Comment - Primrose

cotilrtolrl\T.{LTH
oF PENNS\-L\-.\tiI.{
DEPARTMENTOF PUBLIC WEI,FARf,
P.O. BOX 2675
HARRISBTJRqPf,NNSYLVANIA I 7I05.2675
OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH
& SUBSTANCEARUSESER\/ICES

JUN2 s 2006

Ms. SumrnerKing
SAMHSAReportsClearanceOfficer
Room7-1044
One ChokeCherryRoad
Rockville,Maryland 20857
DearMs.King:
Thankyou for the opportunityto providecornmentson the proposedCoMeasures.Baseduponinputfrom key stakeholders
occuningInfrastruc-ture
representingthe provider,county,state,and researchagenciesinvolvedin the COSIG
infiastructureactivities,Pennsylvaniaoffersthe followingcommentson the provider
fevelperformancemeasuresaboutthe screening,assessnent,and treatmentof co.
occuningdisorders.
r

Pleaseclariff the instructionsfor data collection: ls it for all clients/patients
seen
your
facilityor onlythoseclients/patients
who are seen and entertreatment.
at
Manyindividualsare screenedbut not admittedfor services.This is confusing.
r The first questionwill not provideclear informationon the systemof carewithin
the Commonwealth.
As part of the statewideinfrastructuredevelopment,the
published
statehas
the co-occuningdisordercompetencycriteriafor all facilities
that are liensed to providesubstanceabuseand/ornental healthservices-The
goal is to rnovethe entirebehavioralhealthsystemtowardthe achievementof
core competencyto seryeindividualswith a @-occurringdisorder. Therefore,
our providersare licensedand credentialedas co-occuningcompetentwhichis
the initial step for creatinga system of care where there is no wrong door for
accessingappropriateservices. Fromthis aspect,programsthat are licensed
and credentialedto provideco-occuningserviceswouldnot be accurately
reflectedby the languageutilizedin this question.
r In SectionsB - l, The requestedinformationis not routinelycollectedby
providerscurrently.lt will requirealterationsto their datacollectionsystemsor
manualextractionof the information.This willcreate additionalburdenfor our
providersystemin collectinginformationthat will not bd utilizedfor the
infrasfucturegoalsoutlinedin our grant proposal.
o The providersindicatedthat a point in time collectioncouldbe accomplishedbut
eryressedconcemthat the estimatedtime burdenfor ongoingcollectionshould
be higherthan estimated.

- 2 t

r

The needfor accuratedata is recognizedand supportedas a planningtool, but
concernis expressedthat the burdenof ongoingcollectionwill resultin
inaccuratedata collection.
o In the policysection,it is recommendedthat the instructionsshouldindicatewho
is to completethis informationfor consistencyacrossprovidersand states.
o lt wouldbe helpfulto clarifuwhat the datawill be usedfor at the Federallevel.
Our providersare beingaskedto cotlectextensivedatawith no feedback
regardingthe purposeor intentof this requirement.lt will not be usedat the
statelevel to rneasureour actualinfrastructuredevelopment.This will be an
additionalrequirementfor our providersystemto meetFederalrequirernents.
I hopethe abovecommentslsuggestions
are usefulin finalizingthe co-occuning
performan@measures. Pennsylvaniarecognizesthe needfor accurateand useful
data to supportfundingco-occurringserviceswhenit does not createan additional
burdenon the overextendedprovidersystem. lf you haveany questionsregardingthe
abovecomrnents,pleasecontactrneat (717t 783-8067or via emailat
rprimrose@state.pa.us.
Again,thankyou for the oppgrtunity
to providecomments.

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/2

uL*
COSIGProjectDirector