The Connection Between Physical and Behavioral Health – And How VBPs Can Incentivize Integrated Care Plans That Address Both
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2023 IPRC Webinar Schedule
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for IPRC’s exciting 2023 educational webinar series!
Complimentary registration for all IPRC webinars is a benefit of your RCPA Membership.
Monday, January 23 : 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
CARF Accreditation: Answering Your Questions From a 30,000 Ft. View Down Into the Weeds
Thursday, February 2 : 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST
Passenger Safety for Children and Adolescents With Special Health Needs
Monday, March 13 : 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
Education and Rehabilitation: Maintaining Continuity Through Rehab to School Re-entry
Thursday, April 6 : 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT
Transition Readiness
Thursday, June 8 : 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
Understanding the Basics of Neuroimaging and Practical Applications for the Pediatric Rehabilitation Provider
Tuesday, August 1 : 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT
Weaving the Concepts of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Into the Fabric of Pediatric Rehabilitation: One Organization’s DEI Journey
Monday, September 18 : 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT
Best Practices for Working With Medical Interpreters in Therapeutic Settings
Thursday, October 19 : 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT
Pediatric Delirium: Impact and Opportunities
Monday, December 4 : 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
Applying Trauma-Informed Principles in Pediatric Rehabilitation
All webinars are recorded and archived. You can access past presentations on the IPRC website.
For more information, contact Cindi Hobbes, IPRC Director.
Addiction Recovery Homes Cutting Off Services as State Implements Regulations
Revised OMHSAS Bulletin: Emergency Involuntary Commitments
PA ABLE Savings Program Webinar Planned for December 6
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), will be conducting a webinar on the topic of the PA Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Savings Program on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am.
A PA ABLE account provides eligible individuals with qualifying disabilities, and their families and friends, a tax-free way to save for disability-related expenses while maintaining government benefits. Federal and state law authorized the creation of PA ABLE accounts. The presentation will be given by a representative from the PA Treasury Department.
OLTL Service Coordinators, Direct Service Providers, Community HealthChoices (CHC) managed care organizations (MCOs), staff, and any individuals that work on employment are strongly encouraged to participate in this webinar that will help you understand the PA ABLE Program and how it can benefit the OLTL participants you serve.
Please register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have questions regarding this email, please contact Ryan Dorsey at OLTL.
DDAP Issues Licensing Alert on Enforcement of Compliance With Act 33
Positive Approaches Journal – Access, Empowerment, and Independence: Employment for All
Articles in this issue of Positive Approaches focus on the importance of employment for individuals with a disability, including those with a serious mental illness, and intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Article topics include the importance of the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities program (MAWD); employment supports available for those who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing; Pennsylvania’s Employment First initiatives; and the role psychological safety plays in employees’ mental health. There are also articles on employment services for individuals with a serious mental illness and examples of medical assistance for workers in action.
This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is available for viewing online or for downloading here.
To print a copy of the PDF, online journal, or a specific article, you will find these options within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page. A new window will open with your selected document. In your browser, you may click the print button in the top left corner of the page, or by using the print capability within your browser.
Please submit feedback regarding your experience with this publication on MyODP by clicking the image below within this email, or by clicking on the feedback image on MyODP within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page.
The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. Please submit any questions or feedback via email.
PA Labor & Industry OVR Quarterly Board Meeting
OVR’s quarterly board meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, December 1, 2022, from 9:00 am – 1:30 pm, and is a hybrid meeting. The physical meeting location is at the Best Western Premier Hotel outside of the city of Harrisburg (800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111), off Route 83, Exit 48. View the meeting link, information, and agenda here.
ID/A Workforce Compensation Survey Due Date Extended
Due to requests for extension to submit the ID/A Workforce Compensation Survey, we are pleased to announce completed surveys will now be accepted through Friday December 2. This survey is a collaborative effort between The Center for Healthcare Solutions (C4HS), The Arc of Pennsylvania, Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association (RCPA), and The Provider Alliance (TPA).
The results of this survey will be critical to validate the need for further investment in community ID/A services. Rate-setting issues such as no inflation factor, setting wages at the 25th percentile, and the application of a 5% overtime factor require data and analysis to refute key rate assumptions.
You can download the survey here. Please forward completed surveys to Steve Forest by December 2, 2022. The comprehensive published report will be released on January 3, 2023.
A collaborative session to provide background and technical assistance on the survey was held on November 2. If you were unable to join, you can access a recording of the session here.
Single County Authorities to Receive $9M in Opioid Settlement Funds
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is awarding $9 million to single county authorities (SCAs) to establish or expand crisis stabilization services for individuals who present with substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health symptoms. Such services include assessment and stabilization of acute physical and psychiatric symptoms, which may include medical management and behavioral interventions, induction on medication-assisted treatment, level of care assessments, short-term stays, and connections to supportive services.
Grants of up to $3 million will be awarded to eligible SCAs and can be applied toward a range of activities, including construction and building infrastructure, staffing, and programming. The SCAs may provide or coordinate the services.
SUD crisis stabilization services must have the capacity to recognize and manage individuals presenting with a wide range of SUD-related symptoms, mental health disorders, and developmental disabilities. Funds can be applied toward a range of activities, including construction and building infrastructure, staffing, and evidence-based programming.
Earlier this year, the General Assembly allocated its 2022 $17 million portion of Pennsylvania’s $1.07 billion opioid settlement to DDAP. The overall settlement was reached between states’ attorneys general and Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson.
DDAP plans to use the remaining money from this year’s opioid settlement allocation to provide treatment and recovery support services to communities of color; address workforce issues; and fund services in the Kensington area of Philadelphia with a $1 million grant. Read more about the crisis services grants.
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