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Beyond the Cuts: Protecting Behavioral Health in an Era of Policy Change (webinar)
Presented by Qualifacts, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and OPEN MINDS
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET

Presenters include Josh Schoeller, CEO of Qualifacts; Chuck Ingoglia, President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing; and Monica E. Oss, Founder and CEO of OPEN MINDS.

The behavioral health system is being reshaped at an unprecedented pace. In just weeks, the federal government has terminated over $12 billion in public health grants, dissolved SAMHSA under a sweeping HHS reorganization, and passed legislation that will transform Medicaid through work requirements, cost-sharing, and reduced provider tax caps. These changes are already leading to funding cuts, stalled infrastructure projects, and increased pressure on providers to prepare for reduced support and stricter eligibility. To help organizations navigate this evolving landscape, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, OPEN MINDS, and Qualifacts are joining forces for a timely webinar. The session will focus on how behavioral health leaders can adapt service models, protect financial stability, and continue meeting community needs.

Register here.

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The PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency is seeking participation and input from JJDPC Subcommittee members to help shape the next iteration of Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Plan. This survey is anonymous and confidential to encourage your candid feedback. Individuals are asked to complete the survey before Monday, July 21, 2025, as results will be presented in the aggregate to members of the JJDPC and PCCD staff to help inform initial strategic planning discussions at the JJDPC’s quarterly meeting on August 7, 2025.

Please find the survey link here. If you have any questions regarding this survey or need assistance, please contact Greg Young electronically.

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McAuley Ministries, the grant-making foundation of Pittsburgh Mercy, has awarded over $2.8 million in grants to 14 local nonprofit organizations and appointed Sister Barbara Anne Quinn, RSM to its Board of Directors. These grants support education, empowerment, essential needs & social services, and peacemaking initiatives in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland neighborhoods.

View full release here.

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The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has announced the webinar Acquired Brain Injury (ABI): A Transdisciplinary Approach to Inpatient Rehabilitation, which is scheduled for July 24, 2025, at 3:00 pm.

During this live webinar, a team from the Sheltering Arms Institute will share the inner workings of their transdisciplinary system of care. As it becomes more important than ever for clinicians to work as a transdisciplinary team to provide the best care for patients, the close coordination of care between therapy, nursing, medical staff, psychology, and case management is necessary in order to make the greatest impact.

The live webinar has a fee of $50.00. Those interested can register here.

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The 2025 American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) Conference will be held October 4 – 8 in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The 2025 conference theme is “The Evolving Field of Opioid Treatment.”

AATOD is seeking opioid treatment program (OTP) providers, OTP patients, and friends of the field to serve as volunteers for the conference. Benefits of volunteering include discounted full conference rates or free individual days. More information about volunteering can be found on the AATOD Conference website.

The aim of the AATOD conference is to educate and promote acceptance and integration of medication-assisted treatment options by patients, families, clinicians, the medical system, judicial systems, government, policymakers, social service administrations, and the general public. Presenters will disseminate innovative, evidence-based initiatives and treatment techniques to better serve patients and providers, improve program development and administration, promote integration across the continuum of care, and enhance patient outcomes to assist communities in developing an effective response to this crisis.

The Pennsylvania Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (PATOD), the state chapter of AATOD, is a member of RCPA. Those interested in volunteering or with questions can email Pam Gehlmann, Regional Director for Pinnacle Treatment Centers, who is serving as Host Committee Chair.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released a significant update on the status of the Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) framework for Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO). Key changes reflect both public feedback and a shift towards a more unified and outcomes-driven service system. Based on comments from over 140 stakeholders, ODP has confirmed that all SCOs will be held to the same performance standards through a phased approach — eliminating previously proposed tiers. The timeline for tier determination has been adjusted (now set for 8/15/25 – 9/15/25), with performance measure submissions required between 10/1/25 – 11/1/25 to allow time for preparation and systems development.

In terms of payment structure, the transition to a monthly case rate model for all SCOs is scheduled to begin July 1, 2026. The definition of “Intensive TSM” has been revised, and billing guidance will now include qualified tasks for Associate SCs. These changes reflect a broader move away from task-based reimbursement toward an outcome- and quality-focused model, aligning with CMS’s HCBS Quality Measure Set and Pennsylvania’s population health priorities.

Next steps include the submission of 1915(b)(4) and (c) waiver amendments to CMS in late July, publication of finalized documents (including an implementation guide and preparedness toolkit), and SCO forums starting July 28. A new Performance Analysis Services (PAS) vendor is also developing a data system to support outcome tracking and analysis. ODP emphasizes that this transition requires a mindset shift — from measuring quantity to prioritizing quality and individual outcomes such as employment, community living, and health stabilization.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) launched a new initiative designed to reduce administrative burden for substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment providers that are licensed by both agencies.

Specifically, licensing staff from both DDAP and DHS will begin conducting coordinated annual inspections of SUD and mental health treatment facilities that are licensed by both agencies for outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential services. The new initiative, which is voluntary, could impact up to 170 jointly licensed facilities that provide SUD and mental health services.

DDAP and DHS launched the new initiative today, July 14, by holding a webinar for impacted providers on the new inspection process, including how to pre-submit information. In addition, the agencies plan to survey providers to receive feedback on the new process that will allow for any necessary modifications to be made to the joint inspection process.

“On behalf of our behavioral health provider members across the Commonwealth, I want to thank DDAP and DHS for their hard work on this initiative. Reducing administrative burden has been and remains a top priority for RCPA, and we are grateful that the Shapiro Administration has responded, not only with this joint licensing inspection process, but with the other work it is currently doing to address provider burdens, including its work to reform regulations,” said Jason Snyder, Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services Director of Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with both departments in the future on additional ways to enable providers to put even more of their focus on patient care.”

Read the entire press release.

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