Division Director: Melissa Dehoff    


Melissa Dehoff is responsible for all medical rehabilitation and brain injury service issues. Ms. Dehoff attends multiple state-level meetings to advocate on behalf of members on brain injury and rehabilitation issues and is a member of the Department of Health Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board. She has more than 20 years’ experience in the health care industry. Prior to her role as policy specialist for RCPA, she served as director, post-acute care services for The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, where she was responsible for assessing the impact of proposed federal and state regulations, legislation, and other issues that impacted providers across the health care continuum. She is proficient in federal and state regulations and requirements including Medicare, customer service functions, provider relations, budgeting, and management and internal control development.

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Contact Information

Email: mdehoff@paproviders.org 

Main: 717-364-3280

Direct: 717-364-3284


2026 Medical Rehabilitation Meeting Schedule


2026 Outpatient Rehabilitation Meeting Schedule


2026 Medical/Outpatient Committees Meeting Schedule

  • June 4
  • November 5


Medical Rehabilitation Division Posts

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By Cindi Hobbes May 28, 2026
Monday, June 1, 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 Presenters: Diane Ulmer, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist and SCI Program Manager for Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals in Nebraska where she provides leadership over a continuum of care. She provides education throughout the region on the unique aspects of SCI care. She serves on the Nebraska AgrAbility Advisory Council, the IPRC Pediatric Neurogenic Bowel and Bladder Work Group, and is Vice President for the Nebraska Chapter of the United Spinal Association. Diane also facilitates a monthly SCI support group. Lyn Sapp, MN, RN, CRRN is a Nursing Practice Specialist for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington. The rehab unit has been her home base since 1985, with additional experiences in outpatient, home care, and school nursing. After obtaining her master’s in nursing, Lyn participated in the growth and development of the inpatient unit as a manager, educator, and nurse specialist. A post-master’s certificate in pediatrics has led to further experiences in quality improvement and staff education. As a member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nursing, she has experienced enrichment through certification, presenting, learning, publishing, and networking. Lyn also serves as an active member of the IPRC Steering Committee. Carly Rosenthal, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist specializing in neurorehabilitation and pelvic floor dysfunction. She currently practices at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, where she provides inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation for children with complex diagnoses including traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Carly is also the primary occupational therapist within the Spinal Dysfunction Clinic at Nemours. Carly’s work focuses on maximizing independence and quality of life through evidence-based, family-centered care, with a particular interest in functional continence and neurogenic bowel and bladder management. Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will: Identify the roles of the multidisciplinary team in management of self-catheterization management of neurogenic bladder; Apply evidence-based, task-specific training techniques for self-catheterization to improve outcomes, promote independence, and reduce health risks; and Implement strategies and adaptations to promote success in independent self-catheterization. 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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By Jason Snyder May 26, 2026
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is now accepting applications for funding under the 2026–2027 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) solicitation from eligible governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations seeking to implement projects and programs that directly address the objectives and goals outlined in PCCD’s approved 2026–2030 Strategic Framework . Eligible organizations include local units of government (including counties) and non-profit organizations. A total of $8,221,880 in federal Byrne JAG funds is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund approximately 30–35 grants with budgets not to exceed $250,000 over the two-year project period. The funding announcement details new guidelines regarding eligibility criteria, eligible program activities, and documentation. Applications must be submitted electronically through PCCD’s Egrants system by July 14, 2026. Questions regarding this funding announcement should be emailed with “2026/27 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)” as the subject line. Questions must be received by close of business on July 7, 2026. All questions and answers will be posted under this funding announcement title on the Active Funding Announcements page of the PCCD website.
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By Fady Sahhar May 26, 2026
Press Release from the Department of Human Services : Published May 14, 2026
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By Jim Sharp May 22, 2026
Message from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing: Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed rule, Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments , implementing provisions of H.R.1 to establish new limits on certain Medicaid managed care State directed payments (SDP). Additional information on the proposal can be found in the press release and fact sheet . In alignment with H.R.1, total SDP rates are capped at 100% of Medicare in expansion states and 110% in non-expansion states for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, nursing facility services, and qualified practitioner services at an academic medical center. Where a Medicare benchmark is unavailable, the payment limit would be 100% of the state-plan-approved rate. However, most significantly, the proposed rule would extend the SDP limits beyond the four original services under H.R.1 (listed above) to all SDPs, regardless of service type, in all states, Washington, D.C., and all territories beginning Jan. 1, 2029. The proposed rule would also apply similar limits to certain targeted Medicaid fee-for-service payments. This would include behavioral health SDPs and could lead to significant disruption in 2029. Additional provisions in the proposed rule include proposals to: Eliminate uniform increase SDPs as a permissible type of SDP for rating periods beginning on or after January 1, 2028, with a limited exception for grandfathered SDPs. Permit states to adopt minimum or maximum fee schedules that are no greater than the applicable payment rate limit without CMS prior approval for rating periods beginning on or after January 1, 2028. Establish new claims-level compliance and reporting requirements, including submission of provider-specific (NPI-level) data, identification of applicable benchmark rates, and documentation of controls to ensure that each individual service payment does not exceed the cap. Introduce new reconciliation requirements for value-based payment SDPs, requiring states to demonstrate post-period compliance with the cap at the service level. The rule specifies that payments exceeding the cap constitute Medicaid overpayments subject to recovery and reporting requirements, explicitly linking SDP limits to existing overpayment regulations. The rule is set to be formally published in the Federal Register on May 22, with a 60-day comment period following its publication. The National Council will continue to further review this proposal, provide you with timely updates, and will plan to submit comments on this rule. We are here to support you every step of the way through these changes. For additional information on H.R.1, please visit the National Council’s H.R.1 Hub . If you have any questions, please reach out via email .
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By Jim Sharp May 19, 2026
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), in partnership with other Department of Human Services Program Offices and Executive Branch agencies, has issued OMHSAS-26-03: Rescission of Joint Class One Bulletins . The purpose of this is to rescind bulletins that do not align with current policies, practices, or procedures that were jointly issued by Program Offices/Departments in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This bulletin is also classified as ODP Bulletin 00-26-02, OCDEL-26-01, OCYF 00-26-01, and OIM 00-26-01. If you any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.
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By Tim Sohosky May 19, 2026
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) has released an advisory regarding a multi-country cluster of Hantavirus cases linked to an international cruise ship expedition. The outbreak has been connected to the Andes virus strain, which is notable because it is the only known hantavirus capable of limited person-to-person transmission under close, prolonged exposure conditions. As of May 11, 2026, nine cases and three deaths have been reported internationally. At this time, PA DOH reports no known Pennsylvania residents connected to the outbreak. Hantavirus infections remain extremely rare in the United States and particularly in Pennsylvania, where only two cases have been reported since 2010. Most infections are associated with exposure to rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas. Providers and organizations should be aware of symptoms consistent with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), including fever, fatigue, muscle aches, cough, and shortness of breath, particularly when there is a known history of rodent exposure or close contact with a symptomatic individual linked to the Andes virus strain. Early symptoms may resemble influenza or COVID-19. The Department of Health is advising healthcare providers to immediately report suspected cases to local public health authorities or the PA Department of Health at 877-PA-HEALTH. RCPA encourages members to review the PA-HAN advisory and fact sheet for additional clinical guidance, infection control recommendations, and environmental cleaning protocols related to rodent exposure and prevention.

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