NEWS

 
 
BUDGET NEWS

On June 30, the General Assembly sent  HB 218 , the commonwealth appropriations bill for FY 2017-2018, to the Governor's desk. The agreement between the four legislative caucuses and Gov. Wolf spends about $31.9 billion in state funds, representing an increase of about $300 million over FY 2016-2017 spending, less than the $32.3 billion budget proposed by the Governor in February but more than the $31.5 billion budget approved by the House of Representatives in April.
 
Gov. Wolf has until midnight, Monday, July 10 to sign HB 218 or there is the possibility the bill to become law without his signature, or he will veto all or part of the measure. In the meantime, the House and Senate are considering various options to balance the spending plan. 
 
Additional work remains on Fiscal Code, Tax Reform Code and Human Services Code amendments needed to implement the FY 2017-2018 budget.
 
Mental Health state funds for FY 2017-2018 are $5 million lower than the Governor's February proposal, for an overall $1 9.6 million decrease in state funds from the FY 2016-2017 budget. Federal mental health funds saw an overall increase compared to FY 2016-2017, with increases to both the Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG), which increased from $19.5 million to $20.5 million, and Medical Assistance, which increased from $172.1 million to $182.1 million.
 
Intellectual Disabilities  line items include slight increases from FY 2016-2017; for instance, Intermediate Care Facilities are funded at $128.4 million, while Community Base is funded at $150.7 million, a $1 million increase for each program. In addition, the Community Waiver is funded with $1.53 billion in state funding and $1.6 billion in federal funding, and the increase is sufficient to implement the proposal to adjust rates, and further provides enough funds for the graduates' initiative and funds a new waiver as proposed by the governor.
 
Behavioral Health  funding realized the governor's proposed increase for a total of $57.2 million, above the enacted FY 2016-2017 budget allocation of $53.1 million. Further, Early Intervention is funded at $136.5 million, which is a $7 million increase from FY 2016-2017, and autism services are funded at $26.9 million, a $2 million increase.

FISCAL AND DATA COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 24 & 25
 
The Fiscal and Data Committee will be meeting at the CCAP office on August 24 and 25. Topics will include a Medicaid Administrative Claiming and I&+E Report updates. Expect a tentative agenda and registration in early July.
 
JUNE 22 WAS OLMSTEAD'S 18TH YEAR
 
In 1999, the Supreme Court issued the Olmstead ruling which stated that: people with disabilities cannot be unnecessarily segregated, and must receive the most integrated services possible. This landmark decision continues to shape human service policies and practices today.. Interestingly enough, November 2017 will mark the 36 th  year since Katie Beckett's successful personal appeal to President Ronald Regan which lead to the first health and human services waiver. 
 
NATIONAL PROVIDER TRAINING SURVEY BEGINS AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY TRAINING NEEDS FOR TRANSITION
 
Pathways Research and Training Center in conjunction with YOUTH MOVE National request participation in a survey of service providers' training needs. The goal is to better serve youth and young adults with mental health needs. The survey will serve as a foundation to guide the development of training resources to improve service providers' overall skill sets. The online survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.
 
IMD EXCLUSION BILL INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
 
Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA 08) announced the introduction of the Road to Recovery Act on June 20, 2017. The bi-partisan legislation would eliminate the Medicaid Institutes for Mental Disease (IMD) for substance use disorders and assist states as they work to expand access to inpatient treatment. Numerous national organizations have noted support for the bill.
 
U.S. HUD RELEASES FY 2017 COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ALLOCATIONS
 
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has posted an interactive map that provides access to a spreadsheet which highlights various funding opportunities for communities in Pennsylvania:
  • Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
  • Home Investment Partnerships (HOME)
  • Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS ( HOPWA)
  • Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG)
  • Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
DOL OFFICIALLY BEGINS ACT 26 - WORK EXPERIENCE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
 
The Department of Labor (DOL) published a notice in the June 24 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin noting that the appropriation of sufficient funds to carry out the provisions of Act 26. Act 26 mandates the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation work in collaboration with the Bureau of Special Education to provide employment information and counseling in concert with Individual Education Plans (IEP).
 
MHPA OUTPATIENT AMENDMENT PASSES HOUSE
 
Representative Murt (R-152) introduced House Bill 1233 on April 17. The legislation passed the House with a 189-0 vote on June 21. The focus of the bill is to establish involuntary outpatient treatment for individuals with mental illness who are at imminent risk without treatment.  Murt stated the following upon passage of the legislation:

" This is a very important and long overdue step to helping Pennsylvanians. This is carefully crafted to fit into the Mental Health Procedures Act and will help people and families have a full continuum of treatment. Will be joining 46 other states with similar legislation to help people with serious mental illness".
 
PACA MH/DS worked diligently and successfully to address procedural issues in the initial version of the proposal. Our efforts resulted in two amendments which make the implementation of the legislation more practical at the county level. We continue to monitor the bill closely as it moves over to the Senate for consideration.
 
Additional bills concerning the MHPA have not moved out of committee or changed their status with one exception. House Bill 835 passed the House on June 27. The bill would amend the MHPA to assure very person who is in treatment has the right to be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation and adds an article prohibiting conversion therapy.
 
OMHSAS DRAFTS PATH APPLICATION
 
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has released the 2017 Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) grant application. The  2017 PATH Grant Application is available for review. Michelle Baxter will accept comments via e-mail at mibaxter@pa.gov .
 
BOTH CHAMBERS INTRODUCE BILL TO SUPPORT DHHS UNIFICATION
 
Senator Schwank (D-11) introduced Senate Bill 746 on June 13 and Representative Bloom (R-199) introduced a companion bill, House Bill 1000   on June 22. The bipartisan legislation would support Governor Wolf's proposal to unify the departments of health, aging, human services, and drug and alcohol programs under one Department of Health and Human Services. The Senate bill was sent to Intergovernmental Operations while the House bill was assigned to Appropriations. As this goes to press, Senator Baker (R-20) introduced Senate Resolution 157 to have an evaluation of the proposal's viability and implementation strategies. Various strategies regarding the unification initiative are being discussed.
 
U.S. DHS GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE
 
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that $1.6 billion is available for 10 grants to state and local governments, transportation authorities and other organizations to improve the nation's readiness in preventing, protecting against, responding to, covering from and mitigating terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. The Notices of Funding Opportunity for these grants can be found at https://www.fema.gov/preparedness-non-disaster-grants (expand the last link on the page.  Further information can be found on www.grants.gov.
 
PADDC RELEASES RFP FOR SUMMER 2017
 
The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PACCD) has issued the 2017 Request for Proposals Book. Grant objectives available for funding. The objectives address:
  • Community Opportunities for Younger Parents
  • Self-Advocacy Support
  • Volunteer Rural Transportation Cooperatives
  • Cross Systems Navigator
  • Meaningful Day Transitions
  • Rural Responsive Resources
  • School Culture
  • School to Prison Pipeline
COMPANION EMPLOYMENT FIRST BILLS INTRODUCED
 
Both chambers of the General Assembly introduced Employment First legislation on June 29. House Bill 1641 and Senate Bill 21 are identical bills with bi-partisan support. The legislation calls for the collaboration of state, county and local agencies to support competitive employment in integrated settings as the preferred outcome for all working age youth and adults. The legislation would take Governor Wolf's Executive Order 2016-03 a step further charging the Governor's Cabinet for People with Disabilities to assure collaboration, and the development of recommendations and action plans to meet the stated purpose. The bills were referred to their respective Labor and Industry Committee
 
LIFELINE

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network of more than 150 crisis centers. Lifeline provides crisis counseling and mental health referrals day and night. Find out more at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. If you are a crisis center director interested in becoming a member of the Lifeline Network, go to http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/crisiscenters/joinnetwork.aspx and scroll down to the bottom of the page to fill out an online application.  PA currently only has 7 crisis centers answering calls and is trying to increase the number of calls that are answered in state.

PEOPLE AND PLACES
 
Denise Sloand will be serving as ODP's Central Region Program Manager beginning on June 19, 2017.
 
Dave Kauffman , ODP Executive Assistant, will retire as of July 14 after 44 years of service at the state.
 
Diane Cashman is leaving ODP as of July 7.
 
Gary Entrekin , Chester County Administrator, retired effective July 7.
 
Austin Breegle , Westmoreland County retired effective July 5.
 
Jayne Romero, Venango County resigned effective August 4.

Special thanks and best of luck to our members that are moving onward in their lives. Each of you will be deeply missed for your personal and professional efforts and dedication.