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Mental Health

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Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

Registration is open for the fourth annual virtual psychostimulant symposium, “Overcoming Barriers & Making a Difference.” The symposium will be held Wednesday and Thursday, December 7–8, 2022.

Pennsylvania continues to see a rise in stimulant misuse. However, data continues to show that polysubstance use has increased among individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD), as well. The symposium will use data to tell the story of what is happening across the state and nationwide. In addition, it will focus on addressing current issues that prevent individuals from seeking treatment or maintaining their recovery, barriers to treatment, and strategies to help them while making a difference in Pennsylvania’s communities. The goal of the symposium is to educate and provide resources to attendees to assist in their work to help Pennsylvanians suffering from SUD.

Attendance is free, but registration is required. Register today.

Call 610-494-8044 or email registration with questions.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to share the Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Telehealth Phase II Roadmap, which was developed in collaboration with the OMHSAS Telehealth Steering Committee and Mercer Government Services Consulting. This report focuses on identifying and prioritizing recommendations for short-term and long-term implementation of telehealth services in the Commonwealth. The roadmap includes example documents developed by the Steering Committee that can be used and personalized by the provider when implementing telehealth services. The work of the Steering Committee and other stakeholders has been and will continue to be vital in ensuring that the behavioral health needs of Pennsylvanians continue to be met.

RCPA recommends that your agency reviews the document with your teams as well as compares it to your current policies and practices. These recommendations are not mandates but offer a series of best practices as developed by the Behavioral Health Steering Committee. Additionally, RCPA will conduct an internal review and will request OMHSAS attend the next Telehealth Committee Meeting.

If you have questions regarding this report, please email OMHSAS and/or RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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The Department of Health and Human Services has extended the Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) an additional 90 days to mid-January 2023. The extension will allow for ongoing flexibilities in areas like telehealth and its continuation.

In addition to this 90-day extension, under the Budget Act of 2022, President Biden created a built-in 151-day extension of these flexibilities at the end of any PHE. With that extension, the current flexibilities would be in effect until June 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director. See below for the determination renewal:

RENEWAL OF DETERMINATION THAT A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXISTS

As a result of the continued consequences of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, on this date and after consultation with public health officials as necessary, I, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, do hereby renew, effective October 13, 2022, the January 31, 2020, determination by former Secretary Alex M. Azar II, that he previously renewed on April 21, 2020, July 23, 2020, October 2, 2020, and January 7, 2021, and that I renewed on April 15, 2021, July 19, 2021, October 15, 2021, January 14, 2022, April 12, 2022, and July 15, 2022, that a public health emergency exists and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide.

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The next OMHSAS County/County Affiliate/Provider/Advocate Stakeholder Meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Please register to participate.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Call-in Number: 213-929-4212 / Access Code: 577224169#

We expect there to be several critical updates on telehealth questions that have been submitted, including clarifications on the new verbal consent requirements.

In the meantime, if you have suggestions for agenda topics for October’s webinar, please submit them via email by COB this Friday, 10/14/22.

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Sen. Brooks will introduce a resolution today that directs the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) to study and issue a report on the specific data, calculations, and mechanisms that the Department of Human Services uses to determine the amount of Medical Assistance capitation funding ultimately paid to drug and alcohol addiction treatment providers within the Commonwealth.

The complete resolution, which includes a detailed listing of requirements of what the JSGC must analyze and report, can be viewed here.

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Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

On Wednesday, October 5, 2022, the Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services announced that Deputy Secretary Kristen Houser is resigning. Her resignation takes effect Wednesday, October 19, 2022.

RCPA would like to thank Deputy Secretary Houser for her collaboration and partnership during a critical time in the Commonwealth, including her support in the development of the telehealth bulletin, the Alternative Pay Arrangements between the BH-MCOs and providers, and the funding through the American Rescue Plan Funds for operations and workforce sustainability during COVID-19.

RCPA President and CEO Richard Edley notes, “We greatly enjoyed our time working with Deputy Secretary Houser and appreciate all the energy she brought to OMHSAS. This was particularly notable, as her tenure spanned an especially difficult time through the pandemic. This could only be accomplished with sound leadership. We also look back fondly on her time with RCPA and valued her contribution to the association. We wish Deputy Secretary Houser all the best as she embarks on the next part of her career.”

Read the message from Deputy Secretary Kristen Houser below:

I am writing to share that I have given Acting Secretary Snead my resignation from my position with OMHSAS and have accepted the position of Executive Director of the Free Clinic Association of Pennsylvania. My last day in the office will be Wednesday, October 19.   

It has truly been an honor to serve as the Deputy Secretary for the past two and a half years, and I have learned so much from so many of you. The work you do here is incredibly important, and you have done it through some truly unbelievable times. Many of you have stepped up and stepped in to answer my many questions, provide history and context, share knowledge, teach processes, make introductions, etc., so that I could learn our systems, know our stakeholders, understand our funding and data, and most of all, remember who we serve. Thank you for your support, your dedication, and your work.

I do not know who will step in to the Deputy Secretary position, but Acting Secretary Snead and Executive Deputy Secretary Barnes will share information as soon as they are able.   

Warm regards, 

Kristen 

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Thursday, October 20 — 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
REGISTER

Trauma comes in many forms. Research suggests that individuals with disabilities are two to ten times more likely to experience a traumatic event than the general population. The barriers individuals face related to trauma include increased risk of abuse and a lack of follow through when traumatic events are reports. This session will help to define trauma, inform providers on how to create a trauma-informed practice, and give an overview of empirically-supported trauma interventions from childhood through adulthood.

Presenter: Nicholas DeMarco, Ph.D. Director of ID Mental Health Supports, PMHCC, Inc.
Dr. DeMarco is an experienced behavioral health leader with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. His training was from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

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