News
PACA MH/DS FALL CONFERENCE
 
Our next conference will be November 14-16, 2018 at Bedford Springs, in Bedford, PA. The tentative agenda has been posted to the association conference page (under the about us drop down). If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact Lisa Zook at lzook@pacounties.org.
 
REGISTRATION FEES FOR 2018
Wednesday Board Meeting           $ 0
Thursday AND Friday                     $235
Thursday Only                                $180 (Continental Breakfast/Buffet Lunch)
Friday Only                                    $100 (Full Breakfast)
 
REGISTER TODAY: Conference Registration
 
ROOM RATE:  $ 145.00/night (Reserve by October 10, 2018)
 
RESERVE ROOM BY CALLING:  (814) 623-8100 
 
RESERVE ROOM ONLINE : Visit the Omni Reservations Page
 
GROUP ONLINE CODE: 111318PACAMHDSG
 
Additional directions for online reservations: you will click the dates for your reservation and on that screen you will click the + sign next to special rate code and it drop down for you to place the Group Code. 
 
I&E TRAINING A SUCCESS FOR NEW FISCAL OFFICERS
 
The Bureau of Financial Operations provided small group training to new fiscal officers. Two separate sessions were held in September with the goal of providing support for both block grant counties and non-block grant counties regarding the completion of their required income and expense reports. The individuals that participated were selected after BFO staff reviewed the results of PACA MH/DS's recent survey of fiscal officers regarding training needs. If any county needs assistance, please feel free to contact BFO as they have indicated their willingness to talk through any concerns. Special thanks to Jim Flanagan and Marlene Snell!
 
TOBACCO PROHIBITED AT STATE HOSPITALS
 
Phil Mader, Director of the Bureau of Community and Hospital Operations, announced at the September 28 joint Mental Health and HealthChoices meeting that tobacco products will be prohibited on the grounds of all state hospitals. Any tobacco or vape product is prohibited for use by residents, staff and visitors (inclusive of the parking lots). The changes take effect on the following dates:
 
Clarks Summit - 7/2/18
Danville - 10/1/18
Norristown - 12/1/18
Torrance - 12/1/18
Warren - 12/10/18
Wernersville - 7/1/18
 
CMS APPROVES ODP'S AMENDMENTS TO WAIVERS
 
On September 25, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) approved the Office of
Developmental Programs' amendments to the Consolidated, P/FDS and Community Living waivers. The details of the waivers, including a side-by-side comparison are available online.
 
ODP HONORS PACA MH/DS REQUEST FOR LICENSING PROCESS
 
PACA's Developmental Disability Strategic Work Group requested the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) work with the Bureau of Human Service Licensing to improve communications and engagement when licensing facilities. As a result of the request, ODP is beginning to share licensing actions with county AE via the ODP AE Listserv. Licensing action notices will assist the county in serving individuals regarding the risk management processes. Further efforts are being made to include the county in the onsite exit review. More information will be forthcoming.
 
PACA MH/DS REVIEWS 6100 COMMENTS WITH ODP      
 
T he Home and Community-Based Services and Licensing regulations, the proposed 6100 regulations, is nearing the end of the promulgation cycle. PACA MH/DS reviewed our comments with the Office of Developmental Programs officials and noted that 66 percent of the association's suggested revisions were incorporated into the proposed regulations. The vast majority of the comments that did not result in changes were due to the use of incorporating existing regulations creating some language differences in different sections of the regulations.  In some cases preferred language was not implementable due to the construction of the original regulations. All of PACA MH/DS's critical and pragmatic concerns were acknowledged and addressed.

The regulations are now under review by the Interagency Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC). PACA MH/DS has submitted a letter of support for the revised regulations to the IRRC, which meets on October 18.
 
OPTIONS FOR MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE IN PA JAILS - FREE COUNTY CONFERENCE

On Monday, December 3, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., CCAP, in partnership with the PA Department of Human Services Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, will present "Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System - Understanding Options and Opportunities" at the Nittany Lion Inn, State College, PA. Counties are encouraged to send teams of up to five which may include county judges, commissioners and council members, jail administrators, district attorneys and public defenders, mental health administrators, and local law enforcement.  The conference is designed to assure that counties have a full understanding of the Department's efforts and assurance that services are available to those who need them. Please have the names, titles and email addresses of those planning to attend ready when you register, ( later than November 2) to attend the conference at no cost. The overnight group rate of $124/night is available through November 2, when you reference the group code: CBHT18C. You can call the Nittany Lion Inn directly at (800) 233-7505.  Questions regarding the content of the conference can be directed to Brinda Penyak . Questions regarding registration can be directed to Lori Dabbondanza.
 
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES READY TO START
 
Governor Wolf introduced the
Ready to Start Task Force on September 27. The task force is to assist in policy development regarding health, human services and education for infants and toddlers ages zero to three. The task force has three guiding principles:
improve health outcomes of infants, toddlers, and their families; strengthen the home environment for infants, toddlers, and their families; and prepare infants and toddlers for future school success.
 
There are six Listening Sessions, which have already begun with the goal of gathering information and insight regarding current and possible strategies. More information is available  online.
 
CALL TO STUDY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER SHORTAGE
 
On September 28, Representative Helen Tai (D-Bucks) sponsored House Resolution 1109. HR 1109 calls for the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the mental health provider shortage. Specifically, commission's report will explore the factors behind the mental health provider shortage, make projections regarding the number of providers in the future and offer recommendations to stop and reverse the shortage. More information is available  online.
 
PEER SPECIALIST GRANPARENTING UPDATE
 
Grandparenting of current Pennsylvania Certified Peer Specialist began on March 1, 2018 and ends August 31, 2019. The new full peer certification is offered by the Pennsylvania Certification Board. The Board and OMHSAS are offering a webinar to assist in understanding how current Peer Specialists can obtain the new full certification during the grandparenting period. Full certification is required for Medical Assistance billing. More information is available online.
 
COMMUNITY ON TRANSITION 2018/19 WEBINAR SERIES - Planning for the LifeCourse
 
The Department of Education is holding a series of webinars to provide information on what IEP teams and students need to know and do regarding creating a vision for a meaningful life. The sessions focus on how to find or develop supports and provide an outline for planning the life that the individual student envisions. The following webinars are scheduled with registration available online.
 
October 10 - Planning for the LifeCourse Overview
December 5 - Planning for the LifeCourse - Employment Uses
February 6 - Planning for the LifeCourse - Postsecondary Education and Training Uses
April 1 - Planning for the LifeCourse - Independent Living

PADRES AGENDA AND REGISTRATION AVAILABLE
 
The agenda for the upcoming Pennsylvania Disability Employment and Empowerment Summit (PADRES) entitled Discover "Hire" Potential is available. Registration is open online. The event will be at the Hilton in Harrisburg on October 31 and November 1.
 
NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH MATERIALS AVAILABLE
 
This year the theme is: America's Workforce: Empowering All. A toolkit is available online to assist in local awareness and activities. The Administration on Community Living is observing NDEAM by hosting a webinar on October 24 at 3 p.m. for health care professionals. The goal of the session is to improve health care training curricula and increase access to quality care for people with disability.
 
HCBS MANAGED CARE AND VALUE BASED PURCHASING GUIDE AVAILABLE
 
The Center for Health Care Strategies has made available a guide by the West Health Policy Center that describes considerations for states seeking to adopt Value Base Purchasing models for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) in Medicaid managed long-term services and supports. The guide, titled Achieving Value in Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Care: Considerations for Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Programs examines approaches used by five states: Minnesota , New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia
 
OMHSAS STAFFING UPDATES

Shannon Fagan: Acting Director, Bureau of Policy, Planning and Program Development (10/06/18)

Scott Talley: Acting Director, Bureau of Children's Behavioral Health Services (10/06/18)

Elizabeth Doolittle-Klinedinst: Executive Secretary (10/06/18)

Shaye Erhard: Executive Assistant (09/24/18)