Bill Would Create Alert When Children With Autism Go Missing in Pennsylvania
New Veteran Protections Divide Legislators
BU Awarded $15M to Lead Effort to Diagnose CTE During Life
IPRC Webinar: Understanding CARF’s New Standards for DoC
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET; 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CT;
11:00 am – 12:00 pm MT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am PT
Register Here
Please join us as the IPRC hosts special guest Terry Carolan from CARF International, who will share the new Disorders of Consciousness Program Standards.
Presenter Bio:
Terrence Carolan
Terrence Carolan, Managing Director of the Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services accreditation areas at the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), has more than 20 years of experience as a provider, administrator, and educator in the human services field. Terry joined CARF after working in clinical and administrative leadership positions within Select Medical’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Division and the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation since 2001. Terry was a CARF surveyor for 10 years and holds a degree in physical therapy from Simmons College in Boston. He also recently completed his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will:
- Describe recent research and guidance on the treatment of individuals with Disorders of Consciousness (DoC);
- Discuss how CARF International has responded to guidance from the field to create Disorders of Consciousness Program Standards; and
- Analyze how new DoC accreditation and recent research will enhance access to rehabilitation for children with DoC in the future.
Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team; attendees do not need to be CARF certified in order to attend.
Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are available for this course.
Temple University Seeks Input on Emergency Preparedness Survey
PA Rural Health Transformation Project Summary Now Available
RCPA to Hold Member Orientation Webinar on January 14, 2026
RCPA is excited to host a membership benefits webinar on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 1:00 pm, as an opportunity for members to orient themselves with all that RCPA membership includes. This is not just for new and future members. For current members, there may be benefits associated with our membership that you may not be aware of, including targeted meetings and groups that are held throughout the year.
Registration is required; please register here to attend the webinar. Attendees will have the opportunity to:
- Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and RCPA lobbyists;
- Discuss the 2026 Legislative and Administrative priorities;
- Preview RCPA divisional committee and subcommittee meetings and what they offer;
- View the RCPA member-only website;
- Review exclusive yearly educational and networking events; and
- Understand the value of the National Council and ANCOR memberships included with RCPA membership.
Visit the RCPA member benefits web page for more information, or contact Tieanna Lloyd for benefit details.
April – June 2026 LTSS Subcommittee Meetings Changed to Hybrid
On November 12, 2025, the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Budget was signed into law, removing travel restrictions. As a result, OLTL will resume holding hybrid LTSS Subcommittee meetings. The meetings scheduled for April 2026 – June 2026, which were changed to webinar and remote streaming only earlier this year, are now scheduled to be held as both in-person and webinar with remote streaming.
Since the travel ban has been lifted, reimbursement for Subcommittee members’ travel expenses may be submitted with an itemized receipt for review.
The Office of Long-Term Living appreciates your understanding and flexibility.
Please share this message with staff, participants, and any other interested parties.
If you have questions about the LTSS Subcommittee Meetings, please send them electronically.
PA L&I OVR State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation Quarterly Meeting Announcement
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Start time: 10:00 am
End time: 2:30 pm
Break: 12:00 pm – 1:10 pm
This meeting will be virtual via Zoom with on-site access at Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112). The public is invited to attend or register for this meeting using this link.
Note: The public Zoom link requires Webinar registration prior to meeting access.
CART and sign language interpreters will be available during this meeting. Those using a screen reader can connect here. Additional auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please email the State Board Resource Account.
The agenda for this meeting can be found on the State Board’s web page. Anyone who would like to make public comment prior to the meeting may submit their comments via email.
HB 2070 Introduced: Dry Needling as an Acceptable Practice Within PT
Representative John Schlegel has introduced a co-sponsorship memo regarding House Bill 2070, Clarifying Dry Needling as an Acceptable Practice within Physical Therapy (PT).
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recognizes dry needling as being within the physical therapist scope of practice. However, Pennsylvania’s Physical Therapy Practice Act (Act 110 of 1975) does not explicitly allow or deny the performance of this type of therapy. This creates a legal gray area and causes uncertainty among licensed physical therapists. Due to the current law’s silence on this treatment technique, legislative clarification is needed.
Dry needling (sometimes referred to as “trigger point dry needling” or “intramuscular manual therapy”) is a treatment method used to relieve muscle pain and stiffness and to improve range of motion. It is important to note that dry needling and acupuncture are not the same, though both are considered needle-based therapies. These procedures have different medical origins, needle placement and application techniques, and serve different purposes.
HB 2070 clarifies that licensed physical therapists may perform dry needling therapy given certain education and training requirements are met and will further specify that dry needling does not include the practice of acupuncture.
A majority of states acknowledge that dry needling is within the scope of practice for physical therapists, including our neighboring states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The bill was referred to the House professional licensure committee on December 3, 2025.
