OMHSAS Highlights Telehealth Funding For Small Organizations
OMHSAS
OMHSAS to Host Live Crisis Symposium on September 14
Provider Feedback Requested on the Delivery of IBHS
The Mental Health Planning Council, under the direction of The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), is conducting a survey on delivering Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) and is requesting assistance in provider responses to the survey. Agencies may access the provider survey directly and view the flyer for more details. Feedback will be de-identified and compiled by the Family Satisfaction Team of Montgomery County to be shared with relevant stakeholders and survey participants.
Data collection for the survey will run from August 1, 2023 – August 31, 2023.
RCPA, on behalf of our members and those they serve, continues our efforts advocating for children, families, and practitioners delivering IBHS services. We respectfully ask our members to share this survey with families they are currently serving. The information will be utilized to examine challenges and opportunities in creating more viable pathways to IBHS services. Feel free to also share this information with other providers in your network of stakeholders.
If you have questions, please contact Clare Higgins or RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
OMAP, OMHSAS Issue Joint Medical Assistance Bulletin on Street Medicine
The Department of Human Services (DHS) Offices of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) issued a Medical Assistance (MA) bulletin today detailing MA payment for street medicine.
This bulletin informs MA providers that DHS will cover certain services for MA beneficiaries experiencing unsheltered homelessness in their lived environment, known as street medicine. Covered services include physical and behavioral health services, such as primary care, vaccinations, wound care, counseling, and diagnostics in the lived environment. The bulletin applies to enrolled physicians, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, mobile mental health treatment providers, and outpatient practitioners in mental health. Managed care providers should contact their managed care organization(s) for billing questions.
The complete bulletin can be viewed here as well as on the DHS website.
Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series on “Invisible Disabilities” — August 9
OMHSAS Clarifies Application of the 120-Hour Involuntary Commitment
The Department of Human Services has become aware that there is confusion regarding timeframes specific to the “Warrant for Emergency Examination” under Section 302 of the Act. The field requires guidance on the length of time a warrant is considered active before the subject of the warrant has been located and the individual has been presented at an evaluation location.
When an individual displays an urgent need for evaluation and treatment due to concerns for the safety of that individual or others, authorization for an Involuntary Evaluation is outlined in the MHPA. The legislature designated a specific timeframe for an individual to be held at an evaluation location to avoid deprivation of liberty without further due process (see In Re Chiumento, 688 A. 2d 217, 221 (Pa Super, 1997)).
The mandated time limit reflects the expectation to honor the constitutional due process requirement of balancing individual liberty interests with the government’s interests in ensuring individual and societal safety.
If you have further questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
OMHSAS Amends Confidentiality Requirements for Records Sharing
Registration Now Open for Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series on June 1
OCYF Funds Free Trauma Trainings for PA Child Welfare Professionals
In partnership with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) is funding trauma training opportunities for all child welfare professionals in PA via Lakeside Global. During the time period of September 30, 2022, through September 30, 2023, PA child welfare professionals serving children in PA are able to take advantage of FREE trainings facilitated by the team at Lakeside Global to become trauma-aware, trauma-sensitive, trauma-informed or healing-centered. This also includes Train the Trainer sessions to support trauma-informed sustainability within a child welfare organization.
Please view the flyer to learn more about how you can take advantage of this professional development. If you have questions relating to any of these trainings, please contact PA Care Partnership electronically. If you have any additional questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
OMHSAS Cancels April 18 Stakeholder Call
Due to ongoing scheduling conflicts, the April 2023 Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Stakeholder Webinar, which was tentatively scheduled for next Tuesday, April 18, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, has been cancelled. The May 2023 OMHSAS Stakeholder Webinar is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 16, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. The registration link for the May 2023 Stakeholder Webinar will be sent out as we get closer to that date/time.
In the meantime, if you have suggestions for agenda topics for May’s webinar, please submit them via email. OMHSAS will monitor the account and will reply to the sender if more information is needed. Please be advised that responses will not be provided if additional information is not needed.
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