ANCOR Shares Implementation Timeline: Access Rule and Budget Reconciliation Law
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ID/A Associations Urge ODP Action on Community Participation Support (CPS)
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.
Exclusive Benefit: Registration Discounts for the 2026 ANCOR Annual Conference
Practical Treatment Options for Neuro-Ophthalmic Impairments and Disorders — IPRC Webinar on February 5
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.
RCPA “Proud Member” Logo Available
Disability Scoop: In Historic Move, Wheelchair User Goes To Space
ODP Releases Winter 2026 QM Spotlight
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released the sixteenth in a series of its quarterly publication QM Spotlight. This issue focuses on the QA&I Self-Assessment and how to use it well, so that the QA&I process becomes predictable, manageable, and an opportunity – not a surprise.
Children’s Trust Fund Shares Grant Opportunity
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.
ODP Shares Guidance on AAW Provider Billing for ISP Team Meetings
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 26-002. The 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.
House Legislative Hearing to Focus on Improving Medicare Payment Policies for Seniors
Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, recently announced a hearing “Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Medicare Services.”
This Subcommittee on Health hearing will be held on January 8, 2026, at 10:15 am to discuss legislation focused on improving Medicare payment policies and expanding access to care for seniors.
The hearing will focus on the following bills:
- H.R. 1703, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025 (Rep. Joyce – PA)
- H.R. 2005, DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025 (Rep. Miller-Meeks)
- H.R. 2172, Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act (Rep. Buchanan)
- H.R. 2477, Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025 (Rep. Van Duyne)
- H.R. 2902, Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2025 (Rep. Valadao)
- H.R. 5243, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage. (Rep. McClellan)
- H.R. 5269, Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act of 2025 (Rep. Hudson)
- H.R. 5347, Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act (Rep. Buchanan)
- H.R. 6210, Senior Savings Protection Act (Rep. Matsui)
- H.R. 6361, Ban AI Denials in Medicare Act (Rep. Landsman)
The hearing will be open to the public as well as livestreamed. Questions about the hearing should be directed to Annabelle Huffman.
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