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Policy Areas

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Image by Dirk Wouters from Pixabay

Thank you for your participation in Pennsylvania’s rural health ecosystem, including those who attended a regional rural health summit. As a next step, DHS is gathering information, concepts, and additional ideas to shape the Commonwealth’s Rural Health Transformation Plan and reflect what they heard from rural providers, partners, and residents.

What DHS is asking for:

  1. Information and concepts in these summit-affirmed areas: Maternal Health, Mental and Behavioral Health, Aging and Access, Transportation and EMS, and the Rural Healthcare Workforce.
  2. Other ideas that improve access to care in rural communities, even if they fall outside those five areas.

Who can submit:

  • Hospitals and health systems;
  • Healthcare professionals;
  • FQHCs and rural health clinics;
  • State offices of rural health;
  • Grantees providing services in rural areas;
  • Healthcare leadership and administrators;
  • Healthcare consumers;
  • Community action organizations;
  • Public and private business owners and organizations;
  • EMS and transportation providers;
  • Behavioral health, aging, and disability services partners, county commissioners, and other local or state government representatives, single county authorities, economic development organizations, professional organizations, community-based and faith-based organizations, philanthropy, and higher education and health provider training partners; and
  • Other interested parties.

What to include:

Information to assist DHS in enhancing and transforming rural health, including core concepts, target problems, or opportunities for improvement, intended impact and success metrics, evidence or prior experiences, feasibility of ideas for rural settings, partners, costs and resources, innovation or adaptation, and sustainability.

Submit by: August 29, 2025
Find the Form Here
Questions or Accessibility Needs: Email

DHS may use the information gathered through this process in the development of future implementation; however, the Departments do not guarantee that this will occur.

Respondents should be aware that the responses will be public information and that no claims of confidentiality will be honored. DHS is not requesting, and does not require, confidential, proprietary information, or other competitively sensitive information to be included as part of a submission. Ownership of all data, material and documentation originated, prepared, and provided to the Departments during this process will belong exclusively to the Departments.

Please contact your RCPA Policy Director with any questions.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released information related to the FY 2024/2025 ICF Cost Report. The release includes the updated current version of the ID-46 form, along with documentation outlining the changes to be used when reporting FY 2024/2025 costs.

As previously announced by ODP Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens, the use of the HCBS fee schedule as a market rate limit for related-party Day Habilitation services has been eliminated for FY 2024/2025. The remaining cost report changes reflect improvements based on prior years’ experience.

ICF providers may now begin completing cost reports for each ICF site. Questions should be directed to Pam Gilbert, Fiscal Manager, ICF/ID Unit.

ODP has indicated that a follow-up email will be sent with more detailed instructions and submission requirements. Providers are reminded that all cost report submissions must be received no later than September 30, 2025.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released its Q4 update on the Multi-Year Program Growth Strategy (MYPGS). This report is a temporary format while a permanent data dashboard is being developed that will be more accessible to all stakeholders. ODP anticipates the new dashboard will be ready for public release in the next few weeks.

ODP has made great progress on tackling the adult emergency waiting list over the past year, seeing a 28% reduction since the Governor’s announcement in 2024!

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As no updates were provided during the recent IM4Q Annual Statewide Training, the following information is shared to provide visibility into what ODP and the technical advisors currently know regarding the start of the new IM4Q cycle.

  • Contacts
    As previously announced, Lee Stephens will be on leave from 8/15 to 9/2. In addition, Ron Melusky is also currently on leave. Toward the end of August, there will be several days when Mary Kay Cunningham and Guy Caruso will be unavailable as well. If any questions or concerns arise during this time, please contact your respective ODP Regional IM4Q Leads.
  • Survey Instruments and Annual Materials
    The 2025–2026 survey materials will be issued following this announcement via a separate email. The additional annual materials will be issued in early September.
  • Tentative 2025–2026 IM4Q Allocations Spreadsheet
    As the Commonwealth does not yet have a signed state budget at this time, ODP cannot yet provide the tentative allocations spreadsheet at this time. Once a budget is in place, ODP will share the information as quickly as possible. However, it is hoped that things will basically remain as last year with only slight modifications for most AEs.
  • 2025–2026 Sampling
    The ODP Data Analytics Unit has begun working on the 2025–2026 AE samples. The extended delay has been brought on by circumstances outside ODP’s influence, and ODP Central Office sincerely regrets this disruption to the process that has been achieved for the last several years. Distribution of the samples will not occur until mid- to late September.
  • HCSIS and ODESA Openings
    The finalization of the samples will determine when HCSIS and ODESA will open for the new cycle. HCSIS could open in early October, but ODESA will most likely not be available until at least mid-November.

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With a little less than a month before kick-off, RCPA is excited to announce a new keynote speaker in our lineup at the 2025 Annual Conference Strive to Thrive! We will now be kicking off our conference with Al Guida, JD, Owner of Guide Consulting Services, Inc., to discuss Impacts of Federal Issues on the Human Services System. Guida is a nationally recognized advocate and strategist who has provided valuable federal policy and regulatory solutions for Guide Consulting Service’s health care clients in the provider, technology, and public health sectors. He has helped clients realize measurable goals in mental health parity, biomedical research, child poverty, and child welfare, and his legislative portfolio includes successful collaborations with major Congressional committees, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Working together, the Guide Consulting Services team have established and secured funding for Mental Health First Aid, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, and the 988 National Suicide Prevention Coordinating Office. In 2024, Guida was recognized as one of DC’s 500 Most Influential People.

With the current confusion and chaos surrounding federal policies, Medicaid, future funding, and their effects on the health and human services landscape, you won’t want to miss this informative opener!

Following Al Guida will be Pennsylvania’s DHS Secretary Val Arkoosh. Attendees will shift their focus from the federal level to the state, with the DHS Secretary highlighting key issues facing PA providers, including trends, impacts of federal policy at the local level, and current initiatives related to Performance-Based Contracting and value-based purchasing.

All this and more on the very first day of the Conference! Register today to reserve your seat, and view the Registration Brochure for complete details regarding our schedule, booking a hotel room, and more!

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