Governor Wolf Announces Progress, Renewal of Opioid Disaster Declaration
Request for Input on Opportunities to Coordinate Among Departments
Licensing, Certification, and Incident Management Conducted by the Departments of Human Services, Health, Drug and Alcohol Programs, and Aging
The Departments of Human Services, Health, Drug and Alcohol Programs, and Aging regulate a variety of health and human services providers in order to protect the health and safety of Pennsylvanians. Among the regulatory activities, they license or certify providers and conduct incident management, as required by state and federal law. The departments are currently reexamining processes to identify opportunities for coordinating efforts in order to streamline the licensing, certification, and incident management process and increase efficiencies for providers and the commonwealth, while maintaining and enhancing the quality of licensing and certification activities of the providers they regulate. As part of this process, they are seeking input from stakeholders of the Departments of Human Services, Health, Drug and Alcohol Programs, and/or Aging on the following questions. These questions are focused on providers, but feedback is welcome from advocates and other stakeholders. Please send responses via email by Monday, April 30, 2018.
- Which of the following commonwealth agencies do you interact with for licensing and certification: the Departments of Human Services, Health, Drug and Alcohol Programs, and/or Aging? Please identify the specific license or certificate types you have.
- Which of the following commonwealth agencies do you interact with when you must report an incident that took place at your facility/agency: the Departments of Human Services, Health, Drug and Alcohol Programs, and/or Aging? This could include incidents required to be reported per licensing regulations, or home and community based (waiver) programs.
- What works well in interacting with multiple commonwealth agencies on licensing, certification, and incident management activities?
- What challenges do you experience in interacting with multiple commonwealth agencies on licensing, certification, and incident management activities? If possible, please identify whether the challenges are caused by statutory or regulatory requirements, policy or operational guidance, or agency processes or technology.
- What opportunities do you see for the commonwealth to streamline your experience interacting with multiple commonwealth agencies on licensing, certification, and incident management activities?
This is a major opportunity that can’t be missed. The work being done by the departments is what RCPA and its members have been advocating for over many years. We currently have an administration willing and able to make significant changes. Members are asked to provide as much detail as possible in your responses.
Senate Unanimously Confirms Governor Wolf’s Acting Secretaries
Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously confirmed Governor Wolf’s appointments to the Department of Health, Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine; the Department of Human Services, Secretary Teresa Miller; the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Secretary Jennifer Smith; and Insurance Commissioner, Jessica Altman. Governor Wolf said, “It gives me great pride to congratulate these four accomplished, capable women on their confirmations today. They each bring unique experience to their respective positions, but they share the same passion to serve our commonwealth and its residents.”
RCPA has had the pleasure of working with these leaders in their “acting” capacity, and congratulates them on their confirmations. The association looks forward to continuing our positive relationships and working with them to make major improvements in their respective fields.
See the Governor’s official press release.
RCPA to Participate in Mental Health and School Safety Press Conference
Rep. Dan Miller: ‘Mental Health and School Safety’ topic of March 13 News Conference
Text of March 8 media advisory.
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, joined by other legislators, will host a “Mental Health and School Safety” news conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 13 in the Capitol Media Center.
Spurred in part by national reaction to the recent school shooting tragedy in Parkland, Fla., the legislators want to ensure that any aspect of mental health discussed in relation to school violence is appropriately tailored and addressed in a way that will not increase stigma or reinforce negative stereotypes.
While they agree this is a very important discussion to have, the legislators also want to underscore that too many have fought too hard for parity, acceptance and support to allow the roughly 20 percent of U.S. residents with a mental health issue to unjustly shoulder the blame for all acts of school violence.
Additionally, participants intend to stress the reality that people with a mental health issue are much more likely to be victims of crime than its perpetrators.
Participating legislators will be joined by spokespeople from key stakeholder groups, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association.
In addition to Miller, state Reps. Mike Schlossberg, Tom Murt, Gene DiGirolamo, Jason Ortitay and Judy Ward are among those expected to attend.
Media coverage is invited.
Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.
Rep. Dan Miller Presents the 5th Annual Disability Summit
State Rep. Dan Miller will host his 5th Annual Disability Summit on Thursday, March 22 and Friday, March 23 at Beth El Congregation, 1900 Cochran Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15220.
The one-of-a-kind western Pennsylvania event kicks off at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 22 with keynote speaker Teresa Miller, Acting Secretary of the Department of Human Services, and includes a Support Services Resources Fair from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, before the day-long slate of sessions concludes at 8:30 pm.
On Friday, March 23 , the day begins at 9:00 am with keynote speaker Pedro Rivera, Secretary of the State Department of Education. The day includes a 10:00 am to 11:00 am panel with US Rep. Mike Doyle, concerning The Autism Caucus and Federal Disability Policy, and it offers an Employment & Transition Resource Fair from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The summit will conclude at 3:00 pm on Friday, following the “Legislative Panel: State Policies on Disabilities,” the last of 20 information sessions on a wide variety of disability-related topics, including special education, financial planning, autism and legal issues, and assistive technology.
The event is free and open to the public, and more than 1,000 attended last year. See the event flyer here. The full two-day program schedule is available online. Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.
PA Human Services Head Cites Expense of Forcing Medicaid Recipients to Get Jobs
Wolf Administration Announces Proposed Funding in Support of Seniors
Cabinet in Your Community Event
Join the discussion with members of Governor Wolf’s Cabinet to talk about issues important to you and your community!
Budget Request to Governor Wolf
Senate Committee Passes HB 478 – Outpatient Psychiatric Oversight Act
Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed HB 478, the Outpatient Psychiatric Oversight Act. The bill now moves to the Senate floor. As background, RCPA and its members have been working on getting the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) to move the outpatient psychiatric regulations, which have been promulgated for more than three years.
Over the past few months, DHS has taken steps to move the outpatient regulations towards completion. RCPA supports DHS’ efforts to move this package of regulations; however, because of the length of time it has taken to move the regulations, certain provisions contained within the regulation package are antiquated or need to be updated to current outpatient service delivery standards.
Specifically, the psychiatric recruitment crisis has grown exponentially, especially in rural areas. By introducing HB 478, Rep. Pickett (R–Bradford, Sullivan, and Susquehanna Counties), the prime sponsor of the bill, has taken legislative action to update sections within the outpatient psychiatric regulation package to current outpatient service delivery standards, and to start implementing these updates immediately through this legislation.
In short, HB 478 provides that:
- An outpatient psychiatric clinic needs to have a psychiatrist on site for two hours of psychiatric time per week for each full-time equivalent treatment staff member employed by the clinic;
- Tele-psychiatry can be utilized by a psychiatrist, who has prescriptive authority in Pennsylvania and is not on site. The Department of Human Services will have to approve a service description;
- 50 percent of the required on-site time may be provided by other advanced practice professionals specializing in behavioral health with prescriptive authority in Pennsylvania; and
- The Department of Human Services will promulgate regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of the act.
RCPA believes that Rep. Pickett’s bill, HB 478, will allow psychiatrists to see more clients in a timely fashion and ultimately increase access to psychiatric services, which is vital due to the shortage of psychiatrists in the Commonwealth.
As the bill moves through the process, RCPA will keep members informed. Contact Jack Phillips, RCPA Director of Government Affairs, with any questions.
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