RCPA has provided members a general update on the Pennsylvania 2026/27 budget. Further updates will be given at the next Government Affairs Committee meeting.
The RCPA Government Affairs Committee meeting that was originally scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2026, is being rescheduled to July 21, 2026.
The LTSS Subcommittee meeting was held on July 1, 2026. The next meeting is scheduled for August 5, 2026, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Today, July 10, 2026, the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) released the next announcement for Rural Health Transformation Program funding.
Join RCPA Partner First Nonprofit for a 30-minute ‘briefinar’ that will help nonprofit organizations better understand unemployment and cost strategies.
Governor Josh Shapiro announced 28 appointments to the newly established Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities.
CODE PA is working with DHS to understand the experience of applying for and maintaining licenses and is seeking provider and organization input.
RCPA is requesting your consideration to make a donation to our PAC Silent Auction at the 2026 Conference.
Exclusive educational webinar from RCPA Partner Relias, Making Feedback Matter: A Practical Introduction to Relias XM
RCPA is proud to announce several webinars that will be free to members only
CMS has announced their approval of OLTL's Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver amendment. The effective date of this approval is July 1, 2026.
RCPA continues to seek sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers for our Conference. Complete the brochure and promote your organization's purpose and possibilities!
Gov. Josh Shapiro announced on Monday that the state will join a multi-state legal action against President Donald Trump.
A federal judge temporarily blocked a portion of the ED's narrowed definition of “professional degree” that was set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
RCPA is excited to host a membership benefits webinar on Thursday, July 9, 2026, as an opportunity for members to orient themselves with all that RCPA membership includes.
OLC released a memo seeking to undercut the integration mandate in the Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. and in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
On June 16, 2026, CMS released a final rule with comment period that includes provisions to strengthen the oversight of Medicare national AOs.
Relias Learning will host “Impact Leadership,” a webinar for leaders navigating workforce shortages, administrative burden, and constant change.
Message from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing:
Registration is now open for RCPA's 2026 Conference Power in Purpose: Promoting Possibilities, which will be held September 29 – October 2 at the Hershey Lodge.
Article by Observer-Reporter : Published June 3, 226
Family-Centered Care: One Organization’s Revolutionary Approach to Include Families in all Aspects of Care Monday, June 15, 2026 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT; 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CDT; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm MDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am PDT Register Here Donna Provenzano, Director of Family-Centered Care Donna Provenzano is the Director of Family-Centered Care at Children's Specialized Hospital. She has thirty-nine years of experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families at Children's Specialized. Donna serves on several hospital leadership committees and councils and provides administrative and operational management of Family-Centered Care and Volunteers. She supervises and partners with Family Faculty staff and coordinates with the Family Advisory Council. Donna has presented both nationally and internationally on Patient- and Family-Centered Care. Under Donna’s leadership, her department received the IPFCC Family-Centered Care Partnership Award for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in 2022. Donna has received additional leadership certifications from the Harvard Business School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Ithaca College. Linda Waddell, Family Faculty Manager Linda Waddell is the Family Faculty Manager at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has been employed at the hospital as a Family Faculty since June of 2008 and a member of the Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Family Advisory Council since 2014. On behalf of the hospital, Linda has presented with her team on Patient- and Family-Centered Care at regional, national, and international conferences. Most recently, Linda was a member of a panel that presented at the 2024 RISE Summit “Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): A Look into Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Program in NJ and Beyond.” Linda participates in various hospital committees and is also a member of the IPRC Steering Committee, where she provides a family member’s perspective for discussions and decision-making. Linda was the 2019 recipient of the Lester Z. Lieberman Humanism in Healthcare Award and received the IPFCC 30th Anniversary 2022 Partnership Award on Social Determinants of Health. Linda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Kean University. Linda’s first experience with Children’s Specialized Hospital began in 1999, receiving multiple services for her newborn, medically fragile baby. She became an expert in the experience of pediatric rehabilitation through caring for her daughter with medical complications. Family Faculty at Children’s Specialized Hospital are paid positions held by parents and family members whose children have received or are still receiving services at Children's Specialized Hospital Inpatient, Outpatient, or Long-Term Care sites. Their own day-to-day experiences provide a unique perspective, understanding, and empathy for families going through similar situations. Family Faculty partner with staff and families to build a respectful and understanding relationship by listening, providing insights, and encouraging positive communication between staff and families. Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will identify strategies to: Embed Patient- and Family-Centered Care into your organization; Cultivate respectful partnerships and collaboration with leadership, staff, and families; Include families in education and training of staff at all levels; and Engage families and staff in creating valuable resources. Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team. Level: Beginner – Intermediate Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course. Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today .
As part of our ongoing effort related to the implementation of H.R. 1 and the pending Medicaid changes, RCPA, in partnership with our members Bowling Business Strategies and the National Council, requests members to take a few minutes to participate in a brief survey . The goal is to gain better insights into provider readiness and to assist in developing guidance and communication tools in advance of the January 1, 2027, implementation of H.R. 1. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO Jim Sharp .
RCPA is excited to host a membership benefits webinar on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 1:00 pm, as an opportunity for members to orient themselves with all that RCPA membership includes. This is not just for new and future members. For current members, there may be benefits associated with our membership that you may not be aware of, including targeted meetings and groups that occur throughout the year as well as elements of the new website you may not be familiar with. Registration is required; please register here to attend the webinar. Items we will review include the below and much more: Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and RCPA lobbyists. NEW ! RCPA announced a new website earlier this month, and all members are encouraged to create their RCPA Portal account. The benefits and its importance will be highlighted! Discuss the 2026 Legislative and Administrative priorities. Preview RCPA divisional committee and subcommittee meetings and what they offer. Review exclusive yearly educational and networking events. Understand the value of the ANCOR and National Association memberships included with RCPA membership. Visit the RCPA member benefits web page for more information, or contact Tieanna Lloyd for benefit details.
As part of RCPA’s ongoing strategies for guiding members and stakeholders through the H.R. 1 implementation process, RCPA has developed the RCPA H.R. 1 Medicaid Resource Guide . The guide is designed to provide education and resources for the changes that are set to occur at the State and Federal levels. RCPA will continue to update this guide as implementation proceeds and information becomes available. Please contact your RCPA Policy Director with any questions.
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) released a notice reminding providers about the new services that will be available as a result of the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver Renewal and Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) Waiver Amendment. The following new services will be available starting July 1, 2026: Teleservice Benefits Counseling — CHC and OBRA Provider Type: 59 Specialty Code: 502 Procedure Code: W1710 Teleservice Behavior Therapy — CHC and OBRA Provider Type: 59 Specialty Code: 209 Procedure Code: W1711 Additional information on the licensure and certification requirements can be found in the Service Definitions under Appendix C of the waivers. Please note that these documents have not received final approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Once approval is received, a ListServ message will be sent with links to the final approved waiver applications. CHC Waiver OBRA Waiver The Fee-for-Service rates for Teleservice Benefits Counseling and Teleservice Behavior Therapy have been added to the fee schedule here . To enroll in the services listed above, current OLTL providers must submit a request to the enrollment and certification resource account. The documentation required for this process includes an updated Provider Enrollment Information Form, a copy of the necessary license or certification, and a copy of the job description for the new service(s) being requested to be added to your provider profile. Questions related to the new services should be directed to the enrollment and certification unit at 800-932-0939, option 1, or via email .
RCPA will be hosting a work group session to prepare the response to the CHC Request for Information (RFI) tomorrow, June 9, from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm . We ask that you add this Teams meeting link to your calendar . View the agenda here . You can also view an executive summary and the final RFI announcements in preparation for tomorrow’s meeting. If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar or Melissa Dehoff .
The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has shared that they will be contacting all of the brain injury (BI) providers to request specific metrics and data. This information is needed to address the waiting to be assessed lists and your concerns related to individuals waiting for needed services. In order to be prepared for these requests, a call has been scheduled to discuss this information. The call has been scheduled for June 8, 2026, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm . Please ensure someone from your organization participates in this call. Microsoft Teams Meeting Join Here Meeting ID: 295 846 434 755 428 Passcode: PY3Qm7sX Need help? | System reference Dial in by phone +1 689-206-0441,,950406976# United States, Orlando Find a local number Phone conference ID: 950 406 976# If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Dehoff .
The Pennsylvania Legislature is considering an update to the Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA), which includes several provisions to impact services, staffing, and regulatory reporting for RCPA members in all of the Department of Human Services arenas. RCPA and its members strongly support having protections of older Pennsylvanians; however, our recommendations focused on provisions that impact: Expanded fingerprinting and background check requirements; Hiring flexibility and provider operational responsibilities; and Alignment with existing HCBS operational frameworks. The recommendations highlighted the need for the legislative process to preserve and support access to HCBS services, workforce sustainability, operational feasibility, and continuity of care for older adults in the Commonwealth. The full response can be viewed here .
RCPA wishes to take this opportunity to thank those who attended the H.R. 1 Medicaid Summit that was held last month. The summit provided an opportunity for the more than 350 participants to learn about the pending changes in Federal Medicaid as well as its implications in Pennsylvania and those who advocate and provide services for this vulnerable population. RCPA would also like to thank our panelists for their commitment to engaging with our members in ensuring collaboration and partnership throughout the implementation. This summit served to represent one of the many facets of advocacy and support for our members across our divisions and RCPA’s advocacy efforts on the HR 1 Medicaid impacts. Available now are the presentations from both the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and from Leesa Allen, RCPA Medicaid Consultant . We will also be releasing the RCPA H.R. 1 Medicaid Resource Handbook in the near future, which will provide an overview of policy and practice implementation at both the Federal and State levels, a Medicaid FAQ, and recent updates on developing areas, such as the State Directive Payments and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse standards. RCPA will continue to communicate to members regarding H.R. 1 Medicaid updates and events, including a Medicaid Summit at the RCPA Conference. Visit the RCPA website for details regarding our conference, and note that we plan to share the registration brochure within the coming weeks. If you have additional questions regarding the RCPA Medicaid Handbook, please forward them to RCPA Policy Specialist Emma Sharp .