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Children's Services

RCPA sent a letter to the Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin regarding the $50 million Hazard Pay grant program. The General Assembly established the Hazard Pay Grant program and created guidelines through the budget process. RCPA had concerns about the lack of transparency by which these funds were awarded.

Because of these concerns, RCPA drafted the letter so we were on record. In the letter, RCPA requested that if the program receives additional funding in future, more weight be given to factors such as health and human service providers’ financial needs; the impact a provider has on its local community; the number and percentage of direct staff it has employed during this crisis; and whether a provider has changed the way it conducts business so they will be eligible for these types of programs.  By specifically including these factors in a transparent manner, RCPA believes grant awards will be distributed more equitably.

Please contact Jack Phillips with any questions.

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This OCYF transmittal bulletin provides the application timeframe for voluntary certification in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020–21, and application periods that will be offered prior to the start of each subsequent state fiscal year.

The timelines established for the voluntary certification process for SFY 2021–22 and beyond allow private agencies to engage in conversations with the potential contracting County Children and Youth Agencies (CCYAs) and Juvenile Probation Offices (JPOs) prior to the submission of the Needs-Based Plan and Budget (NBPB) on August 15, before the start of the SFY for which the certification is being requested.

This step is critical, as private agencies should gauge county agency interest in these services as part of the determination to pursue certification. In addition, private agencies may anticipate increased costs to meet the enhanced program standards. County agencies utilize the annual NBPB process to request reimbursement of allowable child welfare expenses so anticipated increases for private agencies should be considered at that time.

The steps outlined in this transmittal must be completed for a 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3800 licensed child residential facility or Chapter 3680 SIL program to be considered for certification as a specialized setting. All information is to be included as part of the letter of intent and application packet and submitted via email so that the certification review can be assigned to the appropriate OCYF Regional Office. If you have questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Division Director Jim Sharp.

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From the National Council:

It has been several months since the arrival of COVID-19, but the challenges it imposes on the behavioral health care community remain. We are working to change that.

To advance our efforts, we are seeking to better understand the impacts of COVID-19 on your facility. The more we know, the more we can advocate for you and others.

  • How has the pandemic impacted your service delivery?
  • What is COVID-19 doing to your workforce and employment?
  • How has it affected your revenue and stimulus funding?

Your feedback will help us illustrate the economic effects of the pandemic, paint a broader picture of the behavioral health care landscape, and fuel our fight for increased financial support on Capitol Hill.

Please fill out our short survey by Monday, August 31. A few minutes of your time can go a long way toward keeping other providers’ doors open. Questions? Contact us!

On Friday, August 14, Senators Casey (D) and Toomey (R) circulated a letter to the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation — signed by almost every member of the delegation. The letter requests that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allow providers that have been impacted by COVID-19, and have not received targeted distributions from the Federal government through the CARES Act, to directly apply for funding from the Provider Relief Fund. The letter also outlines previous issues providers were facing when applying for and receiving allocations of these federal funds.

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Buchanan Ingersoll has put together a Compliance Checklist for Providers as a resource for providers. Applying for, retaining, and monitoring CARES Act funding can be a complex process, requiring careful oversight and a significant time commitment. Failure to comply with the relevant requirements set forth by the federal government for Provider Relief Fund recipients could put your health care organization at substantial risk. Just to begin with, any provider that received more than $150,000 in funding will need to file detailed quarterly reports; and those that received more than $750,000 will be automatically audited by the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Buchanan’s experienced CARES Act Compliance Team can provide guidance regarding proper policy enhancements, accounting considerations, necessary documentation, training, and report/audit preparation, as well as assisting your organization in fully understanding the risks of noncompliance, so you are protected. If you’d like more information, please contact Buchanan Ingersoll directly. Visit this web page for details or to submit any questions you have.