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Medical Rehab

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Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

Family-Centered Care: One Organization’s Revolutionary Approach to Include Families in All Aspects of Care

Monday, April 20, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT;
9:00 am – 10:00 am MDT; 8:00 am – 9:00 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.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Friday, April 10 at 5:00 pm is the deadline to complete and submit nominations for the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) Advisory Council and RHTP Rural Care Collaboratives (RCC).

Advisory Council (Statewide): This is a not a decision-making body.
The Advisory Council will provide subject matter expertise (SME) to the RCCs. The Council’s feedback is intended to inform and enhance RCC regional plans to ensure planned projects have the best chance of succeeding and will be sustainable after the 5-year RHTP funding is no longer available.

  • Meeting Cadence: The Advisory Council will meet once a month during the RCC plan development period. Once plans are solidified, the Advisory Council will meet quarterly to help address implementation concerns.
  • Council Member Expectations: Provide technical assistance (TA) to the RCCs in the member’s identified area of expertise. TA can be provided in multiple formats. This could be open discussion during RHTP meetings, written questions and answers, or a more hands-on knowledge transfer.
  • Conflict of Interest: If chosen for the Advisory Council, members must provide their formal CV for documentation, a brief bio, and disclosure of any conflicts of interest. All conflicts of interest also must be communicated verbally during meetings and TA communication with RCCs.

The Advisory Council needs SME representation in:

  • Aging and Access
  • Behavioral Health
  • EMS and Transportation
  • Technology and Infrastructure
  • Maternal Health
  • Workforce

Rural Care Collaboratives (Regional): This is a planning body.
There will be 8 RCCs established with the purpose of:

  • Identifying regional priorities based on healthcare gaps;
  • Developing a regional plan to address prioritized needs; and
  • Recommending/identifying projects to the RHTP interagency project team to operationalize the regional plan that works towards Pennsylvania’s identified outcomes.

Complete the RHTP Advisory Council and RCC Nomination form here.

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Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, recently announced a hearing titled Healthier America: Legislative Proposals to Improve Public Health.

The hearing, scheduled for April 15, 2026, at 10:15 am, will focus on the bills below that address various areas of public health, including disease research and prevention efforts, bolstering resources for rural medical services and health care providers, promoting healthy activities, and increasing access to care.

The hearing will be open to the public and will be livestreamed online.

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Replay icon on wooden cubes on smart grey background and copy space. Recap business, meeting summary, business review concept.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) held a “kickoff” webinar to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) and have released the recording and slides for the presentation, which are available here. DHS is currently awaiting the release of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the first phase of Year 1 implementation.

Year 1 Funding Mechanisms will include:

  • Expansion of existing programs;
  • Program payments;
  • Intergovernmental agreements; and
  • Grant agreements.

If your organization has an interest in these RFPs, RCPA will provide updates as appropriate, but we also encourage you to sign up directly for the DHS listserv info. Direct RHTP inquiries can be sent here.

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Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released the Family Leadership Toolkit, which is designed for state-level professionals and family leaders working to elevate family voices in systems changes. The Family Leadership Toolkit offers practical tools, strategies, and real-world examples to help build strong, collaborative partnerships between professionals and family leaders. You can:

  • Use it to guide leadership development.
  • Share it with your networks and colleagues.
  • Introduce it in meetings, trainings, and planning sessions.
  • Promote it through your organization’s communication channels.

Access The Family Leadership Toolkit here. For questions, please reach out to OCDEL via email.

Additional questions can be directed to RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the fiscal year (FY) 2027 inpatient rehabilitation facility prospective payment system (IRF PPS) proposed rule.

The proposed rule includes some technical proposals that would modify the IRF coverage and documentation requirements as well as IRF QRP submission deadlines. The proposed rule does not include any proposals to modify the existing IRF transfer policy. The proposed rule does, however, include several Requests for Information (RFI) that could indicate potential future impactful changes.

On the FY 2027 payment side, the rule would provide an overall 2.8% increase to estimated payments per discharge, compared to the 2.6% payment update that CMS finalized for FY 2026.

FY 2027 Payment Updates

  • Aggregate Estimated Payment Increase: 2.8% / $355 million (field-wide)
  • Market Basket Update (with Productivity Adjustment): 2.4%
  • Labor-Related Share: 74.5%
  • Standard Payment Conversion Factor: $19,881
  • Outlier Threshold: $8,689 (from $10,141 in FY 2026)

FY 2027 Coverage, Payment, and Documentation Policy Changes

Initiation of Therapy Requirement
CMS proposes to clarify the requirement that therapy be initiated within 36 hours of midnight of the day of admission to the IRF.

Documenting Function in Preadmission Screen
CMS proposes to expand the elements required in the preadmission screening (PAS) to include “current functional status” as well as prior level of function.

Timing of Interdisciplinary Team Meeting
CMS proposes to tighten the requirement for the timing of the weekly interdisciplinary team meeting by requiring an initial interdisciplinary team meeting to occur “on or before the fourth day from midnight on the date the patient is admitted” and subsequent team meetings to occur “at least once per week after the date of the prior team meeting.”

Request for Information on Future IRF Payment Reform
The rule includes an extensive Request for Information (RFI) on future IRF payment reform, specifically two major areas of reform:

  1. Refining the current IRF patient classification system by creating a draft list of IRF-specific clinical categories; and
  2. Creating a new system of comorbidity scoring to better account for the severity and number of comorbidities for IRF patients.

The RFI does not propose any of these changes be implemented in FY 2027 but requests stakeholder feedback on both areas. CMS also references two new technical reports addressing their PPS changes under consideration; these are available for download as part of the rule’s associated data files here.

FY 2027 Quality Reporting Program Updates

Proposal to Revise Data Submission Deadlines for the IRF QRP
For the FY 2029 IRF QRP, which will be based upon Calendar Year 2027 data, CMS is proposing to reduce this timeline to the “15th day of the second month following the end of calendar quarter.”

The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2026. Comments on the proposed rule are due by June 1, 2026.

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RCPA is hosting our Annual Conference, Power in Purpose: Promoting Possibilities, at the Hershey Lodge from September 29 – October 2. This event will be a highlight for the Pennsylvania behavioral health, brain injury, children’s, early intervention, intellectual and developmental disabilities, medical rehabilitation, and physical disabilities and aging provider communities.

This year’s Sponsor, Exhibitor, and Advertiser Brochure features many opportunities to get in on the action and network with providers. Booth self-selection will also be available for exhibitors and exhibiting sponsors. In order to be considered for self-selection, a completed contract with payment must be submitted.

Exciting Sponsorship Opportunities
RCPA is privileged to have the backing of the finest organizations in the field for our conference. Through the use of sponsorship circles, RCPA is able to honor all supporting organizations.

Network and Compete in Connections Hall
Connections Hall activities take place during the two busiest days of the conference, and many networking opportunities are available throughout the event. You’ll also be able to compete and have a chance to win “Best of Show!”

Sign Up Now!
Sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who wish to be listed on the website, on the mobile app, and in the conference program must submit all materials by Tuesday, September 8. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

Visit Our List of Sponsors and Exhibitors!
RCPA thanks those that have committed their support to our 2026 Conference. You help make our conference an extraordinary, educational, and meaningful event for Pennsylvania’s provider communities!

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Yesterday, March 31, 2026, the Department of Human Services (DHS) held a “kickoff” webinar to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP). The slides have not been released; however, RCPA will share the PowerPoint with members once they are available.

The webinar did not provide definitive next steps in terms of which category of Request for Proposal (RFP) would be released and when. RFPs will be periodically rolled out, and DHS indicated that the first RFP release would be in the next two weeks. The Department also shared the broad categories of project areas for consideration, stating that all RFP responses should closely tie back to their approved CMS plan.

DHS touched on the fact that RHTP funding and compliance will be achieved through continual cooperative agreements with CMS. Below is a broader timeline highlighting certain reporting and funding dates, as well as broader categorical areas the state is pursuing.

  • End of First Reporting Period – July 31, 2026
  • First Annual Report Due to CMS – August 31, 2026
  • Obligation of Year 1 Funding – October 30, 2026
  • Year 2 Funding – October 31, 2026
  • Quarterly Reports Due to CMS – November 29, 2026; March 1, 2027, May 30, 2027
  • Spending Deadline for Year 1 – September 30, 2027
    • By March 31, 2028, CMS will begin determining the amount of unused funds from the prior period to redistribute them to other states.

Year 1 Funding Mechanisms will include:

  • Expansion of existing programs;
  • Program payments;
  • Intergovernmental agreements; and
  • Grant agreements.

If your organization has an interest in these RFPs, RCPA will provide updates as appropriate, but we also encourage you to sign up directly for the DHS listserv info. Direct RHTP inquiries can be sent here.

If you have further questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.

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