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Tags Posts tagged with "DHS"

DHS

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Through a contract with the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA), the Department of Human Services’ Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) is supporting a specialized training on the reporting requirements for incidents involving children served in Child Residential and Day Treatment Facilities. This training is designed for child residential facility staff, their related purchasing entities, law enforcement agencies, OCYF Regional Office Reps, MCO staff, and staff of other entities that interact with Child Residential and Day Treatment Facilities.

Title of Training: Reporting Requirements for Children Served in Residential Care Facilities

Training Hours: Three (3) Hours

Format: Live Virtual

Register for an Upcoming Training:

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, and 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 then 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 meant as additional training (not a replacement for the mandated reporter training).

Please contact Emma Sharp with any questions.

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Effective Monday, June 16, 2025, the PA Consumer Service Center (Inspiritec) began accepting Long-Term Care (LTC) and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) applications over the phone. Individuals can call 1-866-550-4355 to apply for Medicaid, including LTC and HCBS. This information can be found on the DHS website, as well.

To communicate this change, the Department of Human Services (DHS) publicized this info with external stakeholders, posted banner messaging to multiple DHS web pages, added messaging to the Statewide Customer Service Center (CSC) wait time menu, and shared this information internally. DHS also provided Consumer Service Center staff with additional information needed to accurately capture information specific to LTC and HCBS applications.

Questions regarding this initiative can be directed to the DHS helpline at 800-692-7462.

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Image by Dirk Wouters from Pixabay

The PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) has issued a bulletin on the Draft Needs-Based Plan and Budget Guidelines for FY 2026/27. OCYF is seeking comment and feedback to be sent electronically by June 14. The subject of the email should state “Draft NBPB Comments.”

If your organization submits comments regarding this bulletin, please copy RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp on your responses. For members of the RCPA Children’s Residential Services Committee, please contact Emma Sharp for thoughts or guidance that will be included in the RCPA Bulletin Comments.

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The Incident Reporting Cycle From Discovery to Closure
June 25, 2025
10:00 am – 11:30 am

The purpose of this webinar is to provide a high-level overview of the incident management process, specifically the path of an incident report in the incident reporting system, from discovery through closure.

This includes:

  • Determining the discovery date;
  • Initial reporters;
  • Regulatory timeframes;
  • Management reviews;
  • Impacts of management reviews that result in a “Not Approved” status; and
  • Using the workload dashboard.

Audience: All Interested Stakeholders

Registration information to follow.

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Direct Support Professionals (DSP) make a lasting difference in the lives of those they assist, helping individuals of all ages and abilities rise above challenges, embrace new opportunities, and live healthier, more fulfilling lives. The Move Your Way® campaign promotes easy to use, evidence-based physical activity guidance from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Share the recommendations with those you support and inspire them to get more active.

Start the conversation!
When you bring up physical activity, it helps to keep the tone friendly and encouraging. Try these quick conversation starters.

How much physical activity do you get in an average week?
Meet people where they are. Once you have an idea of their current activity level, you can suggest small changes to help them get more active.

Are there activities you’d like to be able to do?
Would they like to run in a 5K? Climb stairs more easily? Explore more outdoor activities? Knowing their motivations can help you work together to set achievable goals. DSPs have the creativity and compassion to modify activities that align with each person’s physical abilities, ensuring they can participate safely and feel proud of their achievements—no matter their starting point.

See the DSP Move Your Way flyer for more tips on starting the conversation.

How can you Move Your Way?
Anything that gets your heart beating faster counts. And it all adds up. Find what works for you! Walking, dancing, gardening, swimming, and stretching are just a few suggestions for weekly movement. Adults need a mix of physical activity to stay healthy. Moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 150 minutes a week, and muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 days a week. Do activities that make your muscles work harder than usual.

Kids and teens ages 6 to 17 need at least 60 minutes every day. Most of it can be moderate-intensity aerobic activity.

At least 3 days a week, encourage them to step it up to vigorous intensity. As a part of their 60 minutes, they also need muscle-strengthening at least 3 days a week and bone-strengthening 3 days a week.

What’s Your Move?
Do you have a weekly movement routine or are you just getting started? Share your story with us!

Send an email with a subject line of “Move Your Way” and ODP may feature your story on MyODP News Online!

Please be sure to fill out the Department of Human Services (DHS) Media Release Form to send with your story!

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African Woman Filling Survey Poll Or Form On Laptop Computer

The Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is conducting an all-stakeholders survey as the first step in the process to develop one proposed chapter of licensing regulations for inpatient psychiatric services in psychiatric units of general hospitals, private psychiatric hospitals, and Extended Acute Care services located within those inpatient settings. The survey provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to submit anonymous input into regulatory development. OMHSAS will review and analyze the responses as part of the process of developing a proposed regulation. This survey is for all stakeholders, including licensed providers. All responses are voluntary.

Please do not include any personally identifying information or contact information in the survey response.

A copy of the survey questionnaire can be found here and is to help you gather the information for the questionnaire. Please do not submit a hard copy or a copy of this document. Use the link provided to respond to the questions. If you have any questions about this survey or any additional feedback to provide on the inpatient regulations work, please send these electronically.

Please submit the completed survey by May 26, 2025.

The All-Stakeholders Survey can be accessed here.

The RCPA Mental Health Division will be convening a steering committee as part of this regulatory process. We have had advanced discussions with OMHSAS, and they will work with RCPA in the regulatory development. Thank you for your interest and participation in this important work. If you have questions or wish to be a part of this steering committee, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

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Last year, RCPA met with its provider members regarding the provision of group psychotherapy services via telehealth in the client’s home. RCPA then met with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) to discuss the possibility of allowing this flexibility in an effort to fully realize the use of telehealth technology to enhance access.

Today, the Department of Human Services’ Medical Assistance (MA) Bulletin #99-25-02 outlines revisions to the MA fee schedule. The following changes are specific to behavioral services and are effective May 1, 2025:

  • Procedure code 99452 (Interprofessional Services) is now open for provider type (PT)/Specialty combination 08/184 (Outpatient Drug and Alcohol).
  • Place of Service (POS) 10 — Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home is now available to use with the procedure code 90853 (group psychotherapy) for PT/Specialty combination 08/110 (Psychiatric Outpatient).

Please see the section titled “Behavioral Health Services” on page 6 of the bulletin for additional information related to these revisions.

If you have questions about these changes, please reach out to OMHSAS electronically or RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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The Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced a Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series, More Than a Smile: Why Oral Health Matters.

This session will provide an Empowering Presentation on Oral Health and Disability Care! Learn from experts behind Special Outreach Services (SOS), an oral health education program for caregivers of people with disabilities, and Special Smiles, Ltd., a dedicated dental clinic providing anesthesia-supported care for individuals with disabilities. This presentation will dive into the powerful connection between oral health and overall wellbeing — plus, you’ll walk away with practical, proven strategies to improve daily oral hygiene for individuals. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore inspiring stories, impactful outcomes, and the meaningful history of two organizations making a real difference.

The Virtual Session will be held Monday, July 21, 2025, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

REGISTRATION LINK: Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series

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Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

Earlier this year, Community Care Behavioral Health (CCBH) notified Behavioral Health Services of Somerset and Bedford Counties, Inc. (BHSSBC) of their intent to withdraw from servicing the HealthChoices contract with the counties. In April, BHSSBC announced that they are working to transition its subcontract from CCBH to Magellan Behavioral Health Services of Pennsylvania, Inc., one of five behavioral health managed care organizations (BH-MCO) in the commonwealth, with an effective transition date of November 1, 2025. The primary goal is to provide a seamless transition for providers to prevent any disruption in the delivery of crucial behavioral health and/or substance use disorder services to their members.

All parties will continue to work collaboratively in an effort to promote the delivery of high-quality behavioral health and substance use disorder services to the community.

BHSSBC is one of 24 primary contractors in Pennsylvania’s Behavioral HealthChoices program. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) receives federal Medicaid funding and enters contracts with these primary contractors, who then enter contracts with BH-MCOs, which, among other responsibilities, manage a network of behavioral health providers.

Read BHSSBC’s latest correspondence here.

Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

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