The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released a set of guidelines and an updated COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to stakeholders on May 5, 2020.

The BHRS/IBHS Telehealth Guidance outlines the steps necessary for these services to be provided through the telehealth platform.

It should be noted that if a BHRS/IBHS provider has already submitted their attestation for the delivery of telehealth services to this population; they WILL NOT need to submit further attestations or program descriptions. It is important for all providers to review your current telehealth service delivery as it relates to the telehealth expansion guidance provided by OMHSAS on March 15, 2020.

OMHSAS released the initial Telehealth Bulletin on February 20, 2020.

After reviewing the FAQs and guidance, please email the IBHS account or contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp or Courtney Malecki at OMHSAS, to talk through the questions regarding BHRS/IBHS.

OMHSAS also released a COVID-19 FAQs that outlines questions and OMHSAS recommendations to questions and queries that have been submitted during the pandemic. The purpose of the memorandum is to issue additional FAQs for delivery of behavioral health services in the Medical Assistance (MA) program during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disaster emergency declaration period.

This memorandum supplements the initial set of COVID-19 FAQs issued by the OMHSAS on March 25, 2020.

If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.