Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) launched a new initiative designed to reduce administrative burdens for substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment providers that are licensed by both agencies and increase health and safety protections for Pennsylvanians receiving care at these facilities.
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.
“During DDAP’s stakeholder engagement tour, a recurring issue we heard from treatment providers is that the administrative burden associated with all of their inspections takes time away from providing actual care. We listened, learned, and now the Shapiro Administration is taking action,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “Having staff from both agencies conduct inspections at the same time will allow for providers to spend more time doing the critical work of providing quality services for some of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens.”
The new initiative, which is voluntary, could impact up to 170 jointly licensed facilities that provide SUD and mental health services including individualized and group counseling, SUD treatment plans, medications for opioid use disorder, and additional physical and mental health care.
“DHS takes seriously its licensing and oversight responsibilities to protect the health and safety of the Pennsylvanians we serve while simultaneously seeking efficiencies and streamlined processes for providers whenever possible. For years providers have been requesting joint annual licensing inspections. Working collaboratively with our colleagues at DDAP, we are pleased this voluntary process is now an option enabling providers to focus on what is most important: giving care to those who need it,” said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “Establishing a process for joint annual inspections is the latest example of delivering on Governor Shapiro’s promise to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and we are confident it will benefit both providers and those needing treatment.”
The annual inspections, which are required by regulation, entail a review of the treatment facility’s compliance with regulations regarding policies and procedures, staff qualifications and trainings, clinical and medical records, as well as a walk-through of each site to ensure the safety of the structure and overall compliance with the Commonwealth’s regulations.
DDAP and DHS launched the new initiative today 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, 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."
Additional Supports for Behavioral Health Workforce
Pennsylvania is projected to face a shortage of more than 6,300 behavioral health professionals by 2026, with rural regions bearing the brunt of this challenge. The Shapiro Administration has implemented several initiatives to address this, including:
- Establishing telehealth licenses to expand SUD treatment accessibility statewide;
- Licensing Pennsylvania's first mobile opioid treatment program to pave the way for increased access to medication-assisted treatment;
- Launching a workforce development pilot program with Carlow and Waynesburg universities to accelerate the training of new substance use treatment professionals;
- Providing nearly $20 million in student loan repayments to approximately 350 substance use disorder professionals statewide to support workforce retention; and
- Launching the MyOMHSAS platform, through DHS’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). The website offers free trainings and resources to behavioral health professionals.
Building on that success, Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed 2025-26 budget includes an additional $10 million to expand loan repayment programs, reinforcing Pennsylvania's commitment to growing and sustaining a strong behavioral health workforce.
In addition, the goals of this new program align with the Governor’s Executive Order establishing the Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Council, which brings together state leaders, local governments, and community providers to develop and recommend to the Governor the implementation of a statewide action plan that addresses how to deliver timely and quality mental health and addiction care services, in a culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented manner, through an evidence-based behavioral delivery system.
24/7 Help
Individuals seeking substance use treatment or recovery resources can be connected to local SUD resources by calling the toll-free PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or by using Treatment Atlas, a free, online locator tool to help Pennsylvanians confidentially find SUD treatment that meets their needs.
In addition, free and confidential help is available 24/7/365 by calling or texting 988. Callers will be connected to a trained, caring professional with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline who will listen, and if needed, make a local connection to resources. A chat feature and more information are available at 988lifeline.org.
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