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Policy Areas

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Children First, The Advocate for the Kids, is hosting a webinar titled “Reimagining Our Mental Health System for Pennsylvania’s Children and Youth,” which is scheduled for 12:00 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. This event will delve into the pressing matter of children’s mental health reform in PA, with a diverse panel comprising of advocates, clinical mental health practitioners, insurance payers, and youth voices. The discussion aims to explore effective strategies and solutions to tackle the ongoing children’s mental health crisis. Register here.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Join RCPA as we host the 2024 Annual Conference Embracing Challenges, Empowering Success from September 24 – 27 at the Hershey Lodge. The event is a highlight for the Pennsylvania behavioral health, brain injury, children’s, intellectual and developmental disabilities, medical rehabilitation, and physical disabilities and aging provider communities. RCPA staff and the Conference Committee are excited to release this year’s Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertiser Brochure, which features new opportunities to get in on the action and network with providers. Booth self-selection will also be available for exhibitors and exhibiting sponsors. In order to be considered for self-selection, a completed contract with payment must be submitted.

Network and Compete in Connections Hall
Connections Hall activities take place during the two busiest days of the conference, and many networking opportunities are available throughout the event. You’ll also be able to compete and have a chance to win “Best of Show!”

Sponsorship Opportunities Available
RCPA is privileged to have the backing of the finest organizations in the field for our conference. Through the use of sponsorship circles, RCPA is able to honor all supporting organizations.

Sign Up Now!
Sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who wish to be listed on the website, the mobile app, and in the conference program must submit all materials by August 23. Space and opportunities are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and no reservation is considered complete without payment. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator. The association looks forward to welcoming you at the conference!

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared an update to the following training: Sensory Regulation and Communication. The training will now be held on March 28, 2024, from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. In addition to the rescheduled date, please note that participants are now being asked to register for the session. You can register for the training here.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Medical Assistance Bulletin 08-24-04, issued by the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP), provides updates to the PROMISe (Provider Reimbursement and Operations Management Information System) Provider Handbook 837, Professional/CMS-1500 Claim Form, specifically focusing on Appendix E – FQHC/RHC (Federally Qualified Health Center/Rural Health Center) Handbook. Released on March 1, 2024, the bulletin outlines revisions to Federal and State requirements for FQHCs and RHCs in Pennsylvania participating in the Medical Assistance (MA) Program.

Notable changes include the addition of pharmacists and licensed dietician-nutritionists as eligible practitioners for billable encounters starting March 1, 2024. The revision addresses group therapy encounters and introduces guidelines for telehealth, telemedicine, and teledentistry in FQHC and RHC services. A new section on alternative payment methodologies is included, along with updates to the MA Cost Reporting and Wraparound Reporting sections. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ clarification designates “hospital” as an allowable place of service for FQHC and RHC services. Providers are encouraged to review the revised handbook for detailed information on these changes.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Message from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is continuing to monitor and assess the impact that the cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group’s subsidiary Change Healthcare has had on all provider and supplier types. Today, CMS is announcing that, in addition to considering applications for accelerated payments for Medicare Part A providers, we will also be considering applications for advance payments for Part B suppliers.

Over the last few days, we have continued to meet with health plans, providers and suppliers to hear about their most pressing concerns. As announced previously, we have directed our Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) to expedite actions needed for providers and suppliers to change the clearinghouse they use and to accept paper claims if providers need to use that method. We will continue to respond to provider and supplier inquiries regarding MAC processes.

CMS also recognizes that many Medicaid providers are deeply affected by the impact of the cyberattack. We are continuing to work closely with States and are urging Medicaid managed care plans to make prospective payments to impacted providers, as well.

All MACs will provide public information on how to submit a request for a Medicare accelerated or advance payment on their websites as early as today, Saturday, March 9.

CMS looks forward to continuing to support the provider community during this difficult situation. All affected providers should reach out to health plans and other payers for assistance with the disruption. CMS has encouraged Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations to offer advance funding to providers affected by this cyberattack. The rules governing CMS’s payments to MA organizations and Part D sponsors remain unchanged. Please note that nothing in this statement speaks to the arrangements between MA organizations or Part D sponsors and their contracted providers or facilities.


If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) is working on a project to enhance Pennsylvania’s self-advocate leadership to focus on system and policy change. We invite people with developmental and intellectual disabilities (I/DD) and providers or organizations to connect them to self-advocates who may want to be part of the conversation.

The first step in the plan is to gather contact information so they can listen and learn from you. Please complete their survey through the links below.

The long-term plan includes talking with self-advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities about:

  1. Connecting self-advocates to network and organize as a powerful, united community;
  2. Creating the foundation for an effective statewide network of skilled advocates who can influence system change; and
  3. Involving people interested in advocacy and system change to plan together for the future.

Please visit one of the links below by March 20 to help them learn about self-advocacy in Pennsylvania!

  1. If you are an individual with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and are interested in becoming an advocate, please use this survey link.
  2. If you are an organization or provider that engages with people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, please use this survey link.

Please share this opportunity to connect with interested Pennsylvania advocates and I/DD providers or organizations in your network!