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Pennsylvania Health Law Project Newsletter

The Pennsylvania Health Law Project has published its April 2021 newsletter.

Included in this month’s edition are articles about:

The impact of the American Rescue Plan on health insurance eligibility.
The impact of the American Rescue Plan on “Pennie,” Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace.
Federal updates on nursing home visitation.
Medicare coverage of COVID-19 testing and vaccines.
Using the Medical Assistance Transportation program to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Advancing maternal health care coverage in Pennsylvania.

Read about these subjects and more in the Pennsylvania Health Law Project’s April 2021 newsletter.

PA Safety Net Admin2021-05-06T11:13:13+00:00May 6th, 2021|Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off

COVID-19 Update: Tuesday, May 4

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania’s state government as of 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4.

Governor Wolf

The Wolf administration announced that mitigation orders except masking will be lifted in Pennsylvania on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 12:01 a.m. The current order requiring Pennsylvanians to wear masks will be lifted when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated. Face coverings are required to be worn indoors and outdoors for people away from their homes. Requirements such as testing and reporting new cases will remain in place for hospitals and long-term-care facilities. These updates do not prevent municipalities and school districts from continuing and implementing stricter mitigation efforts.  The governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic remains in place.  Learn more from this Wolf administration announcement.

Governor Wolf announced a partnership with Rite Aid Pharmacy to facilitate access to COVID-19 vaccinations for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. People with an intellectual or developmental disability and their caregivers can call DHS’s Office of Developmental Programs vaccination call center at 1-800-424-4345 to request a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for themselves and/or their caregivers. The call center will give Rite Aid the names and locations of individuals who need to be vaccinated and Rite Aid will contact callers to schedule vaccinations at a Rite Aid location near the caller. Learn more about how this process will work and who is eligible for vaccinations using it in this Wolf administration news release.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has established a new walk-in COVID-19 testing center in Luzerne County and is moving its current Centre County facility to a new location. Find further information about hours and locations in this Department of Health news release.

Department of Health – by the numbers

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases, while still very high, is down from where it was a week ago.
The number of COVID-19 deaths, which had been declining even amid rising case counts, has risen to a higher level in recent weeks but is still nowhere near what it was last spring.
For the week from April 23 through April 29 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 7.6 percent, down from 8.6 last week and 9.6 percent the week before.
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 and in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19 has declined over the past two weeks; the number on ventilators is falling but more slowly.
Nearly 3.6 million Pennsylvanians have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. Another 525,000 Philadelphians have now been fully vaccinated as well, the city’s Department of Public Health reports.

Around the State

Reflecting a challenge arising throughout the country, growing numbers of Lehigh Valley residents are skipping their second COVID-19 shots, the Allentown Morning Call reports.
Philadelphia will be easing some of its restaurant and other indoor activity limits beginning on May 7, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Inquirer also reports that beginning Wednesday, May 5, all clinics operated by Montgomery County will vaccinate people without appointments.
Tuesday is the last day to get a first COVID-19 vaccine at a FEMA-operated vaccination center in Philadelphia. The centers will spend the next three weeks giving only second vaccines before ending their Philadelphia operations. 6 ABC tells the story.

PA Safety Net Admin2021-05-05T06:00:54+00:00May 5th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off

COVID-19 Update: Friday, April 30

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania’s state government as of 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 30.

Department of Health

The Department of Health updated its guidance for long-term-care facilities on how to respond to new suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 cases in staff and residents.
The Department of Health issued guidance on core infection prevention and control measures for long-term-care facilities as a supplement to guidance for all health care facilities issued in PA-HAN-563 on April 9.
The Department of Health updated its guidance on work restrictions for health care workers with exposure to COVID-19.

Department of Health – by the numbers

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases, while still very high, fell earlier in the week but today’s count was the highest in more than a week.

The number of COVID-19 deaths, which had been declining even amid rising case counts, has risen slightly over the past two weeks.

For the week from April 16 through April 22 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 8.6 percent, down from 9.6 percent last week and ending a three-week run of increases.
More than 3.4 million Pennsylvanians have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. Another nearly 512,000 people are now fully vaccinated in Philadelphia, that city’s Department of Public Health reports.

Department of Human Services

DHS has issued a reminder to providers that it increased the Medicaid fee for administering COVID-19 vaccines to $40 effective March 15. See DHS’s latest announcement here and its most recently updated fee schedule for administering COVID-19 vaccines here.

DHS has published a Medical Assistance Bulletin informing providers that effective July 1, 2021 it will reinstate the prior authorization requirements that were in place on February 29, 2020 and suspended in Provider Quick Tip #241 in the Medical Assistance fee-for-service delivery system for all services with the exception of shift care services provided to children under the age of 21. Provider Quick Tip #241 was issued in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council

PHC4 has released COVID-19 hospitalization data for the seven-month period from March 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020. Learn more from PHC4’s news release and from the various data elements PHC4 has produced.

Around the State

Lancaster’s county commissioners have voted to lift their county’s COVID-19 emergency declaration, WGAL reports.
FEMA says that demand for COVID-19 vaccines at its two Philadelphia sites is declining, according to KYW radio.
Five Bucks County clinics are now offering COVID-19 vaccines to walk-in patients. Bucks Local News tells the story.
Rite Aid is now offering vaccines without appointments at all of its locations, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

PA Safety Net Admin2021-05-03T06:00:09+00:00May 3rd, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off

COVID-19 Update: Wednesday, April 28

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania’s state government as of 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28.

Governor Wolf

State and local agencies are launching a multi-faceted approach to bringing COVID-19 vaccines to Pennsylvanians who cannot leave their homes, the Wolf administration explains in a news release.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has notified all COVID-19 vaccine providers that the pause in administering doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine has been lifted. Learn more in this news release.
The Department of Health has updated its recommendations for COVID-19 treatment options to reflect changes in use authorizations issued by the FDA.
The Department of Health has updated its public health recommendations for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Department of Health has updated its mask guidance to reflect recent changes announced by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Find an announcement about the updated guidance here.
The Department of Health announced that its COVID-19 testing sites in Delaware, Monroe, and Northampton counties have been extended. For dates, hours, and locations, see this news release.

Department of Health – by the numbers

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases, while still very high, has fallen slightly in the past few days. To date, more than 1.1 million Pennsylvanians have contracted COVID-19.
The number of COVID-19 deaths, which had been declining even amid rising case counts, has risen slightly over the past two weeks. So far, more than 26,000 Pennsylvanians have died from COVID-19.
For the week from April 16 through April 22 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 8.6 percent, down from 9.6 percent last week and ending a three-week run of increases.
Six counties have a positivity rate lower than five percent, up from four last week; no counties have a positivity rate greater than 20 percent, down from one the three past weeks.Three counties are currently experiencing low levels of community transmission of COVID-19, the same as the past two weeks; 11 counties are experiencing moderate levels of community transmission, up from nine last week but less than the 14 of two weeks ago; and 53 counties are currently experiencing substantial levels of community transmission, down from 55 counties last week but more than the 50 of the week before.
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19, in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19, and on ventilators because of COVID-19 have all fallen in the past week.
Currently, 19 percent of adult ICU beds in the state are unoccupied, as are 12 percent of medical/surgical beds, 13 percent of pediatric ICU beds, 22 percent of pediatric beds, and 33 percent of airborne isolation units.Nearly 3.3 million Pennsylvanians have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. In addition, Philadelphia just reached the 500,000 mark in number of people fully vaccinated, the city’s Department of Public Health reports.

General Assembly

The House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing on Tuesday to examine the regulatory suspensions and waivers issued as a result of COVID-19 and to assess the extent to which those regulations should be eliminated or reinstated. The committee heard from a variety of health care providers who testified that the suspensions and waivers were vital to their ability to meet patient and staffing needs during the pandemic. Telemedicine and the ability to be reimbursed at the same rate as in-person care was highlighted as something that should be continued beyond the end of the pandemic.
Senate Bill 190, the “Essential Family Caregiver Act,” passed the Senate on third and final consideration Tuesday. Senate Bill 190 permits long-term care, hospice, assisted living, personal care, and intermediate-care facilities to designate, under certain conditions, at least one essential family caregiver per resident to provide companionship and assist with activities requiring one-on-one direction. A similar bill, House Bill 649, passed the House in March.

Around the State

On Tuesday a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review headline declared that “Allegheny County posts lowest single-day covid case report in 6 months” and reported that “For the first time since Oct. 26, Allegheny County has posted a single-day covid case number below 100.”
The city of Philadelphia has approved a limited number of restaurants for 50 percent indoor dining capacity. See the list here.
The city also has lifted its 50-person limit on outdoor dining and is now permitting bar seating with eased restrictions. KYW radio offers the details.
The city intends to ease more restrictions on restaurants and indoor events as of May 7, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Congressman Fred Keller (R-12) told the Williamsport Sun-Gazette that he will sponsor legislation to ensure that American citizens have priority for COVID-19 vaccines over undocumented immigrants. His bill will be called the Saving Hypodermic Injections and Offering Vaccines to Taxpayers Swiftly (SHOTS) Act and he counts another member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, Mike Kelly (R-16), as a co-sponsor.

PA Safety Net Admin2021-04-29T06:00:15+00:00April 29th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off

COVID-19 Update for Friday, April 23

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania’s state government as of 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 23.

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf has issued an executive order about regulatory relief post-COVID-19, calling on state agencies to recommend actions to reduce or eliminate regulatory impediments to economic, health and safety, and employment recovery. The order, directed at all departments, offices, boards, commissions, and councils under the governor’s jurisdiction, applies to all regulatory statutes or parts thereof temporarily suspended under 35 Pa. C.S. § 7301(f) from March 6, 2020 to the present and to all regulations or parts thereof temporarily suspended under 35 Pa. C.S. § 7301(f) from March 6, 2020 to the present. Agencies that suspended regulations are directed to evaluate the legal, administrative, public health and safety, and fiscal effects of maintaining the suspensions outside of the COVID-19 disaster emergency; to recommend whether the suspension should be made permanent and which regulations should lapse after COVID-19; and to outline the actions necessary to make permanent any recommended changes. The agencies are directed to complete this work by May 4. To learn more, see the governor’s executive order in the April 24, 2021 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin, pages 9 and 10 (pages 2259 and 2260 in the bulletin).

Department of Health

The Department of Health has updated its alert explaining its decision to follow federal guidance and temporarily direct providers to stop administering the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine. Changes are highlighted in yellow.

Department of Health – by the numbers

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases, while still very high, has fallen slightly in the past week.
The number of COVID-19 deaths, which had been declining even amid rising case counts, has been much higher over the past two weeks.For the week from April 9 through April 16 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 9.6 percent, up slightly from 9.5 percent last week.Four counties currently have a positivity rate lower than five percent, down from seven last week and 10 the week before; only one county has a rate greater than 20 percent, the same situation as the past two weeks.Three counties are currently experiencing low levels of community transmission of COVID-19, the same as last week but down from five the week before that; nine counties are experiencing moderate levels of community transmission, down from 14 last week and 17 the week before; and 55 counties are currently experiencing substantial levels of community transmission, up from 50 counties last week and 45 the week before.
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19, in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19, and on ventilators because of COVID-19 is slightly higher than it was a week ago but is down over the past three days.
Currently, 17 percent of adult ICU beds in the state are unoccupied, as are 14 percent of medical/surgical beds, 11 percent of pediatric ICU beds, 22 percent of pediatric beds, and 33 percent of airborne isolation units.
Pennsylvania passed the three million mark for fully vaccinated residents today according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. An additional 471,000 people have been vaccinated in Philadelphia, according to the city’s Department of Health.

Department of Human Services

On March 15 the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) raised Medicare payments for administering each dose of COVID-19 vaccines to $40. Now, DHS has decided to raise the Medicaid fee to the same $40, effective March 15. Go here to see the Medical Assistance Bulletin announcing the fee increase.

Around the State

PennLive reports that the state Senate has extended its temporary rule enabling senators to participate in the chamber’s proceedings remotely during the COVID-19 emergency. A previous extension expired on March 31 and this one lasts until May 31.
Acting Department of Health Secretary Alison Beam received her first COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday. She tweeted a photo.
Demand for COVID-19 vaccines is not strong in pockets of Pennsylvania, including Erie, according to the Erie Times-News; in the Pittsburgh area, as reported by KDKA; in Bradford, Lebanon, York, and Adams counties and parts of Dauphin, Mifflin, and Lycoming counties, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer; and in Philadelphia, Philly Voice reports.
In response to declining demand for vaccines and the continuing challenge of vaccinating hard-to-reach people, the state intends to re-engage with the kinds of smaller providers, like neighborhood pharmacies and physician offices, that it cut off from vaccine supplies early in the year amid a change of direction in which it focused on working with larger providers that could vaccinate more people in shorter periods of time. The AP explains.

PA Safety Net Admin2021-04-24T11:18:24+00:00April 24th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off

COVID-19 Update: Friday, April 16

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania state government as of 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 16^th.

Department of Health

Early in the week The Department of Health notified all COVID-19 vaccine providers to stop administering doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine until at least April 20 following the recommendation to do so from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration. On Thursday it extended this pause until April 24.
The Department of Health also issued an alert to providers conveying the same message. The alert outlines the medical rationale for the decision and advises providers on symptoms to monitor among patients who have received this vaccine. Find that alert here.
The Department of Health has made public data shared by skilled nursing facilities through last month’s mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Needs Assessment survey. Data may be downloaded here by facility and by county. These rates will serve as a benchmark and the survey will be conducted quarterly, with the next survey at the end of June. The statewide average facility vaccination rate for residents was 78.84 percent and for staff/contractors was 52.64 percent.
The Department of Health published its vaccine strategy for long-term-care facilities, which includes three group purchasing organizations (GeriMed, Innovatix, and Managed Health Care Associates, Inc.) and CVS/Omnicare that will supply eligible long-term-care pharmacies with vaccine allocations that may be requested by long-term-care facilities as additional needs arise.
The Department of Health reports that in March its nursing home surveyors conducted 570 inspections, including 283 complaint investigations of 396 separate nursing homes. Of these, 244 were COVID-19-specific investigations. Learn more about recent nursing home surveys, investigations, and vaccine efforts from this Department of Health news release.

Department of Health – by the numbers

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases has risen sharply over the past four days: the highest four-day total since January.
The number of COVID-19 deaths, which had been declining even amid rising case counts, has risen sharply in the past four days as well.
For the week from April 2 through April 8 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate remained the same 9.5 percent it was last week, halting a three-week rise in this important measure.
Seven counties currently have a positivity rate lower than five percent, down from 10 last week and 17 counties the week before; only one county has a rate greater than 20 percent, the same situation as last week.
Three counties are currently experiencing low levels of community transmission of COVID-19, down from five last week and six the week before that; 14 counties are experiencing moderate levels of community transmission, down from 17 last week and 26 the week before; and 50 counties are currently experiencing substantial levels of community transmission, up from 46 counties last week and 35 the week before.
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 has risen 25 percent since April 1; the number in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19 has risen 28 percent since April 1; and the number on ventilators because of COVID-19 has risen 26 percent since April 1.
Currently, 18 percent of adult ICU beds in the state are unoccupied, as are 12 percent of medical/surgical beds, 11 percent of pediatric ICU beds, 22 percent of pediatric beds, and 32 percent of airborne isolation units.
Pennsylvania passed the 2.5 million mark of vaccinated residents yesterday and according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, more than 2.6 million Pennsylvanians have now been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. An additional 438,000 people have been vaccinated in Philadelphia, according to the city’s Department of Public Health.

Around the State

Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler has tested positive for COVID-19, is experiencing mild symptoms, and is recovering and quarantining at home. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports on Cutler’s illness and its implications for state House operations.
The state Senate will consider extending a temporary rule that permits members to participate in the chamber’s deliberations remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to PennLive.
Delaware County has begun offering COVID-19 vaccines to high school students who are 16 years of age and older. The Delaware County Times tells the story.
Driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lancaster city’s council has joined several other Lancaster County municipalities in expressing interest in the county creating its own health department, Lancaster Online reports.
Even though Westmoreland County has been hit hard by COVID-19, an area health system reports that vaccine appointments are going unfilled, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
After intervention by members of Philadelphia’s congressional delegation, the FEMA mass vaccination site in the city’s Pennsylvania Convention Center, scheduled to close after April 26, will remain open for an additional month. WHYY tells the story.
Philadelphia’s health commissioner received his own COVID-19 vaccine; The Philadelphia Inquirer offers instant replay via Twitter. Governor Wolf will receive his next Monday.
St. Luke’s University Health Network has launched a COVID-19 recovery clinic for COVID-19 long-haulers, according to the Allentown Morning Call.
Next Monday, Berks County will introduce a hotline for people who are struggling to find vaccine appointments. The Reading Eagle provides the details.

PA Safety Net Admin2021-04-19T06:00:42+00:00April 19th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off

COVID-19 Update for Monday, April 12

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania state government as of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 12^th.

Governor Wolf

Effective Tuesday, April 13, all Pennsylvania adults will be eligible to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. This is six days earlier than the administration previously stated. Learn more from this Wolf administration news release. The announcement does not affect the city of Philadelphia, which intends to follow to its plan to broaden eligibility next Monday, April 19.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has updated its infection prevention and control recommendations for health care settings that was last revised in September of 2020. Changes and additions are noted in red throughout the document.
The Department of Health has announced a partnership with Latino Connection and Highmark Blue Shield to launch the first statewide COVID-19 mobile vaccination clinic tour to provide vaccinations and education targeting minority and underserved communities. The program will include mobile units to conduct a statewide vaccination and education tour; a Facebook page to register for vaccines; and 100 events in corner stores and bodegas where individuals who do not have access to the internet, or who are in need of assistance, can pre-register for vaccines. Learn more from this Department of Health news release.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Department of Health announced the opening of a regional vaccination clinic on Penn State’s University Park campus in Centre County. Initially this site is expected to administer 600 doses a day. Go here for information on location, hours, and how to sign up for vaccines.
The Department of Health has established a new free COVID-19 test site in Monroe County. The site will be open through April 18. For information about hours and location, go here.

Department of Health – by the numbers

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases has risen in the past two months and remains high.
Despite the rising number of new COVID-19 cases, daily death totals continue to decline and have been in single digits for four of the past nine days.
For the week from April 2 through April 8 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate remained the same 9.5 percent it was last week, halting a three-week rise in this important measure.
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19, in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19, and on ventilators because of COVID-19 all continue to rise slightly.
Currently, 19 percent of adult ICU beds in the state are unoccupied, as are 16 percent of medical/surgical beds, 12 percent of pediatric ICU beds, 26 percent of pediatric beds, and 35 percent of airborne isolation units.
According to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, 2.4 million Pennsylvanians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and an additional 363,000 people have been vaccinated in Philadelphia, according to the city’s Department of Public Health.

Department of Human Services

DHS has announced that the state will work with Walgreens to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to staff and residents of congregate care settings licensed by DHS that were not part of the federal Pharmacy Partnership Program. This program is expected to vaccinate approximately 2200 people living at 100 facilities through mid-April. Learn more from this DHS news release.

Around the State

Allegheny County has opened its first COVID-19 clinic in the Mon Valley, according to WESA radio. It is expected to administer up to 200 vaccines a day and will focus on people facing barriers to access to care.
Demand for COVID-19 vaccines in Erie County has fallen and fewer people are struggling to schedule appointments, the Erie Times-News reports.
FEMA’s mass vaccination clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia is scheduled to close on April 26 and four members of the state’s congressional delegation are asking the White House to keep it open. Currently the clinic is administering about 6000 vaccines a day, making it the single largest provider of vaccines in the city. The Philadelphia Inquirer tells the story.
The Billy Penn web site features a map and a list detailing more than 200 sites in Philadelphia where people can get COVID-19 vaccines. Most are by appointment only, and the site also features information about different ways to search for vaccine appointments.

PA Safety Net Admin2021-04-12T17:34:18+00:00April 12th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off

COVID-19 Update: Wednesday, April 7

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania’s state government as of 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7..

Governor Wolf

Effective last Sunday, April 4, Governor Wolf and the Department of Health lifted the mandate that businesses operate through telework when possible. Even so, the revised orders “highly encourage” continued use of telework if possible. Learn more from the governor’s revised order, the revised Department of Health order, and this FAQ about this change.
This week Pennsylvanians in Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan became eligible to schedule COVID-19 vaccinations appointments, the Wolf administration announced in a news release. Phase 1B eligible people include those living in congregate settings not otherwise specified as long-term-care facilities, people receiving home and community-based services, U.S. Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, clergy and other essential support for houses of worship, public transit workers, and education workers.
The same news release notes that on April 12 all Pennsylvanians in Phase 1C will be eligible to start scheduling vaccination appointments and on April 19 all residents will be eligible to start scheduling vaccination appointments.
Pennsylvania has completed its campaign to vaccinate school teachers and staff, the governor’s office announced. More than 112,000 such individuals were vaccinated.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has released a summary of all COVID-19-related health alerts, advisories, and updates it has issued during the pandemic, including information on which health alerts were replaced by others after release.

Department of Health – by the numbers

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases has risen in the past six weeks after a period of more modest numbers. Nearly half of all new COVID-19 cases in the country were diagnosed in just five states last week and Pennsylvania is one of the five, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Amid daily case counts higher now than they have been in recent months but much lower than they were in December and January and growing numbers of Pennsylvanians receiving vaccines, the number of COVID-19 tests being performed in the state, Department of Health data shows, is now roughly half of what it was at the pandemic’s peak during the first ten days of December.
Despite the rising number of new COVID-19 cases, daily death totals are not rising and are much lower than they were during the pandemic’s autumn and winter peak.
For the week from March 26 through April 1 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 9.5 percent, up from 7.6 percent last week. This is the third consecutive week the state’s positivity rate has risen.
Ten counties currently have a positivity rate lower than five percent, down from 17 counties last week, and one has a rate greater than 20 percent.
Five counties are currently experiencing low levels of community transmission of COVID-19, down from six last week; 17 counties are experiencing moderate levels of community transmission, down from 26 last week; and 45 counties are currently experiencing substantial levels of community transmission, up from 35 counties last week.
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19, in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19, and on ventilators because of COVID-19 all continue to rise.
Currently, 21 percent of adult ICU beds in the state are unoccupied, as are 18 percent of medical/surgical beds, 17 percent of pediatric ICU beds, 30 percent of pediatric beds, and 36 percent of airborne isolation units.
Earlier this week, according to the state’s vaccine dashboard, the number of Pennsylvanians who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 passed the two-million mark. This number does not include Philadelphia, which operates a separate COVID-19 vaccination program and where another 327,000 people have been vaccinated according to the city’s Department of Public Health.

Department of Human Services

DHS has updated its guidance on COVID-19 for personal care homes, assisted living residences, and private intermediate-care facilities.

Department of Education

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has released information on how individuals who become temporary nurse aides during the pandemic can become permanent nurse aides. Go here for further information.

General Assembly

The state House on Tuesday passed House Bill 605, which provides limited immunity from COVID-19 liability. The bill covers health care facilities and practitioners, schools, colleges and universities, child care centers, local governments, and companies that make personal protective equipment. The bill also requires an arbitration program for personal injury lawsuits stemming from COVID-19. The bill passed 107-95 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The state House this week passed House Bill 854, which requires state agencies and contractors – defined as any person who enters into a contract with a state agency – to preserve all COVID-19 records for at least 10 years after the disaster order is terminated. The bill passed 111-90 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Around the State

Lancaster County’s mass vaccination site should be ready to reach its target capacity of 6000 vaccinations a day, Lancaster Online reports.
Philadelphia is expanding vaccine eligibility to sanitation workers, maintenance and janitorial staff, utility workers, and postal and package delivery workers this week, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
York County’s district attorney has tested positive for COVID-19, has symptoms, and is recovering and quarantining at home, the York Dispatch reports.
The operator of a Berks County COVID-19 clinic reported that demand for vaccines slowed enough last week that his staff needed to work to fill available appointments. The Reading Eagle tells this unusual story.
The city of Allentown’s Health Bureau and its EMS staff will visit the homes of people whose health conditions make leaving home difficult to administer COVID-19 vaccines, according to the Allentown Morning Call.
FEMA will open a second vaccination site in Philadelphia, the Inquirer reports. Once open, it is expected to administer 1500-2500 shots a day. The facility will be staffed by FEMA, with help from the city and state.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

PA Health Alert Network

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

PA Safety Net Admin2021-04-07T21:39:32+00:00April 7th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off

Medicaid Enrollment Up in PA

Medicaid enrollment in Pennsylvania has risen 13.7 percent in the past year, according to the state’s Department of Human Services, which administers the program.

Nearly 400,000 people have joined Pennsylvania’s Medicaid rolls in the past year, raising the total number of participants to 3.2 million.

Participation in the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), cash assistance program, and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) have risen as well during the past year.

PA Safety Net Admin2021-04-07T06:00:11+00:00April 7th, 2021|Pennsylvania Medicaid|Comments Off

COVID-19 Update: Wednesday, March 31

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania’s state government as of 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31.

Department of Health

The Department of Health announced an initiative to vaccinate targeted industry workers and accelerate the vaccination timetable for people in Phases 1B, 1C, and 2. All Pennsylvanians will be eligible to schedule vaccination appointments beginning April 19. The new timetable is as follows:
- March 31 – workers in four previously targeted industries: law enforcement, firefighters, grocery store workers, and food and agriculture workers.
- April 5 – all residents in Phase 1B will be eligible to start scheduling vaccinations.
- April 12 – all residents in Phase 1C will be eligible to start scheduling vaccinations.
- April 19 – all residents will be eligible to start scheduling vaccinations.

Learn more from this Department of Health news release. Also, the city of Philadelphia quickly announced that it will not be following this timeline; see a news report here.

The Department of Health updated its interim guidance for skilled nursing facilities during COVID-19 with revisions to align with visitation guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), guidance for on-site beauty and barber shops, resources for providers, and information on the Secretary of Health’s order regarding a vaccine needs assessment survey that was due March 23, 2021.
The Department of Health has updated its quick start guide addressing changes in the COVID-19 event reporting system that were made on March 24, 2021. Find the updated instructions here.

Department of Health – by the numbers

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases has risen over the past two-and-half weeks. Yesterday’s total was the highest single-day figure in two months.
Despite the rising number of new COVID-19 cases the daily death totals are not rising. Over the weekend Pennsylvania surpassed 25,000 deaths from COVID-19.
For the week from March 19 through March 25 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 7.6 percent, up from 6.5 percent last week. This is the second consecutive week the state’s positivity rate has risen.
Seventeen counties currently have a positivity rate lower than five percent and none have a rate greater than 20 percent.
Six counties are currently experiencing low levels of community transmission of COVID-19, 26 counties are experiencing moderate levels of community transmission, and 35 counties – more than half of the state’s 67 counties – are currently experiencing substantial levels of community transmission.
In the past two weeks the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 has risen 43 percent; the number being treated for COVID-19 on ventilators has risen 26 percent; and the number being treated in hospital ICUs has risen 47 percent.
Currently, 20 percent of adult ICU beds in the state are unoccupied, as are 16 percent of medical/surgical beds, seven percent of pediatric ICU beds, 22 percent of pediatric beds, and 35 percent of airborne isolation units.
As of March 31 the state’s vaccine dashboard shows that more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians are now fully vaccinated. This number does not include Philadelphia, which operates a separate COVID-19 vaccination program.
The vaccine dashboard shows vaccine totals by county.
Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health reports that as of March 31, 267,000 Philadelphians are fully vaccinated.

Department of Community and Economic Development

The Department of Community and Economic Development has introduced a new, weekly newsletter with the latest information from the state about COVID-19 vaccines. To subscribe to the “Unite Against COVID Weekly Update” newsletter, go here.

Department of State

Late last year the Department of State granted an extension of 90 days for certain license renewal deadlines for licensees under the Board of Medicine. With licensees now having difficulty meeting the March 31 deadline, the department has granted an additional 30 days to renew all licenses under the Board of Medicine that were set to expire on December 31, 2020 and have not yet been renewed. The new deadline is April 30, 2021, and while renewal fees have been waived, the requirement to renew licenses has not. The Department of State says this will be the final extension for these licenses. Learn more from this Department of State announcement.

Around the State

The Eagles Autism Foundation and Divine Providence Village, a residential facility in Delaware County for people with intellectual disabilities, hosted a vaccination clinic last weekend at Lincoln Financial Field for people with autism who are 18 years of age or older. Another such clinic is being planned for late April. Learn more from this Philadelphia Inquirer article.
The Scranton Times-Tribune has published a map showing vaccination rates, by county, for seniors ages 65 and older. Find it here.
Next week FEMA will open its second vaccination site in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
State Representative Brian Smith (Jefferson, Indiana) has tested positive for COVID-19 and will work remotely for the next two weeks as he recovers and quarantines, according to the web site WeAreCentralPA.com.
Chester County’s health department has launched a new system for registering for COVID-19 vaccines. Individuals who are already registered with the county and who are currently eligible for vaccines will receive emails inviting them to contact the county to schedule their vaccination in one of 88,000 appointment slots that will be available over the next 12 weeks. The Chester County Daily Local News provides the details.
Two Westmoreland County commissioners are hosting an informational session in which participants will learn about the science behind the COVID-19 vaccines so they can make informed decisions about whether to get vaccinated, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. The science discussion will be led by a University of Pittsburgh professor of medicine who specializes in infectious diseases.
Which members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation have received COVID-19 vaccines and which have not? The Pennsylvania Capital-Star took roll call and presents the results.
If Philadelphia’s COVID-19 case count continues to rise the city’s health commissioner says he may reinstate some past restrictions, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports.