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Authors Posts by Richard Edley

Richard Edley

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Dr. Richard Edley is the lead executive for RCPA and is responsible for all aspects of operations and direction for the association. His professional career began in 1988 and most recently he was president and CEO of PerformCare/Community Behavioral HealthCare Network of Pennsylvania, Inc., a national, full-service, behavioral health managed care organization.

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Dear Board Members:

In just a few hours, NatCon21 will officially kick off, uniting thousands of health care professionals online to learn, network and raise their voices. They will also witness an important moment in our history, one you helped shape through your leadership, feedback and support. On May 5, as we close NatCon21, we will officially announce our name change to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

As you know, a lot of time, research and consideration was put into selecting this name. We wanted one that holds true to our history, reflects our role, acknowledges change and honors the contributions of the hard-working members who are the foundation of the National Council. We believe we’ve found it. Our new name more aptly reflects the work we do, ensures greater inclusivity, helps us reach more people in new ways, and better articulates our impact and aspirations.

“Mental wellbeing” makes a powerful statement that summarizes our passion and purpose. It means thriving regardless of a mental health or substance use challenge. It represents resilience, strength and recovery. It’s a phrase that promotes the importance of preventive care and the need to increase access to life-saving services. And it’s a powerful reflection of who we are and what the proud members of this organization do daily.

Moving forward, with your ongoing support, we will own this phrase. We will embody it through our actions. We will build the narrative behind it. And we will commit to making mental wellbeing a reality for everyone, everywhere. That means ensuring equitable access to care, building capacity for mental health and substance use treatment organizations and continuously promoting mental wellbeing as a core component of health and health care.

We are excited to be on this journey with you, and we are grateful for your support as we welcome a new era at the National Council together. For new brand resources, please visit our webpage.

Regards,

Chuck Ingoglia
President and CEO
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
TheNationalCouncil.org

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The next RCPA Member Update webinar is scheduled for Monday, April 26, 2021 from 2:00 pm–4:00 pm. We previously announced that Jen Swails, Budget Secretary, will be presenting and available for Q&A/discussion.

Following this presentation, RCPA has teamed up with Synergi Partners, the largest privately-owned tax credit and business incentive processer, to bring you the latest information surrounding the CARES Act Employee Retention Credit (ERC). The ERC allows businesses and non-government nonprofit organizations, including health and human service providers impacted by COVID-19, to receive a refundable, above the line Federal payroll tax credit.

Many human service providers are unaware that they may qualify for the ERC. During this webinar we will discuss eligibility, the expansion and extension of the ERC, compare the differences between 2020 and 2021 legislation, and showcase how the ERC can potentially benefit your organization.

Please register here to attend this webinar. If you have previously registered for this meeting to hear the Secretary Swails portion, you do NOT need to register again. We look forward to your participation!

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The RCPA Member Update webinar scheduled for Monday, April 26, 2021 from 2:00 pm–4:00 pm will include a presentation from Secretary of the Budget Jen Swails, who will discuss several issues, including the impact of the American Rescue Plan on state revenue and programs, particularly those programs related to health and human services. There will also be an opportunity for discussion and question and answers.

Ms. Swails has a strong background in health and human services, having served as a senior analyst for various state government fiscal offices prior to being named Budget Secretary. She has presented before at RCPA meetings, and we are pleased to have her available for this discussion.

Please register here to attend this webinar. We look forward to your participation!

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RCPA will be holding the Annual Membership meeting webinar on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 10:00 am. Please register here to participate in the meeting webcast. This year’s agenda and the 2020 Annual Meeting minutes are available for review.

This year’s Annual Meeting highlights guest speakers Meg Snead and Andrew Barnes. Ms. Snead was recently nominated to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Human Services. Mr. Barnes is the Department of Human Services’ Executive Deputy Secretary. We look forward to their presentation on critical issues facing the Commonwealth and human services, as well as thoughts regarding their new roles within the administration and a discussion of issues that face providers.

In addition, the RCPA Nominating Committee has nominated RCPA member CEOs/Directors 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.

We look forward to your registration and participation.

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As you may know from this announcement, nominations are open for a Region 3 Board representative to the National Council. This region includes Pennsylvania, and currently we have two representatives on the NatCon Board: me and Susan Blue, CEO of Community Services Group.

I did want to alert RCPA members of our strong relationship with the Maryland Association, Community Behavioral Health (CBH), as seen in their joining our upcoming Annual Conference. And this year, CBH has nominated and endorsed Arthur Ginsberg as the Region 3 representative for the National Council’s Board. Arthur brings well-rounded experience in the behavioral health field to the Board. He has leadership experience at organizations in both inpatient and outpatient settings in behavioral health, as well as deep experience in the field serving individuals with developmental disabilities.

Arthur’s professional experience includes robust participation in provider associations. He served on the Board of ANCOR and led the DC chapter. He has also served on CBH’s Board since 2018.

I would like to ask each of you to consider supporting Arthur for this nomination and Board seat. It would well serve our partnership with Maryland and allow for a continued strong voice at the NatCon Board level. Arthur’s CV is available here for your review.

Thank you,
Richard S. Edley, PhD
President/CEO
Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA)

Central Penn Business Journal, April 2, 2021

By: Ioannis Pashakis
April 2, 2021 12:27 pm

Two Harrisburg health care associations were awarded a total of $250,000 in grant money as part of a national initiative to make access to telehealth services more equitable.

The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) and the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) announced this week that they will be using the funds to work with legislators and support strategies to ensure that as telehealth services expand as a way for patients to receive care from home that it is done equitably.

The initiative follows all-time highs in telehealth usage following the COVID-19 pandemic as providers shifted to virtual care during quarantine.

“Without being able to meet face to face in many cases, telehealth platforms quickly became the service delivery vehicle for providers, consumers, stakeholders, and payors,” said Dr. Richard Edley, president and CEO of RCPA. “As with every crisis, these challenges opened our eyes to new opportunities. But we still have a long way to ensure telehealth expands in an equitable way for providers and the communities we serve.”

RCPA and PACHC are two of six associations spanning eight states to be awarded the funding through the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net. The Delta Center, based in San Francisco, is a national collaborative created to foster innovation in value-based care and payment through policy initiatives.

RCPA is one of the country’s largest health and human services state associations with 350 member agencies and PACHCS represents and supports over 350 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

As part of the grant, the two organizations will:

  • Drive policy and practice changes to ensure access to quality physical and behavioral services and improve integrated care through telehealth.
  • Partner with legislators and stakeholders to develop telehealth standards throughout the Commonwealth.
  • Support actionable strategies to address the social determinants of health
  • Share consumer feedback to develop training and technical assistance, health literacy campaigns and language supports.

“The integration of physical and behavioral health is critical to the future success of delivering high quality health care services to the patients of Federally Qualified Health Centers and behavioral health providers across the commonwealth,” said Cheri Rinehart, PACHC president and CEO. “The incorporation of telehealth services in the delivery of care was essential throughout the pandemic and will continue to be a crucial tool for providers to use in delivering whole person care for the communities they serve.”

Two Harrisburg associations focus on equitable telehealth care with new program. – Central Penn Business Journal (cpbj.com)

The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) and the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) have secured a $250,000 grant as part of a national initiative to cultivate health policy and a care system that is more equitable and better meets the needs of individuals and families. The collaboration will focus on increasing access to care and developing a comprehensive policy framework and health care plan for consumers with the use of telehealth.

The two-year grant to RCPA and PACHC is among six spanning eight states. It was awarded by the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net, which brings together primary care associations and behavioral health state associations to advance policy and practice change. The Delta Center project is supported by the National Council for Behavioral Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Association of Community Health Centers. Read the full press release here.

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Governor Wolf announced his intention yesterday to nominate Meg Snead to be the next Secretary of the Department of Human Services (DHS). RCPA President/CEO Richard Edley remarked, “With Ms. Snead’s broad, extensive background in the human services community, we are confident that positive change will continue, in our mutual goals towards serving the most vulnerable residents of our Commonwealth. RCPA has worked with Ms. Snead in the past on several key issues and we look forward to continuing this collaboration with her in this new role as Secretary.” View the official press release.

Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller has announced that she is vacating her position at the end of April, to pursue an opportunity out of state. Governor Wolf has also made public his plan to nominate Meg Snead, Secretary of Policy and Planning, to assume these responsibilities. RCPA President/CEO Richard Edley notes, “RCPA is extremely grateful to Secretary Miller for all of her hard work on behalf of the human service providers and those individuals they serve in the Commonwealth. She will be missed, and we wish her the best in her new endeavor.” View the official press release here.