RCPA is happy to announce our 2026 Annual Membership meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 9:30 am. We are offering this meeting as a hybrid event to all members. Please register here to attend in person at the RCPA Conference Center or via webcast. It is not necessary to attend in person to cast your vote. This year’s agenda and the 2025 Annual Meeting minutes are both available for review. The RCPA Nominating Committee has proposed a list of RCPA member representatives to serve as directors and officers of the RCPA Board of Directors. Please VOTE HERE in advance of the Annual Meeting for the election of RCPA Board of Directors and Officers. Following the Annual Meeting, RCPA is hosting a golf outing to benefit the RCPA PAC. It’s not too late to register and join us at the Colonial Golf & Tennis Club in Harrisburg, PA! You can also become a sponsor to support the event and receive recognition. If you are not a golfer but would like to support the RCPA PAC, please consider making a personal online contribution . For those members who wish to attend the Annual Meeting in person and need overnight accommodations, utilize the RCPA negotiated discounted rates at the following hotels: Best Western Premier is located across from the RCPA office. RCPA rate of $119.95 plus 11% occupancy tax. Rates are based upon room availability. Reservations can be made by calling 717-735-9397. Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey is located on Lindle Road, Harrisburg. Rates start at $165.00 plus tax. Please use corporate code A3933 to access the special rate online. Reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-325-3535. Indicate that you are with RCPA when booking. Thank you. We look forward to your participation!

Power in Purpose at the 2026 RCPA Conference! The RCPA 2026 Annual Conference, Power in Purpose: Promoting Possibilities, will take place from September 29 – October 2 at the Hershey Lodge. This conference is consistently a landmark event for the Pennsylvania behavioral health, brain injury, children’s, early intervention, intellectual and developmental disabilities, medical rehabilitation, and physical disabilities and aging provider communities. Several popular speakers are participating this year, including: Dave Raymond, the "Hero of Happiness" — Author, international keynote speaker, thought leader, and the original Phillie Phanatic. Judge Victor Reyes — Renowned facilitator of discussions on self-respect, self-compassion, domestic violence, and leader of yoga/mindfulness classes. Jennifer Lynn Robison – Lifestyle and communications expert, TEDx speaker, media contributor, and traumatic brain injury survivor/advocate. Ed Krow — Talent Transformation Expert on understanding the employee/employer dynamic, achieving talent and culture transformations, and turning negative growth into success. Connections Hall In addition to the Connections Hall activities, there are many networking opportunities throughout the conference. Exhibitors will also have the chance to compete for "Best of Show!" Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities Our conference is privileged to have the support of the finest organizations in the field. Contributing organizations are honored by RCPA through sponsorship circles. View our Sponsor/Exhibitor/Advertiser brochure , for the opportunity of name recognition and exhibitor booth self-selection (with completed contract and payment). Sponsorships and exhibit booths are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to submit all materials and be listed on the website, mobile app, and in the conference program is Tuesday, September 8. Please contact Conference Coordinator Carol Ferenz with any questions. RCPA thanks these organizations that have committed their support to our 2026 Conference. You help make this conference an extraordinary, educational, and meaningful event for Pennsylvania's provider communities!

The National Core Indicators – Aging and Disabilities (NCI-AD™) 2024–2025 National Report has been released. For the last ten years, NCI-AD has partnered with states to gather data on the experiences of people using long-term services and supports across the US. Pennsylvania does not currently participate in the data gathering for this report. However, the same key areas are included in the CAHPS survey, which will be reviewed by the CHC-MCOs at the PD&A meeting on 5/14/2026. Several of the opportunities for improvement will also be evident in the presentations. The 2024–25 NCI-AD survey included more than 20,000 individuals across 24 states receiving services through HCBS waivers, nursing facilities, PACE, and Older Americans Act programs. Overall, the findings reflect strong access to community supports and healthcare, while also highlighting ongoing workforce and service gaps. Approximately 68% of respondents said they participate in preferred activities as much as they want, 92% reported reliable transportation to medical appointments, and 73% said they consistently have transportation for community activities. Nearly all respondents (95%) reported being able to connect with friends and family when desired, although 17% still reported frequent loneliness. Access to healthy food, mental health services, and annual wellness visits remained high at roughly 87%–89%, yet only 14% described their overall health as excellent or very good. The survey also underscored the growing reliance on family caregivers within LTSS. About 40% of respondents identified a paid family member or friend as their primary support person, while 22% reported frequent staff turnover. Although 89% said services help them live the life they want, only 72% felt their services fully met their goals and needs. Among individuals reporting unmet needs, just 55% said their case manager discussed additional service options with them. Since 2016, states have used NCI-AD data to evaluate aging and disability systems, identify quality improvement opportunities, and support policy discussions related to Medicaid and long-term services and supports. To access the report, use this link: Reports | NCI-AD (National Core Indicators-Aging and Disabilities) . If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar .

In September 2025, RCPA raised concerns about the risks of Federal actions to weaken the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and subsequent civil rights and access legislation like the ADA and AIDA. Last week, Governor Shapiro issued three executive orders addressing the risks arising from Federal actions, and establishing an Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities. RCPA has been named as a member of this Commission. Governor Shapiro’s recent executive actions on disability rights in Pennsylvania should be understood as a proactive state-level backstop against emerging federal uncertainty around Section 504 enforcement. The orders largely reinforce existing non-discrimination standards across state agencies, strengthen accessibility expectations in service delivery, and signal continued administrative prioritization of disability protections in publicly funded programs. In practical terms, Pennsylvania is attempting to “lock in” operational compliance with 504-like principles—particularly around equal access, program integration, and avoidance of discriminatory policies—even if federal interpretation or enforcement weakens. From a policy alignment standpoint, the orders are directionally consistent with longstanding 504 requirements but go a step further in emphasizing state accountability mechanisms. This includes clearer expectations for agencies administering Medicaid, education, and human services programs to maintain accessible systems, grievance pathways, and oversight of contractors. For HCBS providers, the implication is that Pennsylvania is unlikely to relax enforcement posture; if anything, scrutiny around access, reasonable accommodations, and community-based integration could intensify through state channels regardless of federal shifts. For providers, the practical implication is a heightened expectation of demonstrable compliance rather than passive alignment. Agencies could anticipate closer review of intake and assessment practices, service authorization decisions, and any policies that could create access barriers for individuals with disabilities. MCOs and state auditors are likely to expect clear documentation of accommodations, staff training on disability rights, and evidence that services are delivered in the least restrictive, community-integrated settings. Contractually, this may also translate into more explicit non-discrimination clauses, performance measures tied to access and equity, and increased exposure to grievance-driven audits or corrective action plans. The net effect is that Pennsylvania is positioning itself as a “floor state” for disability rights—maintaining continuity even if federal protections erode or become inconsistently applied. For providers and managed care stakeholders, this reduces regulatory ambiguity within the state but increases the importance of state-specific compliance alignment. Operationally, organizations should view these executive actions not as new requirements, but as a reaffirmation that Pennsylvania will continue to enforce 504-equivalent standards through its own regulatory and contractual frameworks. If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar .

Tuesday’s vote is the latest attempt to advance LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections in Pennsylvania.