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Mental Health

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RCPA is excited to once again host the RCPA PAC silent auction, which will be held in conjunction with the 2025 RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive. The silent auction will take place outside Connections Hall, and we are looking to attract the attention of over 700 attendees, including registrants, presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors. The money raised helps to support the RCPA PAC; these funds provide financial support to state legislators who have demonstrated a strong, consistent, and positive interest in our issues and priorities.

We are requesting your consideration in assisting us by providing a donation of an auction item. We are hoping to secure a variety of items that will be enticing to all members. All donations are greatly appreciated and can be something as simple as a gift certificate for a restaurant to a basket of sorts (candy, movie night, grilling items, cooking theme, etc.). We are also accepting items such as jewelry, designer handbags, tickets to college or professional sporting events, golf items, and sports memorabilia.

Please contact Christine Tartaglione by August 25, 2025, if you would like to donate any items. Thank you for your consideration of our request. We hope we can count on your support, and we look forward to seeing you at the conference!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leah S. Yaw
(610) 542-3041
[email protected]

Richard F. Dunlap Jr., Ed.D., named executive director
of Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services center

Villanova, Pa. – June 5, 2025 – Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of behavioral healthcare, today announced that President and CEO Carl E. Clark II has named Richard F. Dunlap Jr., Ed.D., executive director of Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services, effective immediately.

Dunlap most recently served as Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services’ assistant executive director, a position he has held since March 2024.

As executive director, Dunlap will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Chester County-based center, which serves children, adolescents and young adults with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences. His responsibilities include oversight of clinical, medical, quality improvement, physical plant and staffing, among other areas.

“Rick is a deeply respected and highly accomplished leader with a proven track record of empowering individuals and organizations to reach their highest potential,” said Clark. “His leadership is distinguished by a strong emphasis on collaboration, strategic vision and clear, effective communication. Throughout his career, he has inspired and guided teams to achieve extraordinary objectives and has fostered a work environment that supports growth and progress. His dedication to service will be invaluable as he leads Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services into the future.”

About Richard F. Dunlap Jr., Ed.D.
As executive director of Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services, Richard F. Dunlap Jr., Ed.D., brings more than 40 years of education, administration and organizational development experience to this position.

Prior to joining Devereux in 2024, Dunlap spent eight years at Chester County Regional Education Services (CCRES), most recently in the role of executive director. He also served as interim superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District (2019-2020 and 2022-2023). Before his time at CCRES, Dunlap held the following positions: superintendent of the Upper Darby School District; principal of East High School in the West Chester Area School District; principal of Garnet Valley Middle School; assistant principal of East High School; assistant principal of Fugett Middle School in West Chester; and teacher at East High School. He also served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Dunlap earned his Bachelor of Science in special education from West Chester State College; a Master of Arts in bilingual/bicultural studies from Marywood College; and a Doctorate of Education from Immaculata College. He also holds a secondary principal’s certification from Immaculata College. He is a recipient of the “Superintendents to Watch” award (2015-2016) from the National School Public Relations Association.

About Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services
Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services supports children, adolescents and young adults, from birth to age 21, with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities, and offers intensive services for at-risk youth with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences. Each year, more than 2,500 individuals receive specialized care, in the environment best suited to the unique challenges they face, all with the goal of providing them with the academic, social, emotional and life skills needed to flourish in the homes, schools and communities. www.devereuxpa.org

About Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, providing services, insight and leadership in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare. Founded in 1912, Devereux operates a comprehensive national network of clinical, therapeutic, educational and employment programs that positively impact the lives of thousands of children, adults – and their families – every year. The organization’s unique approach combines evidence-based interventions with compassionate family engagement. With more than 6,000 employees working in programs across the country, Devereux is a trusted partner for families, schools and communities, serving many of our country’s populations in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and foster care. For more than a century, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health has been guided by a simple and enduring mission: To change lives by unlocking and nurturing human potential for people living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences. Learn more: www.devereux.org.

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RCPA, in its partnership with the PA Health Access Network (PHAN), is asking organizations to consider signing on to their new letter, which opposes cuts to Medicaid and Pennie. The latest proposal in Congress would take healthcare away from 600,000 Pennsylvanians who receive their coverage through Medicaid or Pennie. This is a separate letter than was previously shared with members in February; we ask your organization to join PHAN and show your opposition to potential cuts. This new communication reflects some of the specific areas that will be impacted.

Enter your information to publicly sign on to the letter on behalf of your organization. Please note: this sign-on page is for organizations only. Please contact Bill England with any questions or if you do not want to be listed publicly.

RCPA continues its state and federal advocacy efforts for state mental health funding and preserving Medicaid funding. If you are interested in joining the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

Thank you for all you do in working to preserve Pennsylvania’s healthcare.

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Pharmacists on the Frontlines: Expanding the Reach of Care Teams 
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar

Tuesday, July 8, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here

Pharmacists play a vital role in improving patient outcomes through enhanced adherence strategies and collaboration with healthcare teams. This session will explore how pharmacy teams support prescribers with patient-centered services, such as medication monitoring, adherence programs, and injection administration. Attendees will gain insights into real-world approaches that strengthen care coordination and reduce treatment barriers. Through case studies and success stories, this workshop will highlight the tangible impact of pharmacy-led interventions on patient health. Whether optimizing medication management or enhancing continuity of care, pharmacists are essential partners in driving better outcomes.

Presenters:
James Steigerwalt, PharmD, Pharma Clinical Director, Altuix
Dan Kohler, PharmD, Pharmacy Manager, Altruix

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Define the pharmacist’s role in the healthcare team, focusing on strategies that improve medication adherence, enhance care coordination, and drive better patient outcomes;
  • Evaluate how pharmacy teams collaborate with prescribers through patient support services, medication monitoring, and administration of long-acting injectables; and
  • Analyze real-world success stories to identify best practices and measurable impacts on patient care.

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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ACTION NEEDED to Continue Submitting Claims and Eligibility Requests Electronically and Receiving EDI Transaction Responses with PROMISe™

The Pennsylvania (PA) PROMISe™ EDI as a Service (EDIaaS) Communication Plan details what is required by Trading Partners for registration and the X12 batch file naming standard, contains guidelines for Trading Partners on how to create certain segments within an X12 batch file, and provides the response files returned to Trading Partners who submit X12 batch files using EDIaaS to PROMISe™ for processing.

For Questions or Additional Information
Please contact the PROMISe EDI Help desk for any follow-up or inquiries related to this update.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) issued OMHSAS-25-02 Voluntary and Involuntary Commitment Forms on May 27, 2025. In response to concerns from stakeholders, OMHSAS will be pausing implementation of this bulletin for 90 days, through August 27, 2025. In addition to giving providers the opportunity to update electronic health records and print new forms, OMHSAS will use that time to continue to receive and respond to stakeholder questions and to schedule Q&A sessions. The department thanks stakeholders for the comments that have been provided so far and welcomes additional comments and questions, which can be sent electronically.

OMHSAS-25-02 and all forms can be found at links provided. As OMHSAS continues to work towards standardized Mental Health Procedures Act Forms that work across the Commonwealth, they appreciate your partnership and input.

Contact Emma Sharp with any questions.

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The Mental Health Safety Net Coalition is a group of stakeholders participating in a joint advocacy effort to protect and preserve our mental health service delivery system. The Coalition’s first advocacy bulletin discusses the critical areas of funding for the FY 2025/26 budget, including community mental health, school-based services, crisis intervention services, psychiatric centers, and the Behavioral HealthChoices program.

The full letter can be read here.

RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities.

Please contact Emma Sharp with any questions or if you would like to join the Coalition.

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The Shapiro Administration has released a response to potential federal Medicaid cuts. This document provides information on the Medicaid and SNAP programs in Pennsylvania and offers a high-level analysis of the potential impacts of HR 1, Congressional Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill, on the commonwealth. As currently proposed, the legislation would kick over 300,000 Pennsylvanians off Medicaid, shift $1B in food assistance costs from the federal government onto our state budget, and strain our hospitals, potentially leading to the closure of as many as 25 rural hospitals across Pennsylvania. The legislation would also add significant new IT and administrative burdens for commonwealth agencies in the form of unfunded mandates from Washington.

Read the full report here. In addition, you can view this infographic for details on the impacts of implementing work requirements to SNAP benefits. Contact Emma Sharp with any questions.

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