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Policy Areas

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In response to the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ (OMHSAS) proposed Regulation #14-558: Mental Health Procedure RCPA, in partnership with its members, has submitted public comments.

The proposed regulations align the Department’s regulations with the Mental Health Procedures Act by adding definitions of “business associate” and “covered entity,” and adding those entities to the list of parties to which the Department may disclose confidential information.

RCPA did request that OMHSAS provide further clarification on the impacts and intersects of the proposed standards for youth and parental consents outlined in Act 65.

RCPA fully supports the proposed regulations that will align departmental regulations with Act 32 of 2022 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requirements.

We look forward to working with the Department in the communication and ongoing implementation of the proposed regulatory changes, including the release of a Regulatory Compliance Guide after final promulgation. If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Services Director Jim Sharp.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared communication ODPANN 26-004, in order to share the updated Provider Qualification Process. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require a statewide process to ensure providers are qualified to render services to waiver-funded individuals. The Provider Qualification Process described in this communication outlines the steps the assigned Administrative Entity (AE) and provider must follow to meet these requirements, and the steps Supports Coordinators (SCs) take to transition individuals if needed. This communication does not describe the qualification process for SC organizations.

The release of this communication obsoletes ODP Announcement 25-014 Provider Qualification Process Update. Please review the announcement for more details.

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The Department of Health’s (DOH) Brain Injury (BI) Advisory Board will hold their public meeting on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) office, 6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112 in the Cumberland conference room. The meeting materials will be sent out before the meeting and will also be available on the Board’s website and at the meeting location. Questions should be directed to Nicole Johnson.

DOH’s Head Injury Program (HIP) strives to ensure that eligible individuals who have a brain injury receive high quality rehabilitative services aimed at reducing functional limitations and improving quality of life. The BI Advisory Board assists DOH in understanding and meeting the needs of individuals living with acquired brain injuries, both traumatic and nontraumatic, and their families. This quarterly meeting provides updates on a variety of topics, including the number of people served by HIP. In addition, meeting participants will discuss budgetary and programmatic issues, community programs relating to traumatic and nontraumatic brain injuries, and available advocacy opportunities.

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From the National Council for Mental Wellbeing

As RCPA continues to support efforts to realign Pennsylvania’s integrated behavioral and physical health initiatives with the return to the CCBHC model, our partners at the National Council have issued this advocacy alert on recent legislation expanding States opportunities in serving our vulnerable communities.

This opportunity will focus member reach out to our Senators about a new bipartisan bill that would help sustain and expand access to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in Pennsylvania and across the country.

S 3402 would give states and organizations the ability to continue growing the behavioral health workforce, expand services for older adults and people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and help more communities establish CCBHCs.

Right now there are three co-sponsors in the Senate. If enough people contact their Senators, we can keep the momentum going!

TAKE ACTION

We also included some more detail about the legislation via the above “take action” link if you’d like to dive deeper. The letter takes about 1–2 minutes to send. If you want to call your Senators’ offices and  leave a message too, we made a script for you to use – just follow the prompts on the page.

If you have any questions please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Services Director Jim Sharp.

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Representative Tim Briggs has scheduled a voting meeting for January 27, 2026, at 10:00 am to review amendments to HB 2042, known as the Safety in Youth Sports Act, which established standards for managing concussions and traumatic brain injuries of students participating in athletic activities.

Representative Briggs introduced HB 2042 in 2011. This meeting will include discussion about proposed amendments to the original bill which will expand the scope of this Act to further provide for the proper management of brain injuries. The amendments include non-scholastic league and recreational sports and also provide information on Return to Learn. Representative Briggs will also be incorporating this bill into the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes so that it is no longer a freestanding act.

The meeting will be held in Room 205 in the Ryan Office Building and will be livestreamed from the House Committee website.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared communication ODPANN 26-003. The purpose of this communication is to announce the release of the ISP Manual that includes changes due to the January 1, 2026 amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family-Directed Support waivers. Please review the announcement for more details.

ATTACHMENTS:

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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:

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