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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of June 1

Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania logoBeginning today, SNAP is expanding its regular COVID-19 updates to encompass a broader scope of Pennsylvania state health policy endeavors.  As efforts to address COVID-19 prove more effective and the state moves from focusing almost exclusively on the public health emergency back to its usual, much broader array of health policy concerns, we hope this update will be a useful resource on matters of importance to the hospital community.  Please feel free to share this newsletter with others in your organization or to send us the email addresses of those you think might be interested and we will send it directly to them.

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of June 1-4, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

The Wolf administration has issued a reminder to Pennsylvanians that all businesses, events, and venues can return to 100 percent capacity with the lifting of COVID-19 mitigation orders starting Monday, May 31 at 12:01 a.m.  The current order requiring masks for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals will remain in place until June 28 or when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older get their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, whichever comes first.  Individuals are still required to wear masks on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs, such as airports and stations.  Individuals should still follow guidance at workplaces, local businesses, long-term-care facilities, hospitals, prisons, and homeless shelters.  See the reminder here.

State Finances

  • The Department of Revenue announced that state General Fund collections for May totaled $3.9 billion, which was $1.6 billion, or 65.4 percent, more than projected. This significant increase is attributed to the one-month delay for personal income tax collections.  Personal income tax revenue in May was $1 billion above estimate.  So far this year the state has collected $2.9 billion, or 8.5 percent, more than anticipated.
  • Last week the state Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released its updated FY 2021-2022 revenue estimate. In contrast to FY 2020-2021, which is ending on a strong note, the IFO projects that FY 2021-2022 will be more challenging once all of the COVID-19 federal funds are exhausted.  The IFO projects that the state’s economy and revenues generated from various sources will revert to the path they were on prior to COVID-19.  The IFO forecast estimates that Pennsylvania will collect $37.96 billion, a decline of $2.152 billion from FY 2020-2021.  Learn more from the presentation given by Matthew Knittel, the IFO’s director.

House Chamber of the State HouseIn the Legislature

  • A bill already passed by the state Senate and currently before the House would give parents the option of having their children repeat their current grade in school because of the challenges children have faced learning remotely. The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat tells the story.
  • A bill has been introduced in the Senate that would permit young people 14 years of age and older to receive COVID-19 vaccines without the consent of their parents. KDKA provides further information.
  • For a comprehensive summary of health care legislation currently under consideration in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, contact SNAP at info@pasafetynet.org.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health has issued an advisory with information and reporting requirements about patients presenting with myocarditis and pericarditis after receiving Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
  • The Department of Health circulated a reminder to long-term-care facilities with information on CMS’s requirement to report to the federal government on COVID-19 vaccinations and therapeutic treatments they provide.  Facilities also are required to educate staff and residents on the importance of getting vaccinated.
  • The Department of Health issued a health advisory on COVID-19 treatment options that incorporates updated guidance from the FDA on monoclonal antibody treatments and combination therapies.
  • The Department of Health revised its order regarding skilled nursing facility data reporting requirements to require weekly rather than daily reporting. While facilities will be required to complete data surveys on a weekly basis, the data they submit will be cumulative.  See the Department of Health announcement here and the full amended order here.
  • The Department of Health revised its interim guidance for skilled nursing facilities during COVID-19 to incorporate changes in data reporting requirements and other recently issued federal and state guidance.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases continues to decline and has been in three digits for seven days in a row.
  • The number of COVID-19 deaths is declining but not as swiftly as the number of cases.
  • For the week from May 21 through May 27 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 3.8 percent, down from 4.5 percent last week and 5.5 percent the week before.
  • Twenty-eight counties had a positivity rate lower than five percent, up from 12 last week, and no counties had a positivity rate greater than 20 percent for the fifth consecutive week.
  • Ten counties (Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, Fulton, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, and Warren) are currently experiencing low levels of community transmission of COVID-19, up from four last week; 56 counties are experiencing moderate levels of community transmission, down from 58 last week and but up from 41 two weeks ago; and only one county (Wyoming) is currently experiencing a substantial level of community transmission, down from five counties last week and 22 the week before.
  • The numbers of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 fell 55 percent from May 1 to June 1; the number on a ventilator fell 47 percent from May 1 to June 1; and the number in hospital intensive care units fell 49 percent from May 1 to June 1.
  • 4.8 million Pennsylvanians have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. Growth in this number slowed significantly over the past week. Another 709,000 have been vaccinated in Philadelphia.  According to the state, 54.7 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated and 58.7 percent of the entire population has now received at least the first dose of a vaccine.
  • Governor Wolf has stated that Pennsylvania needs to reach 70 percent of adults vaccinated before he will lift the state’s remaining mask mandates.

Department of Human Services

  • On May 29, 2020, Governor Wolf signed Act 24 of 2020, which allocated funding from the federal CARES Act to assist providers with COVID-19-related costs they incurred between March 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020. Providers that accepted Act 24 funding agreed to provide documentation to DHS and were required to submit an Act 24 cost report through a web-based portal between December 9, 2020 and April 30, 2021.  With this in mind, DHS’s Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has asked providers to take the following actions:
    • Review the list of providers. OLTL has compiled a list of providers that received Act 24 funding but for which it has no record of submission of a cost report or the return of funds.  Organizations on this list should complete an Act 24 cost report and submit it to RA-PWOLTLCOVID-19@pa.gov no later than Friday, June 11, 2021.  The applicable cost reports can be found here.  Those that believe they submitted an Act 24 report yet are on this list should forward a screenshot of their submission to RA-PWOLTLCOVID-19@pa.gov.
    • Return Unused Funding. Providers that prefer not to complete and submit a cost report can return their Act 24 funding to OLTL by sending a check with a cover letter to OLTL indicating that the check is for the return of CARES Act 24 funding they did not use.  Checks should be made payable to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and sent to the Office of Long-Term Living, P.O Box 8025, Harrisburg PA 17105-8025, Attn: Daniel Sharar.  Providers should include their EIN on the memo line of the check to ensure that refunds are traceable to the correct provider.

Providers that fail to submit a cost report or return their funding by the deadline will be deemed to have no COVID-related expenses and the state will proceed to recoup the Act 24 funding that was distributed to them.

  • DHS’s Office of Medical Assistance Programs has issued a notice advising all county administrators, brokers, and all contracted Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) agencies of updated guidance to ensure the safe provision of non-emergency medical transportation services to Medical Assistance beneficiaries during the COVID-19 public health emergency.  The announcement directs the affected parties to federal CDC guidance for further information. See the DHS announcement here.
  • The Office of Medical Assistance Programs has posted a notice informing individuals who are eligible to participate in the Medical Assistance Transportation Program but who can provide or arrange for transportation assistance on their own that it has temporarily increased the mileage rate for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic. See the notice here.

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council

PHC4 has published its annual report on the financial performance of the state’s acute-care hospitals.  Among the highlights (taken directly from a PHC4 news release):

  • Uncompensated Care: The statewide percentage of uncompensated care to net patient revenue increased from 1.72% in FY19 to 1.73% in FY20. The foregone dollar value for statewide uncompensated care has decreased from $820 million in FY19 to $809 million in FY20.
  • Net Patient Revenue: The revenue hospitals received for patient care decreased 2.0% during FY20. Statewide net patient revenue was $46.8 billion during FY20, making up 91% of statewide hospital total operating revenue.
  • Operating Margin: Statewide operating income decreased from $2.8 billion in FY19 to $1.9 billion in FY20. As a result, the statewide average operating margin decreased from 5.61% in FY19 to 3.73% in FY20. Total operating revenue increased to $51.5 billion and operating expenses increased to $49.6 billion in FY20.
  • Total Margin: The statewide total margin realized by the hospitals decreased by 2.70 percentage points, from 6.63% in FY19 to 3.93% in FY20.

To learn more, go here for links to the PHC4 news release about the report, downloadable data, and the report itself.

Around the State

  • Philadelphia has added COVID-19 to its list of vaccines for which children do not need parental consent under a new Philadelphia Board of Health regulation.
  • In the face of declining COVID-19 cases, Philadelphia lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions, including density limits, maximum capacity limits, and distancing rules, on Wednesday, June 2.
  • The city’s indoor mask mandate and 11 p.m. last call for dining orders will continue to be enforced until its Department of Public Health reviews the state of the pandemic and may drop those restrictions on Friday, June 11, according to a city news release. It was previously announced that the city would lift restrictions on Friday, June 11.
  • Berks County has the third highest rate in the state for children suffering from lead poisoning. It is particularly a problem in the city of Reading and in communities of color.  Local officials and doctors are coming together to try to do something about it.  WFMZ tells the story.
  • Penn State is offering incentives to students and staff to get vaccinated: cash prizes, book store gift certificates, and a football signed by coach James Franklin.  The Centre County Times offers the details.
  • The Delaware County Council met in person for the first time in 14 months, the Delaware County Daily Times reports.
  • Erie’s city hall has reopened after a year, according to GoErie.
  • The number of flu cases in Pennsylvania fell 97 percent from last year. The AP offers the facts and figures.
  • Eighteen Pennsylvania colleges and universities (so far) are requiring students and staff to have COVID-19 vaccines for the fall semester. Scroll down this link to find the list.
  • Most hospitals, on the other hand, are holding off on imposing such requirements, PennLive reports.

Stakeholder Events

  • Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Care Delivery Systems Subcommittee Meeting

June 10 at 10:00 a.m.

Join Meeting

Meeting number (access code):  132 168 3592

Meeting password:  Managed

Join by phone:  +1-408-418-9388 United States (Toll)

  • Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s Consumer Subcommittee Meeting

June 23 at 1:00 p.m.

Register here

  • Medical Assistance Advisory Committee Meeting

June 24 at 10:00 a.m.

Register here

  • 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 2499From 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: Stakeholde

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

 

 

 

 

2021-06-04T20:20:09+00:00June 4th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Uncategorized|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of June 1
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Wolf Makes Major Health Appointments

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has nominated Alison Beam to be Secretary of the state’s Department of Health.

Beam, currently Wolf’s deputy chief of staff, is a graduate of the Drexel University of Law.  If confirmed by the state Senate, Ms. Beam would replace Dr. Rachel Levine, who has been nominated by President Biden to serve as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Governor Wolf also has appointed Dr. Wendy Braund to be the state’s Interim Acting Physician General.  Dr. Levine currently serves in that capacity as well.  Dr. Braund, currently the COVID-19 response director in the state’s Department of Health, earned a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins and an M.D. from the Penn State College of Medicine.

Learn more about the two nominees from this news release from the Wolf administration.

2021-01-25T06:00:23+00:00January 25th, 2021|Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19|Comments Off on Wolf Makes Major Health Appointments
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COVID-19 Update: April 13, 2020

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania state and federal regulators, legislators, and others as of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13.

Pennsylvania Update

Governor Wolf

  • Last week Governor Wolf signed an executive order to facilitate the targeted distribution of COVID-19 personal protective equipment and supplies among Pennsylvania health care providers. The Department of Health has published an FAQ on this executive order.  The state also has published a survey for health care providers to complete to help it identify current resources.  All covered entities – including hospitals – are required to report inventories of the specified supplies, equipment, and pharmaceuticals by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 16.  The state will update and direct completion of the survey in the future as needed.
  • Governor Wolf today announced that he and the governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island will create a multi-state council to “…develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states’ stay at home orders while minimizing the risk of increased spread of the [COVID-19] virus.” See the governor’s announcement here.

General Assembly

Harrisburg, PA capital buildingOver the weekend, House Speaker Michael Turzai changed the House of Representatives’ session schedule to hold a non-voting session day today and a voting session day tomorrow in an effort to enable Republicans to move forward with relief efforts for businesses related to the COVID-19 crisis.  There has been speculation that if a quorum is present the Speaker may seek to suspend temporary House rules permitting remote voting to ease the passage of Republican-sponsored relief measures for businesses affected by limits on their ability to operate during the COVID-19 emergency.  The House also has canceled its session for Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Both the House and Senate are scheduled to return to session on May 4.

Daily Department of Health COVID-19 Briefing

  • In the past few days the number of newly reported COVID-19 cases has declined slightly, leading Department of Health Secretary Levine to declare that “social distancing is working.” The new case increase, she explained, is now linear rather than exponential, although she warned that Pennsylvania may not yet have reached its peak.
  • 1179 health care workers have been diagnosed with COVID-19, which is about four percent of the total state case count.
  • 1688 residents of 215 long-term-care facilities have tested positive as well.
  • Currently 2205 people are in hospitals to be treated for COVID-19 and 665 of them are on ventilators.
  • Across the state, 44 percent of acute-care beds and 38 percent of ICU beds remain unoccupied and nearly 70 percent of ventilators are available for use.
  • The state still lacks testing supplies so only those who are symptomatic are being tested. Secretary Levine hopes to do population-based testing in the future but does not expect to be able to do it in the near future.
  • Serology testing is not available at this time.
  • Governor Wolf spoke to Vice President Pence this morning and reports that the state will be receiving a shipment of N95 masks later this week.
  • Eventually the state hopes to follow up on those who have been discharged from hospitals after being treated for COVID-19 but is not doing that now.
  • While there have been published reports of people who seem to have recovered from COVID-19 suffering relapses, Pennsylvania has not seen any such cases yet.
  • When asked if the state planned to take any additional measures to help hospitals, Secretary Levine pointed to the health care provider money in the federal CARES Act and the $450 million loan program Governor Wolf announced last week.
  • During her Saturday briefing, Secretary Levine said that Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania have enough acute-care beds, ICU beds, and ventilators right now.
  • She also said there could be a surge in southeastern and northeastern Pennsylvania over the next week, with possible surges in western and southeastern Pennsylvania coming later.

Hospital Emergency Loan Program

Late last week Governor Wolf announced a $450 million Hospital Emergency Loan Program.  The state’s Department of Community and Economic Development, which is administering the program, describes it as follows:

The Hospital Emergency Loan Program (HELP) was established to provide critical working capital bridge financing to hospitals located within the Commonwealth that are adversely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The loan funds are intended to provide a short-term financing solution for hospitals until federal grant funding through the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is received by the hospitals. The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) through the Pennsylvania First Program (PA First).

Go here for a more detailed description of the program and go here to apply for a loan.

Children’s Health Insurance Program

The state’s CHIP program has announced changes in its program requirements that seek to ease access to CHIP and keep families enrolled in CHIP during the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.

Pennsylvania Hospitals and the CARES Act

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey’s office reports that the state’s hospitals will receive $1.2 billion of the $30 billion now being distributed by the federal government to hospitals and health care providers.  The $30 billion comes from $100 billion that the CARES Act designated for health care providers.  A second round of funding is expected.

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry

The Wolf administration has issued a news release summarizing the new federal unemployment compensation benefits established under the CARES Act, including eligibility and payment information.

Federal Update

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Department of Labor

Food and Drug Administration

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institutes of Health

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission

  • MACPAC has written to CMS administrator Seema Verma to express its concern that the manner in which CMS has chosen to distribute $30 billion of the $100 billion designated in the CARES Act for hospitals and health care providers “…does not account for the real and pressing concerns of safety-net providers that are on the frontlines of serving the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable people…” MACPAC also asks Ms. Verma to “…ensure that safety-net providers, including hospitals considered deemed disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) for the purpose of Medicaid payment…children’s hospitals, and other providers serving Medicaid and other low-income patients have access to federal funds made available through the CARES Act without delay.”  See the MACPAC letter here.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

(To receive this daily update directly, sign up for our mailing list at info@pasafetynet.org.)

 

2020-04-14T06:00:15+00:00April 14th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: April 13, 2020
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COVID-19 Update: March 30, 2020

COVID-19-related developments in Pennsylvania as of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 30.  To receive this daily update directly, sign up for our mailing list at info@pasafetynet.org.

State Update

Governor Wolf

  • On Saturday the governor requested a major disaster declarationfrom the President to provide additional support for state, county, and municipal governments, certain non-profits, and individuals who are struggling during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Over the weekend Governor Wolf expanded his ‘Stay at Home’ order to include three more counties to mitigate the spread of the virus:  Beaver, Centre, and Washington counties.  Today, he added four more counties to the order:  Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, and Schuylkill counties and extended the order to April 30 for all 26 affected counties.  The governor’s amended order, the secretary of health’s amended order, and the stay at home guidance are available online.
  • Today Governor Wolf announced that all schools and non-life-sustaining businesses will remain closed until further notice.

Governor’s Daily Briefings

  • Four percent of all cases are health care workers.
  • The COVID-19 death rate is now more than 10 percent. All deaths so far have been adults.
  • Over the weekend nine Pennsylvania counties experienced their first cases, so the total is now cases in 59 counties.
  • There are people with COVID-19 in about five percent of the state’s nursing homes (36 out of 695); most of those cases are in southeastern Pennsylvania.
  • Two field hospitals will be established in southeastern Pennsylvania through an effort led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
  • 40 percent of the state’s ICU beds are currently unoccupied.
  • The state has more than 4000 ventilators in hospitals and other facilities, has an unstated number in its own stockpile, and has purchased more that should be arriving shortly. Governor Wolf said that if the state could add 1400 more ventilators he thinks it would be in good shape.
  • Based on the criteria the state currently employs for who is to be tested, the supply of testing materials in the state is adequate for now.
  • Governor Wolf said there has been no discussion about limiting or prohibiting New Yorkers from entering Pennsylvania.
  • The governor acknowledged reports of residents of New York coming to Pennsylvania for health care and specifically mentioned reports of increased newborn deliveries in Philadelphia by women from New York. He offered no numbers.  He said no hospitals have reported an unmanageable surge of patients as a result.
  • Governor Wolf said that he and his staff are still trying to figure out how much money the latest stimulus law will bring to Pennsylvania and when that money might arrive.  It will come in a lot of buckets, he said.  They expect about $5 billion but have no idea yet on how it might be allocated.

Pennsylvania Department of Health

The Department of Health sent a reminder to providers through its message board to report all initial “Activation of Internal/External Emergency Plan.”  Providers may submit additional reports as updates if necessary and must report under ‘Health Department Reportable Disease’ all COVID-19 positive test results for staff and patients including name, date of birth, symptoms (if known), and date of test results.

Department of Human Services

Protocols for Procuring Difficult-to-Source Personal Protective Equipment

The protocol for procuring difficult-to-source PPEs is:

  • Your first contact should be with your regional health care coalition (HCC).  HCC contacts can be found at the bottom of the web page linked here.
  • The HCC may decide to forward a formal request to the County Emergency Management Agency.  Agency contact information can be found here.
  • At that point, the County Emergency Management Agency may submit a resource request to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).

Federal Update

The White House

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Department of Health and Human Services

The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) published a statement regarding the discretion the OIG will employ when investigating any conduct during this emergency that may be subject to OIG administrative enforcement. The office also advised providers to contact the OIG for extension of any OIG investigation deadlines during this time.

Food and Drug Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has published its emergency response plan for the COVID-19 emergency.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA has published a memo outlining the discretion it intends to exercise in fulfilling its inspection and compliance efforts during the COVID-19 emergency.

Department of Homeland Security

In a new document with guidance on the essential critical infrastructure workforce, the Department of Homeland Security specifies essential jobs within the workforce during the COVID-19 emergency.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

To receive this daily update directly, sign up for our mailing list at info@pasafetynet.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020-03-30T17:50:01+00:00March 30th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Uncategorized|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: March 30, 2020
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COVID-19 Update: March 27, 2020

The following is a summary of the major COVID-19-related developments in Pennsylvania as of 4:30 p.m. on March 27.

Pennsylvania Updates

Governor Wolf

  • Today Governor Wolf expanded his ‘Stay at Home’ order to include nine more counties to mitigate the spread of the virus:  Berks, Butler, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Pike, Wayne, Westmoreland, and York counties.  The governor’s amended order, the secretary of health’s amended order, and the stay at home guidance are available online.  The order takes effect for these nine counties tonight at 8:00 p.m. and will continue for all of the affected counties until April 6.
  • Today Governor Wolf approved and signed several bills into law to provide emergency relief to schools (SB 751), unemployment compensation rules (HB 68), delaying the primary election (SB 422), and the $50 million in immediate funding for health care supplies via HB 1232.  We do not yet know how this funding will be distributed but are monitoring it closely.  According to the enabling legislation and a press release Governor Wolf issued yesterday, “The $50 million in funding will be deposited into a restricted account under the governor’s jurisdiction and funds will be used if there are insufficient funds available from the disaster proclamation ‘to buy medical equipment and supplies for health care entities to meet urgent patient and staff needs to address surge demand. Health care entities include hospitals, nursing facilities and emergency medical services’.”

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has published a reminder that Governor Wolf has signed an executive order prohibiting elective medical and surgical procedures for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Pennsylvania has been granted a section 1135 Medicaid waiver by the federal government. Key elements of the waiver address:
    • Temporarily suspending Medicaid fee-for-service prior authorization requirements.
    • Extending pre-existing authorizations for which a beneficiary has previously received prior authorization through the end of the public health emergency.
    • Suspending Pre-Admission Screening and Annual Resident Review (PASRR) Level I and Level II Assessments for 30 days.
    • State Fair Hearing Requests and Appeal Timelines.
    • Provider Enrollment.
    • Provision of Services in Alternative Settings.

These waivers will remain in effect until the current health crisis ends.  See the letter from CMS to the state that explains all of these aspects of the waiver in greater detail.

Department of Health

  • During her daily briefing today, Secretary Levine reported that the number of new COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania yesterday declined slightly from the day before, although she dismissed this decline as “not statistically significant.”  There are now COVID-19 cases in 50 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.  While the number of hospitalizations, ICU cases, and patients put on ventilators remain low, she said those numbers remain in line with trends elsewhere in the country and her department’s own projections.
  • The department has revised its guidance prohibiting the provision of dental treatment except for urgent and emergency services.

Department of State

The Department of State requested, and Governor Wolf granted, an extension for 90 days of certain license renewal deadlines that fall between April 30, 2020, and June 30, 2020.  Affected boards include the State Board of Medicine, State Board of Nursing, and State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators.  Any associated regulations that establish these dates are temporarily suspended.  While the department will provide guidance encouraging licensees to renew on time, if possible, this waiver ensures that if they miss the deadline their licenses will remain valid and they will have an additional 90 days to renew them.

Federal Updates

Congress

The House of Representatives passed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed by the Senate late Wednesday.  It now goes to the president for his signature and he has indicated he will sign it.

President Trump

President Trump sent a letter to governors thanking them for their efforts in fighting the COVID-19 emergency, outlining upcoming federal efforts, and expressing hope for the future.

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Food and Drug Administration

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

 

 

2020-03-27T17:25:53+00:00March 27th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: March 27, 2020
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COVID-19 Update: March 26, 2020

The following is a summary of the major COVID-19-related developments in Pennsylvania as of 5:00 on March 26.

Pennsylvania Update

Governor Wolf

House Bill 1232, which includes up to $50 million to help with the state’s COVID-19 response, is now on Governor Wolf’s desk and he is expected to sign it tomorrow, when he also is expected to sign three other bills the legislature passed late yesterday:

  • HB 68 – amends the rules of unemployment compensation during an emergency declaration such as easing work search requirements and extending the length of time that benefits are available.
  • SB 422 – amends the election code to move the Pennsylvania primary election to June 2, 2020.
  • SB 751 – amends the school code to protect employees and address various changes in state education requirements.

Department of Health

  • Secretary Levine has ordered ambulatory surgical facilities to report on specific items for the purpose of managing supplies and equipment.  Portions of the survey are to be updated each day, including the number of procedures they perform and their remaining supplies of personal protective equipment.  Click here for a copy of the survey, which was also shared by the department via email to facility administrators.  Click here to view the Secretary’s order.
  • More information is now available to assist hospitals with complying with Secretary Levine’s March 25 order that they report three times a day on specific data regarding hospital facilities, beds, supplies, equipment, and staffing.  Data will be collected using the Essential Elements of Information (EEI) tool in the Knowledge Center – Health Incident Management System (KC-HIMS).  Hospitals needing onboarding for the Knowledge Center should contact the HAP Readiness Coordinator for their regional health care coalition; that contact information is at the bottom of the webpage here.
  • During her daily briefing, Department of Health Secretary Levine reported the following:
  • More than twice as many new cases today as yesterday.
  • Cases hold steady at about 10 percent requiring hospitalization.
  • Of nearly 1700 cases so far, 56 required ICU and 32 needed ventilators.
  • 46 percent of new cases fall in the 25-40 age group.
  • The state is focused on standards of care and is not contemplating triage for patients getting all the care they need.
  • Those standards of care may evolve as the number of cases rises and the state adds more beds, whether that means new hospital beds or places like ambulatory surgery centers and hotels where people can receive post-acute care when they no longer need acute care.  The Department of Health is working to find such additional beds.
  • The state is doing “everything we can” to support hospitals.
  • Among other measures, Pennsylvania has distributed 678,000 N-95 masks, 380,000 pairs of gloves, and 744,000 goggles and face protectors to hospitals and providers.  The federal government is replenishing the state’s supplies and the state is also looking to purchase more of its own.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS)’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has sent an FAQ to HealthChoices behavioral health managed care organizations, fee-for-service providers, and county mental health authorities on the subject of behavioral health Medicaid programs and the COVID-19 crisis. Find that FAQ here.
  • DHS has submitted a section 1135 waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Such requests seek temporary exemption from federal Medicaid requirements.  Pennsylvania’s request covers requirements involving Medicaid authorization, long-term services and supports, fair hearings, provider enrollment, reporting and oversight, and other matters.  See the state’s 1135 waiver request here.
  • DHS’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning has issued guidance to child care advisors to help them keep children, their families, and staff safe during the COVID-19 emergency. Find that guidance here.
  • The federal government approved Pennsylvania’s request to extend the time that people are eligible to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps). The state also will be submitting a waiver to enable many college students, currently ineligible for such benefits, to participate in SNAP.
  • DHS has published its latest COVID-19 stakeholder update. Find it

Department of State

The Department of State has provided guidance for doctors prescribing chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine and pharmacists dispensing it.  See that language here.

Federal Update

Department of Health and Human Services

  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be publishing a “Notice of Designation of Scarce Materials or Threatened Materials Subject to COVID-19 Hoarding Prevention Measures” in the Federal Register on March 30.  The notice gives the Secretary of HHS authority to designate such materials as scarce and to invoke prohibitions against hoarding them.  The notice, which is not a regulation and expires in four months, lists specific medical supplies to which it applies.  Find the notice here.
  • HHS’s Office of Civil Rights has posted notice in response to questions about whether HIPAA requirements permit covered entities to share with law enforcement, paramedics, other first responders, or public health authorities the names or other identifying information of individuals who have been infected with or exposed to COVID-19 without the permission of those individuals.  The notice outlines the specific situations under which such disclosure is permitted.  See the notice here.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  • The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law on March 18, includes a temporary 6.2 percentage point increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP:  the rate at which the federal government matches state Medicaid expenditures).  A new CMS FAQ provides information about the state Medicaid expenditures to which the increase applies, its applicability to Medicaid DSH payments, the duration of the supplemental funding, and more.  Find this FAQ here.
  • CMS has approved more section 1135 waivers for states.
  • CMS has published an FAQ on Medicare provider enrollment relief.  Find it here.
  • CMS’s Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight has issued a memo to qualified health plans and stand-alone dental plans offered on the federal exchange and state exchanges on the subject of payment and grace period flexibilities associated with the COVID-19 crisis  See that memo here.

Food and Drug Administration

  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published guidance for industry and food staff on the enforcement policy for face masks and respirators during the COVID-19 health emergency.  Find the guidance document here.
  • The FDA has sent a detailed letter to manufacturers and other stakeholders authorizing the emergency use of authorized ventilators, ventilator tubing connectors, and ventilator accessories, including alternative products used as medical devices, during the COVID-19 pandemic subject to the terms detailed in this letter and based on the specific types of equipment and supplies involved as also described in the letter.  Find the document here.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published the following documents relevant to health care providers:
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued interim clinical guidelines for the management of patients with COVID-19.  Find those guidelines here.
  • CDC has updated its guidelines for collecting, handling, and testing clinical specimens from persons with COVID-19.  Find those updated guidelines here.
  •  The CDC has developed two checklists that identify key actions that can be taken now to enhance preparedness for potential or confirmed patients with COVID-19.  Find them here.
  • The CDC has developed a spreadsheet-based model that to help providers plan and optimize their use of personal protective equipment for response to COVID-19.  Find a link to that downloadable spreadsheet here.
  • The CDC has updated its guidance on the collection and submission of post-mortem specimens from deceased persons under investigation.  See the updated guidance here.

National Uniform Billing Committee

The National Uniform Billing Committee, the governing body for forms and codes use in medical claims billing in the United States for institutional providers, has published guidance on claims for COVID-19 treatment.  The guidance, which addresses use of the “DR” condition code and use of hospital outpatient bill type for COVID-19 testing locations, can be found here.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page FAQ

 

 

 

2020-03-27T06:00:57+00:00March 27th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: March 26, 2020
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COVID-19 Update: March 25, 2020

The following is a summary of the major COVID-19-related developments in Pennsylvania as of 5:15 on March 25.

State Legislature

Today the Senate passed House Bill 1232, as amended, which includes up to $50 million of additional funding to be made available for the state’s COVID-19 response efforts.  The legislation stipulates that funding shall only be used to buy medical equipment and supplies for health care entities to meet urgent patient and staff needs to address surge demand.  It also requires available federal funding and any funding made available through the governor’s disaster proclamation to be used before these funds.  The authority to transfer funds expires on September 30, 2020.

Senate leadership noted that this is the first phase in its crisis response and recognizes that additional funds will likely be needed.  The House is expected to pass the bill as amended today.  The bill will then be signed in both chambers and sent to the governor for consideration and he is expected to sign it.  It would take effect immediately.

The Administration

Governor Wolf

Today the governor added Lehigh and Northampton counties to his stay-at-home order.

Department of Health

Secretary Levine today issued an order requiring hospitals to make daily report of specified data regarding hospital facilities, beds, supplies, equipment, and staffing.  Among the measures hospitals will be required to report daily are available beds, psychiatric beds, number of other beds in facilities, current emergency department capacity, number of COVID-19 patients, expected number of days remaining N-95 masks will last, expected number of days remaining until other personal protective equipment supplies will exhausted, supply of remaining NP specimen collection supplies in days, number of ventilators in facility and in use, and number of employees available for work.  See the secretary’s order here.

Department of Human Services – Office of Medical Assistance Programs

  • The Office of Medical Assistance Programs has issued billing guidance to CHIP managed care organizations on the subject of alternative screening sites related to COVID-19. Find that two-page document here.
  • It issued another policy clarification to CHIP managed care organizations with directions to bypass the prior authorization requirements for chest CT scans for COVID-19 payments. See that policy clarification document here.

Another notice announces a new ICD-10 code for COVID-10 that takes effect on April 1. Find it here.

  • The Office of Medical Assistance Programs has posted an FAQ on Medicaid program coverage of COVID-19 testing and related services. It includes information about what Pennsylvania Medicaid will pay for COVID-19 testing, the services it will cover, and more.  Find it here.

Department of Human Services – Office of Long Term Living

  • The Office of Long Term Living (OLTL) has published guidance on conducting pre-admission screening and resident reviews for applicants to and residents of Medicaid-certified nursing facilities. This includes an explanation of performing such screens by phone or video conference.  See the guidance here.
  • OLTL also has sent a memo to nursing home transition coordination agencies about a new, COVID-19-motivated nursing home transition tenant-based rental assistance process. Find that memo here.
  • OLTL also communicated via its listserv that it is delaying the implementation deadline for electronic visit verification (EVV) until October 1, 2020.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

  • The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has issued a document clarifying the state’s response to federal guidance on the disclosure of patients’ substance abuse disorder records during the telehealth process. See that policy clarification here.
  • DDAP has issued a policy bulletin addressing telehealth services for gambling treatment. Find that bulletin here.

Department of State

The Pennsylvania Department of State, which is responsible for licensing many health care providers, has announced new guidelines and processes for reactivating the licenses of retired health care professionals such as doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and others.  This new policy supplements previous announcements the department has made on this subject.  Find this updated information here.

Pennsylvania Health Centers Awarded Federal Funds

The federal Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $100 million in grants to 1381 health centers across the country.  Among them are 43 health centers in Pennsylvania that will share $12.9 million in federal funds.  See a list of those grant recipients here.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

 

 

 

 

2020-03-26T06:00:31+00:00March 26th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19, 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 COVID-19 Update: March 25, 2020
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COVID-19 Update: March 20, 2020

The following is a summary of the major COVID-19-related developments in Pennsylvania today as of 5:30 p.m. on March 20, 2020.

Pennsylvania Administration

Since yesterday, the Department of Human Services has issued the following four new guidance documents:

We notified you last night that the governor issued an order to close all “non-life-sustaining businesses.” Below please find two resources for additional information.

  • Any business that would like to seek a waiver to the mandate to close can send a request to this email address:  RA-dcexemption@pa.gov
  • In addition, questions about whether or not your specific business needs to close can be directed to: ra-dcedcs@pa.gov

At the Secretary of Health’s daily update she noted that the number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the state doubled in the past two days.

Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania logoFederal

Administration

CMS approved Washington state’s 1135 waiver request.  The approval letter can be found here.

In addition, CMS released two telehealth toolkits:  one for general practitioners that is available here and another for end-stage renal disease providers available here.

Congress

Congress is preparing a combination bill to both combat the spread of the coronavirus and also provide economic stimulus to counteract the negative effects of the state of emergency.  As Congress deliberates, SNAP weighed in today with Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, asking for immediate financial support for hospitals, the elimination of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid DSH cuts, and a moratorium on new regulatory requirements on hospitals.  Find a summary of the bill here and SNAP’s letter to the delegation here.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page FAQ

Conclusion

Please let us know if you have any questions or need additional information or resources.

 

2020-03-23T06:00:11+00:00March 23rd, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Federal Medicaid issues, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Uncategorized|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: March 20, 2020
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COVID-19 Update: March 19, 2020

The following is a summary of the major COVID-19-related developments in Pennsylvania for March 19, 2020 as of 6:30 p.m.

Pennsylvania Administration

Governor’s Order Closing State Businesses

Early in the evening, Governor Tom Wolf announced that he was ordering the immediate closing of what he called “non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania.”  See his news release on the order here, the order itself here, and a list of types of businesses and whether they are or are not “life-sustaining” here.

Pennsylvania Department of State Licensure Exceptions and Fast Track

The Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, in conjunction with Governor Wolf, issued a press release announcing that the governor had granted the department’s request for a suspension to permit licensed practitioners in other states to provide services to Pennsylvanians without obtaining a Pennsylvania license during the emergency.  The announcement also makes clear that “no Pennsylvania law prohibits the practice of telemedicine.”  Under the exception, out-of-state practitioners must:

  • Be licensed and in good standing in their home state, territory or country.
  • Provide the Pennsylvania board from which they would normally seek licensure with the following information prior to practicing telemedicine with Pennsylvanians:
  • their full name, home or work mailing address, telephone number, and email address; and
  • their license type, license number or other identifying information that is unique to that practitioner’s license, and the state or other governmental body that issued the license.

The full text of the document can be found here.

Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Authorizing Additional Take-home Opioid Treatment Medicine

On March 16, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provided additional guidance to Opioid Treatment Programs.  Today, Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs issued a licensing alert taking advantage of that guidance to suspend the prohibition on patients receiving a greater-than-two-week supply of medication to take home.  The full text of the document can be found here.

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Shares COVID Response Overview

On Tuesday, March 17 Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services (DHS) hosted an invitation-only call to provider DHS stakeholders with an overview of its actions related to COVID-19.  Last night DHS issued a summary of that presentation.  Please find that summary attached.

Pennsylvania Department of Health Daily Update

  • The Secretary stated that the Department of Health (DOH) is working with hospitals to evaluate whether elective procedures are necessary and to delay them as appropriate.
  • DOH has directed hospitals to update their emergency plans to include COVID-19 and to implement those plans as of 11:59 tonight.
  • Although the number of diagnoses continues to rise, hospitalizations in Pennsylvania are on par with nationwide statistics at roughly 10 percent of the diagnosed population.
  • The Secretary is urging small businesses to comply with the social distancing protocols and called on small business owners to contact the Department of Community and Economic Development to identify financial resources to assist them through this period.
  • She reminded citizens that limiting individual exposure does not require a mask, stating that the limited personal protective equipment supplies are best used by frontline responders.

Pennsylvania Legislature

House Chamber of the State HouseThe following summary of PA legislative actions was compiled by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Gillian McGoldrick of Lancaster Online.

Limiting Disaster Powers

When Gov. Tom Wolf declared a disaster emergency on March 6, he was able to  claim expansive powers. Rep. Russ Diamond (R., Lebanon) plans to issue a  resolution to terminate  Wolf’s COVID-19 emergency declaration “if the need arises.”

Privacy

Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin) is drafting a   resolution   that would call on the federal government to suspend privacy regulations for people who have tested positive for COVID-19. There should be “full disclosure of anyone who came within immediate contact of any contaminated citizen,” Mastriano said in a statement, “until the COVID-19 crisis passes.”

Pa. Coronavirus Cases

As of March 18, 2020, the Pa. Department of Health reports that there are 133 positive cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.

Total cases/Deaths

VIEW THE INTERACTIVE MAP HERE:  https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/03/evictions-student-loans-pssas-and-more-what-pa-lawmakers-are-proposing-in-response-to-the-coronavirus.html

Rent

Lawmakers are  drafting a bill  to limit landlords’ right to evict tenants when a governor declares a state of emergency. The measure, from Rep. Mary Isaacson (D., Philadelphia) and Rep. Summer Lee (D., Allegheny), would “provide an exemption from eviction for workers who are unemployed, separated from their employment, or unable to find employment.”

Schools

Sen. Andy Dinniman (D., Chester) and Sen. Scott Martin (R., Lancaster) are drafting a bill that would   cancel the state PSSA and Keystone exams  for the remainder of this school year. The measure would also require the state Department of Education to waive federal testing requirements.

Dinniman is also drafting  a measure  that would give school districts authority to deliver online instruction until the end of the academic year.

Martin has  proposed a bill  that would require colleges and universities closed because of COVID-19 to refund all fees paid in advance, including room and board. The prorated refund would only apply from the date the institution shuttered through the end of the semester.

Sick Leave

Rep. Joe Hohenstein (D., Philadelphia) and Sen. Larry Farnese (D., Philadelphia)   want to require  paid sick leave for any workers left out by a federal bill on its way to President Donald Trump’s desk, which is limited to workers who need to care for their children. The legislation could leave 19.3 million workers without any sick pay, the Washington Post  reported.

The state legislation would also require employers to reinstate workers when they return from leave.

Small Businesses

To lessen the impact on small businesses,  Sen. Tom Killion (R., Chester) plans to introduce legislation  that would direct table game revenue to the Department of Community and Economic Development to create zero-interest loans.

Reps. Valerie Gaydos (R., Allegheny) and Jared Solomon (D., Philadelphia)  also plan to introduce legislation  to create low-to-no interest loans to help small businesses survive. The bill will outline two types of loans: one will be short-term funding to meet payroll and overhead expenses; the other will be for “long-term resiliency” to help businesses recover over time.

Student Loans

A measure by Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia) would allow a   60-day grace period  for repayment of student loans issued by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

Taxes and Filing

Rep. David Rowe (R., Union) and Rep. Frank Ryan (R., Lebanon) are   writing a measure  that would suspend sales and personal income tax collection until the disaster declaration is lifted.

The IRS will keep its tax-filing deadline as April 15, but the U.S. Treasury announced Tuesday it will waive interest and penalties for 90 days after that date. Rep. Joe Ciresi (D., Montgomery)  plans to introduce legislation   that would apply a 60-day extension for Pennsylvanians to file state income taxes when the state is under a disaster declaration.

Voting

All Pennsylvanians are now eligible to vote by mail. Rep. Kevin Boyle (D., Philadelphia) wants to  encourage  that by mailing all voters that kind of ballot ahead of the April 28 primary.

Rep. Dan Williams (D., Chester) plans to introduce legislation to allow elections officials to   open votes submitted by mail  before the polls close. House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster)  previously said  this is a part of discussions with Gov. Tom Wolf to “clean-up” a comprehensive voting reform bill passed last year.

Workers’ Rights

A proposed state Senate bill would support workers while quarantined or in isolation during a public health emergency. Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D., Bucks) said in a  memo  to his colleagues that Pennsylvania does not have a law that addresses whether an employer can fire a worker under these conditions during a state of emergency.

A measure by Rep. Ed Neilson (D., Philadelphia) would provide  unemployment compensation for people who have been ordered to quarantine or isolate because of the coronavirus. His bill would not offer extended benefits to people who used paid time off or paid sick days during quarantine or isolation.

Federal

CMS Catastrophic Plan Coverage Guidance

Catastrophic coverage plans are generally prohibited from covering essential health benefits until a covered individual has met its deductible.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a notice informing plans that it will not enforce this provision as it relates to insurers amending their plans to provide pre-deductible coverage for services related to the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.  The full notice is available here.

CMS Medicaid and CHIP FAQ Released

The guidance describes the authority states have generally to respond to emergencies but has also been updated as of March 18 to include additional guidance specific to the response to COVID-19.  The updates generally provide additional clarity around telehealth.

There are also new sections on managed care flexibilities and 1115 waiver flexibilities, again generally focused on limiting the spread of person-to-person contact through the use of telehealth, remote monitoring, etc.  It is worth mentioning that this is federal guidance for state Medicaid programs so it describes what is possible but does not describe the actual conditions in any particular state.

The FAQ document is available here.

CMS Elective Surgery Guidance

CMS released guidance to limit non-essential adult elective surgery and medical and surgical procedures, including all dental procedures, in an effort to conserve critical resources such as ventilators and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  Decisions remain the responsibility of local health care delivery systems, including state and local health officials, and those surgeons who have direct responsibility to their patients.  To help with that decision-making, CMS offered a tiered framework of procedures that should be considered for postponement, taking into account the location (outpatient department, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital), the hospital’s COVID-19 patient census, the patient’s acuity, and more.  Click here to read the full guidance.  Click here to read the CMS press release.

HRSA Data Collection Activities

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will not be going through notice and comment periods for data collection activities for the remainder of the emergency.  Under this authority, HRSA launched an information collection effort to support the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, surveying HRSA-funded health centers on their involvement in the COVID-19 response, including whether they are offering diagnostic tests.  The agency will have to comply with relevant provisions within 30 days of the end of the emergency declaration.  The announcement is available here.

CDC Alters Timeline to Implement New ICD-10 Code for Coronavirus (see attached)

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) is taking the unprecedented step of invoking the National Emergencies Act to supersede the schedule for updating the ICD coding set defined within HIPAA.  Under this authority, CDC is establishing an effective date of April 1, 2020 for the new code as opposed October 1 date that would have been required under the normal statutory update schedule.  The full text of the announcement is available here.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

2020-03-20T09:54:40+00:00March 20th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Federal Medicaid issues, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: March 19, 2020
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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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