Approaches to Reducing Your Healthcare Spend — RCPA Webinar on September 22
DHS Plans Webinar Preparing for End of Public Health Emergency — October 24
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced that they are preparing for the end of the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE). Included in this preparation is a webinar planned for October 24, 2022, at 2:30 pm. Register for the webinar at the link below:
https://padhs19.webex.com/padhs19/j.php?RGID=re51d9b2a4909630f736cfdbb2c6a0dad
When the PHE ends, DHS will resume closing Medicaid cases for ineligible recipients. DHS has stressed that they want all recipients that remain eligible to keep their coverage and complete their renewals in a timely manner. Providers can assist by making sure that they are prepared to aid the individuals to complete their renewal when it is due, now and after the PHE ends.
IPRC Webinar: Trauma-Informed Care for Trans and Gender Diverse Youth
Thursday, October 27, 2022
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 PD
Tabi Evans, PsyD
Speaker Bio:
Tabi Evans, PsyD, (they/them) is a Pediatric Psychology Fellow working in Critical Care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where they provide consultation to patients in a critical care/medical trauma setting and outpatient therapy to children, teens, and their families. Additionally, Tabi is an educator for other medical and psychology providers, with a focus on providing trauma-informed care when working with transgender and non-binary youth and their families.
Objectives:
During this session, the learner will:
- Gain a basic understanding of trauma, trauma-informed care, and unique trauma risk factors for trans and gender diverse youth;
- Provide examples of trauma-informed care for diverse patients;
- Learn clinical practice skills (affirming language, balancing family/patient dynamics, providing appropriate referrals, etc.) to improve care for gender diverse youth; and
- Practice identifying potentially traumatic stimuli for gender-diverse patients within a medical/therapeutic setting.
Audience: This webinar is intended for all members of the rehabilitation team, including medical staff, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, licensed psychologists, mental health professionals, and other interested professionals.
Level: Intermediate
Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.
Registration: Registration is complimentary for members of IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today. Multiple registrations per organization are permitted.
CMS Announces New Proposed Rule to Streamline Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment
Disability Champion Susan Tachau Retires From RCPA Member PATF
Disability Champion and PATF CEO Susan Tachau Retires
Lifelong disability advocate and CEO of Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), Susan Tachau, is retiring on September 30, 2022.
In her new role as PATF’s Chief Innovations Officer, she will work on special projects and advocacy activities.
During Tachau’s tenure as CEO, the organization has established itself as the leading Alternative Financing Program (AFP) in the US, continually providing more loans and extending more capital each year for the purchase of assistive technology than any other AFP, and offering information and assistance to thousands more Pennsylvanians, helping them access alternative funding resources.
With Tachau’s steadfast advocacy, PATF has also had significant impact among Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), helping to secure more federal funding for CDFIs to serve the disability community, and educating CDFIs on best practices.
In 2021, Tachau was an AARP Purpose Prize Winner, an award that recognizes people 50-plus who are using their knowledge and life experience to solve tough social problems.
In the same year, Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) recognized Tachau’s CDFI work with the Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance, the highest individual honor in the CDFI industry.
Last year, the Institute on Financial Literacy presented PATF with the Non-Profit Organization of the Year 2021 Excellence in Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) Award, for PATF’s one-of-a-kind financial education curriculum, Cents and Sensibility, tailored to the needs of people with disabilities.
In a push to serve more people, Tachau founded Appalachian Assistive Technology Loan Fund, a subsidiary to PATF, so that people with disabilities in nearby states will have access to affordable financing for assistive technology.
Building up PATF and advocating for people with disabilities has been Tachau’s life’s work. Tachau described the source of this wellspring of passion for this work.
“Our son, Michael, introduced me to the world of disability and the importance of community living, work, and connection to family and friends. Assistive technology can make this possible,” shares Tachau. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside my dedicated colleagues to grow PATF from a small, fledgling organization to one that has helped more than 4,500 Pennsylvanians with loans worth almost $46 million.”
“I’m proud of our commitment to excellence and compassion, and the desire to expand our programs to meet the growing demands of the future. I’m confident that PATF’s good work will continue long after I retire.”
President of PATF’s Board of Directors, Nancy Murray, reflects on Susan’s announcement, “The Board is proud of Susan’s commitment, dedication, and achievements as PATF’s CEO for almost two decades. Susan has grown the organization into a formidable force for good in the world.”
PATF Board of Directors Appoint Ben Laudermilch as Chief Executive Officer
Seasoned executive Ben Laudermilch is PATF’s new CEO, as of September 6, 2022.
Most recently, Laudermilch served as the Vice President and Executive Director of Inglis Housing Corporation, where he established independent living communities for people with disabilities.
Prior to his tenure at Inglis, Laudermilch was the Special Assistant to the Secretary for the PA Department of Corrections, developing housing opportunities for reentering Pennsylvanians. Laudermilch also served as the Special Advisor to the Secretary of the PA Department of Human Services. For a decade prior, he worked for the Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities in various roles, including Executive Director.
Laudermilch’s experience promoting the benefits of assistive technology is highlighted through projects that he has managed that integrated smart home technology (a form of assistive technology) into housing for people with disabilities and older adults.
“I am excited about this new chapter in my career and the life of PATF. For many years, I’ve been in roles that have intersected with the disability world, and this new position feels like a culmination of all the work I have done,” Laudermilch says.
“We are thrilled that Ben is joining the organization as CEO, bringing new skills and experiences that will take PATF into the future, into a new chapter,” says Nancy Murray, President of PATF Board of Directors.
In his role as CEO, Laudermilch will be growing PATF’s mission across Pennsylvania, working with public and private stakeholders and partners.
To assist with this transition, PATF has developed a new Strategic Plan and a comprehensive, state-of-the-art brand book – both of which will help guide the nonprofit for years to come.
Don’t Delay! Early Bird Registration for the 2022 RCPA Conference Ends This Friday!
Early bird registration for the 2022 RCPA Conference Together! ends this Friday, September 9! Be sure to register now to see our exciting workshops in person and earn continuing education credits. You won’t want to miss taking advantage of this opportunity!
Gathering in person at the Hershey Lodge October 11 – 14, 2022, attendees will see and learn from presenters from health and human services organizations all across Pennsylvania. Our full brochure is available, and some of our upcoming workshops include:
- Value-Based Care: Provider-Payer Partnership and Prioritization of Member Experience to Get to Value-Based Contracts
- Presented by Charlotte Chew of Pyramid Healthcare and and Monica Collins of Magellan Behavioral Health
- Protecting Those in Our Care: Building a Devereux for the Future
- Presented by Rhea Fernandes and Leah Yaw of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
- Supporting Challenging Individuals: Bridging the Service Gap in an Outpatient Setting
- Presented by Ricky Jones and Bonnie Triebig of Berks Counseling Center
- Trauma-Informed Leadership: Critical in a Post-Pandemic World
- Presented by Angela Chew of Dickinson Center, Inc.
- SkillUp PA: A No-Cost Online Learning System for Rehabilitation and Community Providers
- Presented by Barbara Vierlinck and Stephanie Perry of DOL and Kerry Twomey of Metrix Learning
- The Five Introductions: Sharing Your Story With Everyone From Family to Lawmakers
- Presented by Christopher Kush of Soapbox Consulting
- Developing Recovery Supports for Young Adults With Autism and Serious Mental Illness
- Presented by Chris Wolf, Patrick Maynard, and Jennifer Riha of I Am Boundless, Inc.
Note that sessions will be recorded to allow registered participants to view content after the event concludes.
In addition to an amazing roster of speakers, our 2022 Conference will have an exciting array of sponsors and exhibitors. We thank those who have committed to our conference thus far! If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting, visit here for more details.
We’d like to give a special shoutout to our Connections Hall sponsor Beacon Health Options as well as our Welcome Reception sponsor UPMC Community Care Behavioral Health Organization. Thank you for your support!
Questions about the conference may be directed to Carol Ferenz or Sarah Eyster, Conference Coordinators.
Learn From Leading Health Care Organizations at the 2022 RCPA Conference: Together!
RCPA is excited to have a diverse and well-rounded lineup of speakers at our 2022 Conference Together! Gathering in person at the Hershey Lodge October 11 – 14, 2022, presenters from organizations all across Pennsylvania’s health care systems will gather to discuss up-to-date data, new technologies, and the latest trends. Our full brochure is available, and some of our upcoming workshops include:
- Introduction to Measurement-Based Care and Addressing Its Most Frequently Asked Questions
- Presented by Elizabeth Connors of Yale University and Jason Frittaion of Greenspace Health
- Implementing a County/Agency System to Improve Outcomes for Individuals, Agencies, and Systems of Care by Identifying and Modifying Treatment for Individuals With FASD
- Presented by Dan Dubovsky, FASD Specialist, Joe Kloss of Luzerne-Wyoming Counties System of Care, and Summer Krochta and Jessica Sachs of Children’s Service Center
- Providing Trauma-Informed Supports to DSPs During Tragic Events
- Presented by Robin VanEerden and Michael Benjamin May of Merakey
- Language Matters
- Presented by Marian Baldini of KenCrest
- Risk Management in Telehealth: Guidance to Providers
- Presented by Cynthia Haines, Esq. of Post & Schell
- Improving Peer Workforce Recruitment and Retention From Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives
- Presented by Jamie Edwards and Tracy Carney of Community Care Behavioral Health Organization
- Before I Put My Hands Behind My Back, Can We Talk About This? — Philadelphia Police Department Co-Responder Program
- Presented by Megan Johnson and John Muehsam of Elwyn
Be sure to register now to see these workshops in person and earn continuing education credits! Note that sessions will be recorded to allow registered participants to view content after the event concludes.
In addition to an amazing roster of speakers, our 2022 Conference will have an exciting array of sponsors and exhibitors. We thank those who have committed to our conference thus far! If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting, visit here for more details.
We’d like to give a special shoutout to our Connections Hall sponsor Beacon Health Options as well as our Welcome Reception sponsor UPMC Community Care Behavioral Health Organization. Thank you for your support!
Questions about the conference may be directed to Carol Ferenz or Sarah Eyster, Conference Coordinators.
U.S. Access Board & The Sierra Group Invite You on 9/14 for Complimentary Trainings and More
PDFs, Word Documents, and Websites, Oh My!
Your professional communications and content are not automatically inclusive to everyone, but it can be – learn how on Wednesday morning, September, 14, 2022, at an in-person, free training at 399 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA. Register soon, as space is limited!
Why Be Accessible? So that someone with a disability has the same access to your information as everyone else. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s the law.
- Section 508 and WCAG Questions and Answers
- This Q&A session on Section 508 Standards and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is intended for intermediate to advanced developers. U.S. Access Board digital accessibility specialists will answer common (and not so common) questions on implementation of digital accessibility standards for information and communication technology (ICT). Presenters will highlight Section 508 tools and resources and development of an ICT Testing Baseline portfolio. Questions should be submitted in advance of the training via email with the subject line “Question for September 14 ICT Training.” Registration is required by September 7, 2022.
- Making Documents Accessible
- This hands-on workshop will review issues associated with creating accessible documents when using Microsoft Word. The session will also touch on accessibility issues when exporting to PDF and using Microsoft PowerPoint. The presenters will review best practices and resources developed by the Accessible Electronic Documents (AED) Community of Practice (CoP) that are helpful to all members of the public who are responsible for creating, posting, and distributing electronic content. Attendees are highly encouraged to bring their own laptop computer. Registration is required by September 7, 2022.
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Hungry for More?
Stay for lunch upstairs at the Sierra-Tamman Suite. We will provide food, AT, & digital accessibility demos along with conversations about the deeper dive relationship between assistive technology accommodations and digital platform mandates. We can host up to 25 guests for lunch, first come first served.
Need job skills to enter today’s changing workplace? The Sierra Group Academy’s training center for adults with disabilities (HYBRID program) is now housed within the high tech, digitally-inclusive office suite at 399 Market Street in downtown Philly. Adult learners from across PA and Delaware will join us remotely. Additionally, customers in the center city region are once again able to come and go to our on-site program at their convenience. Together we all do better.
Three Hour Rule Bill Introduced to Expand Therapies
Last week, H.R.8746 — Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act of 2022 was introduced to ensure Medicare beneficiaries in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) are able to access all skilled, medically necessary rehabilitation therapies that are most appropriate for their condition. This bill, also known as the “three hour rule bill,” would expand the current three hour rule in which Medicare requires IRF patients to be able to participate in, and benefit from, three hours of rehabilitation therapy per day, five days a week (or 15 hours over a seven day period). The current regulation only allows physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), speech therapy, and orthotics and prosthetics care to count towards the three hour requirement. As a result, many patients have difficulty accessing additional forms of therapy that may be more appropriate.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the three hour rule has been waived in its entirety. If the Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act is enacted, it would ensure that IRFs maintain flexibility after the expiration of the PHE. Most importantly, the legislation would allow certain therapies, including recreational therapy, cognitive therapy, and respiratory therapy, to count towards the three hour rule after the patient’s admission. These additional therapies and skilled modalities would be identified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). At the time of admission, the existing three hour rule would still apply, ensuring that IRF admissions do not increase (and thus add to underlying costs for the Medicare program) due to the new flexibility.
This legislative solution has been developed over several years with Members of Congress and a group of stakeholders, including the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA), the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AAPM&R), the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), and the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA).
For additional information, please refer to Congressman Courtney’s press release.
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