Acenda requests waivers to PESS staffing rules; DMHAS posts multiple funding RFPs

Acenda Integrated Health notified regulators and MHADA members that it has requested waivers to two New Jersey Administrative Code requirements for its Cape May County Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS‑CM). In a March 10 letter, Acenda requested relief from N.J.A.C. 10:31‑2.1(a)(8), which requires Extended Crisis Evaluation Bed(s) with 24‑hour capability, and from N.J.A.C. 10:31‑2.5(a)(1), which sets on‑site psychiatrist availability during specified hours. Acenda’s letter, signed by Anthony DiFabio, Psy.D., president and CEO, says the PESS‑CM program has never been funded to provide 24‑hour holding beds nor received capital funding to renovate an emergency department for such beds; it requests that Emergency Department physicians at Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional be permitted to sign screening certificates during the requested waived hours. The letter notes the psychiatrist remains available by phone 24/7 for consultation and that face‑to‑face or telehealth evaluations can be requested when clinically appropriate. Christina Jackey, Acenda Senior Director of Acute Care Services, is listed as the program contact in the filing and the letter says community partners have been notified of the waiver request and their right to submit comments. Separately included in the meeting record were New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) notices of funding availability. DMHAS published multiple May 2025 opportunities including: an RFP for a Medical Legal Partnership for individuals with substance use disorder funded with opioid settlement dollars (anticipated seven awards of up to $392,857 each and a June 11 proposal deadline); an Independent Peer Review contract opportunity (small flat-fee contracts; May 13 deadline); a Bilingual Mental Health Clinician Stipend Program (first‑come, first‑served; April 30 deadline); and an Integrated Care Program RFP totaling roughly $900,000 per year in combined awards (May 15 deadline). The meeting minutes include these DMHAS notices as informational material from Amy Dindak. Acenda’s waiver letter states the organization believes granting the waivers would not compromise the screening law’s purpose or consumer safety because ED physicians can sign certificates during waived hours and a psychiatrist is available by phone for consultation. The letter also references quarterly meetings between Acenda staff and Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional administration. No formal MHADA action on the waiver request or DMHAS RFPs was recorded in the March 11 meeting minutes.