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Mental Health

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services is pleased to invite stakeholders to an informational webinar. This webinar will highlight significant sections of the proposed Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) regulations that received the highest number of comments during the comment period. The proposed PRTF regulations will codify the minimum licensing standards, Medical Assistance (MA) participation requirements, and payment conditions for PRTFs that provide medically necessary behavioral health treatment to children, youth, or young adults under 21 years of age with a behavioral health diagnosis.

OMHSAS has worked collaboratively with the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth & Family Services (PCCYFS) and RCPA in planning for the May 21, 2025, meeting. RCPA has offered limited space for those who would like to attend in-person; the in-person meeting will be held at 777 East Park Drive, Suite G-4, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Virtual attendance through TEAMS is also an option. In-person attendance is limited to 55 individuals (no more than one individual per organization). Stakeholders may register for in-person attendance by contacting Emma Sharp.

Additional information will be distributed closer to the meeting date. We hope you will join us on May 21, 2025, at 10:00 am!

Questions or comments about this webinar should be sent electronically.

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Meeting ID: 293 767 570 019 7
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Phone conference ID: 333 559 543#

Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp for in-person registration.

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Last year, RCPA met with its provider members regarding the provision of group psychotherapy services via telehealth in the client’s home. RCPA then met with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) to discuss the possibility of allowing this flexibility in an effort to fully realize the use of telehealth technology to enhance access.

Today, the Department of Human Services’ Medical Assistance (MA) Bulletin #99-25-02 outlines revisions to the MA fee schedule. The following changes are specific to behavioral services and are effective May 1, 2025:

  • Procedure code 99452 (Interprofessional Services) is now open for provider type (PT)/Specialty combination 08/184 (Outpatient Drug and Alcohol).
  • Place of Service (POS) 10 — Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home is now available to use with the procedure code 90853 (group psychotherapy) for PT/Specialty combination 08/110 (Psychiatric Outpatient).

Please see the section titled “Behavioral Health Services” on page 6 of the bulletin for additional information related to these revisions.

If you have questions about these changes, please reach out to OMHSAS electronically or RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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RCPA, in partnership with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, requested that Governor Shapiro proclaim May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. RCPA received the following proclamation from the Governor’s office, and we thank Governor Shapiro, his administration, providers, and systems stakeholders for their commitment to serving this vulnerable population.

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The Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced a Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series, More Than a Smile: Why Oral Health Matters.

This session will provide an Empowering Presentation on Oral Health and Disability Care! Learn from experts behind Special Outreach Services (SOS), an oral health education program for caregivers of people with disabilities, and Special Smiles, Ltd., a dedicated dental clinic providing anesthesia-supported care for individuals with disabilities. This presentation will dive into the powerful connection between oral health and overall wellbeing — plus, you’ll walk away with practical, proven strategies to improve daily oral hygiene for individuals. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore inspiring stories, impactful outcomes, and the meaningful history of two organizations making a real difference.

The Virtual Session will be held Monday, July 21, 2025, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

REGISTRATION LINK: Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series

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TrueNorth Wellness Services announces the appointment of Chuck Smith as Interim CEO, while the Board of Directors begins a search for the next Chief Executive Officer. Along with Chuck, the leadership team of Cheryl Jones (CFO), Elspeth Williams (COO), and Senior Directors Michelle Shearer, Erin Glenn, and Cori Reed will continue to be available to stakeholders and staff alike. During this transition, we remain committed to the same level of quality and responsiveness that you’ve come to expect from TrueNorth. As we recognize the milestone of delivering services for 50 years, we are looking forward to the exciting possibilities that the future holds for our organization.

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RCPA is excited to share our growing list of sponsors and exhibitors who are committed to supporting our 2025 Conference Strive to Thrive! This event, which will be held September 9 – 12 at the Hershey Lodge, is a highlight for the PA health and human services fields. We would like to thank the organizations who have committed their support already; you can view them below as well as on our Conference website!

The conference is only four months away! We will soon be assigning booth numbers to exhibitors, and there are still many opportunities available for sponsorship and exhibit booths. Don’t delay! View this year’s Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertiser Brochure, which features detailed lists of all the ways your organization can thrive at our conference. These include networking opportunities in Connections Hall and new sponsorship items, such as the registration table!

Sign Up Now!
Sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who wish to be listed on the website, the mobile app, and in the conference program must submit all materials by August 20. The association looks forward to welcoming you at the conference! Space and opportunities are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and no reservation is considered complete without payment. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

View our sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website!

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Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

Earlier this year, Community Care Behavioral Health (CCBH) notified Behavioral Health Services of Somerset and Bedford Counties, Inc. (BHSSBC) of their intent to withdraw from servicing the HealthChoices contract with the counties. In April, BHSSBC announced that they are working to transition its subcontract from CCBH to Magellan Behavioral Health Services of Pennsylvania, Inc., one of five behavioral health managed care organizations (BH-MCO) in the commonwealth, with an effective transition date of November 1, 2025. The primary goal is to provide a seamless transition for providers to prevent any disruption in the delivery of crucial behavioral health and/or substance use disorder services to their members.

All parties will continue to work collaboratively in an effort to promote the delivery of high-quality behavioral health and substance use disorder services to the community.

BHSSBC is one of 24 primary contractors in Pennsylvania’s Behavioral HealthChoices program. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) receives federal Medicaid funding and enters contracts with these primary contractors, who then enter contracts with BH-MCOs, which, among other responsibilities, manage a network of behavioral health providers.

Read BHSSBC’s latest correspondence here.

Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

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Trauma-informed care in the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) has emphasized the importance of trauma-informed approaches in providing technical assistance, training, policy, guidance, support, and monitoring procedures. OCYF has developed and collected many trauma tools and resources that may be helpful for child welfare stakeholders and providers as they proceed on their trauma-informed care continuum, such as their monthly Trauma Tip Sheet.

In the January 2025 Trauma Tip Sheet, the US Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing was introduced, and different topics have been explored in the following months. The May 2025 Trauma Tip Sheet highlights the topic of “Mattering at Work,” and can be read here.

Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

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