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Policy Areas

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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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Gaudenzia recently hosted its annual “From Adversity to Hope” event in Philadelphia, convening community leaders, partners, and advocates to highlight the impact of recovery and the importance of expanding access to care.

Prior to the event, keynote speaker and national recovery advocate Darryl Strawberry, an eight-time Major League Baseball All-Star and four-time World Series Champion, visited two Gaudenzia programs—Riverview Wellness Village and the Diagnostic & Rehabilitation Center (DRC)—where he spent time with individuals in recovery. Through small-group engagement and personal connection, he shared his lived experience and reinforced a powerful message: recovery is possible.

These visits underscore the importance of community-based treatment, peer connection, and integrated care models that support individuals and families across the recovery journey—particularly as providers continue working to meet growing and increasingly complex behavioral health needs.

 

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The READY Communities Funding Collaborative is a new public-philanthropic pilot grantmaking program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA), coordinated by Grantmakers In Aging (GIA), and supported by Pennsylvania’s philanthropic organizations. The Collaborative will align public and philanthropic resources to support Pennsylvania’s communities in becoming accessible, inclusive, vibrant places for older residents, people living with dementia, and neighbors of all ages.

The 2026 Grant Cycle RFP will focus on community-driven projects that align with at least one of the five priorities of Aging Our Way, PA, the Commonwealth’s 10-year Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA), and support a community’s older residents, neighbors living with dementia, or both.  For the 2026 READY Communities grant cycle, PDA will contribute $325,000 in public seed funding. Using these funds, PDA will commit a minimum of 50% of the requested amount for selected projects. Participating philanthropic organizations across the state will then have the opportunity to review selected applications to contribute to or match public investment.

Applications will be evaluated based on strategic alignment, equitable impact, budget feasibility, and strength of community partnerships.

View the RFP and apply by June 12.

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For Immediate Release: May 11, 2026
Media Contact: Mike Dunn, 215-570-3432

The goal is to ensure the sustainability of NET’s behavioral health services, benefiting thousands of clients who receive critical services.

(Philadelphia) – JEVS Human Services (JEVS) and Northeast Treatment Centers (NET) today announced they are finalizing a plan to enhance the sustainability of NET’s behavioral health services, strengthen both organizations, and ensure continued quality care for clients. The plan will allow both JEVS and NET to continue their missions [read full release].

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Wednesday, May 13, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET
Register Today

How will proposed immigration policy changes impact your organization? Find out in this webinar on the latest issues affecting the health care workforce.

Kerri-Ann Griggs, a partner with the Alston & Bird law firm’s Labor and Employment Group, will explain key immigration updates and what they mean for you, including:

  • Recent changes in immigration laws affecting the health care workforce.
  • The Department of Labor’s proposed wage level rule, which would substantially increase the prevailing wage levels employers must pay to foreign workers under the H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and PERM visa programs.
  • Immigration law and I-9 compliance considerations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and prepared so you can navigate upcoming changes with confidence. Questions? Contact us.

From the Policy and Advocacy Team
National Council for Mental Wellbeing

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Medical insurance and Medicaid and stethoscope.

RCPA Presents HR 1 Medicaid Summit

RCPA would like to thank our members and stakeholders for joining the RCPA HR 1 Medicaid Summit this morning with our Federal and State partners. The Summit provided an excellent opportunity to hear about the Federal and State landscape of HR 1 implementation and act as a call for collaboration in ensuring vulnerable Pennsylvanians have ongoing access to care. RCPA will be providing a follow up to the webinar as well as an RCPA HR 1 Medicaid Resource Guide in the coming weeks.

This morning, DHS released the following set of communications and documents related to the State’s HR 1 implementation. The release of these preliminary guidances provides the backdrop for members to review and provide feedback. This activity supports the collaborative process of a successful implementation and we hope stakeholders take advantage of this opportunity. Organizations and individuals can submit their feedback via this email or through RCPA by Friday, May 29.

Documents List

  1. Pennsylvania’s Proposed Medical Frailty Process
  2. DRAFT PA Medical Frailty Codes
  3. CER Overview Slides
  4. Visuals of COMPASS New Application
  5. Visuals of COMPASS Renewal
  6. CER Initial Outreach Letter – initial outreach letter informing individuals currently in the Medicaid Expansion Population, and those joining the Medicaid Expansion population prior to 1/1/27, of upcoming CER requirements and key information
  7. CER Outreach Letter Periodic – recurring outreach will be periodic as determined by CMS
  8. CER Non-compliance Notice Application – CER non-compliance notice informing new applicants of the specific due date (35 days from the mail date) by which they must demonstrate CER compliance or exclusion
  9. CER Non-compliance Notice Renewal – if CER exemption/compliance cannot be determined during ex parte, notice informing individuals of the specific due date (35 days from the mail date) by which they must demonstrate CER compliance or exclusion
  10. CER Self-Assessment – CER self-assessment form allowing individuals to self-attest to CER activities and exemptions when that information is not provided on the application; mailed with the CER Non-Compliance Notice

Regarding the medical frailty overview and draft code list – in 2025, federal changes to the Medicaid program created community engagement requirements for certain individuals in the adult Medicaid expansion population beginning in January 2027. The law exempts certain individuals from these requirements, including an individual who is “medically frail or otherwise has special medical needs.”

The attached code list is a preliminary technical reference intended to support administrative review of existing records. It is not the only pathway for identifying medical frailty. DHS also expects to use additional available information, and some individuals may need to provide information when medical frailty cannot be identified through administrative records.

Please note that the documents are drafts and remain subject to change. The code list has not been approved by CMS and may be updated as implementation planning continues, clinical and operational review advances, and final CMS guidance is issued.

If you have questions and or would like your organizations feedback for included in the RCPA comments, please contact RCPA COO Jim Sharp or Policy Specialist Emma Sharp.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has updated the Common Law Employer (CLE) and Managing Employer (ME) agreements to clarify, among other changes, the number of hours per week a Support Service Professional (SSP) may be scheduled to provide services and the number of hours per week relatives may be scheduled to provide services. ODP has also updated the CLE and ME agreements to require that CLEs and MEs ensure that all waiver services provided by an SSP are provided in Pennsylvania and states contiguous to Pennsylvania.

All agreements signed prior to May 8, 2026 will be considered null and void by ODP as of August 6, 2026. Failure to submit a new CLE Consent Form or ME Agreement Form to the responsible Financial Management Services (FMS) vendor will require corrective action and may result in termination of the CLE or ME. Please see announcement ODPANN 26-051 for more information.

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Please disregard this reminder if you have already registered.

Palliative Care Through the Rehab Continuum: Caring for Children With Complex Needs

Thursday, May 14, 2026
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CDT;
10:00 am – 11:00 am MDT; 9:00 am – 10:00 am PDT
Register Here

Kara Monnin, PhD
Kara Monnin is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) and Ohio State University’s School of Medicine in Columbus, OH. She provides clinical services across multiple inpatient units, including Complex Healthcare, Inpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and acute care services (PICU, Trauma/Surgery/Neurosurgery). Dr. Monnin also serves as a member of the Advanced Illness Management/Palliative Care Team at NCH, and she specializes in traumatic brain injury, rehabilitation populations, and children and adolescents with complex medical needs.

Ryan Jenkins, MD
Ryan Jenkins is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and a pediatric hospice and palliative medicine physician on the Advanced Illness Management Palliative Care Team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He provides inpatient, outpatient, and home-based palliative and hospice care to patients and families across the Nationwide Children’s healthcare system. His academic work includes the teaching of primary palliative care skills to learners of different disciplines and backgrounds.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Engage with palliative care providers (in the full scope of their practice) throughout the spectrum of illness, not just at end of life;
  • Recognize common medical and psychological paradigms at key stages of illness;
  • Understand how the goals of medical care after a significant neurological illness can change over time to include elements of recovery, stabilization, and/or prioritizing comfort; and
  • Identify key takeaways for practice across the rehab continuum.

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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