This Alert updates PCPA members about several key Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) issues.
OMHSAS has postponed a planned December 13 teleconference on peer support services until the final Peer Support Services Medical Assistance/OMHSAS bulletin is issued. OMHSAS continues to indicate that the bulletin will be issued soon. Final approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the Peer Support Services Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) request is also anticipated soon. PCPA will provide members with information about peer support services as it becomes available.
OMHSAS anticipates that the SPA request for Mobile Mental Health Treatment will be approved soon. Providers cannot bill Medical Assistance until the SPA is approved.
OMHSAS previously released the Housing Work Group report, A Plan for Promoting Housing and Recovery-Oriented Services. Deputy Secretary Joan Erney presented the plan to counties on November 21. Copies of Ms. Erney’s presentation and a follow-up document, Utilizing HealthChoices Reinvestment Funds to Develop Permanent Supportive Housing are available from the links. OMHSAS will hold a videoconference for counties December 12 to discuss use of HealthChoices reinvestment funds to address housing needs as identified in the report. Counties are strongly encouraged to include housing needs in mental health planning.
Questions and answers from the November 8 Office of Medical Assistance Programs/OMHSAS teleconference for provider organizations on the National Provider Identifier (NPI) are also available. Additional information about NPI can be found on the Department of Public Welfare web site (www.dpw.state.pa.us/Business/NPIinfo).
Please contact Betty Simmonds with questions about any of these issues.
