SNAP has asked Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to support provisions in the federal FY 2023 omnibus spending bill that would delay a Medicare sequestration cut, restore reduced Medicare payments to doctors, and improve how Medicare Advantage insurers handle prior authorization requests.

SNAP has asked members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to support efforts to delay implementation of a new four percent Medicare sequestration cut, protect doctors from a 4.5 percent Medicare payment reduction, and streamline the prior authorization process used by Medicare Advantage plans.

SNAP has asked members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to co-sponsor and support bills (H.R. 3203 and S. 773) that would temporarily enable safety-net hospitals and others already eligible for the 340B prescription drug discount program to remain eligible for the program despite short-term changes in their admissions patterns brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SNAP has asked members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to pursue more resources for the Provider Relief Fund, additional targeted funding for safety-net hospitals, help with staffing, an extension of the moratorium on the Medicare sequestration, and forgiveness for safety-net hospitals for loans they received under the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program in the COVID-19 relief bill Congress is currently pursuing.

SNAP has asked members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to join a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Azar asking him to address financial reporting requirements that could force Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals and others to return their Provider Relief Fund grants to the federal government.

SNAP has asked members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation for assistance in an end-of-the-year COVID-19 relief bill, including additional funding for the Provider Relief Fund, extension of the moratorium on the 2011 Medicare sequestration, and continued delay of implementation of Medicaid DSH cuts.

SNAP has asked PA Governor Tom Wolf to sign HB 1737, a bill that would extend liability protection to health care providers for the good-faith decisions and actions they take during the COVID-19 emergency.

SNAP has asked Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to support new funding for the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund, the elimination of scheduled Medicaid DSH cuts, and the continued suspension of Medicare sequestration cuts in any legislation Congress passes in the coming weeks.

SNAP has asked members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to urge the Department of Health and Human Services to restore its June 2020 directions on how hospitals should calculate lost revenue associated with COVID-19 so they can keep federal aid designed to help them continue serving their communities.