RCPA Submits Comments on CMS 2026 Physician Fee Schedule
2026 IPRC Webinar Schedule Now Available
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for IPRC’s exciting 2026 educational webinar series. Complimentary registration for all IPRC webinars is a benefit of your RCPA/IPRC Membership.
Tuesday, January 6, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST
Understanding CARF’s New Standards for Disorders of Consciousness
Thursday, February 5, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST
Practical Treatment Options for Neuro-Opthalmic Impairments and Disorders
Tuesday, March 17, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
Overview of Sexuality & Disability in Pediatrics (Part I)
Tuesday, March 24, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
A Discipline-Specific Approach to Sexuality & Disability in Pediatrics (Part II)
Monday, April 20, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Family Centered Care: One Organization’s Revolutionary Approach to Include Families in all Aspects of Care
Thursday, May 14, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT
Palliative Care Through the Rehab Continuum: Caring for Children with Complex Needs
Monday, June 1, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT
A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Continence Management and Self-Cathing
Wednesday, July 15, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
Treatment of Brachial Plexus Injury
Thursday, September 3, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
Crossing the Bridge from Clinician to Clinical Leader: How to Develop and Promote Leadership Skills in Clinical Staff
Friday, October 23, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT
The Role of the Pediatric Rehab Professional in Promoting Healthy Weight Management
Monday, November 16, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
A Deeper Dive into Disorders of Consciousness – Practical Assessment and Treatment Strategies for Pediatric Patients
Tuesday, December 1, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm EST
Animal-Assisted Therapy Across the Rehab Continuum
Do you have a great topic or know a fantastic presenter? We’d love to hear about it. Please reach out to Cindi Hobbes, IPRC Director.
Treating Non-Accidental Trauma in Pediatric Rehabilitation — IPRC Webinar on October 15
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT;
9:00 am – 10:00 am MDT; 8:00 am – 9:00 am PDT
Register Here
Presenter Bios:
Kara Monnin, PhD
Kara Monnin is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) and Ohio State University’s School of Medicine in Columbus, OH. She provides clinical services across multiple inpatient units, including Complex Healthcare, Inpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and acute care services (PICU, Trauma/Surgery/Neurosurgery). 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 Klaus, MSW, LISW-S
Kelsey is a clinical lead in the Clinical Medical Social Work Department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Kelsey’s area of focus is in the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic, where she works with children and families to mitigate barriers to optimal developmental outcomes. Kelsey is passionate about treatment planning from a person-first perspective, assisting families in sharing respectful engagement, inclusive treatment discussions, and autonomy on their treatment journey. Kelsey is a longtime resident of Columbus, Ohio, where she resides with her husband and four-year-old son.
Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:
- Define Non-Accidental Trauma and Self-Inflicted Intentional Injury;
- Discuss current statistics, precipitating factors, and resulting trauma for those in the wake;
- Implement strategies to respond to NAT and self-inflicted intentional injury with a trauma-informed approach; and
- Evaluate the ways in which healthcare systems can reduce re-traumatization.
Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.
Level: Intermediate
Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.
Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.
Attendees may wish to review Preventing Secondary Trauma & Practical Self Care prior to this session.
Reminder for 2025/26 Pennsylvania State Budget Impasse Survey Due Sept. 15
REMINDER — PLEASE DISREGARD IF YOU HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THIS SURVEY
Pennsylvania’s General Assembly has not yet passed the budget for FY 2025/26, and we are already two months into this fiscal cycle. This delay is creating another crisis while communities grapple with the longer-term implications of the recently passed HR 1 Tax Reconciliation Bill at the federal level. We want to hear from you via this 2025 Budget Impasse Survey so that we can raise a collective nonprofit clamor about the impact this delay has on real people in every neighborhood and community in the Commonwealth.
We know — our organizations are over-surveyed during times of urgency!
So, to eliminate duplicative work, various associations and networks, including RCPA, have come together to collect data regarding both the current and projected impact on both for-profit and nonprofit financials, staffing, and ultimately those served. We will share information with everyone involved so that the survey results can be analyzed and disseminated to the media and legislative contacts most efficiently. Below are the organizations that are coming together to collect this data in order to show you the importance of this information.
For more details about the length of the survey and those best suited to complete it, please see this PDF version so you can prepare. The initial survey deadline is 11:59 pm on Monday, September 15, 2025. For questions about the survey, please email Anne Gingerich, Executive Director, PANO.
RCPA Thanks Our Sponsors and Exhibitors for Their Support of Strive to Thrive!
Reminder for “The Intensive Model of Therapy” IPRC Webinar on September 4
The Intensive Model of Therapy for Children With Neurological or Movement Disorders
Thursday, September 4, 2025
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 PDT
Register Here
Presenter Bio: Amy O’Donnell
Amy O’Donnell is a pediatric physical therapist at The Children’s Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Washington & Jefferson College and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh. Amy joined The Children’s Institute in 2012 and has since specialized in pediatric physical therapy care.
Her first exposure to the intensive therapy model came during her student training, and she became actively involved in the program following its expansion to her clinic location in 2014. In 2019, she was named the program coordinator. Amy has co-authored both qualitative and quantitative research articles on the Intensity Program at The Children’s Institute, with both publications appearing in Pediatric Physical Therapy journal.
Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:
- Define and discuss benefits of episodic care and family centered care;
- Define and discuss benefits of intensive therapy model; and
- Discuss different types of intensive therapy models and strategies to implement into your clinic.
Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.
Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.
LAST CHANCE to Register Online for the RCPA Conference Strive to Thrive!
Today is your last chance to register online for the 2025 RCPA Conference Strive to Thrive! Taking place at the Hershey Lodge September 9 – 12, the conference will bring you the latest in local, state, and federal policy updates, workforce trends, and technological developments in health and human services. Register now to ensure your access to:
- The mobile app, which will be opening early next week for all attendees who have registered. By registering online, you will be contacted directly once the mobile app is available, granting you access to the full schedule, Connections Hall map/exhibitor listings, and more!
- A seamless onsite registration experience. Simply show up at the front desk, and we’ll print your badge within seconds!
- A head start on obtaining your CEs. RCPA is sharing our summer webinars on the mobile app. By registering online, you will be able to view these webinars when the mobile app launches, which count towards CE credits.
- An informative and exciting conference! With over 60 workshops, including, state and federal keynote and plenary speakers, 90 exhibitors, and 110 CEUs available, our conference will help you and your organization prepare your next steps in the health and human services industry.
View our Registration Brochure for complete details, including booking your hotel room, event highlights, and networking opportunities!
Online Registration Closes TONIGHT!
Register Today!
We are grateful to all our sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who help make the conference happen. Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for more details. View our sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website!
Pennsylvania Providers Feel Pinch From Another State Budget Delay, RCPA President & CEO Richard Edley Quoted
UPDATE: 2025/26 Pennsylvania State Budget Impasse — We Want to Hear From You
RCPA, alongside various associations and networks, shared a 2025 Budget Impasse Survey in order to collect data regarding the current and projected impacts on organizations in relation to the PA FY 2025/26 budget impasse. We are sending an update to stress that both for-profit and nonprofit organizations may participate in this survey.
We want to hear from your organization via this 2025 Budget Impasse Survey so that we can highlight the impacts this delay has on real people in every neighborhood and community in the Commonwealth.
We will share information with all parties involved so that the survey results can be analyzed and disseminated to the media and legislative contacts most efficiently. Below are the organizations that are coming together to collect this data in order to show you the importance of this information.
For more details about the length of the survey and those best suited to complete it, please see this PDF version.
The initial survey deadline is 11:59 pm on Monday, September 15, 2025.
For questions about the survey, please email Anne Gingerich, Executive Director, PANO.
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Network at the RCPA Conference Strive to Thrive!
Attending a conference isn’t just about attending workshops — it’s about engaging with people, networking, and learning from those in your field to grow as a professional. At the 2025 RCPA Conference Strive to Thrive, attendees will have a plethora of opportunities to speak with, learn from, and connect with others in their field. Some activities we have planned include:
- Tuesday’s Welcome Reception — Grab some hors d’oeuvres and chat with your colleagues. Compare conference schedules, share contact information, and meet both old friends and those new to the industry!
- Wednesday’s Gentle Yoga — Bring your yoga mat to the Cocoa Terrace bright and early for a gentle breathing and yoga activity. Available for those at all levels of yoga, this exercise routine will be hosted by our Keynote Speaker Victor Reyes, a Retired Judge who teaches and embraces mindfulness.
- Wednesday’s Association Awards Luncheon — Enjoy lunch with your peers as we recognize those who have enriched our communities and organizations with thought-provoking strategies, flexibility, and leadership roles.
- Connections Hall — From the Reception on Wednesday to the grand prize giveaway Thursday, Connections Hall lives up to its name. Attendees will connect with over 90 exhibiting organizations, learning about their products and services, while competing with fellow attendees for a host of prizes!
Online Registration Closes THIS Friday!
Register Today!
View our Registration Brochure for complete details, including booking your hotel room, event highlights, and networking opportunities! Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for questions. We look forward to seeing you at the Hershey Lodge!
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