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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of April 25-29

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of April 25-29, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Pennsylvania State MapGeneral Assembly

  • The House of Representatives held session Monday (4/25), Tuesday (4/26), and Wednesday (4/27).  The Senate was in recess this week.
  • The House Professional Licensure Committee held an informational meeting on Monday, April 25 to examine House Bill 1956, which creates a license for certified anesthesiologist assistants.
  • The House Health Committee convened on Tuesday, April 26 and favorably reported the following bills.
    • House Bill 398, which requires a non-custodial parent of a child to enroll their child in their own health insurance plan before seeking Medicaid coverage.
    • House Bill 2441, which gives legislative agencies access to records information for research purposes under the Vital Statistics Law.
    • Senate Bill 317, which provides for the authority to prescribe antibiotics to treat sexually transmitted infections without having examined the individual for whom the drug is intended, in accordance with the Expedited Partner Therapy in the Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases guidance issued by the CDC.
    • Senate Bill 818, which seeks to align procedures permitted in licensed ambulatory surgery centers with those of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
  • The House Human Services Committee met on Tuesday, April 26 and favorably reported House Bill 1644, which directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop an escalation process to place Medicaid patients with behavioral health or long-term-care needs in an appropriate care setting, and House Bill 2530, which ends the practice of prudent pay in DHS’s Office of Developmental Programs.

Department of Human Services

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts climbed for the fifth consecutive week.  The state’s seven-day average of new cases rose 29 percent, from 1343 cases on April 21 to 1734 on April 28.
  • The seven-day average of COVID-19-related deaths resumed its decline after a one-week detour, falling from 16 on April 20 to nine on April 28.
  • The growing number of COVID-19 cases in the state – Wednesday, April 27 and Thursday, April 28 were the first days the state experienced more than 2000 new cases in a single day since late February – has led to a corresponding increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations, which rose 22 percent in the past week and have risen 48 percent since April 1.
  • These figures, though, need to be viewed in context.  The last time the state had as many new cases as it experienced in recent days more than twice as many Pennsylvanians were hospitalized because of COVID-19 than are hospitalized today.
  • In addition, this resurgence in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has not translated into more serious types of hospital care.  The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital ICUs was the same on April 28 as it was on April 1 and the number of such patients on ventilators is now just two-thirds of the number receiving such care on April 1.
  • The numbers of COVID-19 patients in hospital ICUs and on ventilators, moreover, are only a fraction of what they were in late February, the last time daily case counts were as high as they were this week.  During the week of April 25 the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital ICUs is only 24 percent of what it was in late February while the number on ventilators is only 18 percent of what it was in late February.
  • During the past week 22 Pennsylvania counties, up from nine last week, experienced high rates of community transmission of COVID-19; three counties, the same number as last week, experienced a low rate of transmission; 22 counties, up from 20 last week, experienced a substantial rate of community transmission; and the remaining 20 counties experienced a moderate rate.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has announced the opening of its Substance Use Disorder Loan Repayment Program.  This program seeks to help substance use disorder treatment and single county authority-funded case management professionals repay their outstanding qualifying educational loans.  Applications must be submitted via the online application portal by May 26.  Eligible practitioners must have the capacity to provide substance use disorder treatment or single-county authority-funded case management services at approved practice site(s) and meet the requirements in Section 6 of the Project Summary.  Selected candidates must demonstrate a minimum of two prior years of experience in the substance use disorder treatment field and agree to a service commitment of two additional years.  For more information, see the Application Guidance.  Questions regarding the grants and the application process should be emailed to RA-DAGrantsMgmt@pa.gov.

Stakeholder Events

Behavioral Health Services for the Nursing Facility Population – May 3

DHS’s Office of Long-Term Living, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), the HealthChoices behavioral health managed care organizations, and the Community HealthChoices managed care organizations will host a joint webinar on Tuesday, May 3 at 2:00 on the importance of providing behavioral health services in nursing facilities and ensuring that nursing facilities know how to gain access to these services.  Go here for more information and to register to participate.

Department of Health – Organ Donation Advisory Committee – May 5

The Department of Health’s Organ Donation Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, May 5 at 10:00 to review progress in the area of organ and tissue donation in Pennsylvania, recommend education and awareness activities, recommend priorities in expenditures from the Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Fund (Fund), and advise the Acting Secretary on matters relating to the administration of the fund.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board – May 6

The Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board will hold a public meeting on Friday, May 6 at 10:00 at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network, 6340 Flank Drive in Harrisburg, in the Dauphin Conference Room.  To learn more about the meeting, and for information about how to participate virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – May 10

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, May 10 at 10:00.  To register to participate, go here.

2022-04-29T20:21:51+00:00April 29th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of April 25-29
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of April 18-22

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of April 18-22, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf has signed House Bill 245, which reduces the graduate medical training required for international medical graduates from three years to two years; removes the limit on the number of affiliated facilities at which a doctor with an institutional license may practice or teach; and expands and clarifies the scope of practice of temporarily licensed physicians.

General Assembly

  • The state House will be in session next Monday (4/25), Tuesday (4/26), and Wednesday (4/27). The Senate is in recess.
  • The House Professional Licensure Committee will meet on Monday, April 25 at 10:00 a.m. to consider House Bill 1956, which creates a license for certified anesthesiologist assistants.
  • The House Health Committee will convene on Tuesday, April 26 at 9:30 a.m. to consider the following bills.
    • House Bill 398, which requires a non-custodial parent of a child to enroll their child in their own health insurance plan before seeking Medicaid coverage.
    • House Bill 2441, which gives legislative agencies access to records information for research purposes under the Vital Statistics Law.
    • Senate Bill 317, which provides for the authority to prescribe antibiotics to treat sexually transmitted infections without having examined the individual for whom the drug is intended, in accordance with the Expedited Partner Therapy in the Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases guidance issued by the CDC.
    • Senate Bill 818, which seeks to align procedures permitted in licensed ambulatory surgery centers with those of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Department of Human Services

  • Act 2 of 2022 appropriated $225 million to support the health care workforce needs of hospitals and behavioral health providers.  The law directed that the funding be used strictly for recruitment and retention payments to direct care staff.  Entities receiving payments under Act 2 must submit a report to the Department of Human Services (DHS) documenting staff retention payments by September 30, 2022 and a report on staff recruitment spending by December 31, 2022.  DHS has posted an FAQ describing how Act 2 works and has added to that FAQ a template for submitting the required reports.  Find the FAQ and the report template here.
  • DHS has updated its calendar for delivering Remittance Advice and corresponding checks to extend into early June.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to announce the addition of new procedure codes to the Medical Assistance program fee schedule for the provision of personal care services that are provided through home health agencies to Medicaid beneficiaries under 21 years of age.  Find that bulletin here.
  • DHS has posted a notice to Medical Assistance fee-for-service providers reminding them of the recommended documentation needed to support the review of authorization requests for private duty/shift nursing and home health aide service hours provided to children under the age of 21.  Find that notice here.
  • DHS has shared the minutes of the February 23 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s consumer subcommittee.
  • DHS has updated its “Monthly Physical Health Managed Care Program Enrollment Report” to include March 2022 data.

Department of Health

  • Keara Klinepeter has resigned as Pennsylvania’s Acting Health Secretary.  She will be replaced by the state’s Physician General, Dr. Denise Johnson.  Learn more from this Wolf administration news release.
  • The Secretary of Health issued a letter to the hospital community clarifying that the intention of the recently issued innovative hospital guidance was to preserve access to care in rural communities in a financially sustainable way.  Find a copy of that letter here.
  • The Department of Health has updated its guidance to providers caring for adults and children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome.
  • The Department of Health has updated its information about state-sponsored free COVID-19 testing sites to reflect that it currently operates such sites in Berks, Blair, Centre, and Clinton counties and at Edinboro University in Erie.  Learn more about the locations and hours of operation in this department news release.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts climbed for the fourth consecutive week.  The state’s seven-day average of new cases rose 26 percent, from 1067 cases on April 14 to 1343 on April 21.
  • The seven-day average of COVID-19-related deaths, which has long been declining, rose during the past week from 10 on April 13 to 16 to April 21.
  • The rising number of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania has led to increases in some but not all measures of COVID-19-related hospital care.  In the past week the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with the virus rose 13 percent and has now risen 21 percent since the beginning of the month.  The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital ICUs rose 15 percent in the past week but remains modest.  The number of such patients being treated on ventilators, on the other hand, declined 22 percent and remains very low.
  • During the past week nine Pennsylvania counties, up from five last week, experienced high rates of community transmission of COVID-19; three counties, down from five last week, experienced a low rate of transmission; 20 counties, up from 15 last week, experienced a substantial rate of community transmission; and the remaining 35 counties experienced a moderate rate.

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4)

PHC4 has released a fourth quarter 2021 report on the effect of COVID-19 on hospitals and health care facilities in Pennsylvania.  In the report, PHC4 aggregates data on fourth quarter of 2021 COVID-19 expenses and lost revenue as reported by hospitals and health systems to show the impact of the public health emergency on those institutions.  The data in the report reflects financial performance for fewer than half of the hospitals in the state and does not include emergency funding the providers received from the federal or state government.  Learn more from this PHC4 news release and the agency’s “COVID-19 Disaster Emergency Report.”

Stakeholder Events

Behavioral Health Services for the Nursing Facility Population – April 26 and May 3

The Department of Human Services’ Office of Long-Term Living, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), the HealthChoices behavioral health managed care organizations, and the Community HealthChoices managed care organizations will host a joint webinar on the importance of providing behavioral health services in nursing facilities and making sure nursing facilities know how to gain access to these services.  The webinar will be held two more times and the material presented will be the same at each session.  The webinars will be recorded.  The session on Tuesday, April 26 will be held at 2:00; go here for more information and to register to participate.  The session on Tuesday, May 3 also will be held at 2:00; go here for more information and to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – April 27

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s consumer subcommittee will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 27 at 1:00.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – April 28

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 28 at 10:00.  Go here to register to participate.

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – April 28

The Department of Human Services’ Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council will meet by teleconference on Thursday, April 28 at 10:00.  Join the meeting at 866-588-4789 and use conference ID code 211 418 005#.

Patient Safety Authority – April 28

The Patient Safety Authority will hold a virtual public meeting of its board on Thursday, April 28 at 1:00 p.m.  For information about how to participate see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

2022-04-22T18:48:43+00:00April 22nd, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of April 18-22
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of April 11-15

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of April 11-15, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Harrisburg, PA capital buildingGeneral Assembly

  • The state House and Senate convened for session in Harrisburg this week.
  • The House concurred with the Senate’s amendment to House Bill 245 and sent it to the governor’s desk.  House Bill 245 reduces the clinical residency requirement from three years to two years for an applicant who has graduated from an international medical college to receive licensure in Pennsylvania.
  • The House passed on third and final consideration House Bill 2401, which makes permanent two COVID-19 waivers that permit non-physician practitioners to order and oversee orders for home health care services and permits the continued use of remote supervisory visits by registered nurses, and House Bill 2419, which expands access to outpatient psychiatric care via telemedicine.  These bills will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.
  • The Senate passed on third and final consideration Senate Bill 1172, which authorizes the establishment of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs by hospitals, mandates the creation of a comprehensive list of such programs, and authorizes a grant program to establish and support SANE services.  The bill was received in the House and referred to the Health Committee.
  • The House Health Committee held an informational meeting on Tuesday, April 12 regarding “Opioids in the Commonwealth:  Lessons learned and next steps.”  A recording of the meeting may be viewed here.
  • The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee favorably reported House Bill 2097, which makes permanent a COVID-19 regulatory waiver that permits certified emergency personnel, such as firefighters with specific first-aid, CPR, and emergency vehicle training, to drive ambulances with an EMT on board.
  • The House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee held an informational meeting on Tuesday, April 12 to examine long-term-care facility workforce challenges.  A recording of the meeting may be viewed here.
  • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee met on Tuesday, April 12 and favorably reported the following bills.
    • Senate Bill 749, which seeks to provide clarity for employees and employers regarding current ambiguity in the state’s medical marijuana law concerning the use of medical marijuana in the workplace.
    • Senate Bill 1121, which requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to verify wage records from employers and the Department of Revenue for Medicaid and SNAP beneficiaries.
    • Senate Bill 1124, which requires DHS to check death certificates at the Bureau of Vital Statistics against Medicaid and SNAP beneficiaries.
    • Senate Bill 1188, which seeks to increase awareness, testing, and access to treatment for Lyme disease.

A recording of the hearing may be viewed here.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has posted a file note summarizing the March 10 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed care delivery system subcommittee.

DHS has announced the addition of two procedure codes to the Medical Assistance fee schedule for the provision of personal care services by home health agencies to beneficiaries under 21 years of age, effective with dates of service on and after May 1, 2022.  Find those procedure codes in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has updated its guidance for reporting on point-of-care COVID-19 test results to bring Pennsylvania into compliance with revised federal requirements.  See the new guidance here.
  • DOH has updated its information about state-sponsored free COVID-19 testing sites to reflect that it currently operates such sites in Berks, Centre, and Clinton counties and at Edinboro University in Erie.  Learn more about the locations and hours of operation in this department news release.
  • DOH has posted new online resources for providers and the public to learn about and support

Pennsylvanians who may be experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.  The new information comes in response to a law passed by the legislature earlier this year and signed by Governor Wolf requiring the administration to provide such information.  Go here to find the resources for providers and here to view resources for the public.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts climbed for the third consecutive week.  The state’s seven-day average of new cases rose nearly 24 percent, from 797 cases on April 5 to 986 on April 13.
  • On the other hand, the number of new COVID-19-related deaths continues to decline, from a seven-day average of 17 on April 5 to just 10 on April 13.
  • The rising number of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania has not led to increases in hospital care for COVID-19 patients:  during the past week the number of residents in hospital ICUs because of the virus and being treated with ventilators has remained steady while the number admitted to hospitals has risen only seven percent since the beginning of the month.
  • During the past week five Pennsylvania counties – up from two last week – experienced  high rates of transmission of COVID-19 (Potter, Bradford, Susquehanna, Columbia, and Pike); five counties – the same number as last week – experienced a low rate of community transmission (Bedford, Fulton, Juniata, Elk, and Sullivan); and 15 counties experienced a substantial rate of community transmission while another 42 experienced a moderate rate.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has issued a news release describing its recent talks with state Attorney General Shapiro and other officials about how Pennsylvania might use its share of the national opioid settlement – as much as $1.07 billion – to address substance use challenges in the state.  Learn more here.

Insurance Department

The Insurance Department has published a policy statement that will permit insurers to ask applicants to voluntarily provide race and ethnicity data on insurance applications in an effort to promote equity initiatives.  The new statement of policy ends enforcement of a prohibition on such data collection published in 1969.  Learn more about this policy change in this department news release and see the policy statement in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Health – Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee – April 21

The Department of Health’s Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 21 at 10:30.  The purpose of this meeting is to review the committee’s work, review the status and progress of the current request for applications, reaffirm priorities, evaluate and refine the process to review the next spinal cord research applications, and address emerging issues.  For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Behavioral Health Services for the Nursing Facility Population – April 26 and May 3

The Department of Human Services’ Office of Long-Term Living, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), the HealthChoices behavioral health managed care organizations, and the Community HealthChoices managed care organizations will host a joint webinar on the importance of providing behavioral health services in nursing facilities and making sure nursing facilities know how to gain access to these services.  The webinar will be held two more times and the material presented will be the same at each session.  The webinars will be recorded.  The session on Tuesday, April 26 will be held at 2:00; go here for more information and to register to participate.  The session on Tuesday, May 3 also will be held at 2:00; go here for more information and to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – April 27

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s consumer subcommittee will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 27 at 1:00.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – April 28

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 28 at 10:00.  Go here to register to participate.

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – April 28

The Department of Human Services’ Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council will meet by teleconference on Thursday, April 28 at 10:00.  Join the meeting at 866-588-4789 and use conference ID code 211 418 005#.

Patient Safety Authority – April 28

The Patient Safety Authority will hold a virtual public meeting of its board on Thursday, April 28 at 1:00 p.m.  For information about how to participate see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board – May 6

The Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board will hold a public meeting on Friday, May 6 at 10:00 at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network, 6340 Flank Drive in Harrisburg, in the Dauphin Conference Room.  To learn more about the meeting, and for information about how to participate virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – May 10

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, May 10 at 10:00.  To register to participate, go here.

2022-04-15T20:31:51+00:00April 15th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of April 11-15
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of April 4-8

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of April 4-8, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

  • The state Senate convened for session in Harrisburg this week.
  • The Senate passed House Bill 245 on third and final consideration this week.  House Bill 245, which will be sent back to the House for concurrence, reduces the clinical residency requirement from three years to two years for an applicant who has graduated from an international medical college to receive licensure in Pennsylvania.
  • The state House and Senate will both be in session next Monday (4/11), Tuesday (4/12), and Wednesday (4/13).
  • As indicated by the House Republican Caucus “Week Ahead,” the House is planning to consider, among other bills, House Bill 2401, which makes permanent two COVID-19 waivers that permit non-physician practitioners to order and oversee orders for home health care services and permits the continued use of remote supervisory visits by registered nurses, and House Bill 2419, which expands access to outpatient psychiatric care via telemedicine.
  • Several committee meetings are scheduled for next week.  The following are health-related.
    • The House Health Committee will hold an informational meeting on Tuesday, April 12 at 8:00 a.m. regarding “Opioids in the Commonwealth:  Lessons learned and next steps.”
    • The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 12 at 9:00 a.m. to consider House Bill 2097, which would make permanent a COVID-19 regulatory waiver that allows certified emergency personnel, such as firefighters with specific first-aid, CPR, and emergency vehicle training, to drive ambulances with an EMT on board.
    • The House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee will hold an informational meeting on Tuesday, April 12 at 9:30 a.m. to examine long-term-care facility workforce challenges.
    • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m. to consider the following bills.
      • Senate Bill 749, which seeks to provide clarity for employees and employers regarding current ambiguity in the state’s medical marijuana law concerning the use of medical marijuana in the workplace.
      • Senate Bill 1121, which requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to verify wage records from employers and the Department of Revenue for Medicaid and SNAP beneficiaries.
      • Senate Bill 1124, which requires DHS to check death certificates at the Bureau of Vital Statistics against Medicaid and SNAP beneficiaries.
      • Senate Bill 1188, which seeks to increase awareness, testing, and access to treatment for Lyme disease.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has added two procedure codes to the Medical Assistance program fee schedule for use in laboratory testing for multiple respiratory pathogens, including COVID-19, effective with dates of service on and after March 21, 2022.  Find the new codes in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin addressed to hospital emergency departments, county mental health/intellectual disability administrators, base service units, mental health review officers, and county crisis intervention programs to clarify the part of the Mental Health Procedures Act referring to the involuntary commitment process under section 302 and the 120-hour limit on holding a consumer for involuntary emergency examination and treatment.  Find the bulletin here.
  • DHS has circulated the minutes of the March 24 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee.
  • DHS has updated its “Monthly Physical Health Managed Care Program Enrollment Report” to include February 22 data.
  • CMS has released its 2022-2023 Medicaid managed care rate development guide.  This is a federal resource for states to use when setting capitation rates for Medicaid managed care plans.  The guide provides details about information that must be included in states’ actuarial rate certifications for CMS to review and approve for rate periods between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.  Find the guide here.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has introduced minor updates of its guidance for hospitals and health systems on “whether measures being implemented or contemplated are compliant with the statutory and regulatory requirements under the jurisdiction of the Department.”  Among other things, the guidance cites June 30, 2022 as the end date for certain regulatory suspensions that were continued through that date by Act 14 of 2022.  Find the updated guidance here.
  • DOH has updated its COVID-19 booster vaccine recommendations to reflect recent changes in CDC guidelines.
  • DOH has updated its reporting requirements for COVID-19 test results to bring them in line with revised federal requirements.
  • DOH has updated information about therapeutics to prevent and treat COVID-19 to reflect federal guidance barring the use of sotrovimab to treat COVID-19 because it is not effective in treating the Omicron BA.2 variant, which is the predominant COVID-19 variant in the country today.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts climbed for the second consecutive week.  The state’s seven-day average of new cases rose nearly 26 percent, from 585 cases on March 31 to 737 on April 7.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths declined slightly, on the other hand, with the seven-day average of new deaths down by one, from 18 on March 31 to 17 on April 7.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians receiving hospital care for COVID-19, in hospital ICU units, and on ventilators because of the virus held steady over the past week.
  • After three weeks with no counties experiencing a high rate of transmission of COVID-19, two Pennsylvania counties found themselves in that category in the past week:  Bradford and Pike.  Another eight counties – Potter, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Adams, Susquehanna, Montour, Wayne, and Northampton – experienced substantial rates of community transmission.  Five counties – up from three last week – experienced low levels of community transmission:  Forest, Cameron, Snyder, Juniata, and Fulton.  The remaining 52 Pennsylvania counties had moderate rates of community transmission over the past week.  Find community transmission and other Pennsylvania-specific COVID-19 data here.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – April 12

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 12 at 10:00.  To register to participate, go here.  The dial-in number is 631-992-3221 and the access code is 766121118#.

Department of Aging – Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board Virtual Meeting – April 13

The Department of Aging’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 13 at 8:30.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee – April 21

The Department of Health’s Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 21 at 10:30.  The purpose of this meeting is to review the committee’s work, review the status and progress of the current request for applications, reaffirm priorities, evaluate and refine the process to review the next spinal cord research applications, and address emerging issues.  For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – April 27

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s consumer subcommittee will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 27 at 1:00.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – April 28

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 28 at 10:00.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – May 10

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, May 10 at 10:00.  To register to participate, go here.

2022-04-08T20:56:17+00:00April 8th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of April 4-8
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of March 28-April 1

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of March 28-April 1, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Bookshelf with law booksGovernor Wolf

Governor Wolf has signed into law Senate Bill 1019, which temporarily extends certain suspensions of regulations and statutes that were issued by agencies under the COVID-19 disaster declaration through June 30, 2022.

General Assembly

  • The House Health Committee convened on Tuesday, March 29 and favorably reported House Bill 2357, which prohibits the preparation, manufacture, sale, or distribution of unsafe kratom products, and House Bill 2401, which makes permanent two COVID-19 waivers that permit non-physician practitioners to order and oversee orders for home health care services and permits the continued use of remote supervisory visits by registered nurses.
  • The House Insurance Committee met on Tuesday and favorably reported House Bill 2419, which expands access to outpatient psychiatric care via telemedicine.
  • The state Senate will be in session next Monday (4/4), Tuesday (4/5), and Wednesday (4/6). The House will be in recess next week.

Revenue Collection Update

The Independent Fiscal Office has released its March 2022 Revenue Update.  General Fund collections for March were $579.2 million or 11.6 percent above estimate.  Year-to-date General Fund revenue is $3.04 billion or 9.8 percent more than projected.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has informed providers that effective Friday, April 1 at 12:00 a.m. the current Medical Assistance Provider Forms webpage will no longer be accessible.  Instead, providers may order and receive Medical Assistance provider forms here.  Find updated instructions here.  DHS also offered the following explanation to stakeholders:

Over the next few months, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is transitioning web-based forms to a new enterprise solution. While we strive to provide a seamless transition, we understand there may be issues along the way. If you have any bookmarked links, they may no longer work. If you are trying to access an old link that no longer works, please go to https://www.dhs.pa.gov/docs/Publications/Pages/Express-Forms-Transition.aspx for a list of affected forms.

We understand that there may be confusion and issues that arise during this transition, and we appreciate your patience. If you identify a problem following the transition, please reach out to DHS’s Digital Communications Team at RA-PWDHSSOCIALMEDIA@pa.gov and we will assist you as we are able.

  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin advising providers that the Medical Assistance program is extending postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months beginning on April 1 and that this applies to all providers enrolled in the Medical Assistance program.  Find the bulletin here.
  • As part of the response to the COVID-19 emergency, numerous state regulatory requirements were suspended by the legislature and DHS to facilitate an effective, timely response to the pandemic.  Over time, some of those suspended requirements have been restored.  DHS has updated its collection of regulatory requirements to reflect which suspensions remain in effect and which have been lifted.  Find that compendium here.
  • DHS has posted a notice informing providers that the Provider Electronic Solutions software they may have used to submit HIPAA-ready transactions to the PROMISe system will not be supported after June 15 and urging them to use the PROMISe Provider Portal to submit claims, validate eligibility, conduct claim inquiries, and view their weekly remittance advice.  Find that notice here.
  • DHS has posted a notice reminding Medical Assistance billing entities that federal law requires physicians and other practitioners who order, refer, or prescribe items or services for Medicaid beneficiaries to be enrolled in the Medical Assistance program and suggesting that billing entities remind unenrolled billing providers about this requirement.  Find the notice here.
  • DHS has posted a notice reminding providers that the two percent Medicare sequestration imposed in 2013 and suspended in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be restored partially on April 1 and fully after July 1.  Find that notice here.
  • DHS has updated its “Monthly Physical Health Managed Care Program Enrollment Report” to include January 2022 data.
  • DHS has posted presentations delivered at the March 24 meeting of its Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC).  See the presentations from:
  • The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an informational bulletin informing state Medicaid agencies that CMS is exercising enforcement discretion during the COVID-19 public health emergency regarding state submissions of updated Medicaid access monitoring review plans.  CMS is delaying enforcement of the updated plans that are due by October 1, 2022 until October 1, 2024.  Find the CMS informational bulletin here.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts climbed slightly over the past week.  On Wednesday, March 23 the state’s seven-day average of new cases was 574 cases a day; on March 31 it was 585 cases a day.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths, on the other hand, fell by more than half over the past week, with the March 24 seven-day average of 37 deaths falling to 18 on March 31.
  • For the third consecutive week, no Pennsylvania counties are experiencing a high rate of community transmission.  For the second consecutive week, just eight counties experienced a substantial rate of community transmission.  Three counties – down from four last week – are experiencing a low rate of community transmission.  The rest of the state – 56 counties – is experiencing a moderate rate of community transmission of COVID-19.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians receiving hospital care for COVID-19 fell significantly during March:  the number hospitalized declined from 1356 on March 1 to 481 on March 31; the number being treated on a ventilator from 163 on March 1 to 54 on March 31; and the number in hospital ICUs from 252 on March 1 to 75 on March 31.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Community and Economic Development have announced the availability of more than $1 million in grant funding for recovery houses to provide safe housing for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder.  The grants are designed to help existing recovery house facilities with physical upgrades to comply with all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Grants of up to $50,000 for a 12-month period beginning July 1, 2022 will be awarded to between 22 and 25 eligible applicants for health and safety upgrades including demolition, debris removal, rehabilitation improvements, environmental remediation costs, and construction and inspections to comply with DDAP’s regulations.  Learn more from this Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs news release and go here for additional information about the grant program and the application process.  There is no application deadline; applications will be accepted until all of the available money is spent.

In September of 2021, Governor Wolf signed into law Act 73, which extended three of DDAP’s temporary regulatory suspensions through March 31, 2022 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This week Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 1019, which further extends DDAP’s regulatory suspensions that are “related to federal exemptions granted under the federal public health emergency declaration” until “the last day federal exemptions granted under the federal public health emergency declaration are authorized.”  Three DDAP regulatory suspensions and a relevant Department of State regulation are included in this chart and also remain suspended.  In November of 2021, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that methadone take-home flexibilities will be extended for one year after the eventual expiration of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.  DDAP has submitted its written concurrence with this exemption.  SAMHSA also has indicated that it is considering mechanisms to make this flexibility permanent.  Narcotic treatment programs do not need to do anything additional at this time to continue taking advantage of this flexibility. Similarly, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also has announced that it is working to make its tele-prescribing regulations permanent.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Health – Health Research Advisory Committee – April 4

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Monday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m. to review the committee’s work, confirm its 2022 priorities, plan future health research priorities, and address emerging issues.  To learn more about the meeting and how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports subcommittee – April 5

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 5 at 10:00 a.m.  Public comments will be taken after each presentation.  Questions can be entered into the meeting’s chat box during the presentations and will be asked at the end of each presentation.  There will be an additional period at the end of the meeting for additional public comments.  Go here to register to participate.

Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Learning Network – Strategies to Reduce Hospitalizations and Emergency Room Visits – April 7

The Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Learning Network, part of DHS’s Quality Strategy for Nursing
Facilities, is holding a virtual webinar “Strategies to Reduce Hospitalizations and Emergency Room Visits” on Thursday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Aging – Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board Virtual Meeting – April 13

The Department of Aging’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 13 at 8:30 a.m.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee – April 21

The Department of Health’s Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m.  The purpose of this meeting is to review the committee’s work, review the status and progress of the current request for applications, reaffirm priorities, evaluate and refine the process to review the next spinal cord research applications, and address emerging issues.  For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – April 27

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s consumer subcommittee will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 27 at 1:00.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – April 28

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 28 at 10:00.  Go here to register to participate.

 

2022-04-01T20:56:41+00:00April 1st, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Federal Medicaid issues, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of March 28-April 1
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of March 14-18

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of March 14-18, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Redistricting Update

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has denied several appeals of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s (LRC) final state legislative district maps.  The maps will now be in place for the next decade.  The Supreme Court also modified the election calendar for petition circulation so legislative candidates will circulate petitions from March 18 to March 28.

General Assembly

  • The General Assembly concluded its FY 2023 budget hearings this week.  The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ presentation before the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday was the last health-related budget hearing.  A recording of the hearing can be found here.  If you would like to view any of the past budget hearings, you can find the Senate hearings here and the House hearings here.
  • The state House of Representatives cancelled voting session next week because of the modified election calendar for petition circulation.  The House and Senate will return to session the week on March 28.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has asked hospitals to complete a survey from the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee on the designation of a family caregiver for hospital inpatients.  For information about the survey and a link to the survey itself, go here.  DOH and the committee ask hospitals to complete the survey by March 31.
  • DOH has published the third of four planned packages of proposed amendments of the state’s nursing home regulations.  These proposals address matters such as initial licensure and renewal, change in ownership, location, emergency preparedness, reportable diseases, and others.  Find the proposed changes in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.  Written comments are due within 30 days of the proposed regulations’ March 19 publication; see the bulletin notice for information about how to submit comments.
  • DOH has shared with the state’s health care providers two documents recently updated by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:  updated guidance on nursing facility visiting, testing, and quarantine policies and an update to CMS guidance for nursing facilities on compliance with the federal rule requiring vaccination of staff and residents.
  • DOH continues to sponsor COVID-19 testing sites in six counties across the state.  Go here for updated information about the sites and their hours.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has updated its calendar for delivering Remittance Advices and corresponding checks to extend into early May.
  • DHS has updated the Medical Assistance fee-for-service fee schedule with new procedure codes for the administration of the MenQuadfi® and Vaxelis® vaccines effective for dates of service on and after June 1, 2021.  For details, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has updated the Medical Assistance fee-for-service fee schedule to reflect increased fees for the administration of ten COVID-19 monoclonal antibody products effective May 6 and has end-dated procedure code M0239 effective April 16, 2021.  Find the details in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts continue to fall.  A week ago the state’s seven-day average of new cases was 1108 cases a day; yesterday (March 17) it was 751 cases a day.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths is following the same downward trend:  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average of deaths was 40 deaths a day a week ago but was 32 deaths a day yesterday (March 17).
  • The decline in the number of Pennsylvania counties experiencing higher rates of community transmission of COVID-19 continues.  Last week, seven counties were in the highest rate of community transmission of COVID-19 cases; this week, none are.  Last week, 37 counties were experiencing a substantial rate of community transmission; this week, 21 are.  Last week, 23 counties were experiencing only a moderate rate of community transmission; this week, 46 are.
  • This week marked the first time since August 5 that the number of Pennsylvanians being treated on a ventilator for COVID-19 fell into double digits.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has awarded $1.3 million in funding to expand drop-in center services for individuals with substance use disorder in areas of the state experiencing high numbers of overdose deaths.  Learn about the challenges the funding seeks to address, how the money will be used, and what organizations received the grant funding in this news release.

Office of the State Fire Commissioner

The Office of the State Fire Commissioner issued guidance this week for the EMS COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program.  Established by Senate Bill 739 (Act 10), this program will provide $25 million to support Pennsylvania’s EMS companies.  The guidance details eligible EMS companies and the certification process necessary to receive the funds.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – March 23

The consumer subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m.  Go here to register to attend.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – March 24

DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m.  Go here to register to attend.

Department of Health – Advisory Health Board – March 31

The Department of Health’s Advisory Health Board will meet virtually on Thursday, March 31 at 10.00 a.m. to discuss programmatic and departmental activities.  This meeting was a previously scheduled for March 16.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice, which has the original, superseded meeting date but still has the latest information on how to participate in the meeting.

Department of Health – Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – March 30

The Department of Health’s Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.  The agenda will include discussions about board member terms; updates from the Bureau of Family Health and the RUSP workgroup; a discussion on pyruvate dehydrogenase; and updates from the Ethics, Lysosomal Storage Disorders/X-ALD, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemoglobinopathy, and Critical Congenital Heart Defects subcommittees.  Learn how to join the meeting in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Health Research Advisory Committee – April 4

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Monday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m. to review the committee’s work, confirm its 2022 priorities, plan future health research priorities, and address emerging issues.  To learn more about the meeting and how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports subcommittee – April 5

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 5 at 10:00 a.m.  Public comments will be taken after each presentation.  Questions can be entered into the meeting’s chat box during the presentations and will be asked at the end of each presentation.  There will be an additional period at the end of the meeting for additional public comments.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Health – Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee – April 21

The Department of Health’s Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m.  The purpose of this meeting is to review the committee’s work, review the status and progress of the current request for applications, reaffirm priorities, evaluate and refine the process to review the next spinal cord research applications, and address emerging issues.  For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

 

2022-03-18T21:10:08+00:00March 18th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, HealthChoices, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of March 14-18
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of February 28-March 4

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of February 28-March 4, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf announced that Pennsylvania’s state-based health insurance marketplace, known as Pennie, has added a new “qualifying life event” to enable low-income Pennsylvanians to enroll in health insurance throughout the year.  Under this new qualifying life event, Pennsylvanians with an annual household income equal to or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level will be permitted to shop and enroll in health insurance through Pennie, with financial assistance available to those who qualify.  Until now, this opportunity was only available for those not already receiving coverage through Pennie.  Beginning in June, existing Pennie customers whose income is lower than or equal to the 150 percent federal poverty level can update their application and change their plan using this qualifying life event.  Learn more from this Wolf administration news release.

General Assembly

The Department of Health and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs appeared before the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday, March 3 to discuss their FY 2023 budget proposals.  A recording of their budget hearing can be viewed here.

Among the health-related budget hearings to be held the week of March 7 are:

  • Department of Human Services (Senate Appropriations Committee) – Tuesday, March 8 at 10:00 a.m.
  • Department of Health (Senate Appropriations Committee) – Wednesday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m.
  • Department of Human Services (House Appropriations Committee) – Wednesday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m.

Find a complete schedule of the budget hearings here.

In addition,

  • The legislative Rare Disease Caucus held a press conference on Monday, February 28 to recognize February 28 as Rare Disease Day.  In addition to announcing that Senator Maria Collett (D-Bucks/Montgomery) will serve as co-chair of the Rare Disease Caucus, Senator  Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) and her colleagues highlighted Senate Bill 196/House Bill 1664 and the Pennsylvania Rare Disease Advisory Council’s “Rare Disease Needs Assessment.”
  • The House Human Services Committee held an informational hearing this week focused on traumatic brain injury care.  A recording of the hearing can be viewed here.

State Revenue Collection

The Department of Revenue reported this week that Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenue collections for February were $155.7 million, or 6.8 percent, above the official estimate.  Fiscal year-to-date collections are $28.6 billion, which is $2 billion, or 7.5 percent, more than projected.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

CMS has issued guidance to state Medicaid programs to ensure that they are prepared to initiate eligibility renewals for all individuals enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP within 12 months of the eventual end of the public health emergency and to complete renewals within 14 months.  To help consumers maintain coverage, the guidance emphasizes current rules requiring states to provide a smooth transition to other options for those who may no longer be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.  This letter is part of a series of guidance and tools that outline how states may address the large volume of pending eligibility and enrollment actions that will need to be addressed when they restore routine operations, including terminations of coverage.  It describes how states may distribute eligibility and enrollment work in the post-public health emergency period, mitigate churn for eligible beneficiaries who lose coverage and later reenroll, and smoothly transition individuals between coverage programs.  It reiterates options for states to align work on pending eligibility and enrollment actions after the public health ends and provides that states must initiate, rather than complete, all pending actions during the 12-month unwinding period.  In addition, it informs states that they are at risk of inappropriately terminating coverage for eligible individuals if they plan to initiate a high volume of renewals in a given month and that CMS intends to collect information on all states’ plans to adopt strategies that will promote continuity of coverage and guard against inappropriate terminations.  Learn more from this CMS letter to state Medicaid officials.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has unveiled what it is calling “innovative delivery models” that it hopes will “…provide options that will preserve and increase access to high quality care in areas that may be medically underserved” and “… give rural hospitals flexibility to address historic challenges so they can maintain emergency care in local communities.”  The three models DOH introduced are:
  • Outpatient emergency departments, which DOH defines as “…an outpatient location of a hospital that offers only emergency services and is not located on the grounds of the main licensed hospital.”  Go here for criteria and guidance for implementing outpatient emergency departments.
  • Micro-hospitals, which DOH defines as “…an acute care hospital that offers emergency services and maintains facilities for at least 10 inpatient beds with a narrow scope of inpatient acute care services, such as no surgical services.”  Go here for DOH guidance on operating micro-hospitals.
  • Tele-emergency departments, or tele-EDs, which DOH defines as “…an emergency department in an acute care or critical access hospital that is staffed by Advanced Practice Providers (APP) 24 hours per day/7 days per week with a physician available at all times through telecommunications but not physically present in the emergency department.”  DOH provides guidance on operating tele-EDs here.

Learn more about DOH’s innovative delivery models from the following resources:

In addition, DOH has established a web page for its innovative delivery models.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has published the minutes of the February 24 meeting of its Medical Assistance Advisory Committee.  Find them here.
  • DHS has added a procedure code to the Medical Assistance fee schedule for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests.  Learn about the code, its intended use, and its effective date in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has posted a notice informing presumptive eligibility providers that the income guidelines used to determine presumptive eligibility have been updated effective January 12, 2022 and reminding them that they can make presumptive eligibility decisions for pregnant women.  Find the notice here.
  • DHS has posted a reminder that all enrolled physicians, audiologists, pharmacies, medical suppliers, and outpatient hospital clinics that dispense hearing aid supplies to Medicaid beneficiaries must submit a copy of their renewed DOH certification to MA Provider Enrollment by March 16 to provide and bill DHS for hearing aid supplies.  Find the notice here.
  • DHS has updated its list of participating providers in its Healthy Beginnings Plus program.
  • DHS has updated its Medicaid managed care organization directory.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts have fallen significantly over the past month.  On February 1 the state’s seven-day average of new cases was 5685 cases a day; on March 1 it was 1677 cases a day.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths follows the same downward trend:  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average of deaths was 155 deaths a day on February 1 but was just half that, 78 cases a day, on March 1.
  • The Department of Health also reports that approximately 7.5 percent of all staffed adult ICU beds in the state are occupied by COVID-19 patients this week, down from 9.9 percent last week, and that 24 percent of all ventilators in the state are currently in use, down from 25.8 percent last week.
  • The decline in the number of Pennsylvania counties experiencing a substantial rate of community transmission of COVID-19 – the highest rate – continues.  This past week, Delaware, Lehigh, and Perry counties were all in moderate states of community transmission and 26 other counties – Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Erie, Juniata, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Venango, Washington, Wyoming – were experiencing “only” substantial rates of community transmission.
  • The decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases is reflected in a 70 percent decline from February 1 to March 1 in the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with the virus; a 66 percent decline in the number of patients on ventilators during that same period of time; and a 67 percent month-to-month decline in the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital ICUs.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Health – Advisory Health Board – March 16

The Department of Health’s Advisory Health Board will meet virtually on Wednesday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss programmatic and departmental activities.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Patient Safety Authority – March 17

The Patient Safety Authority will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, March 17 at 1:00 p.m.  Learn how to join the meeting from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – March 30

The Department of Health’s Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.  The agenda will include discussions about board member terms; updates from the Bureau of Family Health and the RUSP workgroup; a discussion on pyruvate dehydrogenase; and updates from the Ethics, Lysosomal Storage Disorders/X-ALD, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemoglobinopathy and Critical Congenital Heart Defects subcommittees.  Learn how to join the meeting in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

2022-03-04T22:18:59+00:00March 4th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Federal Medicaid issues, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of February 28-March 4
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of February 21-25

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of February 25, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Pennsylvania State MapGeneral Assembly

The state House Appropriations Committee continued its FY 2023 budget hearings this week and the Senate Appropriations Committee began its hearings this week.  Hearings will conclude March 17.  A complete schedule of the hearings can be found here.

The Department of Health and Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs are scheduled to appear before the House Appropriations Committee next Thursday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform Medical Assistance providers about updates related to billing and payment for the administration of monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of COVID-19.  This bulletin applies to all physicians, certified registered nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, outpatient hospital clinics, home health agencies, independent medical surgical clinics, pharmacies, and renal dialysis centers enrolled in the Medicaid program who are authorized to administer monoclonal antibody therapies to Medicaid beneficiaries in the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system.  Providers rendering services in the Medicaid managed care delivery system should address any coding and billing questions to the appropriate managed care organization.  Learn more from this Medical Assistance Bulletin.

The Department of Human Services has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinics (RHC) that it is implementing an alternative payment methodology to pay the Medical Assistance program fee schedule rate for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines during COVID-19 vaccine-only visit for dates of service on and after December 1, 2020 and that it will pay the enhanced Medicaid program fee schedule rate for the administration of those vaccines to homebound Medicaid beneficiaries during vaccine-only visits for dates of service on and after April 1, 2021.  Find the bulletin here.

Department of Health

Ninety-five percent of all Pennsylvanians ages 18 and older have had at least one COVID-19 vaccination and 76.2 percent ages 18 and older are now fully vaccinated, the Department of Health reports.

The Department of Health has updated its guidance on when people should receive COVID-19 vaccines and the appropriate intervals between primary doses and between primary doses and boosters.  The update is based on recent CDC guidance.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has announced more than $15 million in grant funding for stabilization payments to substance use disorder treatment providers to assist with pandemic-related expenses.  Through 108 grant agreements, 375 substance use disorder treatment provider locations will receive funding.  All eligible applicants that applied were awarded funding.  Learn more about the purpose of the funding and find a link to a list of organizations awarded grants in this department news release.

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has posted a new FAQ for providers that combines questions from previous American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) level-of-care-specific FAQ documents along with questions received through the ASAM Transition email account and technical assistance meetings with providers and stakeholders.  Find the new FAQ here.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts remain high but fell significantly again over the past week.  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average yesterday (February 24) was 2294 cases day; a week ago (February 17) its seven-day average was 3159 cases a day.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths also declined again over the past week.  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average yesterday (February 24) was 65 deaths a day; a week ago (February 10) its seven-day average was 83 deaths a day.
  • The Department of Health reports that the percentage of available adult ICU beds fell from 22 percent to 19.6 percent during the past week and the percentage of available pediatric ICU beds fell from 8.5 percent to 7.7 percent over the same period of time, leaving just 30 unoccupied pediatric ICU beds in the state.
  • The Department of Health also reports that approximately 9.9 percent of all staffed adult ICU beds in the state are occupied by COVID-19 patients this week, down from 12.7 percent last week, and that 25.8 percent of all ventilators in the state are currently in use, down from 26.6 percent last week.
  • For the first time in recent months, all 67 Pennsylvania counties are not experiencing high rates of COVID-19 transmission:  Sullivan County is experiencing a moderate rate of community transmission and Carbon, Delaware, Dauphin, Lehigh, Monroe, and Snyder counties are “only” experiencing substantial rates of community transmission.
  • The decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases is reflected in a 65 percent decline since February 1 in the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with the virus and a 28 percent decline over the past week.  The number of people on ventilators has fallen 60 percent since the first of the month and 23 percent in the past week and the number in ICUs has fallen 63 percent since the first of February and 30 percent over the past seven days.

Stakeholder Events

DHS – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – March 1

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and support (MLTSS) subcommittee will meet virtually on Tuesday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m.  Go here to register to participate.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – RFI on Medicaid and CHIP – March 1

On February 17, CMS published a request for information on access to care and coverage for people enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.  On Tuesday, March 1 at 3:30 p.m. (eastern) the agency will hold a webinar discuss with stakeholders its objectives in issuing the RFI and the process for submitting responses.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Health – Advisory Health Board – March 16

The Department of Health’s Advisory Health Board will meet virtually on Wednesday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss programmatic and departmental activities.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

2022-02-25T21:28:43+00:00February 25th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of February 21-25
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of February 7-11

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of February 7-11, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Proposed State FY 2023 Budget

This week Governor Wolf proposed his state budget for FY 2023.  Pennsylvania will go into FY 2023 with a budget surplus of approximately $3 billion and more than $2 billion in unspent federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.  Health care highlights include a $91 million increase in Medicaid rates for skilled nursing facilities; a $37 million increase in funding for county mental health services; and $325 million in ARPA fund spending for long-term care recruitment and retention, health care workforce development, behavioral health workforce expansion, and loan forgiveness for critical care workers (highlighted here).

The proposed state funding for the Department of Human Services is nearly $4 billion more than the current fiscal year’s total, though much of that reflects increased spending attributable to the loss of enhanced federal matching funds.  Proposed spending increases include:

  • rate increases for HealthChoices, Community HealthChoices, and CHIP managed care plans
  • increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits
  • increased supplemental payments to personal care homes
  • increased county mental health funding
  • reducing the waiting list for intellectual disability services
  • expanding court-appointed child special advocates
  • expanding access to evidence-based home visiting programs (for parents of young children).

The budget also assumes a slight decrease in Medicaid spending attributable to the expectation that once the COVID-19 public health emergency officially ends states will be required to redetermine eligibility for the program – they are not permitted to do this during the emergency in exchange for additional federal assistance – and that Pennsylvania’s Medicaid enrollment will then be reduced.  The budget assumes a smaller increase in CHIP spending for the same reason.

For further information, find Wolf administration budget documents here and a summary of the proposed Department of Human Services budget here.

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf signed House Bill 1082 into law on Wednesday following its unanimous passage by the House and Senate.  Act 9 of 2022 directs the Department of Health to establish and maintain an “Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease or a Related Disorder” toolkit that includes best practices and cognitive assessment tools, including the use of appropriate diagnostics, to assist the primary care workforce with the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and care planning for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.  It also makes a technical change in the definition of “High Medical Assistance hospital” in Act 2 (House Bill 253) to align it with the legislation’s original intent.

Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 739 following its unanimous passage in the House and Senate.  Act 10 of 2022 appropriates $25 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support Pennsylvania’s emergency management services (EMS) companies.  A press release issued by the governor’s office can be viewed here.

General Assembly

  • The state House and Senate convened for voting session this week.  The following is a selection of health-related bills that received consideration.
    • House Bill 1440 passed on third and final consideration by a vote of 132 to 67.  This bill provides for the regulation and licensure of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.  It will now be sent to the Senate.
    • House Bill 19, which creates professional licensure for behavior analysts, passed on third and final consideration by a vote of 134-66.  The bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.
  • The House Health Committee convened on Monday, February 7 and favorably reported House Bill 1741, which allows for the prescribing and dispensing of off-label drugs to treat COVID-19, and House Bill 1693, which requires nursing home residents to be notified at the time of their admission that they have the option of having legal representation to assist with applying for Medicaid benefits.
  • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee met on Wednesday, February 9 and favorably reported Senate Bill 1057, which enables pharmacists to be reimbursed for administering COVID-19 antigen tests.
  • The House Appropriations Committee will begin budget hearings next Tuesday, February 15.  The Senate Appropriations Committee will begin budget hearings the following week, on February 22.  The hearing schedules can be viewed here.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin informing providers that Chartwell Pennsylvania will be the preferred specialty pharmacy in the Medicaid fee-for-service specialty pharmacy drug program effective July 1 and explaining to providers how to access drugs included in that program.  The bulletin applies to pharmacies and prescribers enrolled in Medicaid that serve participants in the fee-for-service delivery system.  Find the bulletin here.
  • DHS has updated the Medicaid program fee schedule to include a CPT code for dispensing the oral antiviral therapeutics Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use) and molnupiravir capsules for treatment of COVID-19.  Learn more, including the new CPT code, in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice, which also includes information about submitting comments in response to this action.  Such comments are due within 30 days.
  • DHS has released the minutes of the January 27 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee meeting.  Find them here.

Department of Health

The Department of Health (DOH) has updated its infection prevention and control recommendations for health care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The update reflects a recent revision in the CDC’s guidance.  Find the state update here.

DOH has updated its information about state-sponsored COVID-19 testing sites in Berks, Blair, Centre, Clinton, Clearfield, Fayette, Monroe, Somerset, and Venango counties and its map of additional testing sites around the state.  Learn more in this DOH news release.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts remain very high but fell significantly again over the past week.  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average yesterday (February 10) was 5163 cases day; a week ago (February 3) its seven-day average was 8512 cases a day.
  • To date, Pennsylvania has experienced more than 2.7 million cases of confirmed or probable COVID-19.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths also remains very high but declined slightly over the past week.  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average yesterday (February 10) was 119 deaths a day; a week ago (February 3) its seven-day average was 135 deaths a day.
  • To date, more than 42,000 Pennsylvanians have died from COVID-19.
  • The Department of Health reports that the percentage of available adult ICU beds rose from 18.9 percent to 23.6 percent during the past week but the percentage of available pediatric ICU beds fell slightly, from 14.4 percent to 14 percent, over the same period of time.
  • The Department of Health also reports that that in approximately 17.3 percent of all staffed adult ICU beds are COVID-19 patients this week, down from 22.1 percent last week, and that 27.6 percent of all ventilators in the state are currently in use, down from 30.6 percent last week.
  • All 67 Pennsylvania counties continue to experience a high rate of COVID-19 transmission.
  • The decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases is reflected in a 36 percent decline over since February 1 in the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with the virus.  The number of people on ventilators also has fallen 36 21 percent since the first of the month and the number in ICUs has fallen 37 percent.

Stakeholder Events

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Community Prevention Planning Committee – February 16 and 17

The Statewide HIV Planning Group will hold virtual public meetings on Wednesday, February 16 and Thursday, February 17, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Learn more about the meetings and how to participate from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – March 1

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and support (MLTSS) subcommittee will meet virtually on Tuesday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m.  Go here to register to participate.

 

2022-02-11T21:54:18+00:00February 11th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, HealthChoices, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of February 7-11
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PA Health Law Project Newsletter

The Pennsylvania Health Law Project has published its January 2022 newsletter Health Law News.

Included in this month’s issue are articles about:

  • The implications of the federal extension of the COVID-19 public health emergency for the state’s Medicaid program.
  • Changes the state is planning for its HealthChoices program later this year.
  • The planned extension of Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities Program.
  • An increase in the income limit for participation in the state’s PACENET program that provides financial assistance for prescription drug purchases for low-income seniors.

Read about these subjects and more in the Pennsylvania Health Law Project’s January 2022 newsletter.

 

2022-01-31T18:58:51+00:00February 1st, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, HealthChoices, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Law Project Newsletter
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  • 2020 Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania

Home / About Us / Advocacy / Why Join? / SNAPShots / Contact Us

  • P: (717) 234-6970

  • 2020 Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania

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