';
Tags Posts tagged with "behavioral health"

behavioral health

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is welcoming public comments on the draft SAMHSA Now Accepting Public Comments on Draft Model Behavioral Health Crisis Services Definitions.

SAMHSA developed the draft Model Behavioral Health Crisis Services Definitions document for state, territory, Tribal, and local entities; crisis services providers; public and private payers; regulators; and help seekers and their supporters to clarify and distinguish the different types of crisis services for people across the nation.

Interested people are invited to submit written comments for these draft definitions from Thursday, November 21, 2024, through Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET.

For more information on the definitions and to submit comments, please visit the Model Behavioral Health Crisis Services Definitions web page on the Crisis Systems Response Training and Technical Assistance Center website at the link below.

Read More Here

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

Registration is now open for the 32nd Annual PA Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, titled “What We Know: Myths or Facts.” Sponsored by Drexel University’s Division of Behavioral Healthcare Education, College of Medicine, the virtual conference will be held December 4 and 5 with both live and pre-recorded presentations addressing topics such as trauma-informed care; working with victims of trafficking and partner violence; neuro and gender diversity; and identifying methods to enhance belonging and inclusion.

The conference brochure includes the schedule, workshop descriptions, plenary bios, and registration information. CE credits will be available.

For more information, email Drexel or visit the BHE conferences website.

Fortifying the Future: Data Privacy & Security in Behavioral Health AI
When: Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 2:00 pm ET
Register Here

In the behavioral health world, few things are more intimate and private than a provider’s conversation with a client.

Keeping those sessions secure — and complying with always-evolving government regulations and ethics concerns — is a top priority for behavioral health organizations looking to implement an AI tool.

Join Eleos Health for a 1-hour virtual discussion on “Fortifying the Future: Data Privacy & Security in Behavioral Health AI.”

Facilitated by Eleos Health’s VP of Customer Success Nisheeta Setlur, attendees will hear from behavioral health AI experts Raz Karmi, CISO of Eleos, and Rony Gadiwalla CIO of GRAND Mental Health, as they break down:

  • Which existing and emerging security regulations and best practices apply to behavioral health organizations — and their AI vendor partners.
  • How to navigate key AI security, compliance, and ethical concerns in a behavioral health setting.
  • What steps orgs must take to protect sensitive client information from AI-specific threats.
  • How Eleos accounts for all of the above in their industry-leading AI platform.

Register here and secure your spot. If you can’t make it live, Eleos will send you a recording to watch at your leisure.

Legislation for Telehealth Flexibilities Introduced:
HB 2560 To Address Psychiatry Time Requirements and “4 Walls”

RCPA is pleased to announce that yesterday, September 10, State Representative Tina Pickett (R-District 10) introduced House Bill 2560, which was referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The legislation is focused on addressing two critical telehealth considerations, including an update of the outpatient psychiatric outpatient time requirements and the Federal Medicaid payment standard known as the “4 Walls.” The latter would abrogate DHS 55 PaCode § 1153.52 Payment Conditions for Various Services and 55 PaCode § 5200.52 Treatment Planning. By addressing the “4 Walls” requirement, telehealth services by a practitioner can be delivered outside the physical outpatient clinics and will be categorized under licensed mobile mental health services.

On a parallel track, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a final rule exception that would eliminate the “4 Walls” requirements among several other actions. On September 9, 2024, RCPA submitted comments regarding the Medicaid Clinic Services 4 Walls Exceptions on behalf of our membership in support of the proposed exception to eliminate this Medicaid standard.

Additionally, the bill requires that providers who want to deliver telehealth services 100% must maintain a written agreement with a geographically proximate outpatient psychiatric clinic that operates a physical facility and provides in-person services at the outpatient psychiatric clinic within 40 miles or 60 minutes travel from the residence of the individual receiving services AND that the written agreement must include a provision that a referred individual must be seen by the geographically proximate outpatient psychiatric clinic within 10 days of the referral.

Finally, the bill addresses the required 50% psychiatric in-clinic time requirements of 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5200 for Psychiatric Outpatient Clinics. The proposed legislation outlines that required psychiatric time may be provided in person or by the use of telebehavioral health technology by psychiatrists, as specified by department regulations. Advanced practice professionals may also provide a portion of the psychiatric time, as specified by department regulations, either in person or by the use of telebehavioral health. Onsite supervision requirements can be performed by either a psychiatrist or an advanced practice professional. Lastly, the legislation permits DHS to issue waivers to fully remote providers so they can serve patients covered by private insurance.

The introduction of the bill represents a unified effort with OMHSAS, our partners in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and stakeholders across the Commonwealth to enhance our system’s capacity to deliver services to those most in need. We ask that you join us in working with your legislators to pass this critical legislation.

RCPA will continue to update members as the legislation advances. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.