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Brain Injury

Friday, February 7, 2025
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST; 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CST;
11:00 am – 12:00 pm MST; 10:00 am – 11:00 am PST
Register Here

Christina Kokorelis, MD

Presenter Bio:

Christina Kokorelis, MD, is a rehabilitation physician specializing in pediatric and adult postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), orthostatic intolerance, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. She takes a comprehensive, team-based approach to patient care. Dr. Kokorelis also treats children with concussions and chronic pain disorders. An assistant professor in the Johns Hopkins Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, where she completed her residency, Dr. Kokorelis followed the residency with a pediatric rehabilitation fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. She currently works as an attending physician in the Johns Hopkins POTS clinic and is also the Medical Director of the Pediatric POTS clinic at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.

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

  • Define POTS;
  • Discuss how to diagnose POTS;
  • Describe treatment approach to POTS; and
  • Discuss long-term outcomes of POTS.

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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As discussed during the RCPA Brain Injury (BI) Committee meeting held on December 5, 2024, a meeting has been scheduled with Representative Tim Briggs and Representative Ann Flood on January 13, 2025, at 11:00 am. Briggs and Flood are two of the co-chairs of Pennsylvania’s Brain Injury Caucus. An invitation was also extended to Senator Tim Kearney, another co-chair of the BI Caucus.

The primary goal for this meeting is for the BI providers and members of the BI Caucus to work in conjunction with one another. Specifically:

  • BI Caucus members will be able to hear the concerns from the BI Providers, including budget requests and access to care issues that are resulting from inadequate rates/rate increases;
  • BI providers will provide input to BI Caucus leaders on a legislative plan for the upcoming budget, such as amendments to the Safety in Youth Sports Act;
  • BI Caucus leaders will share input on how to work with legislators to achieve a common goal; and
  • Will share feedback on other issues impacting BI providers.

Members must register by sending an email to Melissa Dehoff by January 6, 2025. Registrants will receive the call information a few days prior to the scheduled call.

As part of the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania’s (BIAPA) Clinical Forum Series, a pediatric-specific webinar will be offered on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm. The webinar, “Formalizing a Disorders of Consciousness Program for Pediatric Patients in Inpatient Rehabilitation at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP),” will discuss efforts for increased standardization of care, continuity/continuum of care, individualized components of the Disorders of Consciousness program at CHOP, discharge planning, and follow-up care.

The presenters of this free webinar are from multiple rehabilitation disciplines of the Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) program at CHOP. The session is intended for a professional audience.

Register here. For additional information, members should refer to the webinar flyer.

The 2025 meeting dates are provided below for the RCPA Brain Injury (BI) Committee meetings, as well as the Department of Human Services (DHS) Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meetings.

RCPA’s Brain Injury Committee meetings are held both in person at RCPA and via webcast from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

The LTSS Subcommittee meetings will be held in the Forest Room in the Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120, with the option to participate via webcast. The meetings are held from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Members are encouraged to mark their calendars.

RCPA BI Committee Meetings

  • Wednesday, February 19, 2025
  • Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Wednesday, June 11, 2025
  • Wednesday, August 27, 2025
  • Wednesday, October 15, 2025
  • Thursday, December 11, 2025

LTSS Subcommittee Meetings

  • Wednesday, January 8, 2025
  • Wednesday, February 5, 2025 (virtual only)
  • Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (virtual only)
  • Wednesday, April 2, 2025
  • Wednesday, May 7, 2025
  • Wednesday, June 4, 2025
  • Wednesday, July 2, 2025
  • Wednesday, August 6, 2025
  • Wednesday, September 3, 2025
  • Wednesday, October 1, 2025
  • Wednesday, November 12, 2025
  • Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Questions about the meetings should be directed to Melissa Dehoff.

Thursday, January 16, 2025
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST; 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CST;
11:00 am – 12:00 pm MST; 10:00 am – 11:00 am PST

Register Here

Samantha Bohl, OD

Presenter Bio:
Dr. Bohl earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio, Texas, and completed a residency in neuro-optometric rehabilitation through the State University of New York College of Optometry. Dr. Bohl joined the team at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in 2017, where she supports individuals with vision impairments in the rehabilitation setting.

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

  • Review the visual system and areas of the brain used for vision;
  • Identify common visual issues found in the pediatric population; and
  • Describe several treatments for pediatric vision deficits, including vision therapy.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner

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.

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced new services that will be available as a result of the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver renewal and OBRA Waiver renewal. Effective January 1, 2025, the following services will be available:

Chore Services – CHC Only

  • Provider Type: 59
  • Specialty Code: 431
  • Procedure Code: S5131

Teleservice Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy – CHC and OBRA

  • Provider Type: 59
  • Specialty Code: 207
  • Procedure Code: W0176

Teleservice Counseling Services – CHC and OBRA

  • Provider Type: 59
  • Specialty Code: 231
  • Procedure Code: W0175

Teleservice Nutritional Consultation – CHC and OBRA

  • Provider Type: 59
  • Specialty Code: 230
  • Procedure Code: W0170

The rates for the OLTL Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rates, effective January 1, 2025, are available here.

Additional information on the licensure and certification requirements can be found in the Service Definitions under Appendix C of the waivers. Please note that these documents have not received final approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Once approval is received, a ListServ message will be sent with links to the final approved waiver applications.

The Fee for Service rates for Teleservice Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy, Teleservice Counseling Services, and Teleservice Nutritional Consultation have been added to the fee schedule attached to the ListServ.

For existing OLTL providers to enroll in the services listed above a request must be submitted to the enrollment and certification resource account. The required documentation should include an updated Provider Enrollment Information Form (PEIF), a copy of the required license or certification, and a copy of the job description for the service you are requesting to add to your provider profile. If you have any questions related to the new services you can reach out to the enrollment and certification unit at 1-800-932-0939, option 1, or via email.

Photo by Tai's Captures on Unsplash

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has released an updated Respiratory Virus Outbreak Toolkit for Long-Term Care Facilities, including Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences.

The updated toolkit was developed to provide recommendations for facilities before and during a respiratory virus outbreak. This toolkit covers many respiratory viruses, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, adenovirus, and more. While this toolkit does include information about COVID-19, a more detailed toolkit for LTCFs specific to COVID-19 can be found here. This toolkit replaces the previous Influenza Outbreak Toolkit for Long-Term Care Facilities.

DOH is in the process of updating the poster required by the Influenza Awareness Act. In the meantime, providers are encouraged to continue to use the 2023-2024 Poster.

Questions about this communication should be sent electronically.