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Policy Areas

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Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, recently announced a hearing titled Healthier America: Legislative Proposals to Improve Public Health.

The hearing, scheduled for April 15, 2026, at 10:15 am, will focus on the bills below that address various areas of public health, including disease research and prevention efforts, bolstering resources for rural medical services and health care providers, promoting healthy activities, and increasing access to care.

The hearing will be open to the public and will be livestreamed online.

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Replay icon on wooden cubes on smart grey background and copy space. Recap business, meeting summary, business review concept.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) held a “kickoff” webinar to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) and have released the recording and slides for the presentation, which are available here. DHS is currently awaiting the release of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the first phase of Year 1 implementation.

Year 1 Funding Mechanisms will include:

  • Expansion of existing programs;
  • Program payments;
  • Intergovernmental agreements; and
  • Grant agreements.

If your organization has an interest in these RFPs, RCPA will provide updates as appropriate, but we also encourage you to sign up directly for the DHS listserv info. Direct RHTP inquiries can be sent here.

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The Arc of Pennsylvania is hosting the 3rd Annual Disability Health Action Summit from May 19–20, 2026, in Camp Hill, PA. This is an in-person only event, taking place at the Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center. The Arc of PA is excited to announce Theo Brady, Executive Director of NCIL, will keynote on Tuesday, May 19, and Secretary Valerie Arkoosh will keynote on May 20.

For a complete agenda and registration, please visit The Arc of PA’s website. Scholarships for self-advocates and student discounts are available! Space is limited, to register today!

Visit here to view the flyer for more details.

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The Mental Health Safety Net Coalition will meet on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 1:00 pm. The Coalition provides an advocacy platform for RCPA members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders for developing strategies, activities, and engagement opportunities to support behavioral health funding in the Commonwealth.

This upcoming meeting will allow the group to finalize the next white paper, which focuses on the school-based mental health and safety funding, as well as budget updates, RCPA Capitol Day, and a review of the Department of Human Services (DHS) budget hearings.

Microsoft Teams Meeting:
Join the Meeting
Meeting ID: 233 482 417 065 33
Passcode: UF7Xf2BW

If you would like to join the Coalition or have any questions, please contact Emma Sharp.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared updates to ODPANN 26-028. The purpose of this communication is to distribute the updated Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) Manual and the revised DP1055 – PUNS Form, effective February 2026, and to announce the implementation of related updates to the Emergency PUNS process. Updates appear in underlined red text.

This communication formally distributes:

These updates are part of the Office of Developmental Programs’ continued implementation of the Multi-Year Program Growth Strategy and are intended to strengthen the accuracy, consistency, and documentation of Emergency Need determinations statewide.

Please review the announcement for more details.

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The Office of Developmental Programs is pleased to share an upcoming opportunity for professionals across systems to engage in a new Learning Collaborative focused on supporting people with disabilities who are parents or who are planning to become parents.

This Learning Collaborative will bring together professionals from across state and local systems, including providers, supports coordination organizations, administrative entities, and partners in early childhood, behavioral health, and child-serving systems. Participants will engage as regional or local teams to explore effective practices, share resources, and strengthen cross-system collaboration.

Through a series of interactive sessions, the collaborative will focus on:

  • Identifying practical strategies and best practices to support parents with disabilities;
  • Promoting informed choice, supported decision-making, and rights-based approaches;
  • Navigating complex situations with clarity around roles, responsibilities, and system requirements;
  • Connecting individuals and families to a broader network of supports and resources; and
  • Building sustainable relationships across agencies and communities.

The Learning Collaborative is designed as a community of practice, emphasizing shared learning, discussion, and real-world application. While it will not provide regulatory guidance, it will highlight key questions and opportunities to inform ongoing system improvement.

An informational webinar on June 4, 2026, will provide more details about the collaborative, expectations for participation, and how to get involved.

We hope you will consider joining and sharing this opportunity with others in your network.

Registration details will be announced in the coming weeks — stay tuned!

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has notified counties of the finalization of the Cost Center Bulletin, which states:

The purpose of this bulletin is to accommodate data reporting for the changing and growing array of services provided by county Mental Health Administrations using federal, state, and county funding. This bulletin establishes new cost centers, updates existing cost centers, and combines existing cost centers. It enables appropriate reporting and monitoring of expenditure and service information for a number of community mental health services. The reporting of county mental health program costs must conform to the cost centers identified in this bulletin beginning with the County Human Service Plans and Income and Expenditures Report for State Fiscal Year 2026/2027.

The complete bulletin is available here. If you have any questions, please contact OMHSAS via email or RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 26-040. This communication states that the updated SPeCTRUM training is now available on MyODP. It also outlines completion requirements and provides guidance regarding documentation, transition timelines, and prior version applicability. This announcement obsoletes ODPANN 19-072, 19-121, and 20-032.

The updated SPeCTRUM training has enhanced webinar capabilities, updated content, and has been streamlined while continuing to provide foundational information necessary to support adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

SPeCTRUM training is available on MyODP’s website.

Questions regarding SPeCTRUM training requirements may be directed to the BSASP Training inbox.

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