provided under medical supervision. It is designed for the evaluation and treatment of individuals of any age with mental illness or emotional distress. Outpatient services are provided on a planned and regularly scheduled basis.

“Psychiatrist.” A physician who has completed at least three years of a residency in psychiatry and is licensed to practice psychiatry in this Commonwealth.

Contact RCPA Director of Government Affairs Jack Phillips with any questions.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), along with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), has announced the availability of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instruction. Mental Health First Aid is an 8 hour educational program in use throughout the country to teach people how to identity, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and offer initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem, or experiencing a crisis.

This course does not teach you to be the professional, the therapist, or counselor. The course aims to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and teaching people to safely and responsibly identify and address situations they may encounter.

Through this ODP/OMHSAS initiative, classes are being offered twice a month at varying locations throughout the state and are free to attend. You must register for classes through MyODP. For further information, use this link to ODP Communication 038-18.

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This statewide conference, scheduled for Wednesday, May 2 – Friday, May 4, 2018 in State College will examine responding to a crisis in the community, with a focus on trauma informed interventions. Topics will include grief, vicarious trauma, working with individuals with autism and other disabilities, LGBTQ, and lessons learned from those who have experienced or responded to a community crisis. The overall goal of the conference is to provide insight into community crisis response; it will also be an opportunity for people to interact with individuals they may not otherwise have contact with, unless a community crisis arises. View the conference agenda here. If you would like to register or have any questions, please follow this link.

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Thank you to our friends at Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (PPC) for sharing this very important announcement and opportunity with us!

House Bill 2133 was introduced at the same time that a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Caucus was created, with over two dozen members signing on in support as co-sponsors. The legislators will work together to learn more about challenges that these caregivers face and collaborate on legislation that will help. The House is now out of session until the week of April 9. The bill could move as early as that week!
What’s Next

Show your support for the Kinship Caregiver Navigator Program by signing your organization onto PPC’s sign-on letter here.

PPC is working to collect the names of organizations who support HB 2133 and will be sending a joint letter to the House to express our support.

If you support HB 2133, please have your organization sign on to the letter here.

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Dr. Renee Turchi was recognized today by her fellow pediatricians and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics as the Pennsylvania Pediatrician of the Year for 2017. Dr. Turchi serves as Medical Director of The Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia and Director of the Pennsylvania Medical Home Initiative. For more than a decade, Dr. Turchi has collaborated with RCPA staff and members to advance collaborative and integrated mental health and pediatric care for children and adolescents. She has worked with RCPA staff, families, and other stakeholders in statewide efforts to improve the care and treatment of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, children in foster and kinship care, and children with mental health conditions related to their complex health care needs in Pediatric Medical Homes across the state. RCPA is pleased to offer our congratulations to Dr. Turchi, a friend to RCPA, and champion for children with complex physical and mental health care needs!

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is in the process of reviewing state regulations for inpatient levels of care. The services included in the review are: private psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric units in hospitals, extended acute care (EACs), residential treatment facilities for adults (RTF-As), and residential treatment facilities for youth under 21 (PRTF).

There is interest in involving individuals and stakeholders in the process. A variety of surveys have been developed in order to get input from individuals who may not have the opportunity to participate on statewide work groups and planning meetings. The surveys below are for the following groups:

Thank you in advance for circulating the surveys to the groups listed above. If you have any questions or concerns related to the surveys, please contact Sherry Peters.

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Lynn Kovich, Deputy Secretary at OMHSAS, held a budget briefing webinar for stakeholders. Topics included state mental health facilities, Community/Hospital Integration Projects Program (CHIPPs) / Southeast Integration Projects Program (SIPPs) summary, regulations overview, 1115 Waiver, Community HealthChoices (CHC), and more. Please see the PowerPoint presentation for details; thank you.

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