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Medical Rehab

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

Join Stacy DiStefano, Dr. Sailaja Musunuri, Melissa Fox, and Chris Wolf as they present the Integrated and Complex Care for Special Populations Symposium, moderated by Tine Hansen-Turton.
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Register Here

Description:

Nothing is more urgent than solving the problem of how to address the fragmented systems and gaps in care for the most complex populations. Join Woods Services to hear from expert panelists in the field of health and human services who will speak from experience about meeting the medical and behavioral healthcare needs of populations that require complex care, such as people with intellectual disability and/or behavioral health complexities — a challenge for both the individuals in need and their healthcare providers. Panelists will discuss how they have built programs and services, and how an integrated and coordinated service delivery system of programs and services around a population, taking into account their changing needs over time, not only better serves that group — and is what these individuals prefer — but is an approach that will also result in large, cohesive, and concentrated market shares, making it a sustainable model. We hope you’ll join us for an informative, dynamic discussion. Moderated by Tine Hansen-Turton, President and CEO of Woods Services.

Thriving Through Transformation Symposia Series:

This symposium is the third in a series of four symposia that stem from key themes in the newly-released book Thriving Through Transformation: A Practical Guide to Creating Organizational Change in the Social Sector by Woods Services. For more about the book and the series, see below.

Visit here to purchase a paperback copy of the book.

Visit here to download the free digital version.

Learn more about the speakers, agenda, and registration details here.

Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash

The 2023 RCPA Conference, which will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a leader in shaping policy and enhancing lives, will be held October 10 – 13 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. The Conference Committee is seeking workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:

  • Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as telehealth innovations, suicide prevention, and employing people with disabilities;
  • Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
  • Discuss advanced ethics practices;
  • Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, acquisitions/mergers, and alternative payment models;
  • Provide guidance on building a culture of a committed workforce, including recruitment and employee development as well as effective remote workforce strategies;
  • Offer concrete skills and tools to operate more efficient, effective agencies; and
  • Inspire ideas for organizations to be leaders in their field.

The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting and to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.

The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 13, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.

Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by Friday, May 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

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Enjoy golfing? Join RCPA for an afternoon of golf on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, immediately following the RCPA Annual Membership Meeting. The event will be held in support of the RCPA PAC and take place at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course, Harrisburg, PA. Lunch will be at 11:30 am, with a shotgun start at 1:00 pm. Register to attend today!

We hope you will consider becoming a sponsor in support of this fundraiser. Sponsorship will allow your company to receive name recognition.

Not a golfer but would still like to support the RCPA PAC? For your convenience, you can now make a personal online contribution, which will provide financial support to state legislators or representatives who have demonstrated a strong, consistent, and positive interest in our legislative priorities. If you are interested in learning more about the RCPA PAC or donating, please visit our website, download the PAC FAQ Card and Donation Card, or email Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.

We look forward to seeing you on the golf course!

Acting Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and leadership from the Department of Human Services (DHS) will host a webinar to discuss the proposed 2023/24 budget for the department. The briefing will take place at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 9.

Visit here to register for the briefing. DHS encourages you to submit questions ahead of the briefing so they can prepare as much information as possible. DHS will follow up on any questions that they are unable to answer during the webinar.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023
9:00 am — 3:00 pm
Register Here

Registration for the 2023 Health Equity Conference is now open!

Join the Office of Health Equity for a day of expert speakers as they provide valuable insight on health equity, whole person care, and chronic disease prevention. The conference will be held on April 4, 2023, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and is entirely virtual. Hear from our keynote speakers before heading into a breakout room of your choice to get more in-depth information on a variety of health equity related topics. Registration is open until April 3, so don’t miss out on an opportunity to connect with others in the field from the comfort of your own home.

Questions about this year’s summit? Please contact Judelissa Rosario or Emily Lebo for support. We hope to see you there!

As part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) ongoing efforts to provide up-to-date information to prepare for the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, expected on May 11, 2023, we are providing a new overview fact sheet on CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the Transition Forward from the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. COVID-19 efforts have been a significant priority for the current administration, and with the use of whole-of-government approach, the country is in a better place. Over the next several months, CMS will work to ensure a smooth transition back to normal operations.

The fact sheet provides clarity on several topics, including:

  • COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatments;
  • Telehealth services; and
  • Health care access.

There are several telehealth flexibilities listed within the document, including the continuation of virtual supervision to the end of the calendar year. See below for an excerpt from CMS’ PHE release:

Virtual Supervision

To allow more people to receive care during the PHE, CMS temporarily changed the definition of “direct supervision” to allow the supervising health care professional to be immediately available through virtual presence using real-time audio/video technology instead of requiring their physical presence. CMS also clarified that the temporary exception to allow immediate availability for direct supervision through virtual presence also facilitates the provision of telehealth services by clinical staff “incident to” the professional services of physicians and other practitioners. This flexibility will expire on December 31, 2023.

What is missing is guidance around the intersect of telehealth and the prescribing of buprenorphine as directed under the Ryan Haight Act of 2008. As part of the CMS Physicians Fee Schedule of 2023, CMS was in the process of writing language extending this as a flexibility. To date, there has been no guidance, though RCPA continues its advocacy efforts with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, as well as state and federal stakeholders.

Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash

The 2023 RCPA Conference, which will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a leader in shaping policy and enhancing lives, will be held October 10 – 13 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. The Conference Committee is seeking workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:

  • Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as telehealth innovations, suicide prevention, and employing people with disabilities;
  • Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
  • Discuss advanced ethics practices;
  • Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, acquisitions/mergers, and alternative payment models;
  • Provide guidance on building a culture of a committed workforce, including recruitment and employee development as well as effective remote workforce strategies;
  • Offer concrete skills and tools to operate more efficient, effective agencies; and
  • Inspire ideas for organizations to be leaders in their field.

The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting and to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.

The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 13, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.

Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by Friday, May 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.