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Policy Areas

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Close-up of Hands holding pens and making notes at the conference

The Office of Developmental Programs is pleased to announce the availability of four additional courses in the College of Employment Services (CES).

Employment Services for People with Mental Health Disabilities: In this course we’ll talk about common obstacles facing job seekers with mental health issues, and proven principles and specific skills that can help you support them. In these four lessons, we’ll look at some research-supported ways to help this population succeed in the workforce.

Employment for People with Disabilities and Criminal Histories: Welcome to our course about employment services for people with disabilities and criminal histories. In these two lessons, you will learn about specific strategies that can help you support these job seekers.

Preparing for a Seamless Move from School to Adult Life: In this six part course you’ll learn about strategies and partnerships in schools and communities that support high expectations around work and post-secondary education. You’ll also learn about governmental policies and programs to support employment and post-secondary education.

Ticket to Work: You’ve probably been hearing about the Social Security Ticket to Work program for years. But what is it, and how can it help the job seekers you support? Get an overview of this useful work incentive in this special feature.

If you have questions concerning CES access, please contact the state wide administrator using the following email address and telephone number.
Email
Phone Contact: 866-865-6170

New Organizations:
Olivia Sullivan
860-202-4237

Existing Organizations:
Leigh Evans
404-799-4009

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On August 6, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s (DOH) Holly Simpson, Infection Preventionist in the Bureau of Epidemiology, conducted a webinar titled “PAHAN 569 Update: Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Exposure to COVID-19.” This webinar provided a lot of great information, and a recording of the webinar is now available to view.

Included in the presentation was a review of the information contained in PA HAN 569. This review included topics such as defining a “high-risk” exposure for healthcare personnel (HCP), how and when work exclusion for HCP should occur, testing strategy for HCP, and criteria for reducing work exclusion for HCP to mitigate staffing shortages.

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The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), in a collaboration with the Department of Human Services and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (DHS/OMHSAS), announces the availability of $1,000,000 in funds for the implementation of crisis response or pretrial diversion strategies for justice-involved individuals with Mental Illness/Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders (MI/COD), Intellectual Disorders (ID), and/or autism spectrum disorders.

RCPA is recommending that members connect with their county courts and agencies to gauge interest and potential service provision opportunities. View the memorandum for further details, and please contact your respective Mental Health/Drug & Alcohol/IDD RCPA Policy Director with any questions.

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As announced last week, the COVID-19 pandemic-related Department of Human Services (DHS) Regulatory Suspensions are set to expire on September 30, 2021. RCPA has fielded numerous inquiries as to the ongoing status of telehealth and the implications to the pending end of the regulatory suspensions. The following is a review of this status.

PA Perspective
In February 2020, DHS and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) released an updated Telehealth Bulletin in advance of the pandemic and updated it again in March 2020 with additional flexibilities and guidelines for the use of telehealth. That bulletin is separate and apart from the regulatory suspension standards with the exception of the following:

  1. The signatory responsibility for telehealth encounters;
  2. Audio/telephonic only telehealth for Outpatient Behavioral Health services; and
  3. Audio/telephonic only telehealth for Drug and Alcohol services.

There currently is no Pennsylvania State statute prohibiting the use of telehealth/telemedicine. However, the ending of the regulatory suspensions would specifically affect those three service operations mentioned above.

PA Telehealth Bulletin
Since June of 2020, a statewide Group of Stakeholders, including RCPA, has been engaged in the development of an updated PA DHS/OMHSAS Telehealth Bulletin. This group developed a set of recommendations for operating standards and practices for telehealth in PA.

In our ongoing work and partnership with OMHSAS, we expect the PA Telehealth Bulletin to be released in advance of the Regulatory Suspension end date of September 30, 2021. It is our further expectation that the bulletin will reflect the recommendations of the PA Telehealth Steering Committee and the many operating efficiencies and practices that have been implemented during the last 18 months, including a pathway for audio only communication allowances. This referenced bulletin will only be for OMHSAS-licensed agencies, and we have been informed that other DHS divisions will subsequently release their own telehealth guidelines.

PA Telehealth Legislation
Currently in the PA State House and Senate, there are also two compatible telehealth bills that have been drafted. RCPA has been working with the legislators on the impacts of House Bill 1573 and Senate Bill 705. The bills essentially address many of the current practices of telehealth, including audio-only, but many of the current flexibilities have not been adequately addressed. RCPA continues its work in both the House and Senate on language and practices that ensure parity, equity, and access should this legislation continue through its process.

Federal Telehealth
There are more than 100 telehealth-related bills that have been introduced in this 117th Congress, and many capture the needed flexibilities that ensure best practices and access to services for practitioners and consumers. The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) as well as the Office of Civil Rights and Compliance are reviewing these standards, including the use of audio/telephonic only telehealth delivery. RCPA continues to advocate through our State and Federal Legislators and the National Council of Wellbeing on any pending telehealth legislation.

If you have questions of feedback, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp or your RCPA Policy Director.

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The Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) issued the following time-sensitive information that includes links to very important surveys regarding COVID-19 vaccine access and vaccination rates. Please take a few minutes to complete these. Additional instructions are included in this handout.

COVID-19 cases are increasing around the country and in Pennsylvania due to the Delta Variant. In order to continue to support our long-term and congregate care facilities and keep residents and staff safe, the Departments of Health (DOH) and Human Services (DHS) need to understand current vaccination rates for people receiving care and staff in licensed residential setting as well as providers’ abilities to access vaccines for staff and residents.

Please complete both surveys linked below by Friday, August 20:

  • DOH Vaccine Access Status
    • If you have any questions about the survey or how to access COVID-19 vaccines, please email DOH with the subject of the email “Long-Term Care Facility Survey Questions.”
  • DHS Vaccination Rate Survey (instructions here):
  • Both surveys are brief and will provide the most up-to-date information of how your facilities access vaccines as well as current vaccination rates at your facilities.

Your response to these surveys will help us ensure that your staff and residents can get a COVID-19 vaccine if they have not yet received one or, if necessary, receive a booster if they are recommended. We know that unvaccinated individuals are most at-risk of infection and complications related to the Delta Variant. DOH, DHS, and our partners strongly urge that all people who are eligible protect themselves and all around them by getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Please continue to encourage your staff and residents who are not yet vaccinated to protect themselves and get their shot.

Thank you for your support in our fight against COVID-19.

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The Drug & Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania (DASPOP) has sued the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, calling DDAP’s and DHS’s transition to ASAM from the Pennsylvania Client Placement Criteria (PCPC) unlawful and unconstitutional. DASPOP is seeking injunctive relief that prevents DDAP and DHS from enforcing or moving forward with the ASAM alignment and other aspects of the ASAM transition until the formal regulatory review process required by Pennsylvania law has been completed.

Further, the lawsuit asks the court to declare that DHS, as administrator of Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance program, is required to use PCPC in making addiction treatment placement, continued stay, and discharge decisions, and to prohibit DHS from using or requiring the use of ASAM Criteria 3rd Edition.

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