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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 31-February 4

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of January 31-February 4, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

As part of a preview of the budget proposal Governor Wolf will deliver to the legislature on Tuesday, February 8, his office has issued a news release  announcing “…his $1.7 billion plan to help Pennsylvania fully recover from the pandemic and pave the way for a successful future with support for families and workers, small businesses, the healthcare system, and statewide community revitalization through the American Rescue Plan​ Act (ARPA).”  Included in that news release is the following:

Support for Pennsylvania’s Healthcare System, $325 million

This investment would recognize healthcare workers for their heroic dedication and hard work throughout the pandemic and give healthcare providers resources to recruit and retain a skilled workforce​:

    • $250 million for long-term care recruitment and retention incentives and workforce development initiatives to grow the critical healthcare workforce​;
    • $40 million for the behavioral health workforce to expand county mental health programs; and 
    • $35 million to expand the student loan forgiveness program at PHEAA to include additional critical healthcare workers.

Redistricting Update

This afternoon the Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 4-1 to approve new state House and Senate legislative district maps.  The final maps can be viewed here.  Pennsylvanians who are “aggrieved” by the approved maps have one month to appeal them to the Supreme Court, which has the authority to send the maps back to the commission.  Earlier this week the state Supreme Court assumed responsibility for drawing the state’s congressional district map.

House Chamber of the State HouseGeneral Assembly

  • The General Assembly will be in session next Monday (2/7), Tuesday (2/8), and Wednesday (2/9).
  • The state House and Senate will convene for a joint session on Tuesday (2/8) for Governor Wolf’s final budget address.
  • The House of Representatives is planning to consider the following health-related bills on second and third consideration next week.  Please note that this list is subject to change.
    • House Bill 1440, which provides for the regulation and licensure of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.
    • House Bill 19, which creates professional licensure for behavior analysts.
    • Senate Bill 1019, which addresses COVID-19 regulatory waivers and suspensions.
  • The House Health Committee will convene on Monday, February 7 to consider House Bill 1741, which allows for the prescribing and dispensing of off-label drugs approved by the FDA to treat coronavirus infections, 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.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to notify providers that the Medical Assistance program will pay for FDA-authorized over-the-counter COVID-19 tests provided to Medical Assistance beneficiaries, effective with dates of service on and after August 30, 2021.  This bulletin applies to Medical Assistance-enrolled pharmacies that serve Medical Assistance beneficiaries.  Providers serving Medical Assistance beneficiaries in physical health HealthChoices or Community HealthChoices should address any billing and payment questions with the applicable managed care organization.  Learn more from this Medical Assistance Bulletin.
  • DHS has published notice of its final $255.556 million funding allocation for various FY 2022 disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments.  DHS is not otherwise changing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for any of these payments.  Learn more in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • Thirty Pennsylvania counties have received nearly $28 million in federal funding to enhance their behavioral health programs.  Administered through DHS, this one-time funding consists of money granted to states through the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 combined with funds from Pennsylvania’s annual Community Mental Health Services Block Grant award.  The grants will target specific state priorities, including mobile crisis mental health services, telehealth, student assistance programs, start-up funding for residential treatment services and assisted outpatient treatment, and additional crisis services projects.  These projects include walk-in and remote crisis supports, expanding crisis, respite, and residential care capacity, and enhanced collaboration with law enforcement to assist with crisis response.  Learn more about the services this funding will support and which counties received grants from this news release.
  • DHS has circulated a briefing document on pharmacy prior authorization for sedative hypnotics when prescribed for Medical Assistance beneficiaries and has invited stakeholder comment.  Comments are due by February 8 and should be sent in MS Word to c-bstarr@pa.gov.
  • DHS has published a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin announcing its final annual case-mix per diem payment rates for FY 2022 for non-public and county nursing facilities that participate in the Medical Assistance program.
  • DHS has published its latest “Monthly Physical Health Managed Care Enrollment Report,” which updates the report to include January 2022 enrollment data.

Department of Health

  • Leaders of the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) announced that they would establish four long-term care regional support sites to relieve pressure on hospitals and skilled nursing facilities due to a high number of patients with COVID-19.  Each facility will receive clinical and non-clinical support staff to open up to 30 beds to allow for more rapid discharge of patients from hospitals, when clinically safe to do so, freeing additional acute care space to meet COVID-19 demands.  A staffing firm will provide clinical staff, including RNs, LPNs and CNAs; the Pennsylvania National Guard will provide non-clinical staffing to support the facilities’ existing staff; and PEMA will assist with coordination.  The four regional support sites will open at the following skilled nursing facilities:  Vincentian Home in Pittsburgh; Lutheran Home in Hollidaysburg, Blair County; Springs at the Watermark in Philadelphia; and Clarview Nursing Home and Rehabilitation in Sligo, Clarion County.  Learn more from this news release.
  • DOH this week established new COVID-19 testing sites in Clearfield, Fayette, Monroe, Somerset, and Venango counties, joining previous sites it opened in Berks, Blair, Centre, and Clinton counties.  Learn more about individual clinic locations and hours in this DOH news release.
  • DOH has posted information about two options for DHS-certified child care facilities to report positive COVID-19 cases.

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 3) was 8512 cases day; a week ago (January 27) its seven-day average was 14,025 cases a day.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths also remains very high but declined over the past week.  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average yesterday (February 3) was 135 deaths a day; a week ago (January 27) its seven-day average was 166 deaths a day.
  • The Department of Health reports that the percent of available adult and pediatric ICU beds in the state rose to 18.9 percent and 14.4 percent, respectively; that in approximately 22.1 percent of all staffed adult ICU beds are COVID-19 patients; and that 30.6 percent of all ventilators state-wide are in use.
  • 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 25 percent decline over the past week in the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with the virus.  The number of people on ventilators fell 21 percent over the past week and the number in ICUs fell 25 percent.

Stakeholder Events

Public Health Advisory Council – February 7

The Public Health Advisory Council hold a virtual meeting on Monday, February 7 at 11:30 a.m.

to discuss the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant work plan.  The meeting will be held by phone.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

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.

2022-02-04T21:42:47+00:00February 4th, 2022|COVID-19, Medicaid supplemental payments, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 31-February 4
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 24-28

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of January 24-28, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

  • The General Assembly enacted House Bill 253 (Act 2), providing $225 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding to support health care professionals on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in hospitals and behavioral health care facilities.  The breakdown of the funding is as follows:
    • $100 million for one-time payments to hospitals for making retention and recruitment payments to qualified staff.
    • $110 million for one-time payments to behavioral health providers, critical access hospitals, and high Medical Assistance hospitals for making retention and recruitment payments to qualified staff.
    • $15 million to be used by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to fund the Pennsylvania Student Loan Relief for Nurses Program.

A press release issued by Republican leaders of the General Assembly that quotes several health systems can be found here.  A press released issued by Governor Wolf can be found here.

  • The Senate passed Senate Bill 927, which expands eligibility for the Medical Officer Health Incentive Program.  The bill was received in the House and referred to the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee.
  • The Senate Health and Human Services Committee convened this week and favorably reported the following bills.
    • Senate Bill 152, which provides direction to the Department of Human Services on how to distribute funding intended for women’s health and family planning services.
    • Senate Bill 956, a constitutional amendment that clarifies that there is not a right to an abortion or abortion funding in the state constitution.
    • House Bill 1420, which directs the Department of Human Services to establish a public awareness campaign to provide information about the programs and services available for first responders, health care workers, and other frontline workers suffering from mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Senate Aging and Youth Committee favorably reported the following bills this week.
    • Senate Bill 936, which mandates the reporting and tracking of infants born with an addiction to opioids or other illegal substances.
    • House Bill 996, which requires the departments of Human Services and Health to establish protocols to permit residents of long-term-care facilities to receive visits by a member of the clergy during a disaster emergency.
    • House Bill 1737, which enables a county children and youth agency to petition the court for an order to compel a drug screening when there is evidence that substance use may be a contributing cause of child abuse or neglect.
  • The House Professional Licensure Committee convened and favorably reported the following bills this week.
    • House Bill 19, which establishes professional licensure for behavioral analysts.
    • House Bill 1440, which provides for the regulation and licensure of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.
    • House Bill 1862, which preserves the COVID-19 regulatory waiver that authorizes physicians with an institutional license in a teaching hospital to serve patients at more than just two facilities in a health system.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has mailed letters to hospitals potentially eligible for FY 2021-22 OB/NICU DSH payments requesting verification of their current licensure status.  Courtesy electronic notification also was sent to contacts on file on January 26.  To verify that they meet the criteria for inclusion in the payment program, hospitals must sign and return the attestation form to RA-pwdshpymt@pa.gov by Friday, 2/25/22.  Any Pennsylvania hospitals that are currently licensed to provide obstetric or neonatal services and did not receive a notification should contact DHS at RA-pwdshpymt@pa.gov.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform pharmacies of the addition of procedure code S5001 to the Medical Assistance Program fee schedule for dispensing oral antiviral treatments with FDA emergency use authorization for the treatment of COVID-19
    and providing instructions for pharmacies on how to submit claims for dispensing these treatments.  Learn more in this Medical Assistance Bulletin.
  • DHS has announced that it will add Aduhelm (aducanumab) and complement inhibitors to the Medical Assistance Program’s list of services and items requiring prior authorization.
  • DHS has published its latest “Monthly Physical Health Managed Care Enrollment Report.”  The new report includes the first look at October 2021 Medicaid managed care enrollment data.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has posted a notice on its message board that it will provide direct access to COVID-19 therapeutics to residents of long-term-care facilities. With the recent approval of oral antiviral medications for COVID-19 (Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s molnupiravir), DOH is holding product in strategic reserve for residents of long-term-care facilities and others in congregate care settings.  Paxlovid and molnupiravir are authorized for use in individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and are at high-risk for severe disease progression.  Upon receipt of a request for medication, supply permitting, DOH will ship the product the same day or the next day to the requesting facility.  Due to the nature of the medications, this product is only appropriate for residents within five days of the onset of symptoms.  Go here to request these oral antiviral medications from DOH.
  • DOH has issued an update of its recommendations for return to work for health care workers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
  • DOH has updated its guidance on work restrictions for health care workers who have been exposed to COVID-19.
  • DOH has announced changes to hospitalization data reporting on its Corvena platform to align with federal reporting requirements.  The new data fields must be completed beginning February 2 and daily thereafter.  Click here to download a Word file announcing these changes and download the Corvena data dictionary here (Excel).
  • DOH has deployed the first state-directed health care strike team to Grand View Health in Bucks County.  The team includes 10 registered nurses provided through GHR Healthcare under a contract with the Department of Health.  Learn more about the strike team concept and how it works and what this group will do at Grand View Health in this Department of Health news release.
  • DOH has introduced two new resources to help skilled nursing facilities encourage their residents and staff to receive COVID-19 vaccines and boosters:  a document on best practices and a vaccine and booster fact sheet.
  • DOH has adopted the new federal CDC standard for blood lead reference value (BLRV) from 5 μg/dL to 3.5 μg/dL.  The department explains why it adopted this new standard and what it means in this health advisory notice.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

Stakeholder Events

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – February 2

The DHS Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports subcommittee will meet virtually on Wednesday, February 2 at 10:00 a.m.  Interested parties can join the meeting here or call in at 914-614-3221, access code 300-175-489.

Organ Donation Advisory Committee – February 3

The Organ Donation Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, February 3 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  The purpose of this meeting is 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, and advise the acting secretary on matters relating to the administration of this fund.  Learn more about the meeting and how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Office of Long-Term Living – Financial Management Services Stakeholder Meeting – February 4

The DHS Office of Long-Term Living’s financial management services stakeholder group will hold a virtual public meeting on Friday, February 4 at 1:00 p.m. to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of financial management services under the Community HealthChoices, OBRA                      Waiver, and Act 150 programs.  Go here to participate or join by phone at 1-408-418-9388.

Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board – February 4

The Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Friday, February 4 at 10:00 a.m.  For information about the board, the meeting, and how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Public Health Advisory Council – February 7

The Public Health Advisory Council hold a virtual meeting on Monday, February 7 at 11:30 a.m.

to discuss the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant work plan.  The meeting will be held by phone.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

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.

2022-01-28T22:39:08+00:00January 28th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, DSH hospitals, Medicaid supplemental payments, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania Medical Assistance|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 24-28
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 3-7

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of January 3-7, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf announced that the state is organizing regional support sites for both hospitals and long-term-care facilities and strike teams to support hospitals facing staffing shortages.  The effort, to be coordinated by the Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, will include the following major components:

  • Critical capacity support through the launch of regional support sites for Pennsylvania hospitals suffering from a lack of beds or staffing to meet inpatient needs.  Hospitals struggling to meet inpatient demands will have the opportunity to transfer patients to ​hospitals within these regional sites for care.  Each regional site will have increased capacity for approximately 60 days beginning in February, supported by medical support staff including physicians, respiratory therapists, and registered nurses.
  • Staffing support that will be sent directly to hospitals from the Department of Health based on identified need.  Staffing resources may include physicians, respiratory therapists, and registered nurses for short-term deployments over the next three months.
  • Expanded long-term-care capacity through the launch of regional sites to allow for more rapid discharge of patients by hospitals.  Each site will increase the state’s capacity to support long-term-care residents with additional medical staff, including registered nurses and aides.

Go here to see the announcement from the governor’s office.

General Assembly

  • The House of Representatives will hold voting session during the week of January 10 on Monday (1/10), Tuesday (1/11), and Wednesday (1/12).
  • House Bill 1280, which amends the Patient Test Result Information Act, is scheduled for second consideration on Monday and third consideration on Tuesday.  This bill would eliminate the definition of “significant abnormality” and revise the written notice requirement for health care providers in an effort to provide clarity and eliminate conflicting interpretations of the act.
  • The House Health Committee is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, January 11 at 9:30 a.m. to consider, among other bills, House Bill 1630, which would grant the Pennsylvania Auditor General the authority to audit managed care contracts and subcontracts with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Medicaid.  The committee also will consider Senate Bill 780, which would create public awareness of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and provide for CMV screening for certain newborns.

State Revenue Collection

The Revenue Department announced that Pennsylvania collected $3.8 billion in General Fund revenue in the month of December – $464.3 million, or 13.7 percent, more than projected.  Year-to-date General Fund revenue collections total $22.6 billion, which is $1.5 billion, or 7.0 percent, above estimate.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin explaining that Medicaid will pay pharmacies for the administration of vaccines to Medicaid beneficiaries by licensed pharmacists effective November 1, 2021.  The bulletin also provides instructions for pharmacies to submit claims for the administration of vaccines by pharmacists to Medicaid fee-for-service beneficiaries.  Find the bulletin here.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has issued revised guidance, applicable to the general population in a community setting, about who needs isolation or quarantine because of a diagnosis of COVID-19 or contact with someone who has been diagnosed with or is suspected of having COVID-19 and how long that isolation or quarantine must last.  Find that guidance here.
  • DOH has updated its recommended work restrictions for health care workers based on vaccination status and type of exposure.
  • DOH has recirculated a series of long-term care-specific vaccine materials that long-term-care facilities can use in their efforts to comply with federal requirements for staff vaccination.  Find the vaccine outreach toolkit here and an accompanying fact sheet here.
  • DOH has updated its long-term-care facilities COVID-19 visitation guidance FAQ.  Find it here.  (Note:  this link opens to a downloadable file.)
  • DOH has issued an alert about an outbreak of  hepatitis A in southeastern Pennsylvania.  The alert includes instructions for providers about diagnosing the condition, preserving laboratory samples, and reporting diagnosed cases to the state.
  • DOH has introduced changes in Lyme disease surveillance requirements and testing practices and has shared these changes with providers in this health alert.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts are higher than they have been at any time since the pandemic began.  The state’s total of 29,026 new cases on Thursday, January 6 was the highest single-day total since the pandemic began, breaking a new record set the previous day.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths remains high.
  • To date, Pennsylvania has had 1.8 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, nearly 400,000 cases that have been classified as “probably” COVID-19, and 37,500 deaths attributed to the disease.
  • All 67 Pennsylvania counties continue to experience a high rate of COVID-19 transmission.
  • From December 1 through December 31, the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19 rose 33 percent; the number in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19 rose 12 percent; and the number on ventilators because of the virus rose 23 percent.
  • This situation is reflected in the high rate of occupancy in the state’s hospitals.  There currently are only 477 unoccupied adult ICU beds – 13.4 percent of the total of such beds in the state; 2026 unoccupied medical/surgical beds – 10 percent of such beds; 41 unoccupied pediatric ICU beds (11 percent); 239 unoccupied pediatric beds (21.9 percent); and 912 unoccupied airborne isolation beds (28.4).
  • On January 4 the Department of Health elaborated on some of these figures, reporting that approximately 28 percent of all staffed adult ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients and that 32 percent of all ventilators state-wide are in use.
  • Media reports confirm the challenges some communities and hospitals are facing, including limited numbers of hospital beds, staffing challenges, and difficulty getting enough COVID-19 testing materials.  For examples, see these reports about conditions in the Philadelphia area (here, here, and here), the Pittsburgh area (here and here), and central Pennsylvania.
  • According to the CDC, as of Thursday, December 30, 74.1 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

Stakeholder Events

Health Research Advisory Committee – January 10

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 2:30 pm via Microsoft Teams at (267) 332-8737 with Conference ID: 994 021 882#.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Medical Marijuana Advisory Board – January 27

The Medical Marijuana Advisory Board will hold virtual meetings on the following days at 10:00 am:  Thursday, January 27, 2022; Tuesday, March 22, 2022; Thursday, May 26, 2022; Thursday, July 28, 2022; Tuesday, September 27, 2022; and Tuesday, November 22, 2022.  These virtual meetings will be broadcasted live for the public through Commonwealth Media Services. Check www.medicalmarijuana.pa.gov and click on the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board tab for live streaming information the day of the virtual meeting.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – January 27

The Statewide Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council will hold a public teleconference meeting on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 10 am.  To participate dial in by location at (412) 648-8888 or (866) 588-4789.  The meeting ID is 487 872 318#.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

2022-01-07T21:14:24+00:00January 7th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 3-7
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 29-December 3

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of November 29 to December 3, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf has announced a plan to spend approximately $1.2 billion in American Rescue Plan Act federal funding to support Medicaid’s home and community-based services (HCBS) system, giving more Pennsylvanians access to critical services in their communities.  This temporary funding enhancement will be directed toward Medicaid-funded essential care services to seniors, adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, adults with behavioral health needs such as substance use disorder or mental illness, and children with chronic complex medical needs.  The American Rescue Plan Act provides states with a temporary, one-year, 10 percent increase in the rate at which the federal government matches state spending for certain Medicaid-covered home and community-based services.  To learn more about how Pennsylvania plans to spend this money, see this Wolf administration news release.  For more on Pennsylvania’s plan, go here.  A week after this announcement, the federal government approved the state’s plan for using this money, as the Department of Human Services reported to stakeholders.

General Assembly

The House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing this week examining the health care staffing crisis.  Representatives from the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), Penn State Health, Geisinger, the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA), SEIU Healthcare, and the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association testified.  Hearing testimony and a video recording may be viewed here.

Two members of the General Assembly – House majority leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Mifflin) and Representative Mark Gillen (R-Berks) – have tested positive for COVID-19.

Financial paperworkState Revenue Update

Revenue collections continue to exceed estimates. The Department of Revenue reported this week that Pennsylvania collected $6.6 billion in General Fund revenue in November, which was $217.9 million, or 3.4 percent, more than anticipated.  For the year to date Pennsylvania has collected $18.7 billion in General Fund revenue, which is $1.0 billion, or 5.7 percent, above estimate.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has published a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin explaining that it intends to allocate $106.130 million in total funds for disproportionate share hospital payments (Medicaid DSH payments) to qualifying acute-care general hospitals that provide enhanced access to multiple types of medical care in economically distressed areas of the state and $88.994 million in total funds for supplemental payments to qualifying acute-care general hospitals that treat a high volume of opioid use disorder patients in their emergency rooms.  Go here to see the Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin updating its dental fee schedule.  The update is effective as of August 23, 2021.

Department of Health

The state Supreme Court has temporarily restored the Department of Health’s (DOH) order requiring students, teachers, and staff to wear masks in Pennsylvania school districts.  Read the court’s ruling here.  The ruling only put a hold on Commonwealth Court’s decision to issue a stay of the order; the Supreme Court will still need to consider the governor’s appeal of the Commonwealth Court decision.

DOH has established new walk-in COVID-19 testing sites in Berks, Centre, Clinton, Crawford, Jefferson, and Susquehanna counties.  Learn more from this news release.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts are on the rise in Pennsylvania.  Wednesday’s 7606 new cases and Thursday’s 9143 new cases are the highest single-day totals in the state since the second week of January.  To date, more than 1.75 million Pennsylvanians have contracted COVID-19.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths remains high.  To date, more than 33,000 Pennsylvanians have died from COVID-19.
  • All 67 Pennsylvania counties continue to experience a high rate of COVID-19 transmission.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19, in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19, and on ventilators because of the virus, all of which declined during the first two weeks of November, rose significantly during the last two weeks of the month.  As the month came to a close, COVID-19 related hospitalizations were up 43 percent over the beginning of the month, ventilator cases were up 32 percent, and COVID-19 patients in hospital ICUs also were up 32 percent.
  • 231,000 Pennsylvanians were recorded as completing a vaccine regimen during the month of November.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs released Policy Bulletin 21-05, which documents modifications to the Standard General Terms & Conditions, Fiscal and Operations Manual, and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG) provisions.

Stakeholder Events

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – December 8

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s consumer subcommittee will meet virtually on Wednesday, December 8 at 1:00 p.m.  Go here to register to participate.

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – December 9

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, December 9 at 10:00 a.m.  Go here to register for the web event.

Patient Safety Authority – December 9

The Patient Safety Authority will hold a virtual public meeting of its board on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 1 p.m.  Go here for information about registering and participating.

2021-12-03T22:12:20+00:00December 3rd, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, DSH hospitals, Medicaid supplemental payments, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 29-December 3
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 8-12

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of November 8-12, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf announced his intention to return the decision on mask requirements in K-12 schools to local leaders on January 17, 2022.  It may not take that long, though:  as the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court “…has struck down the state’s school mask mandate, ruling that acting Health Secretary Alison Beam didn’t have the authority to issue the requirement under the state’s Disease Control and Prevention Law.”  The Department of Health is appealing the court’s decision.

House Chamber of the State HouseGeneral Assembly

  • The House of Representatives passed House Bill 1561 and House Bill 1563 on third and final consideration this week.  These bills amend the Mental Health Procedures Act and the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act, respectively, to align them with HIPAA and give providers, facilities, and insurers the ability to more easily share patient mental health and substance use disorder treatment information.  Both bills were sent to the Senate and referred to its Health & Human Services Committee.
  • The Senate Majority Policy Committee held an informational meeting this week to examine COVID-19 vaccine mandates and their impact on the workforce.  Testimony offered at the hearing and a video recording may be viewed here.
  • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee met twice this week and favorably reported the following bills:
    • Senate Bill 471, which prohibits the implementation of COVID-19 vaccine mandates;
    • House Bill 220, which specifies that a person does not need to test positive for drugs to begin addiction treatment; and
    • Senate Bill 938, which clarifies the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ ability to promulgate rules and regulations and makes them subject to the regulatory review process, including publication, notice, and comment.

Recordings of both committee meetings may be viewed here.

  • The Senate Aging & Youth Committee favorably reported House Bill 1260, which increases the maximum income eligibility limits for PACENET from $27,500 to $33,500 for individuals and from $35,500 to $41,500 for married couples.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services has issued updated requirements on the information needed to evaluate prior authorization requests for certain medications, based on actions taken by its Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee during its September 14 meeting:

Department of Health

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a health advisory echoing the federal decision that a pediatric formulation of the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children from the ages of five to 11.

DOH has announced that information on schools participating in a free and voluntary COVID-19 screening testing program, which is available through a partnership with the company Gingko Bioworks, is now available on its web site.  Go here for the DOH announcement and here for information about the program.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The general downward trend in new daily COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania halted over the past week with several days of more than 5000 new cases.  The state’s total number of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic surpassed 1.6 million this week – a figure that represents approximately 12 percent of the state’s population.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths remains high.  196 new deaths were reported on Wednesday – the highest single-day figure since late January.  This week Pennsylvania surpassed 32,000 COVID-19-related deaths.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19 has fallen five percent since the beginning of November; the number in hospital ICUs has fallen nine percent; and the number on ventilators because of the virus has fallen 11 percent.
  • 72.8 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated – more than 6.5 million people.  70,000 Pennsylvanians were recorded as completing a vaccine regimen in the past week.

Stakeholder Events

Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board – November 15

The Department of Aging’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, November 15, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.  To participate virtually or by phone, go here for further information.

Health Research Advisory Committee – November 15

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Monday, November 15 at 1:00 p.m.  For information on how to attend virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board – November 16

The Department of Health’s Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board, which is charged with administering the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, November 16 at 10:00 a.m.  For information on how to attend virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – November 18

The Department of Health’s Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m.  For information on how to attend virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee Meeting – December 2

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports subcommittee will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, December 2 at 10:00 a.m.  To register to participate, go here.

2021-11-12T22:01:57+00:00November 12th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 8-12
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 1-5

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of November 1-5, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

The Wolf administration announced that “Pennie,” the state’s new health insurance exchange, has now begun operations as this year’s Affordable Care Act open enrollment period begins.  Find Pennie here.

General Assembly

  • The House and Senate will be in session next week on Monday (10/8), Tuesday (10/9), and Wednesday (10/10).  The following health care-related committee meetings have been scheduled:
    • The Senate Majority Policy Committee will hold an informational meeting on Monday, November 8 at 10:00 a.m. to examine COVID-19 vaccine mandates and their impact on the workforce.  The hearing will be live-streamed here.
    • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee will convene on Monday, November 8 at 12:30 p.m. to consider Senate Bill 471, which prohibits the mandatory vaccination of Pennsylvania residents by the state or as a condition of employment.  The committee will also consider House Bill 220, which specifies that a person does not need to test positive for drugs to begin addiction treatment.
    • The Senate Aging & Youth Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 9 at 12:00 p.m. to consider, among other bills, House Bill 1260, which increases the maximum income eligibility limits for PACENET from $27,500 to $33,500 for individuals and from $35,500 to $41,500 for married couples.
  • The House of Representatives is planning to consider a few key behavioral health bills next week, including House Bill 1561 and House Bill 1563, which amend the Mental Health Procedures Act and the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act, respectively, to align them with HIPAA and give providers, facilities, and insurers the ability to more easily share patient mental health and substance use disorder treatment information.  The House is also planning to consider House Bill 1308, which enables local communities and agencies to establish overdose fatality review teams.

Department of Human Services

This communication is intended for Department of Human Services (DHS) Sandata Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) and DHS Aggregator users for informational purposes regarding how the DHS Aggregator will be handling the end of Daylight Savings Time (DST) which is set to occur at 2:00 AM this Sunday, November 7, 2021.

For scheduled and completed visits that occur during or crossover the end of DST, the scheduling hours will appear to be short by an hour. This is expected behavior since DHS Aggregator times are calculated based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Provider agencies and/or administrators should not adjust visit times related to DST. Visits during this event will continue to be calculated based on the actual visit times so there are no issues with billing requirements.  

Any questions related to this can be submitted to RA-PWEVVNOTICE@pa.gov

Department of Health

The Department of Health has rescinded a May 26, 2021 order that required skilled nursing facilities to make weekly reports of specified data on supplies and equipment.  The department has launched a new data dashboard with facility-level COVID-19 resident and staff cases, deaths, and vaccination rates that uses data that nursing homes are already required to report to the federal government.  The Survey 123 reporting requirement was eliminated effective October 29, 2021.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • While there has been a modest downward trend in new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, the past two days have seen the two highest single-day counts of new cases since mid-October.
  • Approximately 32,710 of the state’s total cases to date have been among health care workers.
  • The number of COVID-19 cases among school-aged children (between 5-18 years old) is nearly three times greater this year than in 2020.  Between October 27 and November 2, 2020 there were 1,683 COVID-19 cases in school-aged children compared to 4,918 cases in the same age group during the same week this year.
  • In licensed nursing and personal care homes there have been 79,250 resident cases of COVID-19 to date and 17,449 cases among employees for a total of 96,699 at 1,642 facilities in all 67 counties.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths remains high but did not rise during the past week.
  • Sixty-six of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties currently are experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19; Philadelphia County is experiencing “only” a substantial rate of community transmission.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized, in hospital ICUs, and on ventilators because of COVID-19 has fallen slightly since the first of the month.
  • 72.2 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated – more than 6.5 million people.  38,000 Pennsylvanians were recorded as completing a vaccine regimen in the past week.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission has approved the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ proposed regulations for drug and alcohol recovery house licensure.  See the approval in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Stakeholder Events

Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board – November 15

The Department of Aging’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, November 15, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.  To participate virtually or by phone, go here for further information.

Health Research Advisory Committee – November 15

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Monday, November 15 at 1:00 p.m.  For information on how to attend virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board – November 16

The Department of Health’s Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board, which is charged with administering the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, November 16 at 10:00 a.m.  For information on how to attend virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – November 18

The Department of Health’s Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m.  For information on how to attend virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee Meeting – December 2

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports subcommittee will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, December 2 at 10:00 a.m.  To register to participate, go here.

 

2021-11-05T21:56:42+00:00November 5th, 2021|Affordable Care Act, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 1-5
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of October 18-22

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of October 18-22, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf has signed an executive order calling on the state’s Department of Labor & Industry to “study the feasibility of implementing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards” in state offices and requiring that for profit entities that do business with the state pay “…a minimum wage that meets or exceeds” the state’s minimum wage and offer paid sick leave to their employees.  Go here to see that executive order and here to see a Wolf administration news release about it.

House Chamber of the State HouseGeneral Assembly

  • The House of Representatives’ Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing this week titled “Navigating Healthcare Consolidation.”  Co-hosted by chairman Ryan Bizarro and northeast delegation chair Rep. Maureen Madden, the hearing focused on the market dynamics that contribute to health care consolidation and the effect consolidation has on communities, patients, and employees.  Representatives from the hospital community, organized labor, and patient advocacy groups testified.  A press release issued following the hearing may be viewed here and testimony offered at the hearing may be viewed here.
  • The House and Senate will be in session next Monday (10/25), Tuesday (10/26), and Wednesday (10/27).  As of October 22, the following health care-related committee meetings have been scheduled for next week:
    • The House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 26 to consider, among other bills, House Bill 1356, which amends the Human Services Code to increase the reimbursement rate for guardians of older adults.
    • The House Human Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 26 to consider House Bill 1561 and House Bill 1563.  These bills, which amend the Mental Health Procedures Act and the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act, respectively, seek to align them with HIPAA and give providers, facilities, and insurers the ability to more easily share patient mental health and substance use disorder treatment information.  The committee also will consider House Bill 1308, which enables local communities and agencies in Pennsylvania to establish overdose fatality review teams.  Finally, the committee will consider House Bill 1995, which clarifies the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ ability to promulgate rules and regulations and makes them subject to the regulatory review process, including publication, notice, and comment.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has added November dates to its calendar of when it will be issuing Remittance Advices (RAs) and corresponding checks.  Find the updated calendar here.
  • DHS has updated its information about provider enrollment and revalidation changes during the COVID-19 emergency.
  • DHS’s Office of Medical Assistance Programs has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin advising providers of updates of certain error status codes for personal care services subject to electronic visit verification, effective for claims received on or after October 22, 2021.  The bulletin also gives providers an updated Provider Assistance Center contact e-mail address for their use.  Go here to find this Medical Assistance Bulletin.
  • DHS’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has informed providers that certain regulatory requirements for on-site inspections have been reinstated as of October 18, 2021.  This includes visitation requirements, the right to enter and inspect, and the requirement to undergo an annual inspection.
  • DHS’s Office of Medical Assistance Programs has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinics (RHC) of the procedure for submitting claims to DHS for a take-home supply of naloxone distributed to Medical Assistance beneficiaries.  Find that bulletin here.
  • The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued guidance on coordinating care provided by out-of-state providers for children with medically complex conditions, including a description of best practices and other implementation considerations related to coordination of care from out-of-state providers for children with medically complex conditions.  Go here to see CMS’s guidance memo to state Medicaid programs.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has published an update on point-of-care COVID-19 antigen tests and the interpretation of test results.  The updated guidance replaces previous department guidance.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases declined slightly this week.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths remains high but did not rise during the past week.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19, on ventilators because of the disease, and being treated in hospital ICUs has remained relatively steady since the beginning of the month.
  • 71.1 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated – more than 6.4 million people.  3000 Philadelphians and 58,000 other Pennsylvanians were recorded as completing a vaccine regimen in the past week.

Pennsylvania Rural Health Model

The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has posted its first evaluation of its Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, a federally approved program that seeks “…to improve population health outcomes, increase access to high-quality care, and improve the financial viability of acute care hospitals in rural Pennsylvania.  Designed to reduce the risk of rural hospital closures, the Model seeks to stabilize participating hospitals’ finances by providing a predictable revenue stream through global budgets.”  Go here and scroll down for information about the model and links to additional resources.

Stakeholder Events

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – October 27

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s Consumer Subcommittee will meet virtually on Wednesday, October 27 at 1:00 p.m.  Go here to register to participate.

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – October 28

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

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – October 28

The next meeting of the Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council will be held virtually on Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.  To participate:

Health Care Cost Containment Council – November 4

The Health Care Cost Containment Council will meet via teleconference on Thursday, November 4 at 10:00 a.m.  The public is invited to participate.  See this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice about how to join the meeting.

Organ Donation Advisory Committee Meeting – November 4

The Organ Donation Advisory Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, November 4 at 10:00 a.m.  See this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice for information about how to join the meeting.

Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board – November 5

The Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board will hold a virtual meeting on Friday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m.  See this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice for information about how to join the meeting.

Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board – November 15

The Department of Aging’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, November 15, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.  To participate virtually or by phone, go here for further information.

 

2021-10-22T21:03:04+00:00October 22nd, 2021|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 October 18-22
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of August 16-20

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of August 16-20, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

The Wolf Administration

The Wolf administration has directed vaccine providers to support COVID-19 vaccination clinics and has introduced a free COVID-19 testing program for schools across the state.  Learn more from this news release and from a Department of Health order in support of the governor’s directive.

General Assembly

The Senate Aging & Youth Committee held a hearing this week to examine proposed revisions of the state’s Child Protective Services Law.  Testimony presented to the committee and a video transcript may be found here.

Next week the Senate Health & Human Services and Aging & Youth committees will hold a joint hearing with the House Aging & Older Adult Services and Human Services committees to “discuss the Department of Human Services’ intent to contract with Maximus as its independent enrollment broker (IEB) and the impact this will have on seniors and adults with disabilities.”  The hearing will take place on Monday, August 23 at 12:30 p.m.  Livestream the hearing here.

Department of Health

  • Effective August 18, the Department of Health’s order regarding daily hospital data reporting through the Corvena system is amended to add new data fields related to the vaccination status of hospital patients.  View details in the amended order here.
  • The Department of Health has issued an advisory to health care facilities and providers caring for people whose immune systems are moderately to severely compromised about the CDC’s recommendation that such individuals may benefit from an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to ensure they have enough protection against COVID-19.  Find the advisory here.
  • The Department of Health has informed health care facilities and providers of the CDC’s recommendation that pregnant people should be vaccinated against COVID-19.  Learn more from a department health advisory.
  • In July the Department of Health’s nursing home surveyors conducted 466 inspections, including 289 complaint investigations, of 329 separate nursing homes.  Of these inspections, 30 were COVID-19-specific investigations.  There were five new sanctions finalized against nursing care facilities in the past month resulting in a total of $40,150 in fines.  Learn more from this department news release.

Department of Human Services

  • DHS has added September dates to its calendar of MA remittance advice delivery dates.  Find the updated list here.
  • DHS has published a Medical Assistance Bulletin announcing changes in the Medical Assistance program fee schedule, including changes resulting from the implementation of the 2021 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System procedure codes updates.  In addition, DHS also is adding other procedure codes and making changes to procedure codes currently in the MA program fee schedule, including fee adjustments, as well as setting limitations and prior authorization requirements.  These changes are effective for dates of service on and after August 23, 2021.  Find this Medical Assistance Bulletin here.
  • Officials from DHS and the Department of Health have introduced the PA Health Equity Analysis Tool (HEAT), an interactive map that synthesizes Medical Assistance and population health data to show opportunities for intervention to promote better health and promote health equity.   PA HEAT provides state, county, zip code, and census track-level data on a number of population health measures and social determinants of health and how they affect local communities and Pennsylvania as a whole.  Results can also be displayed according to environmental justice areas, which are calculated based on concentrations of people living at or below the federal poverty line, based on resident demographics.  Learn more about PA HEAT from this DHS announcement and from the PA HEAT web site.
  • DHS has released quarterly licensing and enforcement activity data for its five licensing offices that oversee providers of long-term care, child care, behavioral health care, day activity programs, and residential care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism.  Find a summary of the report in this DHS announcement.
  • A notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin announces that documents are now available on DHS’s web site about proposed annual case-mix per diem rates for state fiscal year 2021-2022 for non-public and county nursing facilities and the budget adjustment factor that will be applied to non-public and county nursing facilities.  Find the Pennsylvania Bulletin notice here and the DHS web site with the nursing facility rates here.

COVID-19:  By the Number

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases continued to rise during the past week.  The 3451 new cases reported on Thursday was the highest single-day total since April 30.
  • The number of deaths, while slightly higher during the past week, remains far lower than when comparable numbers of new cases were being reported in the spring.
  • For the week of August 6-12 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 6.0 percent, up from 5.4 percent last week and the fifth consecutive week with an increase.
  • In Pennsylvania, only Sullivan County is classified as having a low rate of COVID-19 transmission this week; three counties – Forest, Tioga, and Warren – have a moderate rate of transmission; 25 counties are currently experiencing a substantial rate of transmission; and 38 currently show a high rate of transmission, including nine of the ten most populous counties in the state:  Philadelphia, Allegheny, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery, York, Lehigh, Berks, and Lancaster.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19 has more than doubled since the beginning of the month; the number on ventilators because of the virus is two-and-half times greater than it was at the beginning of the month; and the number in hospital intensive care units has more than tripled since the beginning of the month.
  • According to the state’s COVID-19 Dashboard, only 57 pediatric ICU beds in the state are not currently occupied.  That figure represents 14.7 percent of the total of such beds in Pennsylvania.
  • According to the state’s revised figures, 64.7 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated – 5.86 million people – up from 62.8 percent last week.  Only 54,000 Pennsylvanians completed a vaccine regimen in the past week and only 134,000 have done so since the beginning of August.

Around the State

  • Governor Wolf is “…reinstating a mask mandate for all state employees and contracted staff working under his jurisdiction regardless of their vaccination status, starting on Monday,” PennLive reports.
  • A shortage of nurses in the Philadelphia area has led hospitals to offer signing and retention bonuses of as much as $20,000 to experienced nurses.  The Philadelphia Inquirer offers the details.
  • “Overburdened health care systems from Texas to Florida are pleading with Western Pennsylvania hospitals to take on transfer patients at record-high rates as beds and ventilators reach capacity in covid-19 hot spots across the country,” the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
  • “While nearly a third of deer tested in Pennsylvania carried antibodies indicating they were exposed to COVID-19, the Pennsylvania Game Commission noted there is no evidence that deer can transmit the virus to humans and advised hunters to ‘take usual precautions when handling their harvests.’”  The Bradford Era explains what this means.
  • WTAE TV in Pittsburgh has published on its web site an interactive map showing the COVID-19 transmission rate for every county in the state.  Find the map here (scroll down to see it).
  • The Wolf administration plans to engage at least 100 people to perform COVID-19 contact tracing, Spotlight PA reports.

Stakeholder Event

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on Monday, August 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  The meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams at +1 267-332-8737 with Conference ID: 545 844 262#.  The purpose of the meeting is to review the work of the committee and plan future health research priorities.  Find the meeting agenda here.

2021-08-20T21:33:37+00:00August 20th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, social determinants of health|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of August 16-20
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of July 26-30

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of July 26-30, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

House majority leader Kerry Benninghoff announced this week that he sent letters to state agencies notifying them that they should be prepared to have the nearly 500 waived and suspended regulations that were in place under the COVID-19 emergency disaster declaration reinstated on September 30, 2021.  He also encouraged agencies to work closely with the relevant standing committees in the House to review which regulations should be permanently repealed or reformed.  The letter noted the need to work expeditiously given the limited number of legislative session days scheduled between now and September 30.  Benninghoff also highlighted in a letter to the Department of Health that “…nothing in current law prohibits tele-health services from being provided at pre-pandemic levels.”  See Benninghoff’s letter to the Office of Administration here and his letter to the Department of Health here.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has invited applications for the approval of up to two additional academic clinical research centers as part of its medical marijuana program.  Applications will be available beginning on August 3 on the Department of Health’s web site and applications are due September 2.  Learn more from the department’s notice published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

The Department of Health plans to pursue a series of changes in the manner in which long-term-care facilities are regulated.  It intends to do so in five separate parts and has published one of those parts, with explanations, in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Department of Human Services

  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform providers that it is expanding the scope of Medicaid-enrolled providers that may bill the program for administration of COVID-19 vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapy.  The new policy applies to physicians, certified registered nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, outpatient hospital clinics, independent medical/surgical clinics, home health agencies, renal dialysis centers, psychiatric outpatient clinics, drug and alcohol outpatient clinics, partial psychiatric hospitals, ambulance providers and licensed pharmacies.  The policy is retroactive to April 1.  Find the bulletin here.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform providers that the Medical Assistance program will make an enhanced payment for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to Medicaid beneficiaries who are homebound and has added a CPT code for the billing of this service.  The policy is retroactive to April 1.  Learn more in the bulletin notice.
  • DHS and the Department of Aging are seeking presenters for their 2021-2022 protective services virtual conference, to be held on October 6 and October 7.  This year’s conference is about getting back to basics and mastering the core competencies of protective services:  opening and conducting investigations.  Learn more about the conference and opportunities to make presentations during it from this conference notice.  The deadline for applying to make a presentation is August 6.
  • DHS has updated its Pennsylvania Medicaid Managed Care Directory with key contacts for both the physical health and behavioral health HealthChoices programs.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has published a policy bulletin to announce changes in its prevention, fiscal, operations and case management, and clinical services manuals.  Go here to find the revised manuals.

The state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission has disapproved a proposed regulation submitted by the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs seeking to “…establish regulations for recovery houses that receive public funds or referrals.  Recovery houses provide support to individuals receiving outpatient treatment for substance use disorder who may benefit from supportive housing, a substance-free environment and peer camaraderie.”  The commission has not yet issued an explanation for the rejection.  The department now has three options:  it may withdraw the regulation, resubmit the regulation with revisions within 40 days of receipt of the commission’s disapproval order, or submit the regulation without revision to the General Assembly.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases rose considerably again over the past week.  Thursday marked the first time since May 28 that the state registered more than 1000 new cases in a single day.  Even these numbers, however, are less than half of what they were in mid-May.
  • The number of deaths, however, remains very low.
  • For the week from July 16 through July 22 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 2.6 percent, up from 1.7 percent last week and the third consecutive week with an increase after more than two months of declining rates.  As a frame of reference, however, that rate was 9.5 percent just three months ago.
  • Since the beginning of July the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 has risen 53 percent; the number in hospital ICUs has risen 71 percent; and the number on ventilators has risen 37 percent.
  • According to the state’s revised figures, 62.8 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated, up from 62.2 percent last week.  Only 56,000 Pennsylvanians completed a vaccine regimen in the past week and only 300,000 have done so since July 1.  In Philadelphia, only 17,000 people reached full vaccination status in the past week and 46,000 have done so since July 1.

Around the State

  • Spotlight PA has identified all of the emergency procurement spending the state has done since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted those that were pandemic-related.  Find its report here.
  • A Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs web site that enabled visitors to obtain information about drug abuse treatment facilities’ violations of state guidelines identified during state inspections had inaccurate information and has been taken down.  Learn more from two Allentown Morning Call reports:  the article about the inaccurate information and a separate story about the state’s decision to take down the site while it reviews the inaccurate data.
  • Shortly after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that school teachers, staff, and students wear face masks in areas with high rates of COVID-19 transmission, a spokesperson for Governor Wolf said that the governor did not intend to mandate such a policy although he would urge local school districts to follow the new federal guidance.  PennLive tells the story.
  • Shortly after the CDC recommended that even vaccinated people wear face masks indoors and under certain circumstances in areas of high transmission of COVID-19, Pittsburgh’s WTAE television published an interactive map showing community transmission rates throughout Pennsylvania.
  • PennLive was even more specific:  it listed the seven Pennsylvania counties where the COVID-19 transmission rates meet the criteria for vaccinated people to wear masks indoors.  They are Cameron and Crawford counties (high rates of community transmission) and Adams, Lawrence, Monroe, Northampton, and Wyoming counties (substantial rate of community transmission).
  • Scranton’s city council has voted to accept a three-year, $360,000 grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation to fund a health coordinator position for the city, according to the Scranton Times-Tribune.
  • “Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health is ready to welcome its inaugural class of first-year medical students next week,” the Reading Eagle reports.

Stakeholder Events

  • Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board

August 6 at 9:00 a.m.

The Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Friday, August 6, 2021.  For information about the board’s mission, meeting materials, and how to participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Community Prevention Planning Committee

August 11-12 at 9:00 a.m.

The state-wide Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Community Prevention Planning Committee will hold public meetings on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, and Thursday, August 12, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  To see the agenda and find information about where the meeting will be held and how individuals can participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

 

 

2021-08-16T15:10:18+00:00July 30th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of July 26-30
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of June 21-25

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of June 21-25, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

State-Wide Mask Mandate

The Department of Health announced that it is lifting its order requiring universal face coverings at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 28.   See the announcement here.  The department continues to urge Pennsylvanians to follow CDC guidance for wearing a mask where required by law, rule, and regulations, including health care, local business, and workplace guidance.  For the protection of themselves and others, individuals who have not yet been vaccinated or are partially vaccinated are still encouraged to wear a mask when in public.

Legislative Update

The following are health care bills that have received third and final consideration in the state House and/or Senate as of Thursday, June 24. Both chambers will hold voting session on Friday and Saturday and we anticipate there will be additional health care-related measures passed. We will provide an update following the end of session on any pertinent bills.

  • Senate Bill 115 – establishes the Nurse Licensure Compact Act, which upon enactment makes the Commonwealth a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact with all other states that have joined the compact. The bill was passed by the House 146-55 and sent to the Governor’s desk.
  • Senate Bill 425 – amends the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act to permit a physician to fulfill their duty to obtain a patient’s or the patient’s authorized representative’s consent by a qualified practitioner prior to conducting surgery or administering radiation or chemotherapy blood transfusions, or medications and devices. The bill was unanimously passed by the House on June 24th and sent to the Governor’s desk.
  • Senate Bill 484 – adds the chair of the State Veterans’ Commission or a designee to the Pennsylvania Long-term Care Council. The bill was unanimously passed by the House on June 24th and sent to the Governor’s desk.
  • Senate Bill 618 – prohibits the use of vaccine passports by government entities. It also prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to use a service, enter a building, or undertake an activity, including attending class in person. In addition, the bill further restricts the Secretary of Health’s ability to implement certain disease control measures for individuals who have not been exposed, potentially or otherwise, to a contagious disease. The bill was signed in the state House and Senate on June 24th and sent to the governor. The governor has indicated he will veto

Department of Human Services

Department of Health

Effective at midnight on June 23, 2021, the Department of Health terminated its order requiring skilled nursing facilities to complete a vaccine needs assessment survey since those facilities are now reporting to the federal government.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases continues to decline significantly.  The 174 new COVID-19 cases reported on Wednesday marked the lowest new daily case count since March 25, 2020, when 276 new cases were announced.
  • The number of COVID-19 deaths continues to decline significantly as well.
  • For the week from June 11 through June 17 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 1.4 percent, down from 1.9 percent last week and 2.9 percent the week before.
  • Sixty-four counties had a positivity rate lower than five percent, up from 62 last week, and no counties had a positivity rate greater than 20 percent for the eighth consecutive week.
  • Thirty-seven counties are currently experiencing low levels of community transmission of COVID-19, up from 22 last week; the remaining 30 Pennsylvania counties are experiencing moderate levels of community transmission and no counties are experiencing a high level of community transmission.
  • Since June 1 the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 has fallen 62 percent; the number on a ventilator has fallen 54 percent; and the number in hospital intensive care units has fallen 70 percent.
  • 5.3 million Pennsylvanians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.  Growth in this number has slowed significantly over the past month and only about 150,000 new vaccinations were reported in the past week. Another 760,000 people have been vaccinated in Philadelphia.  According to the state, 59.4 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated and 62.2 percent of the entire population has now received at least the first dose of a vaccine.

Around the State

Two Pennsylvania children’s hospitals ranked among the best ten such hospitals in the U.S. in the latest rankings published by U.S. News & World Report:  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia ranked second and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh ranked ninth.

Two Pennsylvania-based health insurers, Highmark and Independence Blue Cross, are among five Blues plans joining forces in a new venture called Evio, a for-profit venture that will seek to make prescription drugs more affordable and improve health care outcomes.  Learn more here.

Stakeholder Events

  • Maternal Mortality Review Committee

June 28 at 8:00

This meeting will be held via conference call.  The purpose of the meeting is to discuss new and ongoing procedural issues relating to the review process for the committee.  To join the call, dial +1 (267) 332-8737 and when prompted, enter the following conference code: 522 321 931#.

  • DHS Office of Long-Term Living – Financial Management Services Meeting

June 28 at 11:00 a.m.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss upcoming changes in the administration of financial management services under the Community HealthChoices, OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs.  Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living and Community HealthChoices managed care organizations will discuss the upcoming changes.  Interested parties can join the meeting in the following ways:

From the meeting link:

https://pa-hhs.webex.com/pa-hhs/j.php?MTID=m15e2e495a802f00df6fa38c9e645237d

By meeting number:

Meeting number (access code): 132 280 2499

From a mobile device (attendees only):

1-408-418-9388,,1322802499## United States Toll

1-202-860-2110,,1322802499## United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

By phone:

+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

Meeting password: Stakeholder

From a video system or application

Dial 1322802499@pa-hhs.webex.com

You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number

  • Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee Meeting

July 7 at 10:00 a.m.

This meeting will be held via webinar.  Public comments will be taken after each presentation and questions can be entered in the chat box.  Interested parties can participate in the following ways:

Webinar registration – go here

Dial in:  1-914-614-3221, access code 716-025-613

Remote captioning and streaming link – go here

  • Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board

July 15 at 10:00

The virtual public meeting will be conducted as a teleconference Skype meeting.  The dial-in number is (267) 332-8737 and the conference access ID is 63145728#.

  • Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program

July 29, 2021 at 10:00

This is a telephone meeting.

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)

+1 412-648-8888,,785376728#   United States, Pittsburgh

(866) 588-4789,,785376728#   United States (Toll-free)

Phone Conference ID: 785 376 728#

Stakeholder Event Report

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee Meeting – June 24

Deputy DHS Secretary Sally Kozak announced that DHS will perform readiness reviews of the managed care organizations selected to participate in the latest HealthChoices program procurement.  The procurement remains the subject of litigation so DHS will stop short of negotiating with the managed care organizations until there is a final decision in that case.

Stakeholder Events Materials

DHS has posted four presentations offered at the June 24 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee.  Those presentations were delivered by its:

 

2021-06-26T13:46:01+00:00June 26th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, HealthChoices, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania Medical Assistance, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2022 budget, Pennsylvania state budget issues|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of June 21-25
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  • P: (717) 234-6970

  • 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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