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Message from the PA Department of Aging:

You are invited to complete a survey for people who are Direct Care Workers in Pennsylvania who provide Long-Term Services and Support for older adults and people with disabilities. This includes people who work in home care community, or facility settings, and includes personal care homes, assisted living, and nursing homes. The survey is being conducted by the University of Pittsburgh in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The results will be used to help improve the Direct Care Workforce.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.

The survey is being sent to members of organizations affiliated with the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council, Pennsylvania State Agencies, and related organizations.

Your responses to the survey are completely anonymous. The results will be summarized and reported statistically. No attempt will be made to identify any individual.

Everyone who completes the survey will have a chance to win a $100 gift card. One gift card will be given away each week for 5 weeks. The chance of winning depends on the number of people who respond to the survey. The survey will be sent via email to about 50,000 people and is available publicly on the Department of Aging website and at public “Listening Session” meetings.

If you have any questions about the survey, you can email Howard B. Degenholtz, PhD.

Visit here to start the survey. Or paste this link into your browser: https://bit.ly/DCWSURVEY2026

Thank you for taking the time to help with this important project.

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RCPA is excited to once again host our Annual Conference from September 29 – October 2 at the Hershey Lodge. Our 2026 Annual Conference, Power in Purpose: Promoting Possibilities, 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.

RCPA staff and the Conference Committee have released this year’s Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertiser Brochure, which 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.

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!”

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.

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.

The association looks forward to welcoming you at the conference! Space and opportunities are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and no reservation is considered complete without payment. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

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As the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) prepares for the upcoming changes in the federal Medicaid standards set for implementation in January 2027, DHS has convened a statewide HR1 Steering Committee. This group is tasked with reviewing policy and practice drafts from the Department as it relates to their response to the pending Medicaid changes, including new eligibility and work requirements for recipients and communicating the implementation of Pennsylvania’s overall plan.

The steering committee is comprised of state leadership, advocates, and payers. RCPA providers will be represented by RCPA President and CEO Richard Edley. RCPA’s involvement will bolster our role as a lead advocate for members and stakeholders as it relates to Medicaid HR 1 activities. Additionally, RCPA has contracted with former Pennsylvania Medicaid Director Leesa Allen to assist in developing our internal strategies and advocacy platform.

The steering committee had its initial meeting yesterday, March 5, 2026, to lay out the groundwork for the group and presented an initial PowerPoint presentation that looks at some of the foundational information around Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP changes.

If you have questions or feedback, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director or COO Jim Sharp.

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NOTE TO INSPECTOR: The word "iridium" on the pen's nib is not a brand: it's the name of the metal of which the nib is made. Thanks. Inky old fountain pen on a $100 bill.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 26-031. The purpose of this announcement is to inform stakeholders that rates effective July 1, 2026, for Supports Coordination funded through the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waivers and TSM have been published as final in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, Volume 56, Number 10, published on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

To align payment with outcomes, beginning July 1, 2026, all SCOs will receive:

  • Monthly case rates for Consolidated and Community Living Waiver participants;
  • Monthly case rates for P/FDS Waiver participants and individuals who receive Intensive TSM;
  • A standard case rate for individuals receiving Standard TSM paid upon completion of an annual Individual Support Plan and upon completion of required mid-year monitoring; and
  • One flat fee-for-service rate that covers each individual’s initial person-centered planning and initial Individual Support Plan development.

Please view the announcement for more details.

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Hole torn in a dollar bill with medicaid text

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee recently sent a letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and DHS Secretary Valerie Arkoosh requesting information about fraud, waste, and abuse prevention in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program. The request is part of a broader federal oversight effort examining Medicaid program integrity following recent fraud investigations in multiple states. Similar letters were also sent to officials in ME, NE, NY, OR, WA, VT, CO, CA, and MA.

The Committee is seeking details on Pennsylvania’s fraud prevention efforts, including audits, provider screening processes, improper payment recovery, enforcement actions, and oversight of Medicaid programs, such as Home and Community-Based Services.

The letter references several recent Medicaid fraud prosecutions in Pennsylvania. However, it also highlights that Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section charged more fraud cases than any other state in FY 2024 and ranked third nationally in criminal convictions. The fact that these cases were identified and prosecuted demonstrates that Pennsylvania’s fraud, waste, and abuse prevention systems are actively working to detect and address wrongdoing.

RCPA recognizes that this new federal focus on Medicaid program integrity may intersect with our ongoing advocacy to eliminate the requirement for signed encounter forms in Medicaid-funded services. RCPA has long maintained that the current requirement is administratively burdensome and does not meaningfully strengthen program integrity compared to other documentation and verification mechanisms already in place. While our advocacy continues, increased federal scrutiny around fraud prevention may influence how state and federal policymakers evaluate documentation and verification requirements moving forward.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services must submit responses to the Committee by March 17, 2026. RCPA will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as appropriate.

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