Today, Sen. Michele Brooks, Majority Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, introduced SB 1352 , legislation that will create a two-year Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) license for providers who are accredited by a national accrediting body, and whose license is in good standing and has not been provisional for at least two consecutive years. In introducing her legislation, which has strong bipartisan support, Sen. Brooks intends to provide regulatory relief to qualifying substance use disorder treatment providers in the Commonwealth by allowing them to obtain a multi-year license from DDAP instead of full annual inspections. In her cosponsorship memo, Sen. Brooks wrote, “Addiction treatment providers across Pennsylvania face mounting administrative pressures, including workforce shortages, financial strain, and increasingly complex compliance demands. Too often, audits, inspections, and duplicative regulatory requirements force providers to spend more time on paperwork than on patient care. “By allowing multi-year licenses for stable, well-run programs, we can reduce disruption and offer real relief to these providers, helping to ensure the system remains sustainable and viable for those who need it.” The legislation directs DDAP to conduct a single licensing inspection for each two-year licensing period. The inspection shall constitute the required licensure inspection for that period and may not be conducted as separate annual inspections. The scope and depth of the inspection shall be equivalent to that of a standard one-year licensing inspection and may not be expanded on the basis that the inspection covers a two-year period. Providers are encouraged to contact their elected state officials and urge them to support this legislation. For assistance with this, contact RCPA SUD Treatment Services Director Jason Snyder .
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released communication ODPANN 26-061 , to announce that the Fatal Five training is now available on MyODP. The Fatal Five training replaces the previously available Fatal Four training on the platform. All previously ODP-approved Fatal Five trainings remain valid and continue to meet regulatory training requirements. The Fatal Five Health Conditions are health concerns that are seen frequently in individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. These conditions can result in serious illness or death if they are not closely monitored and treated. In this training, you will learn what the Fatal Five are, who is at risk, the symptoms and warning signs that alert you to act in the moment to support an individual, the causes and complications of each condition, and what you and others can do to prevent harm and support the individual’s health, safety, and quality of life. This training consists of six webcasts, for a total viewing time of about 76 minutes. Completion of a 25-question Post Test is required for training credit. Once completed, two credit hours will be awarded on the MyTranscript report. The course is available within the Health & Safety category under the “Topics” dropdown on MyODP.org or by using this link to navigate directly to the course .
RCPA wishes to take this opportunity to thank those who attended the HR 1 Medicaid Summit that was held last month. The summit provided an opportunity for the more than 350 participants to learn about the pending changes in Federal Medicaid as well as its implications in Pennsylvania and those who advocate and provide services for this vulnerable population. RCPA would also like to thank our panelists for their commitment to engaging with our members in ensuring collaboration and partnership throughout the implementation. This summit served to represent one of the many facets of advocacy and support for our members across our divisions and RCPA’s advocacy efforts on the HR 1 Medicaid impacts. Available now are the presentations from both the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and from Leesa Allen, RCPA Medicaid Consultant . We will also be releasing the RCPA HR 1 Medicaid Resource Handbook in the near future, which will provide an overview of policy and practice implementation at both the Federal and State levels, a Medicaid FAQ, and recent updates on developing areas, such as the State Directive Payments and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse standards. RCPA will continue to communicate to members regarding HR 1 Medicaid updates and events, including a Medicaid Summit at the RCPA Conference. Visit the RCPA website for details regarding our conference, and note that we plan to share the registration brochure within the coming weeks. If you have additional questions regarding the RCPA Medicaid Handbook, please forward them to RCPA Policy Specialist Emma Sharp .