The Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) have announced that they are holding their Statewide Quarterly Positive Approaches & Practices virtual meeting on Thursday, August 8. The meeting will be held from 10:30 am – 3:00 pm, and the topic will be “Building Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania.”
View the flyer for detailed session and registration information.
The agenda for the August 7, 2024, Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting has been released. The meeting is hybrid and will be held for in-person attendees in the Honors Suite, 1st floor, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126. The meeting is scheduled for 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Comments and questions may be sent electronically. Details for attending via webinar can be found below:
The Department of Human Services has released a new Request for Information (RFI) to assist in determining possible implementation needs for the Commonwealth’s proposed 1115 Demonstration Waiver titled, Bridges to Success: Keystones of Health for Pennsylvania. This RFI will help inform a potential scope of work for private, public, and nonprofit organizations that could serve in the future as a program administrator for the program. If approved and implemented, Keystones of Health would bring new resources to Pennsylvaniaʼs Medicaid program to address health-related social needs (HRSN) that have a direct impact on health care spending and health outcomes. Responses to the RFI are due August 19, 2024 by 12:00 pm.
The proposed Keystones of Health program seeks to expand tools available to address critical health care needs of Pennsylvanians in four main areas: reentry supports, housing resources, food and nutrition services, and continuous health coverage for children under the age of six. This RFI seeks information to assist DHS in implementing the proposed housing, food, and nutrition services for beneficiaries. Through this RFI, the department is seeking knowledge about potential program administrator responsibilities and capabilities for administering these HRSN services. The RFI will also inform aspects of the DHS implementation plan that is currently in development, while the Commonwealth collaborates with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to secure approval. The department encourages respondents and other interested parties to provide feedback by responding to the RFI.
Section 1115 of the Social Security Act gives the federal government the ability to waive certain federal rules that govern Medicaid to allow states to design and evaluate new state pilot projects that promote the general goals of the Medicaid program, helping people live healthier lives. Section 1115 waivers are a major pathway for state innovation in the Medicaid program that many states have leveraged. If approved, and the necessary state funds are appropriated, it would allow DHS to introduce innovative programs and services that address health-related social needs that can improve health and quality of life for Pennsylvanians who access health care through Medicaid.
Submit feedback to DHSʼ Request for Information. The full application, including information on feedback received through public comment, is available on the Keystones of Health web page.
RCPA is reviewing the RFI internally and will meet with interested members on the RFI in the coming week. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.
Due to the Microsoft technology outages that have been reported as of Friday, July 19, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) would like to assess the impacts to Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) licensing. DHS is asking that DHS-licensed entities complete a short survey as it pertains to any of their licensed facilities to determine the impact at the facility level.
Please note that if the outage has affected your facility, you are advised to contact your regional program office. If the disruption is critical, please also contact your local emergency management agency. DHS asks that the survey be completed as soon as possible.
The RCPA Physical Disabilities & Aging Committee meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, July 17, has been cancelled. RCPA is working on a new date for the meeting and will inform members as soon as this has been scheduled.
If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.
On July 11, 2024, Governor Shapiro signed a bipartisan 2024/25 budget that invests in a range of fields, from health care to public transportation to education. The details of the budget are available in the Governor’s Press Release, which highlights each field and dollar amounts signed. In particular, the budget addresses:
RCPA Policy Staff will be reviewing the budget in great detail over the next few days. We plan to reach out to our members with updates and key information as more becomes available and analyzed. If you have any questions regarding the budget, please reach out to your Policy Director.
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced that the quarterly Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provider call on July 18, 2024, from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm, will focus on the Mercer Rate and Wage Study. To participate in the Zoom call, registration is required. Because this is an HCBS Provider Call, registration for the call will be limited to providers who are enrolled with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide any of these particular services to individuals. Participant-Directed Common Law Employers are also encouraged to attend.
Everyone is welcome to submit questions electronically about the HCBS Rate and Wage Study to OLTL in advance. Questions received will be read during the call as time allows, and both questions and answers will be compiled into a Q&A document that will be available afterwards.
If you have any questions about the call itself, please contact Kristi Mundis via email.
