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Policy Areas

Today is your last chance to take advantage of early bird registration rates for the RCPA 2025 Annual Conference Strive to ThriveRegister today to reserve your seat and guarantee your access to:
  • Over sixty workshops that tackle the latest in technology, workplace culture, and health care initiatives;
  • National keynote and plenary speakers who will discuss issues ranging from the federal landscape to personal well-being;
  • Networking opportunities in Connections Hall, featuring over 90 exhibitors with the latest industry products and services (as well as some exciting game prizes!); and
  • Opportunities to connect with RCPA staff and other industry leaders to discuss all that is happening in health and human services.
View the Registration Brochure to see a full listing of events, workshops, and activities. Additionally, by registering today, you will be able to access the mobile app prior to the conference, gaining the ability to view webinar recordings, create your personalized schedule, and make early connections with sponsors and exhibitors.
Early bird registration ends TODAY! Register here!
Opportunities for sponsorships and advertising are still available to organizations that are interested, but EXHIBIT BOOTHS ARE OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT! We are grateful to all our sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who help make the conference happen. Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for more details.
View our sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website!

We are excited to announce Hill Day 2025!

Hill Day will span two days, with a Public Policy Institute Program on October 7 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, and meetings on Capitol Hill slated for October 8.

This is a unique opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the country and share your important stories directly with the people who represent you in Washington, D.C.

Last year, RCPA members received the opportunity to learn and develop their lobbying skills through the Public Policy Institute sessions and put them to work meeting with Pennsylvania legislators in a series of meetings and roundtables. The experience was invaluable and created a pathway to advocating in their home districts and events like the RCPA Capital Day.

While Hill visits are open to all, space will limit the Public Policy Institute to 400 registrants.

As RCPA will once more serve as Team Captains for the Pennsylvania delegation, we ask that, when you register, you also contact RCPA COO Jim Sharp. RCPA will be coordinating and communicating with members as the event proceeds.

Register Here

Attendees are responsible for their own travel and lodging; however, hotel rooms can be booked through the Omni Shoreham Hotel at a discounted group rate once you have registered. Group transportation between the hotel and Capitol Hill will be offered at set times.

Note on potential shutdown: If Congress does not reach a spending agreement by September 30, there may be a government shutdown starting October 1. D.C. offices will remain open, however, and staff meetings can still occur. More updates will be provided if a shutdown appears likely.

More details will be forthcoming.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Questions:

Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) Information Session for Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs)

This webinar series will provide details on specific performance standards for Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) for Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO). Each session will cover the required reporting, data source, data collection, and guidance for each performance standard. These sessions will each be unique in content and build upon one another. SCO staff are encouraged to attend all four sessions. All sessions will be recorded and made available on MyODP’s website.

Registration
Select the sessions below you wish to register for. You will have to register for each session individually. SCOs are encouraged to attend all sessions.
Note: Registration information for session one was released earlier this week. If you previously registered for this session, you do not need to reregister.

Virtual Office Hours

Virtual Office Hours (VOH) for SCOs to speak with the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) leadership about PBC. Questions and concerns related to the summit materials and rollout will be addressed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) has entered into a Settlement Agreement to resolve a federal class action lawsuit concerning mental health and child welfare services for Pennsylvania youth who are adjudicated dependent and have mental health disabilities. This case affects all Pennsylvania youth under the age of 21 who now, or in the future, are adjudicated dependent and have diagnosed mental health disabilities. The settlement will involve additional requirements from county children and youth agencies, county mental health systems, as well as requirements on the Primary Contractors and Behavior Health Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (BH-MCO). BH-MCOs, Primary Contractors, and County Mental Health Administrators have been separately notified.

The settlement will impact community-based as well as residential children’s services for this population of youth, and it has not been determined fully how these services will be funded in the County or Health choices system, though DHS is charged with requesting CMS to cover these or a portion through Federal funding.

The proposed settlement agreement can be read hereThe settlement agreement will not be finalized until objections have been heard and the agreement receives approval by the judge. PA DHS will communicate more details and timelines in the coming weeks as the settlement is finalized.

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

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From Data to Decisions: Optimizing EHR Success Through Data Governance and Change Management
Free RCPA Members-Only Webinar

Thursday, August 21, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here

Effective data governance and organizational change management (OCM) are critical for the long-term success and maintenance of your EHR system. These processes ensure data integrity, streamline system changes, and enhance overall project outcomes. In this session, we will detail how agencies can leverage OCM to assure these positive outcomes for your agency as well as overall effectiveness of your EHR initiative.

Presenters:

  • Theresa Yera, BA, MA, Senior Director of EHR, Strategy and Customer Success
  • Tina Kirkpatrick, BA, Senior Director of EHR, Strategy and Customer Success
  • Aaron Rogers, MRT, ATP, Electronic Health Record Administrator, Partners for Quality

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Explain the importance of data governance and organizational change management;
  • Discover the phases of EHR maintenance required for effective data governance; and
  • Examine data accuracy for funding success.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

Pennsylvania’s Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) Deputy Secretary Sally Kozak has been featured in the Center for Health Care Strategies’ Lessons in Leadership series, which shares stories from public sector leaders from across the country. Deputy Secretary Kozak shares how she has prioritized mentorship in her career to ensure sustainability beyond any one person and offers a blueprint for how intentional, adaptive mentoring can create lasting change for individuals and the institutions they serve.

Read the full article here.