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OMHSAS

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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.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) July 2025 Stakeholder Webinar is currently scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2025, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. You can register for the webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

For those that want to join via phone:
Call-in Number: (562) 247-8321
Access Code:  289-226-375

Please contact Emma Sharp, Behavioral Health Policy Associate, with any questions.

Message from Rep. Dan Williams’s Office:

HARRISBURG, June 24 – Bipartisan legislation introduced by state Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, that would help Pennsylvanians take advantage of new federal Medicaid rules that give patients and clinicians more telehealth options for behavioral health services passed the PA House today with overwhelming support.

“The longstanding and outdated ‘four walls’ requirement has limited Medicaid reimbursement to services within the physical walls of a clinic,” said Williams. “This only creates barriers to care, particularly in rural areas and regions experiencing mental health workforce shortages.”

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave states the option to waive the requirement on Jan. 1. In response, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has submitted a State Plan Amendment to adopt this flexibility, which is currently awaiting federal approval.

House Bill 1590 would repeal state regulations that conflict with the new federal flexibility. Importantly, the bill would not change existing rules requiring in-person treatment hours for outpatient behavioral health clinics.

“Under this bill, Pennsylvania can fully implement the change, expanding access to behavioral health services and reducing care gaps for our vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth,” Williams said.

The bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration.


It is important to note that, at this time, OMHSAS is awaiting approval from CMS. To address the Federal Medicaid payment conditions in the Pennsylvania statute, there was a need for this legislation to permit services be covered under Medicaid, and HB 1590 would achieve this. It is also important to reiterate that this bill will not change outpatient behavioral health clinic rules requiring in-person treatment hours. The passage of this bill will address these conditions for outpatient clinics as well as the delivery of SUD services.

Both the CMS SPA approval and the legislation would be retroactive to January 1, 2025.

Until then, the completion of both the SPA and the legislation on 4 walls flexibilities will remain in place. RCPA is grateful to have partnered with OMHSAS, House legislators, and other stakeholder associations on the development of this bill. We will continue our efforts in getting the legislation to the Governor’s desk.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Director of Mental Health Services Jim Sharp.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) issued OMHSAS-25-02 Voluntary and Involuntary Commitment Forms on May 27, 2025. In response to concerns from stakeholders, OMHSAS will be pausing implementation of this bulletin for 90 days, through August 27, 2025. In addition to giving providers the opportunity to update electronic health records and print new forms, OMHSAS will use that time to continue to receive and respond to stakeholder questions and to schedule Q&A sessions. The department thanks stakeholders for the comments that have been provided so far and welcomes additional comments and questions, which can be sent electronically.

OMHSAS-25-02 and all forms can be found at links provided. As OMHSAS continues to work towards standardized Mental Health Procedures Act Forms that work across the Commonwealth, they appreciate your partnership and input.

Contact Emma Sharp with any questions.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced the Voluntary and Involuntary Commitment Forms Bulletin, OMHSAS-25-02, effective May 27, 2025, with updated forms for counties to use. For some time, counties have used different customized versions of the MH 783 statewide form. This has resulted in provider confusion, especially when an individual who is the subject of a 302 warrant is transported to a provider across county lines. OMHSAS is updating the MH 783 form and requiring counties to use this form without modifications. OMHSAS is also updating accompanying forms MH 781, MH 783A, MH 783B, MH 785, and MH 788 for use by County Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MH/IDD) administrators or their delegates for initiating the involuntary commitment of individuals at risk of harming themselves or others due to behaviors associated with acute mental illness. This bulletin announces that OMHSAS has revised forms for voluntary and involuntary commitment evaluations. Each of the revised forms has updated language, including changes accounting for Act 65 of 2020, references from “DPW” to “DHS,” and general clarification and modernization of the language within the forms.

The non-English versions are still in process, and another announcement will be posted when the links to those versions are available.

MH-783 Bulletin can be found DHS’s Bulletin web page. Additional forms can be found here.

Please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is pleased to announce the OMHSAS Bulletin Series Update, OMHSAS-25-01, effective May 14, 2025. Obsoleted bulletin lists are updated every few years. This listing identifies bulletins that are no longer in effect. Providers should no longer be referring to them for guidance.

Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

African Woman Filling Survey Poll Or Form On Laptop Computer

The Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is conducting an all-stakeholders survey as the first step in the process to develop one proposed chapter of licensing regulations for inpatient psychiatric services in psychiatric units of general hospitals, private psychiatric hospitals, and Extended Acute Care services located within those inpatient settings. The survey provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to submit anonymous input into regulatory development. OMHSAS will review and analyze the responses as part of the process of developing a proposed regulation. This survey is for all stakeholders, including licensed providers. All responses are voluntary.

Please do not include any personally identifying information or contact information in the survey response.

A copy of the survey questionnaire can be found here and is to help you gather the information for the questionnaire. Please do not submit a hard copy or a copy of this document. Use the link provided to respond to the questions. If you have any questions about this survey or any additional feedback to provide on the inpatient regulations work, please send these electronically.

Please submit the completed survey by May 26, 2025.

The All-Stakeholders Survey can be accessed here.

The RCPA Mental Health Division will be convening a steering committee as part of this regulatory process. We have had advanced discussions with OMHSAS, and they will work with RCPA in the regulatory development. Thank you for your interest and participation in this important work. If you have questions or wish to be a part of this steering committee, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services is pleased to invite stakeholders to an informational webinar. This webinar will highlight significant sections of the proposed Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) regulations that received the highest number of comments during the comment period. The proposed PRTF regulations will codify the minimum licensing standards, Medical Assistance (MA) participation requirements, and payment conditions for PRTFs that provide medically necessary behavioral health treatment to children, youth, or young adults under 21 years of age with a behavioral health diagnosis.

OMHSAS has worked collaboratively with the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth & Family Services (PCCYFS) and RCPA in planning for the May 21, 2025, meeting. RCPA has offered limited space for those who would like to attend in-person; the in-person meeting will be held at 777 East Park Drive, Suite G-4, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Virtual attendance through TEAMS is also an option. In-person attendance is limited to 55 individuals (no more than one individual per organization). Stakeholders may register for in-person attendance by contacting Emma Sharp.

Additional information will be distributed closer to the meeting date. We hope you will join us on May 21, 2025, at 10:00 am!

Questions or comments about this webinar should be sent electronically.

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Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp for in-person registration.