Advocate Support Blog

Maryland Economic Woes Means No Medicaid Inflation Increase for Community Mental Health & Substance Abuse Providers

Following is a video of Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley, from July 21, 2009, in which he announces that he is seeking $4 billion in cuts to Maryland's budget by this Labor Day. 

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However, a July 22, 2009 article in the Baltimore Business Journal, Maryland Board of Public Works approves O'Malley budget cuts, by Ryan Sharrow, reported, "Maryland’s Board of Public Works unanimously approved Wednesday Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal to slash $280 million from the state’s current budget. The cuts are the first step in trimming more than $700 million of the state’s $14 billion budget, a move precipitated by plunging tax revenue. O’Malley plans to introduce the remaining cuts by Labor Day."

The Baltimore Sun reported, "Among the hardest hit in this round of budget cuts would be Medicaid providers. The governor plans to save $24 million by paying only for hospital stays of a certain length under Medicaid, $23 million by reducing Medicaid rates for nursing homes and $13 million by taking away an inflation increase for providers of community mental health, substance abuse and other services." $280M in state budget cuts approved At least $420 million in further reductions planned before Labor Day, By Julie Bykowicz, July 22, 2009

Maryland's Board of Public Works is a three-member board which is comprised of Governor Martin O'Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

USPRA's 34th Annual Conference

The US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association's 34th Annual Conference is being held at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Norfolk Virginia from June 29, 2009 through July 2, 2009.

No where else will people find a more comprehensive menu of learning opportunities and have the opportunity to hear new ideas from so many experts in the field, not only practitioners, but also educators, researchers, and state and federal mental health decision makers.

Be a part of history as the USPRA continues to propel psychiatric rehabilitation into mainstream America and educate the world to the possibilities of recovery.

Join the USPRA in Norfolk and rediscover your dedication to the practice and principles of psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery.

Now more than ever, everyone committed to the practice of psychiatric rehabilitation must form a unified voice to speak out against the cuts to Medicaid and other essential entitlement programs. 

During the conference, you will hear from experts in the field and be provided with information you can take back to local government leaders to begin fighting the battle to ensure the future of psychiatric rehabilitation. 

Expand your knowledge through intensive learning Institutes and enlightening Workshops.

Dine Arounds and other networking opportunities will allow you to connect with others in the psychiatric rehabilitation field and learn from others' successes and challenges across the country. 

Improve outcomes and enhance your effectiveness.

Renew enthusiasm for your work through inspirational speakers. 

Check out all the latest info about USPRA's 2009 conference Details

New CPRP Eligibility Criteria

The US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association has made changes to eligibility criteria for sitting for the CPRP exam which went into effect July 15, 2008.

At their meeting on September 30, 2007 the Certification Commission for Psychiatric Rehabilitation finalized a review of the CPRP Examination Eligibility Criteria. As a result of that review a number of changes were made to requirements for the CPRP Examination Application. Changes are effective with the March 2009 Examinations and will impact all new applications for 2009 administrations.
 
The Training Requirement was reduced from 60 contact hours to 45.

The list of “Related Mental Health Degrees” has been eliminated and replaced with the following rules:
1. An Associates’ or higher academic degree in Psychiatric Rehabilitation earned in any year will meet the Education Requirement AND the Training Requirement.
2. A post-secondary Diploma or Certificate earned in any year from an accredited Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program will meet the Education Requirement AND the Training Requirement.
3. A Degree, Diploma or Certificate in any other discipline will require 45 contact hours of training in psychiatric rehabilitation.

An academic course taken for an equivalent of 3 or more semester credit-hours, earned at any time, is worth 45 contact hours and will satisfy the Training Requirement.

Training's taken outside of an academic program must be attended within the three years immediately preceding the application deadline for the requested examination.

To view the revised requirements, click here.