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Brain Injury

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

RCPA held a golf fundraiser for the RCPA Political Action Committee (RCPA PAC) on Monday, October 9, 2023. This successful event raised much-needed funds for our legislative activities, and we would like to thank all the generous golfers who participated and contributed. Congratulations to our winners! In addition, we would like to thank our sponsors:

Tournament Sponsor:

  • Expert County Care Management

Lunch Sponsors:

  • Brier Dlugolecki Strategies
  • Novak Strategic Advisors

Beverage Hole Sponsors:

  • Comprehensive Financial Associates/PA Pension Planners
  • Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Prize Sponsors:

  • Qualifacts
  • Salisbury Behavioral Health, a division of RHA Health Services

Hole Sponsors:

  • Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy
  • Christopher S. Lucas & Associates
  • Embolden WC Trust
  • Firetree, Ltd
  • Hearten Workers’ Comp Program
  • Pinnacle Treatment Centers, Inc.
  • Step By Step, Inc.
  • Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc.

Your support is always appreciated. We encourage anyone interested to make a personal contribution to the RCPA PAC. For your convenience, you can now make an online contribution. Thank you again for your participation and support, and congratulations to our golf winners!

Your participation in the RCPA-PAC is completely voluntary, and you may contribute as much or as little as you choose. Donations are not tax-deductible and will be used for political purposes. You may choose not to participate without fear of reprisal. You will not be favored or disadvantaged by reason of the amount of your contribution or decision not to contribute.

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has released the agenda and details to register for the November 1, 2023, Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting. The mission of the MLTSS Subcommittee is to be a resource to the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC), enabling the Committee to advise the Department of Human Services (DHS) and OLTL on issues regarding access to services and quality of service.

The meeting will be held in person at the PA Department of Education Honors Suite, 1st floor, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126 and also via webcast. The call information is below:

Conference line 1-914-614-3221 PIN: 807353414#
Webinar Link

Comments and questions may be submitted via email.

The meeting documents from the October 4, 2023, Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting are now available. The documents include the agenda, transcript, and PowerPoint presentations and can be viewed below:

The next MLTSS Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for November 1, 2023, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the PA Department of Education’s Honors Suite at 333 Market St. in Harrisburg, PA. The option to participate via webinar is also an option. To participate in the meeting via webinar, please visit this webinar registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. To participate via telephone, the dial-in number is (914) 614-3221, with Access Code: 807353414#.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has released updated influenza resources.

As a reminder, the Influenza Awareness Act of 2016 requires that Long-Term Care Facilities, including Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences, post DOH’s Influenza poster. You will find the updated poster for the 2023-2024 season here, as well as an updated Influenza toolkit. This information is also available under the “provider resources’ section of PCH/ALR Home web page.

Additional information can be located by visiting DOH’s Influenza Resources for Long-Term Care Facilities website.

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, the Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, will be introducing new legislation on the floor of Senate titled “The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act of 2023.”

The HCBS Relief Act of 2023 would provide dedicated Medicaid funds to states for two years to stabilize their HCBS service delivery networks, recruit and retain HCBS direct care workers, and meet the long-term service and support needs of people eligible for Medicaid home and community-based services. States would receive a 10-point increase in the federal match (FMAP) for Medicaid for two fiscal years to enhance HCBS. Funds could be used to increase direct care worker pay, provide benefits such as paid family leave or sick leave, and pay for transportation expenses to and from the homes of those being served. The additional funds also can be used to support family caregivers, pay for recruitment and training of additional direct care workers, and pay for technology to facilitate services. The funds can help decrease or eliminate the waiting lists for HCBS in the states.

The HCBS Relief Act of 2023 will be introduced during the fourth week of October with a House companion bill expected to be released in the near future. Please join RCPA in supporting this critical piece of legislation to create a viable and sustainable pathway for HCBS.

If you have any questions, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director.

As we make our final preparations for the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity, we would like to showcase and take the opportunity to thank our sponsors and exhibitors! We encourage attendees to meet and get to know these organizations in our Connections Hall Wednesday, October 11 and Thursday, October 12. View the full list below, and thank you once again to everyone who supports our conference! We are excited to see you at the Hershey Lodge!

View Our 2023 Sponsors!

View Our 2023 Exhibitors!

The Brain Injury Coalition’s Brain Injury Awareness Day has been announced for October 17, 2023, beginning at 10:30 am with a briefing in the main rotunda of the Capitol. A number of key legislators and members of the BI Caucus will speak at the event, including Representative Tim Briggs, Representative Ann Flood, Senator Tim Kearney, and Senator Ryan Aument. Following the briefing, there will be legislative visits, a reception from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, and a brain injury panel from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

Additional information about the day is available here.

Senior woman with her caregiver at home

House Resolution (HR) 165, which was introduced by Representative Kim, directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to conduct a study on the effect of workforce shortages on State-supported Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs as well as the PA lottery-funded OPTIONS programs in the state. If the Resolution passes, LBFC will have 7 months to conduct the study. RCPA will keep members apprised on the status of the resolution.

Time is running out for your chance to register for the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity! Registration will be closing this Friday, September 29, 2023. Register today and claim your seat to view and participate in exciting, engaging, and educational workshops as well as learn from a wide-ranging group of plenary and keynote speakers. You will also have opportunities for networking, particularly in our Connections Hall, with attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors. Lastly, by registering today, you will ensure you gain access to the conference mobile app when it goes live, allowing you to create your schedule, engage with exhibitors, participate in our Connections Hall game for prizes, and more! View the registration brochure for full details, and note that hotel rooms are quickly filling, so if you have difficulties making your reservation, please contact Carol FerenzRegister directly for the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference today!

We also wish to extend our thanks to those organizations that have contributed and shown their support. View our full list of sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Hershey Lodge!

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Mind Your Brain Foundation recently announced they will join forces with Beechwood NeuroRehab, a brain injury provider who is part of the Woods System of Care that provides lifelong care to individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and critical mental health needs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This collaboration will provide information on policy and advocacy at their conference on November 4, 2023, from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm.

This conference provides an opportunity for survivors, advocates, and providers to gain the skills they need to make a difference for the other 1.7 million people who sustain a traumatic brain injury annually through collaboration, information sharing, and education so that we can collectively become a more powerful voice to improve rehabilitation services to this community.

Please contact Louise Flaig at 215-756-4674 if you need wheelchair accessibility accommodations or if you have any questions relating to this event. Additional information can be accessed at Mind Your Brain Foundation’s website as well as the registration page.