OMHSAS Responds to RCPA Inquiry on IBHS Training
Reminder for IPRC Webinar “Family-Centered Care” on April 20
Family-Centered Care: One Organization’s Revolutionary Approach to Include Families in All Aspects of Care
Monday, April 20, 2026
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
Donna Provenzano, Director of Family-Centered Care
Donna Provenzano is the Director of Family-Centered Care at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has thirty-nine years of experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families at Children’s Specialized. Donna serves on several hospital leadership committees and councils and provides administrative and operational management of Family-Centered Care and Volunteers. She supervises and partners with Family Faculty staff and coordinates with the Family Advisory Council. Donna has presented both nationally and internationally on Patient- and Family-Centered Care. Under Donna’s leadership, her department received the IPFCC Family-Centered Care Partnership Award for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in 2022. Donna has received additional leadership certifications from the Harvard Business School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Ithaca College.
Linda Waddell, Family Faculty Manager
Linda Waddell is the Family Faculty Manager at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has been employed at the hospital as a Family Faculty since June of 2008 and a member of the Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Family Advisory Council since 2014. On behalf of the hospital, Linda has presented with her team on Patient- and Family-Centered Care at regional, national, and international conferences. Most recently, Linda was a member of a panel that presented at the 2024 RISE Summit “Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): A Look into Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Program in NJ and Beyond.” Linda participates in various hospital committees and is also a member of the IPRC Steering Committee, where she provides a family member’s perspective for discussions and decision-making.
Linda was the 2019 recipient of the Lester Z. Lieberman Humanism in Healthcare Award and received the IPFCC 30th Anniversary 2022 Partnership Award on Social Determinants of Health. Linda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Kean University. Linda’s first experience with Children’s Specialized Hospital began in 1999, receiving multiple services for her newborn, medically fragile baby. She became an expert in the experience of pediatric rehabilitation through caring for her daughter with medical complications.
Family Faculty at Children’s Specialized Hospital are paid positions held by parents and family members whose children have received or are still receiving services at Children’s Specialized Hospital Inpatient, Outpatient, or Long-Term Care sites. Their own day-to-day experiences provide a unique perspective, understanding, and empathy for families going through similar situations. Family Faculty partner with staff and families to build a respectful and understanding relationship by listening, providing insights, and encouraging positive communication between staff and families.
Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will identify strategies to:
- Embed Patient- and Family-Centered Care into your organization;
- Cultivate respectful partnerships and collaboration with leadership, staff, and families;
- Include families in education and training of staff at all levels; and
- Engage families and staff in creating valuable resources.
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.
RCPA 2026/27 Membership Renewal Period Begins
DOH Primary Care Loan Repayment Program Includes SUD, BH Professionals
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has opened a new application period for the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Repayment Program. The program supports health care professionals, including those providing substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral health (BH) services, who serve in underserved communities across Pennsylvania through loan repayment assistance to eligible providers in exchange for a two-year service commitment at an approved site. Its primary purpose is to increase access to care in underserved areas by supporting and retaining the workforce.
The program is open to a range of licensed providers, including:
- Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners/physician assistants;
- Licensed behavioral health professionals (LCSWs, LPCs, LMFTs, psychologists); and
- Primary care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives).
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be licensed to practice in Pennsylvania;
- Work at an approved site serving at least 30 percent low-income patients or located in a Health Professional Shortage Area; and
- Commit to two years of full-time or half-time service.
Eligible practice sites may include community-based settings such as community behavioral health clinics; outpatient SUD and BH treatment providers; and federally qualified health centers and similar settings. Benefits include:
- Loan repayment assistance to reduce education-related debt;
- An opportunity to provide care in high-need communities; and
- Up to $80,000 (full-time) or $40,000 (half-time) for physicians, dentists, and psychologists, OR up to $48,000 (full-time) or $24,000 (half-time) for other eligible providers.
The application process closes Friday, May 4, and applications must be submitted online. More information is available online. Email DOH with questions.
Drexel University’s BHE Program to Offer Free and Discounted CEs to RCPA Members, Deadline is April 15!
FNPadvantage Webinar with RCPA Partner First Nonprofit 05-13-26
RCPA to Host Virtual H.R. 1 Medicaid Summit on May 11
On Monday, May 11, 2026, RCPA will be hosting a virtual H.R. 1 Medicaid Summit for all members, non-members, and stakeholders from 9:00 am – 10:00 am. This summit will feature guest panelists who will provide Federal and State updates on the implementation and impacts of the pending Medicaid changes. We will also explore the role of providers, advocates, and stakeholders in the process to ensure access and care for vulnerable Pennsylvanians. Register for the summit here.
As part of the event, we will have a Q&A segment. If you have any questions you would like to ask during the Q&A segment, or if you have any general questions regarding the virtual summit, please forward them to RCPA Behavioral Health Policy Associate Emma Sharp.
DHS Provides Updated Guidance for Complex Needs Planning for Children, Youth, and Young Adults
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has released DHS-26-01 Complex Needs Planning for Children, Youth, and Young Adults Through Age 21. This bulletin updates guidance provided in 14-Bul-110 Complex Case Planning for Children and Youth Under Age 21. The guidance clarifies the referral process, roles, and responsibilities; offers the availability of technical assistance; and describes the benefit of technical assistance to the agencies in the human services systems that support children, youth, young adults through age 21 and their families and/or caregivers.
This bulletin, an online referral form, and suggested resources (tools/templates) are now posted on the DHS website.
If you have questions regarding this bulletin, the online referral form, or the suggested resources, please contact DHS electronically.
OCDEL Completes Mass Claims Adjustment for All Paid EI Claims Between July 1, 2025 – March 8, 2026
The Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) has completed the Mass Claims Adjustment for all PAID CLAIMS of Early Intervention (EI) services that contain a date of service between July 1, 2025 – March 8, 2026 and were filed on or before March 8, 2026.
Due the high volume of claims, the Mass Claims Adjustment was processed in daily batches with a summary of claims below:
- Week 1: March 16, 2026
- Claims Adjusted for Speech Therapy
- Claims Adjusted for Occupational Therapy
- Claims Adjusted for Physical Therapy
- Week 2: March 23, 2026
- Claims Adjusted for Special Instruction
- Claims Adjusted for Audiology/Evaluation/Teaming
- Claims Adjusted for Service Coordination
A complete review of the Mass Claims Adjustment was performed during the week of March 30, and a final batch of claims were processed on April 7, representing claims with a date of services of July 1, 2025.
Reminder of Next Steps:
- Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025/26 Fee Schedule, file NEW claims on or after March 9, 2026, that contain a date of service on or after July 1, 2025.
- Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025/26 Fee Schedule, adjust claims filed on or after March 9, 2026, that contain a date of service on or after July 1, 2025, if the OLD fee schedule was used.
IMPORATANT:
As expected, OCDEL reports that there are many ICNs that failed the Mass Claims Adjustment. The Bureau is preparing a document for each County to distribute to their contracted providers that includes the original ICN that did not successfully Mass Adjust. Detailed instructions will be included with this document for how the Infant Toddler program and EI Provider can work together to resolve the claims errors. After successful resolution of the claims error, providers will be responsible for performing their own Claims Adjustment for the claims that failed the Mass Claims Adjustment.
View the following links for more information:
April 10 Deadline for Nominations to RHTP Advisory Council and Rural Care Collaboratives
Friday, April 10 at 5:00 pm is the deadline to complete and submit nominations for the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) Advisory Council and RHTP Rural Care Collaboratives (RCC).
Advisory Council (Statewide): This is a not a decision-making body.
The Advisory Council will provide subject matter expertise (SME) to the RCCs. The Council’s feedback is intended to inform and enhance RCC regional plans to ensure planned projects have the best chance of succeeding and will be sustainable after the 5-year RHTP funding is no longer available.
- Meeting Cadence: The Advisory Council will meet once a month during the RCC plan development period. Once plans are solidified, the Advisory Council will meet quarterly to help address implementation concerns.
- Council Member Expectations: Provide technical assistance (TA) to the RCCs in the member’s identified area of expertise. TA can be provided in multiple formats. This could be open discussion during RHTP meetings, written questions and answers, or a more hands-on knowledge transfer.
- Conflict of Interest: If chosen for the Advisory Council, members must provide their formal CV for documentation, a brief bio, and disclosure of any conflicts of interest. All conflicts of interest also must be communicated verbally during meetings and TA communication with RCCs.
The Advisory Council needs SME representation in:
- Aging and Access
- Behavioral Health
- EMS and Transportation
- Technology and Infrastructure
- Maternal Health
- Workforce
Rural Care Collaboratives (Regional): This is a planning body.
There will be 8 RCCs established with the purpose of:
- Identifying regional priorities based on healthcare gaps;
- Developing a regional plan to address prioritized needs; and
- Recommending/identifying projects to the RHTP interagency project team to operationalize the regional plan that works towards Pennsylvania’s identified outcomes.
Complete the RHTP Advisory Council and RCC Nomination form here.
