Home Policy Areas
OCDEL Opens New Provider Registry Portal
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced the successful migration of data from the old registry site to the new Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Provider Registry website. All users can now log in to the new site and access all of their information. Users will still be able to log into the old site for any Early Childhood Education related activities but will now use the new site for all Early Intervention related tasks.
Please update your bookmarks with the new link. If you encounter any issues or have questions, please utilize the “Contact Us” button on the site or email directly. For all other Early Intervention related questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
PA DOH Extends Deadline for CYSHCN Symposium Presenter Submissions
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, is extending the deadline for presentation submissions for the annual Symposium on Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN), which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Best Western Premier, Harrisburg, PA. This one-day, in-person event convenes public health professionals and community stakeholders involved in CYSHCN care. Individuals, entities, and self-advocates serving CYSHCN are encouraged to submit presentation proposals. The new submission deadline is Friday, February 9, 2024. For more information and workshop guidelines, consult the Symposium Speakers page. Please refer to the attached Call for Presentations form for additional details and workshop guidelines. Inquiries and submissions should be directed to Katrina Harris, Event Planner.
ODP Issues Guidance for Implementing Changes to Remote Supports and Assistive Technology
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-015.The purpose of this communication is to provide guidance for implementing changes to assistive technology and remote supports in the amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) and Adult Autism Waivers. View the announcement and the forms below for details.
Registration Now Open for March 2024 CI Forum
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-014. The purpose of this announcement is to communicate that Temple University Harrisburg Certified Investigator Program and ODP will be facilitating Forums for Certified Investigators (CI) and others involved in the incident investigation process. This also announces the posting of Q&A documents from past CI Forums on myODP. Please view the announcement for information and details.
RCPA Advocacy Efforts and Telehealth Update
In response to the recent developments on the delivery of telehealth services and its intersection with Federal Medicaid payment standards outlined in the “4 walls” requirements, RCPA has widened its efforts in addressing the barriers currently in place. It has been determined that the most effective route to address this would be through legislation. The necessary changes cannot be achieved through a revised Tele-Behavioral Health Bulletin.
RCPA has been working with a bipartisan team of legislators on an updated version of Act 76 to address our limited access to psychiatric services through utilization of our advanced practice professionals. We are working with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), our stakeholders, and the legislative committees to introduce a bill that would address both the psychiatric office time and the “4 walls” service delivery barriers.
Our members’ feedback over the last few days and during the OMHSAS telehealth forum on Monday has provided an invaluable backdrop to our efforts. RCPA is focused on working with our legislators and stakeholders to introduce this bill, and we will look to our members for support with these efforts. Additionally, we continue our daily efforts with our partners at OMHSAS, who are jointly committed to creating this viable and sustainable effort to preserve Medicaid service access to those most vulnerable in our Commonwealth.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
CMS Allocates $50M for School-Based Health Services Expansion
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced $50 million in grants to enhance school-based health services for children, particularly focusing on mental health. The grants, made possible by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), will provide up to $2.5 million each to 20 states through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CMS aims to connect millions of children to critical healthcare services, emphasizing the convenience of school-based care and its impact on children’s health and educational outcomes. The grants, supporting preventive, behavioral, and physical healthcare, hope to encourage more states to cover school-based health services and enhance existing programs. The application deadline for the grants is March 25, 2024. For further details, visit the grant’s information web page. The full press release is available on the CMS website.
CMS Issues FAQ on Extended Postpartum Coverage in Medicaid and CHIP
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a set of frequently asked questions (FAQ) supplementing the 2021 State Health Official (SHO) letter about extending postpartum coverage in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The FAQ offer guidance to state Medicaid programs on the new option allowing states to provide 12 months of extended postpartum coverage to pregnant individuals in Medicaid and CHIP. They clarify what constitutes full benefits during this extended eligibility period and address whether states need to submit a state plan amendment (SPA) for coverage modifications. For more details, view the FAQ here.
Shapiro Administration Announces $18M to Aid SUD Workers’ Student Debt
Governor Shapiro and Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs have announced an $18 million funding initiative to assist practitioners in the substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, prevention, case management, and recovery support services workforce. The SUD student loan repayment program aims to address workforce shortages by providing loan repayment opportunities to retain professionals in the field. This initiative, funded by the Opioid Settlement Fund and Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program Fund, supports practitioners, including physicians, nurses, counselors, and case managers. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2024, through the online portal. Practitioners are eligible for up to $75,000 for full-time practice or $37,500 for half-time practice. The program prioritizes those in rural areas with SUD workforce shortages and counties with underserved minority populations. For more information and application details, visit the DDAP Funding Opportunities page. Questions can be sent electronically.
HHS Offers Free Cultural Competency Training for Behavioral Health Professionals
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is offering online trainings to enhance cultural competency for mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) professionals, particularly in serving historically marginalized populations. These trainings, available through the Improving Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals program, aim to increase awareness of cultural and language competency, biases, and clients’ cultural identities and needs. The four courses, with an estimated completion time of 4–5.5 hours, cover topics such as self-awareness, understanding clients’ cultural identities, and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions and services. The training is free but requires registration.
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