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Tags Posts tagged with "Intensive Behavioral Health Services"

Intensive Behavioral Health Services

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Please note that the September 30 Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) webinar has been moved to October 4 due to Rosh Hashanah. If you have already registered for this WebEx, you should have received an updated notification today. Also, both the October and November WebEx will be taped and available for later viewing.

If you have questions you believe will be helpful in developing the upcoming trainings and FAQ, please submit them to this email as well as RCPA Children’s Division Director, Jim Sharp. We recommend you register for these webinar and regional trainings ASAP!

Statewide Webinars
Friday, October 4, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
WebEx: Provide general information regarding the regulations as well as the process for licensure and enrollment
Please register for IBHS Statewide Webinar on Oct 4, 2019, 9:00 AM EDT here.

Wednesday, November 20, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
WebEx: Provide a statewide summary of the regional forums and address additional implementation details
Please register for IBHS Statewide Webinar on Nov 20, 2019 1:00 PM EDT here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Regional Forums
OMHSAS will host regional forums to continue discussing IBHS implementation. All forums will take place from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and include a break for lunch.

WESTERN REGION, October 11
George Junior Republic
233 George Junior Road, Grove City, PA 16127
Please register by contacting Phyllis Knott or call 412-880-0488

CENTRAL REGION, October 16
Keystone Building, Hearing Room 1
400 North St, Harrisburg, PA
Please register by contacting Angela Douglas or call 717-346-5943

SOUTHEAST REGION, October 21
Norristown State Hospital Building 33 in the Multi-Purpose room
1001 Sterigere St, Norristown, PA 19401
Please register by contacting Julie Croce or call 610-313-5844

NORTHEAST REGION, October 22
John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine
150 Mundy Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA  18702
Please register by contacting Leigh Ann Ksiazek or call 570-963-4944

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RCPA would like to remind members that all comments regarding the review of the new Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) at the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) hearing are due by the 48-hour blackout period, which begins Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 10:00 am.

The IRRC public hearing will be held on Thursday, August 15, 10:00 am, at 333 Market Street, 14th Floor Conference Room, Harrisburg.

When submitting your comments to IRRC and the Department of Human Services/OMHSAS, you will need to include a statement as to whether you “support” or “oppose” the new regulations.

  • Use this link to submit your SUPPORT or OPPOSITION letter to IRRC.
  • Submissions to Department of Human Services/OMHSAS can be sent to Courtney Malecki.

Please be sure to reference the following as the regulation you are commenting on:
No. 3209 Department of Human Services #14-546: Intensive Behavioral Health Services

Please remember to send a copy to RCPA Children’s Division Director, Jim Sharp as well. RCPA will be attending the IRRC Public Hearing to provide comment and testimony. Any questions, please contact Jim Sharp, RCPA Children’s Division Director.

In response to commentators’ questions regarding the recently released Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) Regulations–Final; DHS has released the IBHS Preamble. The RCPA Children’s IBHS Work Group is reconvening the week of July 29, to provide a substantive review and a prepared response in advance of the IRRC public hearing on August 15, 2019.

Please note that any comments should be submitted to DHS prior to the 48-hour blackout period, which begins on Tuesday, August 13 at 10:00 am. Please provide IRRC with a copy of any comments submitted to DHS, and also copy RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp, by close of business on August 12.

Please contact Jim Sharp with questions, thoughts, or concerns.

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) has submitted the Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) final-form regulation. The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) plans to meet and act on this regulation at a public meeting on Thursday, August 15, 2019, at 10:00 am. The agenda and any changes to the time or date of the meeting will be posted on the IRRC website.

Please note that any comments should be submitted to DHS prior to the 48-hour blackout period, which begins on Tuesday, August 13 at 10:00 am. Please provide IRRC with a copy of any comments submitted. Additionally, please copy RCPA Children’s Division Director, Jim Sharp, on any comments submitted to DHS by close of business on August 12.

The RCPA Children’s IBHS Work Group will provide a substantive review in advance of the public hearing. Please contact Jim Sharp with questions, thoughts, or concerns.

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As we continue to work with the Department of Human Services (DHS) on the proposed Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) regulations, providers through the BHRS Work Group identified a potential solution to the real challenge of recruitment and retention of direct service staff. Providers experience varying degrees of difficulty with hiring Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS) and with recruitment of Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT). The letters below are intended to provide some guidance and assistance for those BHRS providers who need a solution to their staffing crisis.

The work group acknowledges that there are a number of other issues related to implementation of the proposed regulations and will continue to meet and collaborate on ways to address additional barriers. In the meantime, feel free to utilize these letters if necessary. Our members have reported that some of the County Oversight entities and the BH-MCOs are open to considering solutions and strategies to help address workforce challenges. If you have questions or additional input, please contact Robena Spangler.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) proposes to add Chapters 1155 and 5240 relating to IBHS to Title 55 of the Pennsylvania Code. The proposed rulemaking is published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on August 4, 2018 and can be accessed here.

Written comments, suggestions, or objections regarding this proposed rulemaking may be submitted to the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) at the following address:

Attention: Tara Pride, Bureau of Policy, Planning and Program Development, Commonwealth Towers, 11th Floor, PO Box 2675, 303 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105 or by email during the 30-day public comment period, which closes September 4, 2018.

The next RCPA BHRS/IBHS work group will be held on Wednesday, August 15. The work group will compile comments from discussions held over the past year and those offered by the members of the group. We are asking providers who choose to send comments into OMHSAS directly to also send a copy of your comments to Robena Spangler. This is our long-awaited opportunity to provide input into the regulations; we hope that all BHRS providers and ABA professionals are engaged. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the email address above.