State Warns of 911 Outage: Here’s What to Do If You Need Help
PA ABLE Webinar to Be Held July 23
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is offering a webinar on the PA Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Savings Program. A PA ABLE savings account gives individuals with qualified disabilities (Eligible Individuals) and their families and friends a tax-free way to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses while maintaining important benefits. The state and federal tax-free investment options are offered to encourage Eligible Individuals and their families to save private funds to support health, independence, and quality of life.
Some of the topics OLTL will discuss include eligibility requirements for opening a PA ABLE account; federal and state tax benefits of PA ABLE; and how a PA ABLE account interacts with current benefits.
OLTL Service Coordinators, Direct Service Providers, Community HealthChoices Managed Care Organization staff, and any individuals who work in employment supports are strongly encouraged to participate in this webinar, as it will help them understand the PA ABLE Program and how it can benefit the OLTL participants they serve.
Please register for the PA ABLE Savings Program webinar scheduled for July 23, 2025, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm using this registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
If you require accommodations to participate in this webinar, please send them electronically.
If you have questions regarding this email, please contact Randy Loss at OLTL.
Update on ODP Pay-for-Performance Payment Delays
ODP Reissues PBC AE Notice to Individuals
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has reissued ODPANN 25-062 and its accompanying attachment. This announcement is to:
- Provide details about information that will be sent to individuals and their families regarding the assignment of Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) tiers for residential service providers; and
- To equip Supports Coordinators (SC) and Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO) with the necessary information and resources to respond to questions from individuals and families about the PBC tier assignment.
This announcement is being reissued with updates to the following links: “What is Performance-Based Contracting?” and “Performance-Based Contracting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Individuals and Families.”
Please view the announcement for additional information and details.
Editorial: Bipartisan Push to Strengthen PA’s Disability Care System Must Succeed
RCPA Member Merakey Named Largest Nonprofit Behavioral Health Provider in the Nation
InVEST Project: Benefits Counseling Virtual Session to Be July 15 and July 17
ODP Releases 2024 Annual Waiting List Report
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-067. This communication provides the waiting list report, comprised of individuals who are eligible to receive services and supports through ODP’s four home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers but, due to insufficient waiver capacity, the state cannot currently meet their needs. In this report, you will find information about ODP’s strategies and initiatives to address the problem and see the progress that has been made.
Access the report here ODP_Annual_WL_Report_2024. This report can also be found by visiting the MyODP home page and scrolling to the bottom or by following this path: Everyday Lives > Everyday Lives Publications > ODP’s Waiting List Reports.
PA Joins PT and Nurse Licensure Compacts to Address Healthcare Workforce Shortages
In a strategic move to tackle persistent healthcare workforce shortages, the Shapiro Administration has announced that Pennsylvania will officially implement the Physical Therapy Compact (PT Compact) and the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) starting July 7, 2025.
These compacts will allow licensed practical nurses (LPN), registered nurses (RN), and physical therapists (PT) who reside in Pennsylvania to obtain multi-state privileges, enabling them to practice across state lines in any member state. This expansion of licensure flexibility is expected to bolster provider mobility, support faster deployment of qualified professionals, and relieve staffing gaps, especially in underserved and rural communities.
By reducing regulatory barriers and enabling a more fluid workforce, these licensure compacts provide a critical tool for healthcare systems facing staffing crises, travel demands, and surging patient needs. It also opens new opportunities for Pennsylvania clinicians to access broader job markets without the need for duplicative licensure.
For healthcare providers and employers seeking relief from workforce shortages, the PT Compact and NLC represent a step toward a more agile and responsive healthcare system.
To learn more, visit the PT Compact website or the NLC information page. To read the full announcement from the Shapiro Administration, visit here.
Developing a Multi-State, Multi-Diagnosis YAC — Webinar on August 6
Hearing All Perspectives: The Development of a Multi-State, Multi-Diagnosis Youth Advisory Council
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Register Here
This presentation will discuss the formation of a novel and innovative version of a standard Youth Advisory Council (YAC). This particular YAC adds a twist to the traditional means of involving youth by creating a council combining voices of individuals served who have two very different diagnoses: those with an emotional/behavioral disorder (EBD) and those with an autism/intellectual disability (ASD/IDD). Spanning across three states, this internal YAC has been established to hear the voices of and to teach leadership principles and skills to those who are receiving the services offered by Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.
Presenters:
- Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, National Director of Family Engagement, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
- Judy Starr, JD, Deputy General Counsel, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:
- Describe the value of constituents’ voices from services and programs provided, regardless of individual communication type, cognitive ability, or diagnosis;
- Discuss how to engage leadership and staff to support and sponsor a youth/constituent advisory council; and
- List some “lessons from the journey” with do’s and don’ts when developing a youth advisory council.
Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.
Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!
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