DDAP, OMHSAS To Host Webinar to Discuss New Process for Inspecting Dually-Licensed Providers
OMHSAS
OMHSAS Pauses Implementation of Voluntary and Involuntary Commitment Forms
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) issued OMHSAS-25-02 Voluntary and Involuntary Commitment Forms on May 27, 2025. In response to concerns from stakeholders, OMHSAS will be pausing implementation of this bulletin for 90 days, through August 27, 2025. In addition to giving providers the opportunity to update electronic health records and print new forms, OMHSAS will use that time to continue to receive and respond to stakeholder questions and to schedule Q&A sessions. The department thanks stakeholders for the comments that have been provided so far and welcomes additional comments and questions, which can be sent electronically.
OMHSAS-25-02 and all forms can be found at links provided. As OMHSAS continues to work towards standardized Mental Health Procedures Act Forms that work across the Commonwealth, they appreciate your partnership and input.
- OMHSAS 25-02
- MH 781
- MH 783
- MH 783 A
- MH 783 B
- MH 784
- MH 785
- MH 785 A
- MH 788
- MH 789
- MH 789 A
- MH 789 B
- MH 790
- MH 791
- MH 792
- MH 793
Contact Emma Sharp with any questions.
New OMHSAS Voluntary and Involuntary Commitment Forms Bulletin Released
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced the Voluntary and Involuntary Commitment Forms Bulletin, OMHSAS-25-02, effective May 27, 2025, with updated forms for counties to use. For some time, counties have used different customized versions of the MH 783 statewide form. This has resulted in provider confusion, especially when an individual who is the subject of a 302 warrant is transported to a provider across county lines. OMHSAS is updating the MH 783 form and requiring counties to use this form without modifications. OMHSAS is also updating accompanying forms MH 781, MH 783A, MH 783B, MH 785, and MH 788 for use by County Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MH/IDD) administrators or their delegates for initiating the involuntary commitment of individuals at risk of harming themselves or others due to behaviors associated with acute mental illness. This bulletin announces that OMHSAS has revised forms for voluntary and involuntary commitment evaluations. Each of the revised forms has updated language, including changes accounting for Act 65 of 2020, references from “DPW” to “DHS,” and general clarification and modernization of the language within the forms.
The non-English versions are still in process, and another announcement will be posted when the links to those versions are available.
MH-783 Bulletin can be found DHS’s Bulletin web page. Additional forms can be found here.
Please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.
OMHSAS Issues Bulletin Series Update
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to announce the OMHSAS Bulletin Series Update, OMHSAS-25-01, effective May 14, 2025. Obsoleted bulletin lists are updated every few years. This listing identifies bulletins that are no longer in effect. Providers should no longer be referring to them for guidance.
Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.
OMHSAS Conducts All-Stakeholder Survey for New Inpatient Psychiatric Services
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.
PRTF Stakeholder Webinar to Be Held May 21
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services is pleased to invite stakeholders to an informational webinar. This webinar will highlight significant sections of the proposed Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) regulations that received the highest number of comments during the comment period. The proposed PRTF regulations will codify the minimum licensing standards, Medical Assistance (MA) participation requirements, and payment conditions for PRTFs that provide medically necessary behavioral health treatment to children, youth, or young adults under 21 years of age with a behavioral health diagnosis.
OMHSAS has worked collaboratively with the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth & Family Services (PCCYFS) and RCPA in planning for the May 21, 2025, meeting. RCPA has offered limited space for those who would like to attend in-person; the in-person meeting will be held at 777 East Park Drive, Suite G-4, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Virtual attendance through TEAMS is also an option. In-person attendance is limited to 55 individuals (no more than one individual per organization). Stakeholders may register for in-person attendance by contacting Emma Sharp.
Additional information will be distributed closer to the meeting date. We hope you will join us on May 21, 2025, at 10:00 am!
Questions or comments about this webinar should be sent electronically.
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Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp for in-person registration.
OMHSAS Updates Behavioral Health MA Fee Schedule: Telehealth Group Psychotherapy Codes Added
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.
OMHSAS Data Shows Significant Increases in BH-MCO Denials of Services
In a presentation to the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee today, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Deputy Secretary Jen Smith shared data that shows a significant increase over the past three years in behavioral health managed care organization (BH-MCO) decisions to deny services to their members or contracted providers.
In addition to denial data for calendar years 2022 through 2024, the report also provides data on grievances and complaints and defines what each of those is. Notably, the 2024 data does not include the fourth quarter of the year.
The most egregious service type denials are seen in two categories: 1) non-hospital residential withdrawal management, rehabilitation and halfway-house services for drug/alcohol abuse or substance use disorders; and 2) IBHS for children and adolescents with mental health or substance use disorders. Although the IBHS denials appear down slightly in 2024, when the fourth quarter data is added, the number is likely to increase. On the SUD side, even without fourth quarter data, denials for the non-hospital residential substance use disorder treatment services are up 45 percent over 2023.
The presentation breaks down the number of denials per year per BH-MCO since 2022.
The increases in denials in 2024 occurred at the same time OMHSAS acknowledged a significant miscalculation of capitation rates, resulting in underfunding of the behavioral health system, including primary contractors and BH-MCOs, by hundreds of millions of dollars.
Deputy Secretary Smith cautioned that there are multiple factors to consider when reviewing the data and increase in denials, including Pennsylvania’s SUD treatment system’s ongoing alignment with ASAM Criteria and the increased BH-MCO scrutiny on providers and individual BH-MCO interpretation of ASAM Criteria.
Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices Meeting on May 15, 2025
The Department of Human Services’ invites you to the Department of Human Services (DHS) Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices Meeting. Jointly hosted by the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), this quarterly meeting aims to provide the most recent research and resources for people with mental health and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to live an everyday life. Please see the flyer for detailed information.
Date: May 15, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Zoom Webinar
- Morning Session: Run. Dance. Play. What’s Your Move? Promoting Physical Activity with the Move Your Way® Campaign
- Afternoon Session #1: Unlocking Potential: An Overview of Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Community Sport, Health & Fitness, and In-School Programs
- Afternoon Session #2: What’s Strong With You? A Shift to Resiliency-Informed Care
The Zoom link for joining the session will be sent to the email you used to register. This link will be unique to your registration. Please do not share this link.
Questions? Send via email to PATraining.
Please note that Certificates of Attendance are not issued for Statewide Positive Approaches and Practices Meetings.
OMHSAS Stakeholder Webinar on April 24
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) April 2025 Stakeholder webinar is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. You can register for the webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
For those that want to join via phone:
Call-in Number: (562) 247-8422
Access Code: 757-198-515
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