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DHS

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The Department of Human Services (Department) issued bulletin OMHSAS-16-03, “Revised Procedure for Waiver of Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Program Regulations and Standards,” on April 19, 2016, to update and clarify the procedure for submitting and processing of waiver requests to OMHSAS. OMHSAS has issued OMHSAS-24-04 to further update regulatory waiver language and the process to appeal a waiver determination. The issued bulletin can be found here. OMHSAS-16-03 is obsoleted by this bulletin.

OMHSAS licenses or approves community mental health facilities and agencies and other service providers operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In accordance with this responsibility, the Department’s authorized agents periodically inspect mental health facilities and agencies. If regulatory requirements are met, certificates of compliance or approvals are granted under Article IX of the Human Services Code (62 P.S. §§ 901 – 922) or under Article X of the Human Services Code (62 P.S. §§ 1001 – 1080).

Pursuant to applicable regulations, a facility or agency may request a time limited waiver of regulations or program standards, or a portion of regulations or program standards. All regulatory waiver requests are subject to applicable waiver of standard requirements as outlined by each chapter or bulletin. In reviewing any such waiver request, OMHSAS will consider whether the facility or agency has demonstrated that substitute measures assure the health, safety, and welfare of all individuals who reside in the facility or who receive services from the agency.

Please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp with any questions.

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The Department of Human Services’ Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) is supporting a specialized training effort addressing child abuse recognition and reporting training for residential facilities through a contract with the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA) to provide training child residential staff, their related purchasing entities, and local law enforcement agencies.

Title of Training: Reporting Requirements for Children Served in Residential Care Facilities
Training Hours: 3 Hours 
Format: Live, Virtual
Register for an upcoming Training:

  1. December 17: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
  2. December 19: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
  3. December 20: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Training Summary:

This training is for providers and other child-serving entities and clarifies what allegations must be reported to ChildLine as suspected child abuse and/or HCSIS as a reportable incident, as well as further clarifies when an alternative plan of supervision must be put into place. This training also teaches minimal facts interviewing skills to better determine when to make a report and explains how those reports of suspected child abuse are categorized and handled at ChildLine. Lastly, internal follow-up recommendations and communication are discussed. Other entities that interact with these 3800 facilities are also welcome to attend – OCYF Regional Office Reps, Law Enforcement, MCOs, etc.

This training mirrors the information outlined in the OCYF Bulletin # 3800-21-01 issued January 19, 2021, and is an additional training (not a replacement for the mandated reporter training).

Please reach out to COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp with any questions.

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Living the D.R.E.A.M! Creating a Culture of Health and Wellness for All
December 4, 2024
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference “Living the D.R.E.A.M.” During this session, SPIN will provide an historical overview of how they created a culture of health and wellness by engaging all stakeholders in living a healthy lifestyle. Presenters will showcase SPIN’s mission of inclusive and holistic meaningful activities in the community and SPIN Community & Fitness, a gathering and welcoming place for the whole community. The D.R.E.A.M team model, including the vision and purpose, elements of “Living the D.R.E.A.M,” and lessons learned for successful incorporation into everyday lives, will be featured.

Registration is now open.

See the announcement for a full session description, presenter biographies, and how to register.

Email with any questions.

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Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

Message from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL):

The Commonwealth is working collaboratively — Governor Shapiro’s office and the health hub agencies (Health, Human Services, Drug and Alcohol Programs, and Insurance) — to develop a statewide maternal health strategic plan. We need your help to make it a robust, comprehensive, collaborative, living, and most importantly, active plan.

As you are likely aware, Pennsylvania, like the nation, is experiencing a maternal health crisis.

According to the Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee report, in 2020, Pennsylvania residents experienced a pregnancy-associated mortality ratio of 83 deaths per 100,000 live births with large disparities identified. In total, 107 individuals lost their lives during pregnancy, delivery, or up to one year postpartum.

Those numbers are far worse for Black women, where the rate was twice as high at 163 deaths per 100,000.

We also know that women and birthing people with disabilities experience unique challenges and needs on their health journey, so we are inviting you to join us for a 90-minute Zoom listening session where members of the Commonwealth’s health agencies and members of the statewide maternal health strategic plan can engage with you to learn what specific needs you have and how you feel the Commonwealth should address those needs.

We want our strategic plan to address all Pennsylvania women and birthing people, and sharing your voice at this listening session will help inform our plan.

The Zoom listening session is scheduled from 10:00 am – 11:30 am, on Friday, December 6, 2024. Please RSVP electronically by December 1 if you plan to attend. We will send the Zoom link by end of day December 4 to those who RSVP.

Thank you for considering spending 90 minutes with the disability community and state health team members to share your thoughts and needs around maternal health.

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Today the Department of Human Services (Department) published final notice of Fee Schedule Rates for services funded through the Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS), and Adult Autism Waivers and the Department-established fees for base-funded services as a correction to the rates previously published August 1, 2024.

Due to a calculation error, the Department has made corrections to the Fee Schedule Rates for the following services funded through the Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS Waivers and base-funding:

  • Community Participation Support, effective July 1, 2024; and
  • Life Sharing Without Day 1-person needs group 3 and 4, effective October 1, 2024.

Additionally, due to a mistake in aligning the procedure code with the correct Statewide fee, the Department is republishing the Fee Schedule Rates for the following services funded through the Adult Autism Waiver effective July 1, 2024:

  • Residential Habilitation
  • Specialized Skill Development
  • Supported Employment
  • Career Planning
  • Therapies
  • Day Unit Respite
  • 15-Minute Unit Respite
  • Supports Coordination
  • Transportation — Trip

This publication presents an opportunity for providers to appeal these specific rates. The deadline for filing an appeal for these rates is December 2, 2024.

For further information, view ODPANN 24-107 or contact Carol Ferenz, IDD Division Director.

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