RCPA 2026/27 Membership Renewal Period Begins
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DOH Primary Care Loan Repayment Program Includes SUD, BH Professionals
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has opened a new application period for the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Repayment Program. The program supports health care professionals, including those providing substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral health (BH) services, who serve in underserved communities across Pennsylvania through loan repayment assistance to eligible providers in exchange for a two-year service commitment at an approved site. Its primary purpose is to increase access to care in underserved areas by supporting and retaining the workforce.
The program is open to a range of licensed providers, including:
- Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners/physician assistants;
- Licensed behavioral health professionals (LCSWs, LPCs, LMFTs, psychologists); and
- Primary care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives).
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be licensed to practice in Pennsylvania;
- Work at an approved site serving at least 30 percent low-income patients or located in a Health Professional Shortage Area; and
- Commit to two years of full-time or half-time service.
Eligible practice sites may include community-based settings such as community behavioral health clinics; outpatient SUD and BH treatment providers; and federally qualified health centers and similar settings. Benefits include:
- Loan repayment assistance to reduce education-related debt;
- An opportunity to provide care in high-need communities; and
- Up to $80,000 (full-time) or $40,000 (half-time) for physicians, dentists, and psychologists, OR up to $48,000 (full-time) or $24,000 (half-time) for other eligible providers.
The application process closes Friday, May 4, and applications must be submitted online. More information is available online. Email DOH with questions.
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Propose Purple Alert System for Missing Individuals With Disabilities
Drexel University’s BHE Program to Offer Free and Discounted CEs to RCPA Members, Deadline is April 15!
FNPadvantage Webinar with RCPA Partner First Nonprofit 05-13-26
RCPA to Host Virtual H.R. 1 Medicaid Summit on May 11
On Monday, May 11, 2026, RCPA will be hosting a virtual H.R. 1 Medicaid Summit for all members, non-members, and stakeholders from 9:00 am – 10:00 am. This summit will feature guest panelists who will provide Federal and State updates on the implementation and impacts of the pending Medicaid changes. We will also explore the role of providers, advocates, and stakeholders in the process to ensure access and care for vulnerable Pennsylvanians. Register for the summit here.
As part of the event, we will have a Q&A segment. If you have any questions you would like to ask during the Q&A segment, or if you have any general questions regarding the virtual summit, please forward them to RCPA Behavioral Health Policy Associate Emma Sharp.
DHS Provides Updated Guidance for Complex Needs Planning for Children, Youth, and Young Adults
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has released DHS-26-01 Complex Needs Planning for Children, Youth, and Young Adults Through Age 21. This bulletin updates guidance provided in 14-Bul-110 Complex Case Planning for Children and Youth Under Age 21. The guidance clarifies the referral process, roles, and responsibilities; offers the availability of technical assistance; and describes the benefit of technical assistance to the agencies in the human services systems that support children, youth, young adults through age 21 and their families and/or caregivers.
This bulletin, an online referral form, and suggested resources (tools/templates) are now posted on the DHS website.
If you have questions regarding this bulletin, the online referral form, or the suggested resources, please contact DHS electronically.
OCDEL Completes Mass Claims Adjustment for All Paid EI Claims Between July 1, 2025 – March 8, 2026
The Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) has completed the Mass Claims Adjustment for all PAID CLAIMS of Early Intervention (EI) services that contain a date of service between July 1, 2025 – March 8, 2026 and were filed on or before March 8, 2026.
Due the high volume of claims, the Mass Claims Adjustment was processed in daily batches with a summary of claims below:
- Week 1: March 16, 2026
- Claims Adjusted for Speech Therapy
- Claims Adjusted for Occupational Therapy
- Claims Adjusted for Physical Therapy
- Week 2: March 23, 2026
- Claims Adjusted for Special Instruction
- Claims Adjusted for Audiology/Evaluation/Teaming
- Claims Adjusted for Service Coordination
A complete review of the Mass Claims Adjustment was performed during the week of March 30, and a final batch of claims were processed on April 7, representing claims with a date of services of July 1, 2025.
Reminder of Next Steps:
- Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025/26 Fee Schedule, file NEW claims on or after March 9, 2026, that contain a date of service on or after July 1, 2025.
- Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025/26 Fee Schedule, adjust claims filed on or after March 9, 2026, that contain a date of service on or after July 1, 2025, if the OLD fee schedule was used.
IMPORATANT:
As expected, OCDEL reports that there are many ICNs that failed the Mass Claims Adjustment. The Bureau is preparing a document for each County to distribute to their contracted providers that includes the original ICN that did not successfully Mass Adjust. Detailed instructions will be included with this document for how the Infant Toddler program and EI Provider can work together to resolve the claims errors. After successful resolution of the claims error, providers will be responsible for performing their own Claims Adjustment for the claims that failed the Mass Claims Adjustment.
View the following links for more information:
April 10 Deadline for Nominations to RHTP Advisory Council and Rural Care Collaboratives
Friday, April 10 at 5:00 pm is the deadline to complete and submit nominations for the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) Advisory Council and RHTP Rural Care Collaboratives (RCC).
Advisory Council (Statewide): This is a not a decision-making body.
The Advisory Council will provide subject matter expertise (SME) to the RCCs. The Council’s feedback is intended to inform and enhance RCC regional plans to ensure planned projects have the best chance of succeeding and will be sustainable after the 5-year RHTP funding is no longer available.
- Meeting Cadence: The Advisory Council will meet once a month during the RCC plan development period. Once plans are solidified, the Advisory Council will meet quarterly to help address implementation concerns.
- Council Member Expectations: Provide technical assistance (TA) to the RCCs in the member’s identified area of expertise. TA can be provided in multiple formats. This could be open discussion during RHTP meetings, written questions and answers, or a more hands-on knowledge transfer.
- Conflict of Interest: If chosen for the Advisory Council, members must provide their formal CV for documentation, a brief bio, and disclosure of any conflicts of interest. All conflicts of interest also must be communicated verbally during meetings and TA communication with RCCs.
The Advisory Council needs SME representation in:
- Aging and Access
- Behavioral Health
- EMS and Transportation
- Technology and Infrastructure
- Maternal Health
- Workforce
Rural Care Collaboratives (Regional): This is a planning body.
There will be 8 RCCs established with the purpose of:
- Identifying regional priorities based on healthcare gaps;
- Developing a regional plan to address prioritized needs; and
- Recommending/identifying projects to the RHTP interagency project team to operationalize the regional plan that works towards Pennsylvania’s identified outcomes.
Complete the RHTP Advisory Council and RCC Nomination form here.
Kyle Gravel Named Vice President of Autism Services at RCPA Member Devereux
Villanova, PA – April 8, 2026 – Devereux, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of behavioral healthcare, today announced that Kyle Gravel, M.S., LMFT, BCBA, CCATP-CA, ASDCS, has been selected for the newly created position of vice president of autism services, effective immediately.
As a member of Devereux’s executive leadership team, Gravel will oversee strategies, innovations and expansion efforts of the organization’s new national autism services division. Specifically, he will lead the development and execution of a national autism expansion strategy, assess existing service offerings, identify areas for strategic growth, and drive a growth-based business plan focused on service innovation. Gravel also will ensure alignment and consistency across all Devereux autism programs, while promoting evidence-based practices and high standards of compassionate care.
“Kyle is a strategic and visionary leader, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our team,” said Devereux Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rhea Fernandes, Psy.D. “His expertise will be instrumental as we grow our national autism services division, expanding our reach and deepening our impact across the country. Kyle will be responsible for strengthening and elevating our services so we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the individuals and families we are privileged to serve.”
About Kyle Gravel, M.S., LMFT, BCBA, CCATP-CA, ASDCS
Kyle Gravel, M.S., LMFT, BCBA, CCATP-CA, ASDCS, holds more than 20 years of experience driving scalable performance, data integration and multidisciplinary collaboration across national healthcare and behavioral health organizations. Prior to joining Devereux, Gravel spent eight years at Cortica in San Diego, most recently serving as vice president/head of regional operations. His previous roles at Cortica included area director of operations; regional director of cognitive and behavior therapies; director of cognitive and behavior therapies; and associate director of cognitive and behavior therapies. Before this, Gravel spent 10 years at Behavioral Support Partnership in Garden Grove, California, most recently in the role of director of parent training services.
Gravel earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Science in clinical psychology from California State University, Fullerton. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist; Board Certified Behavior Analyst; certified child and adolescent anxiety treatment professional; certified autism spectrum disorder clinical specialist; and is pivotal response treatment certified, level 2.
About Devereux
Devereux is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, providing services, insight and leadership in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare. Founded in 1912, Devereux operates a comprehensive national network of clinical, therapeutic, educational and employment programs that positively impact the lives of more than 10,000 children, adults – and their families – every year. The organization’s unique approach combines evidence-based interventions with compassionate family engagement.
With nearly 6,500 employees working in programs across the country, Devereux is a trusted partner for families, schools and communities, serving many of our country’s populations in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and foster care. For more than a century, Devereux has been guided by a simple and enduring mission: To change lives by unlocking and nurturing human potential for people living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences. Learn more: www.devereux.org.
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