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Mental Health

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RCPA continues to seek proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference Power in Purpose: Promoting Possibilities, which will be held September 29 – October 2 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. RCPA’s Conference Committee is looking for 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:

  • Discuss strategies for C-Suite leadership to advance their organization with adapting to challenges and opportunities;
  • Provide guidance on building a culture of a committed workforce, including recruitment and employee development as well as effective remote workforce strategies;
  • Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as the use of artificial intelligence and technology in service provision;
  • Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
  • Discuss advanced ethics practices and suicide prevention; and/or
  • Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, performance-based contracting, acquisitions and mergers, and alternative payment models.

The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to brain injury, medical rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, autism, and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities. 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.

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 COB Monday, March 23, 2026. Proposals must be submitted electronically with the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 minutes in length. If the topic requires an in-depth presentation, a double session can be scheduled for a total of 180 minutes. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be asked to confirm the ability to submit workshop slides and handouts electronically two weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation may not have their materials available to participants during the conference.

Individuals are welcome to submit more than one proposal; however, we ask that you submit no more than three total. Notification of inclusion for the conference will be made via email by Monday, May 11, 2026. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

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Devereux is thrilled to announce that President and CEO Carl E. Clark II was recently elected chair of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership Board of Trustees.

Clark was elected to a one-year term (Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026), having served as an active member of the Board since 2019. The Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the awareness, understanding and practice of Servant Leadership by individuals and organizations.

“I am honored to be elected chair of Greenleaf’s esteemed Board of Trustees,” said Clark. “Since launching our Servant Leadership initiative in 2018, Devereux has created an enhanced work environment that empowers team members to share ideas that benefit the individuals and families we serve and our overall organization. In my new role, I look forward to helping advance Greenleaf’s mission, grow its impact and ensure Servant Leadership remains a relevant and actionable model for leaders who want to build trust, develop others and serve with purpose.”

Greenleaf Executive Director Reginald “Reggie” Lewis noted, “Carl is a genuine believer! He truly embodies and lives by the principles of Servant Leadership – a leadership approach that places less of an emphasis on titles and positional authority to focus on the well-being of those served. Over the past several years, Carl has been instrumental in providing guidance on the Center’s efforts to redesign its consultative services to better assist organizations across sectors striving to improve workplace culture and achieve greater societal impact.”

Building on Greenleaf’s legacy
As chair of the Greenleaf Board, Clark will help guide the strategic vision and priorities of the longest, continuously operating Servant Leadership nonprofit organization in the world.

“Carl’s natural inclination to listen first makes him extremely approachable and an ideal thought partner,” Lewis shared. “He has consistently made himself available to advise and support our Center’s strategic direction. Our Board and staff enter this new year with enormous enthusiasm in anticipation of all the ways Carl will assist us in building on Greenleaf’s momentum to strengthen organizations around the country.”

Clark added, “I am committed to building on Greenleaf’s legacy while helping guide a strategic vision rooted in service and putting people first. Together, with my colleagues on the Board, we will continue to elevate Servant Leadership, strengthen its influence and drive meaningful, lasting change.”

About the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership
The Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership was founded in 1964 by Robert K. Greenleaf. Servant Leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world. While Servant Leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase “Servant Leadership” was coined by Greenleaf in his 1970 essay, The Servant as Leader. The Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership programs include the Greenleaf Academy, Outside Engagements Portfolio, Next Generation Initiative, Greenleaf Scholars, Coffee with Webinar Series and Greenleaf Public Policy Lecture.

Learn more about Devereux.

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On Friday, February 6, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Val Arkoosh presented an overview of Governor Shapiro’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 budget and detailed the projected spending across DHS, which totals $21.94 billion in state funding. The Secretary highlighted that all three Medicaid managed care programs, as well as waiver programs for people with intellectual disabilities and autism, are receiving increases, largely driven by patient needs and costs associated with delivering care. The proposed FY 2026/27 budget includes $39.7 billion in federal funding as well as $5.6 billion from augmentations and additional programs, such as lottery and tobacco funds, making the total DHS funding $67.2 billion.

The Secretary expressed how the proposed budget reflects the direct impacts of HR 1, with significant federal funding at risk. The distribution for the 2026/27 budget is based upon the current structure of Medicaid and other federally funded programs, but the Secretary noted that beginning in 2028, changes in Medicaid financing rules will remove $20 billion from Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program over the following decade.

Budget Highlights and Investments

  • Investments in Health:
    • Food is Medicine: $900,000 (federalizes to $2.3 million) in state funds to launch a pilot program that will provide nutritionally appropriate food to improve quality of life and health outcomes while lowering overall health care costs for Medicaid recipients with significant health care needs.
    • Housing Stability: $1 million in state funds (federalizes to $2.5 million) to launch a pilot that will connect people experiencing homelessness to stable housing and services that improve health and care management.
    • Reentry Supports: $900,000 in state funds (federalizes to $2.7 million) to provide pre-release coverage (up to 90 days prior to release from a State Correctional Institution) for substance use care and intensive case management.
  • Continuing ODP Multi-Year Growth Strategy: Building upon Shapiro’s 2024 multi-year strategy to expand access to home and community-based services and effectively end the emergency waiting list of adults with intellectual disabilities with autism, the proposed budget allots $30 million in state funds, which federalizes to $66.2 million. This will allow for 850 more people to be served in the Community Living Waiver and 400 more people to be served in the Consolidated Waiver.
  • Supporting 988 Call Centers and Crisis Services: The proposed budget includes a $10 million investment in the crisis response workforce to help 988 call centers, as well as $5 million in state funds to continue prior year commitments for emergency behavioral walk-in centers.
  • Sustaining Early Intervention Rate Increase: The Secretary stated that the EI line item in the executive budget reflects the changing state cost to run the program and not an anticipated cut in funding. The release of the DHS Blue Book will have more information about the total funding with federal match. DHS intends to keep the new, updated rates from the 2025/26 budget, and revised rates will be released soon.
  • County Base Mental Health Services Funding: RCPA has confirmed that there will be no allocation increase for county base funding. While previous budgets had included $20 million for county base mental health funding, it was not included in the 2025/26 budget or the proposed 2026/27 budget.

Due to technical difficulties, DHS was unable to record the webinar, but the presentation slides and transcript can both be viewed.

Please contact your RCPA Policy Director with any questions or concerns.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has announced that Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) has been added to the Medical Assistance Program Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026.

On January 30, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the addition of PRS as a rehabilitative service to the Medicaid State Plan, leading to the issuance of OMHSAS-26-01, “Payment for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services.” Prior to the inclusion in the Medicaid State Plan, PRS was available only to MA beneficiaries enrolled in Behavioral Health HealthChoices as an in lieu of service. PRS is now available as a state plan service to MA beneficiaries in the Fee-for-Service and Behavioral Health HealthChoices delivery systems.

The published bulletin OMHSAS-26-01 can be found here. Please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Director Jim Sharp with any questions.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) will be hosting their Stakeholder Webinar on Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Please register for the webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

For those that want to join via phone:
Call-in Number:  +1 (562) 247-8321
Audio Access Code: 385-114-169

The meeting agenda can be found here.

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RCPA remains a leading voice for Pennsylvania’s health and human services providers, advocating for policies that support access, sustainability, and quality care. The 2025 Year in Review highlights key accomplishments that reflect our collective advocacy efforts, strengthened alliances, and measurable progress toward shared priorities. These successes help ensure providers can continue delivering critical services to individuals, families, and communities across the Commonwealth.
Read RCPA’s 2025 Year in Review
If you have any questions or comments regarding the Year in Review, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director.

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The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) has released their comments on the proposed rulemaking for the Mental Health Procedures Act. The IRRC summarized the questions and concerns that were submitted by legislators, providers, and stakeholders during the public comment period and made recommendations for clarity. The Department of Human Services (DHS) must consider and respond to the IRRC’s comments and all comments submitted during the comment period as they prepare their final form regulations.

The majority of the comments were in regard to proposed “Section 5100.33. Patient’s access to records and control over release of records,” where commentors voiced concern of potential conflict with existing statutes. The IRRC also responded to the legislative comments from Rep. Doyle Heffley, Republican Chairman of the House Human Services Committee, who emphasized the importance of resolving the questions asked by providers and stakeholders.

Please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

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Registration for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) 2026 CJAB Conference “Driving Change Together” is now open. The conference will be held April 21–22 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College. This year’s event will bring together criminal justice, behavioral health, and treatment partners for an engaging and thought-provoking event, featuring national and local experts who will examine rethinking the criminal justice system, shifting from reactive measures to cooperative solutions to foster meaningful change.

Criminal justice advisory boards (CJAB) are local planning and problem-solving groups.  PCCD supports CJABs in getting started and with assistance on strategies and project implementation.

To register for the conference and view the agendas and session descriptions, visit the 2026 CJAB Conference web page on PCCD’s website.

The deadline for the discounted room rate of $139 is Friday, March 20.

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RCPA will reengage with all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition. The Coalition is focused on developing strategies, activities, and engagement opportunities to support behavioral health funding in the Commonwealth.

The Coalition will have its first meeting on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. This meeting will give the group an opportunity to review last year’s budget, Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget, and initial strategies for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27. It will also give us an opportunity to develop questions for legislators for the DHS budget hearings in late February and early March. Register for the meeting by contacting Emma Sharp, RCPA Policy Associate.

As the group continues to meet, we will develop our overall advocacy blueprint to ensure the communication of our message and stakeholder engagement is focused on protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system.

The meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams; information will be sent to those interested in the Coalition. RCPA invites all to participate. If you would like to join the Coalition or have any questions, please contact Emma Sharp.

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