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Tags Posts tagged with "OMHSAS"

OMHSAS

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released the OMHSAS-24-05 Peer Support Services (PSS) Bulletin and PSS Provider Handbook, updating the requirements for Peer Support Services. OMHSAS significantly reorganized the existing language in the Handbook to better clarify which requirements apply to OMHSAS licensure and which apply to Medical Assistance payment. Along with these formatting changes, OMHSAS-24-05 includes the following updates:

  • Staff Qualifications and Requirements for Certified Peer Specialists (CPS)
    • The requirement for a CPS to have a high school diploma or GED has been removed.
    • The requirement for a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) or Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) has been replaced with a requirement to have a mental health diagnosis. Please note, to be eligible to receive PSS services, there is still a requirement for “the presence or history of an SMI or SED.”
    • The clause requiring CPSs “to attain certification through the PCB within six months of hire” has been removed, as the certification examination is now available on-demand, eliminating the need for a grace period for testing to be completed.
  • Staff Qualifications and Requirements for CPS Supervisors
    • Adding a new qualification category for individuals with an associate degree.
    • Supervisory meetings held in an audio-only format shall not be considered supervision.
    • Supervisory meetings shall be provided at a minimum of one hour each week.
  • Telehealth
    • The prior requirement that only 25% of total services provided per beneficiary per calendar year can be delivered by telephone has been removed.
    • PSS may be provided via telehealth technology, including audio-only service delivery, when it is clinically appropriate to do so.
    • PSS providers must ensure that the preference of individuals receiving services (or their legal guardian) is given a high priority when determining the appropriate service delivery modality.

Please review all other revisions to OMHSAS-24-05 here.

Comments and questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to:
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Bureau of Policy, Planning and Program Development,
P.O. Box 2675,
Harrisburg, PA 17105
General Office Number: 717-772-7900
Email

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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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 Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to release the Partial Hospitalization Regulatory Compliance Guide (RCG). This guide has been developed to provide clear explanations of the regulatory requirements of Title 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5210 “Partial Hospitalization” regulations. It is meant to help agencies providing partial hospitalization services with the goal of ensuring safe environments and effective services to individuals through regulatory compliance, and to help OMHSAS Licensing Representatives protect individuals served by these programs by conducting consistent and comprehensive inspections.

This guide is a companion piece to Title 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5210 regulations. It is intended to be a helpful reference for these regulations. The explanatory material contained in this guide in no way supplants the plain meaning and intent of the regulations set forth in 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5210.

The guide can be accessed here.

Feedback or questions on the RCG can be sent electronically. If you have additional questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is working on developing Regulatory Compliance Guides (RCG) for each licensed level of care to support their commitment to quality in licensing. The RCG is a tool for providers, OMHSAS staff, and the public to better understand the regulations.

This Regulatory Compliance Guide is a companion piece to 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5200. It is intended to be a helpful reference for these regulations. The explanatory material contained in this guide in no way supplants the plain meaning and intent of the regulations set forth in Chapter 5200.

OMHSAS issued the first version of the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic RCG in November 2021. Today, they are reissuing an updated Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic RCG. The changes made were primarily to language and updates based on comments received on the original document.

Feedback or questions on the RCG can be sent electronically.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO Jim Sharp.

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Image by DarkmoonArt_de from Pixabay

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced the 2025 quarterly meeting dates for next year’s OMHSAS Stakeholder Webinars and asks that you mark your calendars.

2025 OMHSAS STAKEHOLDER WEBINAR DATES:

  • January 30, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • April 24, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • July 17, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  • October 23, 2025 — 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

In the meantime, if you have suggestions for agenda topics for January’s webinar, please submit them via email. We will monitor the account and will only reply to the sender if more information is needed. Responses will not be provided if additional information is not needed.

Please note that webinar links will be provided closer to each of the meeting dates as shown above.

Thank you for your review and please – SAVE THE DATE.

If members have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.

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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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On Friday, November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an anticipated Final Rule titled “CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1809-FC),” which includes three new exceptions for the federal “four walls” rule. At present, the “four walls” rule prohibits Medicaid payment for clinic services when both the practitioner and individual receiving service are outside of the “four walls” of the clinic unless the services are being provided to unhoused individuals (such as through street medicine). The new exception for Indian Health Services and Tribal Facilities is required nationally. The exceptions for Behavioral Health Clinics and Rural clinics are optional. States who determine that their Behavioral Health Clinic and/or Rural Health Clinic populations served meet the four criteria established by CMS (see page 1323 of the final rule) must submit a Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) and receive approval from CMS for these exceptions to be in place for their state.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) had been working toward a short-term state level solution to the four walls issue for both Outpatient Psychiatric Clinics and Drug and Alcohol Clinics. However, now that a long-term federal option has been made available, the team in OMHSAS will be pivoting to pursue this newly available federal exception for Behavioral Health Clinics. While OMHSAS is still in the process of developing a timeline for the new State Plan Amendment, their team will be working on this as a top priority, with the goal of having a SPA in place in early 2025.

It has been confirmed that OMHSAS will not be shifting their current enforcement policy around the four walls while they work through getting this waiver in place. RCPA will continue its collaboration with OMHSAS on the process as this move forwards. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

For additional information, please see the following:

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) recently sent out information to County Mental Health Administrators to alert each of them to an upcoming funding opportunity. This funding supports OMHSAS’s efforts to equip the ICWCs for alignment with the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) model, which includes providing robust crisis services. Additional information regarding the OMHSAS plan for the expansion of the ICWC model is forthcoming, but clinics should still take advantage of this potential opportunity. The ICWCs are encouraged to contact their county representatives to express interest in participating in the start-up project for walk-in crisis services.

An informational meeting for County Partners will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Please do not submit any applications to OMHSAS, as the application must come from the County Partner(s) in order to be considered.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to your County Partner. Please see below for the information that was shared.

Upcoming Funding Opportunity: Emergency Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-In Centers (EBHC Walk-In Centers)

OMHSAS is excited to announce a new funding opportunity for County Mental Health Administrators aimed at supporting the establishment of Emergency Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-In Centers (EBHC Walk-In Centers). This opportunity offers up to five grants, with a total funding request of up to $3 million per project. Each grant will consist of a blend of $1 million in state funds and $2 million from the federal Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (CMHSBG).

Funding Breakdown:

  • State Funding: Can be used for infrastructure, purchasing property, construction, and/or service provision.
  • Federal CMHSBG Funding: Limited to services for individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI)/Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), provider training, and rent/utilities.

Key:

  • New Walk-In Centers in Rural Areas: Particularly those formed through multi-county partnerships, beyond joinder counties.
  • Applicants that have not previously received CMHSBG funding for crisis start-up projects will be prioritized.

If you have further questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp.

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The Division of Licensing Administration has created tutorials to assist with the electronic payment of application, certificate, fines, and appeals fees. A different tutorial has been designed for each program office and payment type. The tutorials give step-by-step instructions for completing the payment of fees for each office.

A new applicant tutorial has also been created. This tutorial will give applicants step-by-step instructions to complete and submit the Application for a Certificate of Compliance (HS633) to become a licensed provider of a human services setting. The HS633 has been revised, and the updated version is available here.

The following tutorials can be accessed on the Application for Human Services License website as well as viewed below:

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Image by Dirk Wouters from Pixabay

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has submitted to the Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) IRRC No. 3417 — Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (14-555) regulations for the first phase of the promulgation process.

At this time, the regulations will be open for the submission of public comments from November 2, 2024, to December 1, 2024. The IRRC will review these comments and work with OMHSAS on developing responses as well as any potential language changes.

This process for regulation development with stakeholders began in 2019, and RCPA and its members have been active partners with the OMHSAS Children’s Bureau in the ongoing process through forums and work group meetings. The RCPA Residential Services Work Group completed a cursory review of a PRFT regulation presentation by OMHSAS in July and will begin working on developing a full response to the regulations.

RCPA will be connecting with these members this week to schedule the PRTF Regulatory Review Team that will support our recommendations to the current draft. If any member is interested in participating in the review group, please contact RCPA COO and MH Director Jim Sharp.

The regulations can be view at the links below.

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