The Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) public meeting originally scheduled for Friday, March 18, 2022, has been rescheduled to Friday, April 8, 2022, from 1:00 pm–2:00 pm. Topics include updates related to DHS’s implementation of EVV.
Please register using this registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is announcing the “Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices” meeting.
Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022
Time: 9:00 am—3:00 pm
Topic: Embracing Behavioral Supports and Meaningful Applications
Please review the attached flyer for detailed session and registration information.
The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet for a budget hearing with the Department of Human Services (DHS) at 10:00 am on Tuesday, March 8. The budget hearing will be livestreamed. Then, at 10:00 am Wednesday, March 9, the House Appropriations Committee will hold its hearing with DHS. That hearing will also be livestreamed.
DHS is budgeting more than $6 billion in capitation to pay for behavioral health services in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/2023. Based on the current fiscal year’s spending, approximately 22 percent, or $1.6 billion, is budgeted to be spent for drug and alcohol, including administration fees paid to behavioral health managed care organizations, according to DHS. The $6 billion is an increase of 11 percent over the $5.4 billion budgeted for FY 2022.
The details of the budget are available in DHS’ 2022/2023 Executive Budget.
The $6 billion behavioral health budget (p. 105 of 399 in the Executive Budget) is comprised of:
The FY 2022/2023 budget also includes $57 million in state dollars for the Behavioral Health Services Initiative (BHSI). BHSI includes state funds to provide treatment services to Pennsylvanians who are uninsured, do not have insurance that covers the service they need, or cannot obtain Medical Assistance benefits. Single County Authorities distribute those dollars per the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol’s Fiscal Manual, according to DHS.
The DHS Executive Budget also breaks out an $80 million line item in both FY 2021/2022 and FY 2022/2023 for the American Society of Addiction Medicine transition (See p. 101 of 399). This $80 million, $16 million of which is state dollars, is included in $6 billion behavioral health capitation budget.
RCPA will continue to update the membership on the budget as it moves toward passage in the coming months.
Today in a meeting with RCPA, Deputy Secretary Ahrens confirmed that even though the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) budget Blue Book indicates that Prudent Pay would be reinstated in Fiscal Year 2022/23, a decision has been made to continue the suspension. We anticipate a formal notification will be forthcoming. While we are grateful for the suspension for an additional year, RCPA will continue working with the legislature for a permanent solution.
The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Adult Protective Services (APS) developed a media toolkit designed for facilities, mandatory reporters, and community members to assist in the awareness of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment of adults ages 18 to 59 living with a disability within the Commonwealth. Learn more about APS and use these resources to help promote APS to your clients, constituents, and network at the Adult Protective Services Media Toolkit web page.
Additionally, there are several dates (that are subject to change) where DHS will be publishing different social media posts that everyone is encouraged to share. These are available at the Adult Protective Services Media Toolkit web page on:
Questions regarding the materials found in the APS Media Toolkit or suggestions of additional resources that might be helpful in promoting the program should be directed to the APS Division.
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