';
Update provided by ANCOR:
Hello ANCOR members! Last week, we let you know that Congress had sent a bill to the President to extend the deadline to apply to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) from the end of March to May 31 instead. President Biden officially signed that legislation into law this week. Note that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that they will give lenders (banks, etc.) an extra 30 days to process applications as long as those applications are submitted by May 31st. To learn more, we encourage our members to visit the SBA’s website for more information – particularly since, as we mentioned previously, it released new application forms to use to apply for forgivable loans.
For your convenience, we share a synopsis of the extension provided by ASAE below:
PPP Extended
President Biden signed into law the two-month extension to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. As a refresher, the legislation extends PPP through May 31 and allows 501(c)(6) organizations and others more time to pursue a second PPP loan. Further, if eligible organizations apply by May 31, the Small Business Administration will permit lenders an additional 30 days to process and approve any outstanding applications.
Eligibility criteria for a second PPP loan are as follows:
The maximum loan amount of a second PPP loan is two-and-a-half times the average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs, up to $2 million.
Please let us know if you have any questions on this topic.
Sincerely,
——————————
Doris Parfaite-Claude
Federal Advocacy and Research Manager
American Network of Community Options and Resources
Alexandria VA
(703)535-7850 (108)
dparfaite-claude@ancor.org
——————————
This article informs all Medicare providers and suppliers who requested and received Covid-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments (CAAPs) that we began recovering those payments as early as March 30, 2021, depending upon the 1 year anniversary of when you received your first payment. It also gives information on how to identify recovered payments. Please be sure your billing staff are aware that the recovery has begun, or will begin soon, but no sooner than 1 year from the date we issued the CAAP to you.
Please SAVE THE DATE for the next OMHSAS Provider / Provider Affiliate / Advocate / Consumer / Family Member stakeholder meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, April 20, 2021 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
This webinar will be directed towards Providers, Provider Associations and Consumers, Family Members, and Advocate stakeholders. The next webinar for Counties and County Affiliates is scheduled for Friday, April 9, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. We ask stakeholders to join in only one monthly meeting, whichever one that would best suit their interests.
If you have suggestions for agenda topics, please submit them via email to OMHSAS by close of business on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. We will monitor the account and will reply to the sender if more information is needed. Please be advised that responses will not be provided if additional information is not needed.
Below is the webinar registration info for the April 2021 Provider / Provider Affiliate / Advocate / Consumer / Family Member Webinar, which will take place on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 3:00 pm. Please register for OMHSAS Provider/Advocate Stakeholder Meeting on Apr 20, 2021 3:00 PM EDT here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.
Pandemic Era Use of Telehealth Procedures in Pennsylvania
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 had a dramatic impact on the practice of behavioral health and other social services, which led many agencies to provide some or all their services via telehealth procedures. It has been reported that 80% of all behavioral health visits in the pandemic era have been virtual, with Medicare claims for telehealth services increasing from 13,000 per week to 1.4 million per week.
To gain Pennsylvania specific information regarding the use of telehealth procedures, RCPA, in partnership with Woods Services, surveyed members that utilized telehealth as part of their behavioral health and consumer engagement strategies during the pandemic. After a year of implementing telehealth as a primary mode of service delivery, the responses support the initial success of this modality – although there are ongoing challenges.
The survey data went through a detailed analysis by Woods Services, and an outcomes analysis report was developed that viewed the intersection of practitioner, consumer, and payer operational and fiscal metrics. The Executive Summary and Policy Recommendations provide a supportive foundation for RCPA’s ongoing efforts in creating a sustainable telehealth platform that will ensure equity and access to quality care in PA.
Please see the Full Report and the Executive Summary for review. For more information, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.
Do you believe older adults and individuals with disabilities should have easier access to mental health services? (We certainly do).
Currently, marriage and family therapists and licensed mental health counselors are not eligible Medicare providers, despite the important role they play in delivering treatment, recovery, and prevention services.
However, there is new legislation to change that – and it needs your support!
On March 18, Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) reintroduced the Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S. 828). This legislation would allow marriage and family therapists and licensed mental health counselors to participate in the Medicare program, dramatically expanding access to care for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
This simple change would immediately increase patients’ access to needed care, particularly in underserved communities, rural areas, and areas with a mental health workforce shortage.
Thank you to those of you who already took action to ask your Representatives to cosponsor the House version.
Sincerely,
Chuck Ingoglia
President and CEO
National Council for Behavioral Health