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Policy Areas

The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting was held on January 7, 2026. During the meeting, a number of presentations were given.

Members should take time to review the agenda and PowerPoint presentations from the meeting below:

The next LTSS Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for February 4, 2026 (virtual only) from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. To participate, register for the meeting here. The call information is below:

RCPA, along with The Alliance CSP, The Arc of Pennsylvania, MAX Association, PAR, and The Provider Alliance, submitted a joint letter to ODP Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens outlining recommended improvements to Community Participation Support (CPS). The letter highlights policy and regulatory barriers affecting person-centered services, workforce stability, and provider sustainability, and urges ODP to pursue near-term solutions through policy clarification or regulatory waivers.

Key recommendations include:

  • Planning and Coordination Billing: Allow billing for planning and coordination while CPS services are delivered and permit billing at ratios aligned with individuals’ actual support needs (e.g., 1:1, 1:2, 1:3). Associations recommend a new billing code/modifier or a statewide ODP announcement.
  • Program Specialist Education Requirements: Align education requirements for program specialists in Chapters 2380 and 2390 with Life Sharing and unlicensed residential models by permitting a high school diploma plus six years of ID/A experience, ideally through a blanket waiver announced via ODP Bulletin.
  • Dual Licensure for Chapter 2380 Programs: Eliminate dual licensure with the Department of Aging for providers billing exclusively to ODP when serving individuals age 60 and over, and remove the age cap of 59 in Chapter 2380 through regulatory change or waiver.
  • Rounding of 15-Minute Units: Allow rounding of 15-minute service units to reduce administrative burden and align with Office of Long-Term Living practices.

The associations stress that these changes are essential to sustaining safe, meaningful, and person-centered CPS services. RCPA will continue advocacy with ODP and provide updates as they are available.

For Questions or Additional Information
Please contact Tim Sohosky for any follow-up or inquiries related to this update.

Thursday, February 5, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST; 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CST;
11:00 am – 12:00 pm MST; 10:00 am – 11:00 am PST
Register Here

This webinar is a follow-up to Dr. Bohl’s January 2025 webinar Understanding and Treating Pediatric Vision Impairments, including additional practical treatment options. Attendees may wish to review the former presentation prior to attending.

Presenter Bio:

Dr. Bohl earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio, Texas, and completed a residency in neuro-optometric rehabilitation through the State University of New York College of Optometry. Dr. Bohl joined the team at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in 2017, where she supports individuals with vision impairments in the rehabilitation setting.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Review therapy techniques beneficial to pediatric patients with visual deficits;
  • Identify when to use techniques to benefit peripheral awareness, pursuits, saccades, visual perceptual skills, and functional binocularity; and
  • Adapt therapeutic interventions to adjust levels of difficulty and ensure appropriateness for different age populations.

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 IPRC/RCPA membership. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

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The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) provides small grants to local community-based programs/services that prevent child abuse and neglect before an incident occurs. The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) Request for Application (RFA) was posted on eMarketplace today, January 5, 2026. The press release is being shared through DHS comms, PA Key comms, and a special announcement in the e-News.

RCPA, as part of several statewide work groups and task forces, wishes to share this with members, though you may receive this through other communications networks. The RFA is only available for 30 days, due no later than February 5, 2026.

If an applicant has any questions regarding this RFA, the applicant must submit those questions via email, with the subject line “25-RFA-13772 Question” to the RFA Issuing Officer named in Part 1, Section I-2 of this RFA. The Issuing Officer shall post all written answers to the questions submitted on the Department of General Services (DGS) website at eMarketplace as an addendum to this RFA.

You may view the Request for Application online at eMarketplace.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 26-002The purpose of this communication is to provide guidance regarding the intent and purpose of an Individual Support Plan (ISP) meeting and whether attending an ISP meeting is a billable unit of service.

Please view the announcement for more details. Questions about this announcement should be directed to the appropriate ODP BSASP Regional Office.