NJAMHAA-FY21-annual-report

16 “The practice groups allow our directors and managers to be the eyes and ears of our agency and provide me, as well as the full agency leadership team, with information that is critical for making decisions.” Jacques Hryshko, MS, LPC, NJAMHAA’s Board Vice Chair and CEO of Family Connections Hospital Community Integration Council Co-Chairs: Susan Loughery, MBA, NJAMHAA Board Chair and Associate Executive Director, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton; Jim McCreath, PhD, LCSW, Vice President, Psychiatry, Behavioral Health and Long-Term Care, Trinitas Regional Medical Center/St. Joseph’s Health; and Lori Ann Rizzuto, LCSW, NJAMHAA Board Member and Executive Director, Atlantic Behavioral Health Services, Atlantic Health System Since it was established in 2015, the Hospital Community Integration Council (HCIC) has focused on encouraging partnerships between hospital- and community-based behavioral healthcare providers and advocating for funding for all providers through the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program, which relied on such collaboration. This advocacy continues to be a main aspect of the HCIC’s efforts as the next version of the DSRIP program, the Quality Improvement Program (QIP), will be implemented in July 2021. The HCIC’s proactive efforts included a meeting in April 2021 dedicated to educating providers about the QIP and reinforcing the importance of partnerships. As numerous questions about the QIP were raised, NJAMHAA arranged for a meeting in May with staff from the Department of Health (DOH). Integrated Case Management Services (ICMS) Practice Group Chair: Anna Kline, MAE, Integrated Case Management & Justice Involved Services Preferred Behavioral Health Group This group was originally established in the late 1990s, when ICMS programs were first created throughout the state. In later years, the group was absorbed into the Adult Mental Health Practice Group. However, a significant number of ICMS providers expressed interest in reactivating the group to allow for more detailed discussions on ICMS-specific issues, and the group was reinstated in 2020. The ICMS Practice Group has been developing recommendations for the regulations, which are significantly outdated as the program has evolved over the years, especially during the pandemic. The group is planning a virtual conference for the fall, as conferences had been popular and valuable events in the group’s early years and a recent survey indicates a high level of interest. Proactive advocacy included a discussion with Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) staff about the Unified Services Transaction Form and the requirement for providers to seek approval from DMHAS before terminating individuals’ services. The group also had guest presentations on telehealth, focusing on the clinical aspects and general guidelines, including engaging clients. Programs for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) Practice Group Chair: Crystal Smith, MSW, Team Leader, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton Vice Chair: Amy Harpster, MA, Director, Community Support Services and PACT, Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services, Inc Similar to the ICMS Practice Group, the PACT Practice Group was reinstated after a long hiatus last year due to popular demand. Several meetings were devoted to developing recommendations for regulations, which were presented to the DOH Office of Licensing, DMHAS and Medicaid, and a follow-up discussion was held with staff from these entities. In addition to regulations, the state and providers discussed the need for flexibility in virtually providing supervision, the billing overlap between PACT and respite services, and signatures required during the pandemic. Earlier in the year, Linda Czipo, Executive Director, Center for Non-Profits, gave a presentation on lobbying and advocacy for this group.