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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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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#.

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The PA House of Representatives passed HB 1300 (Fiscal Code) by a vote of 121-82. The Fiscal Code contains language appropriating the $100 million for mental health funding, which follows the recommendations of the Behavioral Health Commission’s recommendations. The Fiscal Code also provides another $34.5 million to expand mental health services, $34 million for workforce initiatives, and over $30 million for criminal justice and public safety.

The House also passed HB 1456, a general appropriations bill. HB 1456 passed by a vote of 115-88. The bill provided new monies of $50 million towards intellectual disabilities and direct support professional (DSP) workforce retention. The bill would also fund $642 million for Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), and Temple University. While there is good news for the IDD providers in regards to additional workforce funding, the bill was challenged by House Republicans because the Penn State, Pitt, and Temple funding requires a two-thirds (supermajority) vote, which was why the colleges were not funded back in June.

This week, the House also passed a tax code bill and a school code bill.

Despite the flurry of legislative activity on the code bills in the House, the code bills will not have to go to the Senate for a concurrence vote. The code bills passed by the House contain new spending (i.e. IDD workforce retention), and the new spending was not negotiated with the Senate; therefore, the expectation is that because there is not a deal between the House and the Senate on the new spending, the Senate will not concur on the code bills.

The Senate will return to session on Monday, October 16.

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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.

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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!

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Tablet on a desk - Newsletter

The Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared an informational flyer for ODP’s Division of Quality Management’s QM Spotlight, the seventh in a series of quarterly publications that “connects the dots” between Quality Management (QM), Risk Management (RM), and Incident Management (IM). Administrative Entities (AE), Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO), Providers, Quality Assessment and Improvement (QA&I) reviewers, and others in the service system should reference this information as they work toward achieving ODP’s vision to “continuously improve an effective system of accessible services and supports that are flexible, innovative, and person-centered.”

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RCPA member Elwyn recently announced that two of its staff have earned awards for visionary, exceptional leadership.

First, Elwyn CEO and President Chuck McLister was selected and recognized as a 2023 Philadelphia Titan 100. The Titan 100 award honors the area’s most accomplished and transformative business leaders who demonstrate exceptional leadership, vision, and passion in their industry. You can read more regarding the award here.

In addition, Elwyn Sr. Vice President of Advancement Marguerite Kraftson Fell, CFRE, has been named a 2023 Women of Influence by the Philadelphia Business Journal. The Women of Influence program celebrates the impactful businesswomen shaping Greater Philadelphia.

Congratulations to both!

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