The Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series (Virtual Zoom) Session presents Medical Experts Sharing Perspectives of Supporting Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities and Autism. Registration now open for this event, which is scheduled for November 30, 2023, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. See the flyer for session descriptions, presenter biographies, and information on how to register.
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has released the agenda and details to register for the November 1, 2023, Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting. The mission of the MLTSS Subcommittee is to be a resource to the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC), enabling the Committee to advise the Department of Human Services (DHS) and OLTL on issues regarding access to services and quality of service.
The meeting will be held in person at the PA Department of Education Honors Suite, 1st floor, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126 and also via webcast. The call information is below:
Conference line 1-914-614-3221 PIN: 807353414#
Webinar Link
Comments and questions may be submitted via email.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced a Statewide Quarterly Positive Approaches & Practices Virtual Meeting on October 12, 2023. It will be held from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm and will be regarding “Navigating Crisis Intervention in Human Services.” View the flyer for complete details.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has made the Medical Assistance (MA) and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Managed Care Quality Strategy (MCQS) for the Commonwealth available for public review and comment. The MCQS is an updated version of the previous strategy submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in December 2020 and accounts for the ongoing post-pandemic delivery system pressures that have affected how managed care organizations (MCOs) deliver care. The MCQS may be viewed online. Comments may be submitted via email, and those received within 30 days will be reviewed and considered. Additional information is available on the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.
The Pennsylvania Office of Children, Youth and Families (PA OCYF) has announced that the Pennsylvania 5-Year Prevention Plan for the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was officially approved by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) on August 15, 2023. This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance and strengthen our state’s child welfare and family support systems. This also brings to a close a two-year approval process toward the plan, which outlines the comprehensive framework that Pennsylvania will implement to fulfill the requirements and goals set forth by the Family First Prevention Services Act. This legislation seeks to prioritize family-based services aimed at preventing the unnecessary placement of children in foster care, promoting family stability, and improving overall outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
The effective dates of the Pennsylvania 5-year Prevention Plan for FFPSA will be from October 1, 2021, to October 1, 2026. As Pennsylvania moves forward with the implementation of this plan, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) is excited about the positive impact it will have on the lives of Pennsylvania’s children and families. PA OCYF acknowledges the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including partner agencies, community organizations, and dedicated professionals who have contributed to the development of this comprehensive strategy.
Should you have any inquiries or require further information regarding the approved Prevention Plan, its strategies, or the implementation timeline, please do not hesitate to visit Pennsylvania’s Family First website or submit an inquiry through the Pennsylvania Specific Family First Questions Form.
OCYF Leadership will be on the RCPA Children’s Division Meeting on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 1:00 pm and will cover this and other topics. If you have questions or feedback, please contact RCPA Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.
On behalf of the RCPA Community Residential Rehabilitation (CRR) service providers and the individuals of Pennsylvania that they serve, RCPA submits our CRR Regulatory Reform Recommendations to the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). The current lack of access to care is a result of the workforce crisis and operational requirements of implementing the regulations. We feel these access issues and individuals waiting for services are compelling reasons, in the interest of the public, to merit a review of the regulations based on section 8.1 of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P.S. § 745.8a).
The COVID-19 DHS regulatory flexibilities provided relief for providers, and OMHSAS continues to offer waivers to agencies experiencing critical staffing shortages. Providers are grateful for these temporary solutions; however, these waivers do not address the long-term impacts of the current regulatory requirements. Providers continue to struggle to hire qualified staff and contend with burdensome operational requirements, many of which negatively contribute to the efficiency of care delivery. Therefore, many of the guidelines that were allowed under the suspension of regulations and frequent waiver requests are incorporated into recommendations for permanent improvements to the regulations.
Our recommendations place focus on the care of the individuals and address the challenges and barriers CRR service providers have faced in creating the staffing infrastructures and meeting the burdensome operational protocols for regulatory compliance. The overreaching nature of the regulations, coupled with the impact of the pandemic, has caused great strain on an already depleted behavioral health workforce. These system stressors limit the ability to provide vital, quality services to individuals. Under current regulations, programs are forced to focus on administrative details that do not have a meaningful effect on the actual care of the individual.
These CRR Regulatory Recommendations will also be directed to the Governor’s Policy Office, the Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Arkoosh, and members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
RCPA would like to thank the members of the CRR Regulatory Review team for their focused and diligent efforts to make this submission possible. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
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