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The deadline for RCPA’s request for proposals is just one week away! Proposals must be submitted by COB next Monday, March 11 to be considered for the 2024 Annual Conference Embracing Challenges, Empowering Success, which will be held September 24 – 27 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. Our Conference Committee seeks workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:
The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting, and we highly encourage you to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share. Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals.
The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 11, 2024, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.
Notification of inclusion for the conference will be made via email by Friday, May 17, 2024. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.
On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted an update on the Review Choice Demonstration for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Services web page that announced they will be expanding the Review Choice Demonstration for IRF services in Pennsylvania on June 17, 2024. The demonstration will apply to IRF admissions occurring on or after June 17, 2024. IRF admissions prior to the June 17 date are not part of the demonstration, and IRF providers must select either 100% pre-claim review or 100% post-payment review between May 3, 2024, and June 2, 2024.
Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for Jurisdiction L (which includes the state of Pennsylvania) is Novitas Medicare Solutions, who processes claims for IRFs located in Pennsylvania. Novitas will be directly involved in the RCD and created a dedicated RCD page on their website. The page includes additional information on background and general information, timelines, the two choices for claims review (pre-payment and post-payment), IRF RCD contact information, educational events, and other resources.
The IRF RCD began in Alabama in August 2023. CMS has cited that creating a review choice process will ensure Medicare coverage and documentation requirements are likely met. CMS feels this program will reduce the number of Medicare appeals, improve provider compliance with Medicare program rules, does not alter the Medicare IRF benefit, and should not delay medically necessary care to Medicare beneficiaries.
RCPA will continue to update members as additional information is received. Members are encouraged to review the information on the CMS RCD web page and Novitas RCD web page. Questions regarding this information can be directed to Melissa Dehoff.
Monday, March 4, 2024
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST;
10:00 am – 11:00 am MST; 9:00 am – 10:00 am PST
Register Here
Kara Monnin, PhD
Kara Monnin, PhD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University’s School of Medicine in Columbus, OH. Dr. Monnin provides clinical services across multiple inpatient units, including complex healthcare, inpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation, and acute care services (PICU, Trauma/Surgery/Neurosurgery), and operates on a consultative basis for Complex Care clinics. Dr. Monnin also serves as a member of the Advanced Illness Management/Palliative Care team at NCH and specializes in traumatic brain injury, rehabilitation populations, and children and adolescents with complex medical needs.
Kelsey E. Bakaletz, MSW, LISW
Kelsey E. Bakaletz, MSW, LISW, is most importantly, a mother to 2-year-old Ellis. Kelsey is a clinical medical social worker in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH. Kelsey received both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ohio State University. Prior to working at NCH, Kelsey spent two years in rapid re-housing of homeless military veterans, and before that, she spent almost two years in therapeutic rehabilitation of adjudicated juvenile sex offenders. Kelsey is a member of the Trauma-Informed Care Work Group at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, working to provide and teach the best trauma-informed practices. Kelsey is passionate about treating every patient interaction as though the caregiver and child are part of our family, to lead with empathy, compassion, and determination that we resist re-traumatization.
Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will:
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.
RCPA is continuing to accept proposals for our 2024 Conference Embracing Challenges, Empowering Success, which will be held September 24 – 27 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. Our Conference Committee seeks workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:
The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting, and we highly encourage you to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share. Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals.
The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 11, 2024, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.
Notification of inclusion for the conference will be made via email by Friday, May 17, 2024. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.
RCPA invites you to join us and the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) for a free webinar on creating equitable planes for access to care in physical and behavioral health settings. The webinar will be held March 12 at 12:00 pm and will feature William Seto, Chief Diversity Officer from the National Council of Mental Wellbeing. You can register for the webinar here.
This webinar will focus on addressing diversity and health disparities that lead to health inequities within both the physical and behavioral health spaces that you work in on a daily basis. It has been designed for members of both organizations and supports equity work our organizations have undertaken the last three years as a Delta Center grantee. We are appreciative of your support and look forward to you joining us in the webinar.
Register here. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will conduct their next hospital open door forum on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Note that the call has been rescheduled from March 5. Register to participate here.