Behavioral Health Updates

Community Behavioral Health (CBH) Provider Bulletin 21-09: COVID-19 Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) Increase

Service providers who are currently funded through the COVID-19 APA will receive a 5% increase applied to the July, August, and September payments. Providers are expected to use these funds to support staffing activities including, but not limited to, incentive and retention payments, sign-on bonuses, staffing-related advertising, training, wellness activities, etc. CBH reserves the right to request proof of usage of these funds upon request.

As a reminder, the COVID-19 APA will end on October 1, 2021, and providers currently funded by the COVID-19 APA will shift back to fee-for-service/claims-based funding.

Community Behavioral Health (CBH)Training – Disparities Lecture Series

Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) and CBH are hosting a lecture series on disparities within the behavioral health and mental health system. The lecture series will feature nationally renowned speakers and aims to address systemic issues that must be addressed in order to improve healthcare for all individuals.   The next webinars in this series are (click on titles to register):   Race Unmasked with Dr. Michael Yudell Tuesday, August 17, 2021 12 to 1:30 p.m.   Health Equity and the Need for Radical Healing with Dr. Wizdom Powell Tuesday, September 21, 2021 12 to 1:30 p.m.   Structural Competency with Dr. Helena Hansen Tuesday, October 5, 2021 12 to 1:30 p.m.

Community Behavioral Health (CBH) Multicultural Practices Provider Survey

CBH is pursuing the distinction as a Multicultural Health Care (MHC) Managed Care Organization as part of the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Accreditation. The NCQA Distinction in MHC identifies organizations that excel in providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services and work to reduce health care disparities.   To ensure that Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) are available and accessible to CBH members, we would like to assess the cultural responsiveness (attitudes, awareness, and abilities) of the provider network. By surveying the provider network, we will gain an understanding of current cultural beliefs and practices of individuals and providers.   CBH is inviting all individuals working at your location/facility in the CBH network to complete the Multicultural Practices Provider Survey. The online survey will take about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. We are asking for your support with this effort by allowing your direct care staff, clinicians, supervisors/managers, administrators, etc. to complete the survey. Participation in the survey is voluntary and all responses will be kept confidential and anonymous.   The survey will be available to the CBH Provider Network beginning Monday, August 16, 2021, and run through Sunday, September 19, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. To access the survey, click here.   If you have any questions regarding the Multicultural Provider Survey, please contact your CBH Provider Representative.

Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania, in partnership with Southwest Behavioral Health Management and Butler County Human Services, have issued a Request for Proposals for:

Family Based Mental Health Services. Responses to this RFP must be received by 4 p.m. on September 1, 2021.

Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania updated Psychological/Neuropsychological Evaluation Request Form

The Beacon-PA Psychological/Neuropsychological Evaluation Request (PER) Form has been updated to a more user friendly, one-page document. The new form is located on the Provider Forms page, below Authorization Forms. Please read the new form carefully and be sure to fill it out legibly (if not typed), completely and accurately.

Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania Member and Family Zoom Meetings

These meetings will continue through September 2021. Beacon’s Health Options’ Prevention, Education, and Outreach Department invites members and their families to join us on a monthly Zoom meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to share information, updates and provide opportunities to network with other Beacon members and family members. Meetings are from 1-2 p.m. Upcoming meeting dates are August 23 and September 27. To Join Zoom Meeting click below. Meeting ID: 963 6668 5245 • Passcode: 773174. If unable to join by the Zoom link below, please dial-in on the specific date at 1:00 p.m. EST 1-646-876-9923 to join by phone. The Meeting ID and Passcode are the same as stated previously.

Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania Annual Provider Education Webinar for Facilities

Thursday, September 23, 2021 9:00 a.m.— 10:30 a.m. All Contracted Facilities are Invited. Beacon says thank you for being an in-network provider with Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania (Beacon). The Annual Provider Education Webinar for Facilities is presented by their Provider Relations Department. Beacon acknowledges the challenges their providers face by doing business with multiple payors. Beacon’s goal is to offer the resources and support that are needed to succeed. This will be a live, interactive demonstration of their website that will provide providers with the opportunity to learn about responsibilities as a contracted provider and the opportunity to meet the Provider Relations team. Providers can email questions to PRGeneralInbox@beaconhealthoptions.com and they will respond to all attendees with an FAQ document following the webinar. Register in advance for this webinar by clicking below: