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Substance Use Disorder

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The Pennsylvania Senate has confirmed Dr. Latika Davis-Jones as Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP). As secretary, Davis-Jones leads the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce substance use disorder (SUD) and problem gambling disorder, with a large focus on expanding access to and increasing the quality of SUD treatment.

Before serving in the Shapiro administration, Secretary Davis-Jones was Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Highmark Wholecare, a Medicaid managed care organization in Pittsburgh. Prior to that, she served as Allegheny County’s Single County Authority Administrator.

Read DDAP’s official press release.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The DHS Licensing Administration wishes to provide important information about procedural updates related to the issuance of renewal Certificates of Compliance. In August 2022, the renewal process was updated to require the Civil Rights Compliance Attestation (HS2125) be submitted together with the renewal application to Licensing Administration. Feedback with this procedure change has been favorable.

In reviewing their procedure for issuing the renewal Certificates of Compliance, the Licensing Administration has found that a significant number of providers request changes to their licenses after a renewal has been issued but before the current license expired. This adds an increase in processing time, as the administration then must revise the unexpired license and reissue the renewed license. As a result, it slows down the process to issue the other renewals in queue. Therefore, the procedure has changed. The renewal Certificates of Compliance will not be issued until the current Certificate of Compliance is within 30 days of expiration. This procedural change will better facilitate the timely and accurate issuance of renewal Certificates of Compliance.

Below are a few reminders:

  • The Bureau of Equal Opportunity no longer issues an approval letter after submission of the Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) Attestation (HS2125). The renewed Certificate of Compliance verifies that the CRC Attestation (HS2125) was accepted/approved.
  • The Civil Rights Compliance Attestation (HS2125) can be found here.
  • Licensing Administration frequently uses email for communication, including emailing of the Certificate of Compliance. Therefore, Licensing Administration must be notified of email changes. The renewal application should also include current email addresses.
  • When contacting Licensing Administration, please include the following in the subject line of the email: REASON – AGENCY/FACILITY NAME – LICENSE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER. The reason can be RENEWAL, QUESTION, REQUEST, REVISION, etc.
  • The contact information for each Program Office served by Licensing Administration is as follows:
    • Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF): Email | 717-787-9763
    • Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS): Email | 717-703-0006
    • Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL/BHSL) – Personal Care Homes & Assisted Living Residences: Email | 717-705-0382
    • Office of Developmental Programs (ODP): Email | 717-787-6958
    • Licensing Administration Director: Email | 717-705-6954

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Photo by Proxyclick Visitor Management System on Unsplash

Tobacco-related illness is a leading cause of death for people in substance use disorder and mental health recovery. In response, the Pennsylvania Recovery Organizations Alliance and the State Tobacco Recovery Free Initiative are hosting a virtual tobacco recovery lunch and learn at 12:00 pm Thursday, July 27, for anyone interested in tobacco recovery.

Registration is required. Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Recognizing the range of tobacco and nicotine addiction severity, this session will teach participants about individualized replacement coping skills. It also will help participants to define the physical, behavioral, and emotional reasons individuals smoke and develop an individualized approach to managing tobacco-free living.

Discussion will focus on:

  • Understanding the nature of tobacco addiction;
  • Ways to relieve craving and withdrawal;
  • Proactive strategies to adapt to behavior change; and
  • Identification of how to support family members who use tobacco.

Tony Klein, MPA, NCACII, is the presenter. He has more than 30 years of administrative and clinical experience in behavioral health services and is known for his work as an advocate for addressing tobacco use disorder by using evidence-based practice guidelines anchored in solution-focused recovery principles.

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Message From the Department of Human Services
June 8, 2023

Harrisburg, PA — The Shapiro Administration today announced it has completely eliminated a backlog of Medicaid provider enrollment and revalidation applications, paving the way for more health care providers to become part of the Medicaid program, and giving Medicaid recipients more options for care. This announcement follows news in late April that the Department of Human Services (DHS) had already reduced the provider backlog by 75 percent within Governor Shapiro’s first 100 days in office.

As of January 2023, there was a backlog of more than 35,000 provider applications and revalidation applications that were more than 30 days old. Within the first 100 days of the Administration, the number of waiting applicants was reduced by 75 percent to under 8,500 applications, and that backlog has now been entirely eliminated.

“Pennsylvania is fortunate to have so many caring, high-quality health care providers and professionals who want to be part of the Medicaid program and care for some of our most vulnerable friends, neighbors, and loved ones,” said DHS Acting Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “I want to thank them and DHS staff who worked so diligently on this issue. They have helped to ensure that Medicaid recipients in the Commonwealth can continue to get the care they need and deserve.”

By federal law, organizations are not able to offer care to patients under the Medicaid program unless they are enrolled providers. In addition, DHS must revalidate Medicaid service providers every five years. Any backlogs in processing applications means that providers who want to offer services to Medicaid recipients cannot do so until their applications are approved.

The Medicaid program in Pennsylvania serves more than 3.7 million people, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Recognizing the scope of the backlog and its impact on Pennsylvanians, the Shapiro Administration and DHS staff and leadership acted quickly to address it, removing roadblocks to processing applications quickly and cutting red tape.

Read the full announcement here. If a member has not been notified of the status of a pending enrollment or revalidation, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.

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