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Children's Services

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Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, recently announced a hearing titled Healthier America: Legislative Proposals to Improve Public Health.

The hearing, scheduled for April 15, 2026, at 10:15 am, will focus on the bills below that address various areas of public health, including disease research and prevention efforts, bolstering resources for rural medical services and health care providers, promoting healthy activities, and increasing access to care.

The hearing will be open to the public and will be livestreamed online.

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Replay icon on wooden cubes on smart grey background and copy space. Recap business, meeting summary, business review concept.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) held a “kickoff” webinar to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) and have released the recording and slides for the presentation, which are available here. DHS is currently awaiting the release of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the first phase of Year 1 implementation.

Year 1 Funding Mechanisms will include:

  • Expansion of existing programs;
  • Program payments;
  • Intergovernmental agreements; and
  • Grant agreements.

If your organization has an interest in these RFPs, RCPA will provide updates as appropriate, but we also encourage you to sign up directly for the DHS listserv info. Direct RHTP inquiries can be sent here.

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The Mental Health Safety Net Coalition will meet on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 1:00 pm. The Coalition provides an advocacy platform for RCPA members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders for developing strategies, activities, and engagement opportunities to support behavioral health funding in the Commonwealth.

This upcoming meeting will allow the group to finalize the next white paper, which focuses on the school-based mental health and safety funding, as well as budget updates, RCPA Capitol Day, and a review of the Department of Human Services (DHS) budget hearings.

Microsoft Teams Meeting:
Join the Meeting
Meeting ID: 233 482 417 065 33
Passcode: UF7Xf2BW

If you would like to join the Coalition or have any questions, please contact Emma Sharp.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has notified counties of the finalization of the Cost Center Bulletin, which states:

The purpose of this bulletin is to accommodate data reporting for the changing and growing array of services provided by county Mental Health Administrations using federal, state, and county funding. This bulletin establishes new cost centers, updates existing cost centers, and combines existing cost centers. It enables appropriate reporting and monitoring of expenditure and service information for a number of community mental health services. The reporting of county mental health program costs must conform to the cost centers identified in this bulletin beginning with the County Human Service Plans and Income and Expenditures Report for State Fiscal Year 2026/2027.

The complete bulletin is available here. If you have any questions, please contact OMHSAS via email or RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released the Family Leadership Toolkit, which is designed for state-level professionals and family leaders working to elevate family voices in systems changes. The Family Leadership Toolkit offers practical tools, strategies, and real-world examples to help build strong, collaborative partnerships between professionals and family leaders. You can:

  • Use it to guide leadership development.
  • Share it with your networks and colleagues.
  • Introduce it in meetings, trainings, and planning sessions.
  • Promote it through your organization’s communication channels.

Access The Family Leadership Toolkit here. For questions, please reach out to OCDEL via email.

Additional questions can be directed to RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (OMHSAS) is issuing a correction to the OMHSAS-26-01 Payment for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services bulletin that was originally issued on February 6, 2026.

This correction addresses a typo in the service description for Psychiatric Rehab Mobile – Group. The previous bulletin incorrectly listed the group size limit as two (2). The correct maximum group size is no more than five (5) individuals in alignment with the licensing standard in § 5230.54 (a)(2). This update corrects the group size limit to five in the service description for procedure code H0036.

Please refer to the updated version of the Payment for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services.

If you have any questions, please contact OMHSAS for further clarification. Members may also direct questions to RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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RCPA is hosting our Annual Conference, Power in Purpose: Promoting Possibilities, at the Hershey Lodge from September 29 – October 2. This event will be a highlight for the Pennsylvania behavioral health, brain injury, children’s, early intervention, intellectual and developmental disabilities, medical rehabilitation, and physical disabilities and aging provider communities.

This year’s Sponsor, Exhibitor, and Advertiser Brochure features many opportunities to get in on the action and network with providers. Booth self-selection will also be available for exhibitors and exhibiting sponsors. In order to be considered for self-selection, a completed contract with payment must be submitted.

Exciting Sponsorship Opportunities
RCPA is privileged to have the backing of the finest organizations in the field for our conference. Through the use of sponsorship circles, RCPA is able to honor all supporting organizations.

Network and Compete in Connections Hall
Connections Hall activities take place during the two busiest days of the conference, and many networking opportunities are available throughout the event. You’ll also be able to compete and have a chance to win “Best of Show!”

Sign Up Now!
Sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who wish to be listed on the website, on the mobile app, and in the conference program must submit all materials by Tuesday, September 8. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

Visit Our List of Sponsors and Exhibitors!
RCPA thanks those that have committed their support to our 2026 Conference. You help make our conference an extraordinary, educational, and meaningful event for Pennsylvania’s provider communities!

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Yesterday, March 31, 2026, the Department of Human Services (DHS) held a “kickoff” webinar to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP). The slides have not been released; however, RCPA will share the PowerPoint with members once they are available.

The webinar did not provide definitive next steps in terms of which category of Request for Proposal (RFP) would be released and when. RFPs will be periodically rolled out, and DHS indicated that the first RFP release would be in the next two weeks. The Department also shared the broad categories of project areas for consideration, stating that all RFP responses should closely tie back to their approved CMS plan.

DHS touched on the fact that RHTP funding and compliance will be achieved through continual cooperative agreements with CMS. Below is a broader timeline highlighting certain reporting and funding dates, as well as broader categorical areas the state is pursuing.

  • End of First Reporting Period – July 31, 2026
  • First Annual Report Due to CMS – August 31, 2026
  • Obligation of Year 1 Funding – October 30, 2026
  • Year 2 Funding – October 31, 2026
  • Quarterly Reports Due to CMS – November 29, 2026; March 1, 2027, May 30, 2027
  • Spending Deadline for Year 1 – September 30, 2027
    • By March 31, 2028, CMS will begin determining the amount of unused funds from the prior period to redistribute them to other states.

Year 1 Funding Mechanisms will include:

  • Expansion of existing programs;
  • Program payments;
  • Intergovernmental agreements; and
  • Grant agreements.

If your organization has an interest in these RFPs, RCPA will provide updates as appropriate, but we also encourage you to sign up directly for the DHS listserv info. Direct RHTP inquiries can be sent here.

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

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