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Policy Areas

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and its Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) technical advisors, in collaboration with the IM4Q Statewide Steering Committee, have begun partnering with provider association representatives to enhance provider agencies’ understanding of IM4Q and their role in the process. The IM4Q Provider Information Sheet outlines how the IM4Q process works, the ways providers contribute to interviews as well as follow up on identified considerations, and how to request IM4Q data to support their quality management efforts.

Please review ODPANN 25-050 for further details and information.

The Office of Development Programs (ODP) and its Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) technical advisors, in collaboration with the IM4Q Statewide Steering Committee, have begun partnering with Support Coordination Organization (SCO) representatives to enhance SCs’ understanding of IM4Q and their role in the process. The IM4Q SC Tip Sheet outlines the IM4Q process, SC responsibilities, how to inform the individuals they support, and what occurs after the interview. SCOs are encouraged to share the tip sheet as a reference when training new SCs and with experienced SCs as a refresher.

Please review ODPANN 25-051 for further details and information.

The Shapiro Administration has released a response to potential federal Medicaid cuts. This document provides information on the Medicaid and SNAP programs in Pennsylvania and offers a high-level analysis of the potential impacts of HR 1, Congressional Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill, on the commonwealth. As currently proposed, the legislation would kick over 300,000 Pennsylvanians off Medicaid, shift $1B in food assistance costs from the federal government onto our state budget, and strain our hospitals, potentially leading to the closure of as many as 25 rural hospitals across Pennsylvania. The legislation would also add significant new IT and administrative burdens for commonwealth agencies in the form of unfunded mandates from Washington.

Read the full report here. In addition, you can view this infographic for details on the impacts of implementing work requirements to SNAP benefits. Contact Emma Sharp with any questions.

The provider revalidation process has been reinstated after the expiration of the Public Health Emergency. Providers will receive a reminder from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) 90 days prior to the due date of the revalidation date. View the documents below for details.

OLTL will be participating in the PD&A meeting on June 18 and will answer any questions RCPA members may have at that time. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

Tips for Hiring & How to Write a Winning Job Post
Free webinar for RCPA members

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here

This presentation explores effective strategies for hiring and crafting compelling job postings in order to attract top talent. Participants will learn how to identify key monetary and non-monetary benefits of working at an agency, such as health benefits, professional development, and overtime/holiday pay, which enhance employee satisfaction and retention. Additionally, the session will cover best practices for evaluating job posting platforms and recruitment methods to effectively connect with potential applicants. Through interactive discussions, attendees will leave with actionable insights and tools to improve their hiring processes and create job postings that resonate with candidates, ultimately fostering a stronger workforce. Join us to elevate your recruitment strategy and build a thriving organizational culture.

Presenter: Olivia Rodgers, Customer Success Manager and Hiring Specialist, MITC
Olivia has a strong track record of helping agencies streamline and strengthen their hiring processes. Through tailored trainings, hands-on support, and data-informed strategies, she empowers teams to attract, assess, and retain top talent more effectively.

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Analyze and summarize three monetary benefits and three non-monetary benefits of working at their agency, and how to include the information in their job postings;
  • Assess job posting strategies by evaluating the effectiveness of job posting platforms and recruitment methods and discussing how the approaches connect with potential applicants and influence the quality of candidate pools; and
  • Craft effective job posts that will engage applicants and highlight key benefits of agency employment.

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!

RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities. Members can participate via Teams; information on how to join can be found below.

The coalition, which is open to all stakeholder groups, convened last week to lay out our primary vision, actions, and goals. The coalition will be sending out its first legislative advocacy bulletin to General Assembly legislators and stakeholders this week, and we encourage members to participate in these efforts of joint advocacy in protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system.

This meeting will review and discuss the critical areas of funding for the 2025/26 budget, including county mental health, school-based services, psychiatric centers, and the Behavioral HealthChoices system, along with ongoing advocacy for the preservation of Federal Medicaid. The coalition listserv has been updated; if you would like to join the coalition or have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.


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RCPA member and partner Eleos are known for their market-leading AI-powered solutions. Now they’ve taken their documentation solution to the next level — and they want you to see what the buzz is about!

Join Eleos and Hillsides leaders as they debut the all-new Documentation experience at their Spring Launch Event on June 5 at 12:00 pm EST. This 1-hour webinar will kick off with a look at the reimagined Documentation experience, which features:

  • Seamless live session capture with embedded audio, eliminating the need for third-party tools or hardware;
  • Compatibility with over 150 languages, supporting a more diverse provider and client population;
  • Coverage of virtually any 1:1 session type, including psychiatry, intake, and assessments; and
  • Offline mobile access, so providers can document anytime, anywhere — even without internet connection.

Hillsides was one of 150+ organizations that shaped the new Documentation experience, and you will hear firsthand from leaders in client services, IT, and administration how Hillsides is using Eleos to:

  • Alleviate administrative burden and staff burnout;
  • Drive clinical, financial, and operational efficiency; and
  • Achieve measurable ROI.

Register here for this exciting event today. By registering, you will ensure receipt of a recording if you cannot make it to the live event.

Image by Dirk Wouters from Pixabay

The PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) has issued a bulletin on the Draft Needs-Based Plan and Budget Guidelines for FY 2026/27. OCYF is seeking comment and feedback to be sent electronically by June 14. The subject of the email should state “Draft NBPB Comments.”

If your organization submits comments regarding this bulletin, please copy RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp on your responses. For members of the RCPA Children’s Residential Services Committee, please contact Emma Sharp for thoughts or guidance that will be included in the RCPA Bulletin Comments.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the IM4Q technical advisors at the Institute on Disabilities (IOD) at Temple University have begun connecting and working with provider associations to increase provider agencies’ knowledge of IM4Q and their collaboration in order to improve the lives of Pennsylvania residents within the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) service system. To promote these efforts, provider input is crucial in determining the information and activities needed to accomplish this.

You are invited to complete an online survey to provide feedback!

Please complete one (1) survey per organization and submit responses by Friday, July 11, 2025. Your participation should take less than fifteen minutes, and your response will provide important information to enhance the IM4Q process and strengthen ODP’s overall Quality Management structure.

If you have questions, please contact Lee Stephens via email.

Take the Survey Here