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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 October 11-15

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of October 11-15, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf announced a new grant program to support community organizations conducting outreach on COVID-19 vaccines.  The $5 million COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Grant Program is available to eligible organizations, including non-profits, child care, and educational institutions.  The program will provide grants from $10,000 up to $100,000 to support targeted outreach efforts such as sponsorship of vaccine-related community events, equipment rental to assist with setting vaccine appointments, local media buys, creation of outreach and training materials, and more.  Learn more about the program from this news release from the governor’s office and the program’s web page, which includes a link to application guidelines.  The deadline for the first round of grant applications is November 1.

General Assembly

The House of Representatives’ Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing this week titled “Saving Community Hospitals:  Keeping Care Close.”  The informational hearing, held in Downingtown, focused heavily on Tower Health’s recent decision to sell Chestnut Hill Hospital and close Jennersville Hospital.  Labor issues, including clinical staffing levels, also were discussed.  Panelists included representatives from SEIU Healthcare, the Pennsylvania State Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP), and first responders.  A press release issued following the hearing can be found here.  The same committee will hold another hearing in Stroudsburg on Monday, October 18 at 1:00 p.m. focused on consolidation in the health care sector.

Department of Human Services

Department of Health

The departments of Human Services and Health have announced that the Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams (RCAT) will continue to provide COVID-19 prevention, preparation, and response support to long-term-care facilities from October 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.  More information, including contact information for each regional lead, can be found here.

The Department of Health has developed a series of new vaccine hesitancy materials to assist long-term-care facilities with their vaccine outreach efforts.  These materials include:

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) will propose changes to modernize the confidentiality of substance use records in the state, the department informed stakeholders in a message delivered through its listserv.  Another message to stakeholders elaborates on the department’s intentions.

In preparation for this undertaking, DDAP surveyed stakeholders on the state’s substance use confidentiality policies and has posted the appendices to its summary report.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases remained very high this week and today it passed the 1.5 million mark since the pandemic began.  Approximately 31,780 of these cases have been among health care workers.
  • The number of COVID-19 cases among school-aged children (between 5-18 years old) is nearly six times greater this year than in 2020.  Between October 6 and October 12, 2020 there were 1101 COVID-19 cases in school-aged kids compared to 6433 cases in the same age group during the same week this year.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths continues to rise slightly.  This week Pennsylvania passed 30,000 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began.
  • Every county in Pennsylvania continues to experience a high level of COVID-19 transmission.
  • 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.
  • 70.1 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated – nearly 6.4 million people.  3000 Philadelphians and 77,000 other Pennsylvanians were recorded as completing a vaccine regimen in the past week; the latter number represents a much larger weekly total than in recent months.

Stakeholder Events

Independent Regulatory Review Commission – Consideration of Department of Drug and Alcohol Regulation – October 21

Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission will consider final-omitted rulemaking Standards for Drug and Alcohol Recovery House Licensure (#74-4).  The commission will be considering a revised version of a proposed regulation it rejected in July.  To review a history of the regulation and its latest version, go here.  To register to view the meeting virtually or offer testimony, send an email to irrchelp@irrc.state.pa.us.

Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee- October 21

The Department of Health’s Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 1:00.  Go here for information on how to participate.

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:

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.

 

2021-10-15T21:19:47+00:00October 15th, 2021|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 PA Health Policy Update for the Week of October 11-15
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of October 4-8

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of October 4-October 8, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

The Wolf administration announced the recipients of more than $12 million in federal funding for services and supports designed to improve outcomes for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.  The grants are part of $55 million in federal funding awarded to Pennsylvania through the federal SAMHSA Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Program COVID-19 Supplemental Awards.

General Assembly

  • Senate Bill 397 and Senate Bill 398 were signed by Governor Wolf; they are now Act 78 and Act 79, respectively.  These bills add a physician assistant to the State Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine.  They also eliminate the countersignature requirement under certain conditions, increase the number of physician assistants a physician may supervise, and streamline the written agreement.  Acts 78 and 79 require the boards to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the acts within 180 days.
  • House Bill 1893 was passed by the House of Representatives on a party-line vote Monday.  This bill makes all disease information under the Disease Prevention and Control Act of 1955 subject to the state’s right-to-know law.  The bill will now head to the Senate.
  • The House Professional Licensure Committee met to consider a number of bills, including:
    • House Resolution 142 was reported as committed.  This resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study and review of the State Board of Nursing.
    • House Bill 889 was also reported as committed. This bill authorizes the State Board of Nursing to approve graduates of international nursing education programs to sit for the RN licensure examination provided such programs are determined to be equivalent to that which is required in Pennsylvania.
    • The committee held an informational meeting on Wednesday to discuss House Bill 1440, which provides for the regulation and licensure of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.  A video transcript of the meeting can be found here.
  • The Senate revised its scheduled session days for the fall. Sessions previously scheduled for October 20, November 15, 16, and 17 have been canceled and November 8, 9, and 10 have been

Independent Regulatory Review Commission

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) has issued comments on the Department of Health’s proposed update of regulations affecting long-term-care facilities.  Most significant among the IRRC’s comments is a concern that the Department of Health has not fully explored the financial impact of these changes on the regulated community.  The Department of Health is required to respond to the IRRC’s concerns as part of the continuing review of these regulations.

Department of Health

The Department of Health issued recommendations for certain individuals to receive a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The Department of Health released an updated report on post-vaccination COVID-19 events.  The report found that 91 percent of reported COVID-19 cases were among unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people and 93 percent of hospitalizations and deaths were among unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases remained high this week.
  • The Department of Health reported 93 new COVID-19-related deaths yesterday.   County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.
  • There are 2,930 Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 680 are in an intensive care unit with COVID-19.  The trend in the 14-day moving average number of hospitalized patients continues to rise.  The full 14-day moving average since the start of the pandemic can be found here.
  • According to the CDC, as of Wednesday, October 6, 69.3 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated, up from 68.2 percent last week.
  • The Department of Health is now publishing vaccination data by legislative district (state Senate, state House, and Congress). The data may be found here.

Economic Impact of Hospitals

The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) announced the release of a report this week on the economic impact of hospitals on the state and local economies.  The report found that hospitals contribute $155 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy, support more than 615,000 jobs, and generate $38 billion in wages, salaries, and benefits.  Find the report here and an executive summary here.

Around the State

  • Public health officials in Pittsburgh warned about the dangerous effects of vaccine misinformation, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  • Senator Scott Martin (R-Lancaster County) has criticized the Department of Health for “bullying” individuals who fail to comply with COVID-related quarantine requirements. The Department of Health maintains the letter cited by Senator Martin was taken out of context for “political gain.” The Pennsylvania Capital Star details the competing narratives.
  • Spotlight PA has reported that even as COVID-19 cases have increased among children, schools across Pennsylvania have not widely used a state program offering free COVID-19 testing for students.
  • Abortion rights are quickly becoming a prominent issue for the upcoming 2022 election season, according The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  • The Associated Press detailed efforts by the Republican-controlled General Assembly to make information on COVID-19 and other diseases more readily available. Democratic lawmakers expressed concern about the unintended consequences of making this information available.

Stakeholder Events

Maternal Mortality Review Committee Virtual Public Meeting

October 20 at 9:00 a.m.

The purpose of this virtual public meeting is to discuss new and ongoing issues involving treatment of maternal mortality and Department of Health programs related to care and treatment.  For information on how individuals can participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee

October 21, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.

The purpose of this virtual public meeting is to review the work of the committee, review the status of the current request for application, and plan the process to review the next spinal cord research applications.  For information on how individuals can participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council

October 28, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

The Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council will provide program guidance and recommendations to the Department of Health’s Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program on drug formulary; covered lab services; drug utilization review; clinical programs; eligibility; and program management.  For information on how individuals can participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

 

 

 

2021-10-12T17:45:33+00:00October 12th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, long-term care, 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 October 4-8
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of September 6

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of September 6-10, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

The House of Representatives announced it will return to session a week early to address the Wolf administration’s implementation of a mask mandate for K-12 schools and child care facilities.  The House, which was originally scheduled to return on September 27, has added September 20, 21, and 22 as voting session days.

Department of Health

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin announcing the addition of CPT codes 0003A and 0013A to the Medical Assistance Program Fee Schedule for the administration of a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.  See the notice here.
  • The Department of Human Services has posted a notice announcing FY 2022 rates for selected services provided by the state’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS).
  • The Department of Human Services has announced that it will allocate $255.556 million in total funds in FY 2022 for inpatient disproportionate share hospital (Medicaid DSH) payments to qualifying inpatient acute-care general, psychiatric, and rehabilitation hospitals and qualifying psychiatric and rehabilitation units of acute-care general hospitals, outpatient supplemental payments to qualifying inpatient acute-care general hospitals, and direct medical education payments to qualifying inpatient acute-care general hospitals.  The department is not changing the state plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for these payments.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • The Department of Human Services has announced its intention to make COVID-19-related Medicaid DSH payments to qualified hospitals and how much it will pay hospitals based on their Medical Assistance days and their degree of Medicaid dependence.  See the Pennsylvania Bulletin notice here.
  • The Department of Human Services is adding and end-dating procedure codes as a result of implementing the 2021 updates published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS).  The department also is adding other procedure codes and making changes to procedure codes currently on the Medical Assistance Program Fee Schedule, including fee adjustments.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • The Department of Human Services has published its latest monthly physical health managed care enrollment report.  Find it here.

Pennsylvania Rural Health Model

The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has posted its first report on the performance of its Pennsylvania Rural Health Model.  Find that report here and go here for further information about the program.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases remained high this week, including the first day (today) with more than 5000 new cases since mid-April.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths increased over the past week.
  • For the week ending September 9 in Pennsylvania, every county in the state is experiencing a high level of COVID-19 transmission.  The CDC classifies transmission as follows:
    • Low:  0-10 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week or 0-5% positivity rate
    • Moderate: 15-50 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week or 5-8% positivity rate
    • Substantial:  50-100 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week or 8-10% positivity rate
    • High: 100+ new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week or 10%+ positivity rate
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19 has risen 17 percent since the beginning of the month, the number on ventilators has risen 14 percent, and the number in hospital intensive care units has risen 11 percent.
  • According to the state’s revised figures, 66.8 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated – 6.0 million people – up from 66.0 percent last week.  Only 11,000 Philadelphians and 65,000 other Pennsylvanians (fewer than last week) completed a vaccine regimen in the past week.

Around the State

Independent Regulatory Review Commission

Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission has rejected regulations proposed by the state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs for the licensure or certification of drug and alcohol recovery houses that receive funds or referrals from the department or a federal, state, or other county agency to ensure that a drug and alcohol recovery house provides a safe environment for residents.  See the commission’s explanation of its decision in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Stakeholder Events

  • The consumer subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet on September 22 at 1:00 pm.  Go here to register to participate remotely.
  • The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet on September 23, 2021 at 10:00 am.  Go here to register to participate remotely.
  • The Patient Safety Authority will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, September 23 at 1:00 p.m. and it is open to the general public.  For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
2021-09-10T21:48:42+00:00September 10th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, DSH hospitals, Medicaid supplemental payments, Medical Assistance Bulletin, 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 September 6
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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 August 9-13

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of August 9-13, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

The Wolf Administration

The Wolf administration announced that commonwealth employees in state health care facilities and high-risk congregate-care facilities will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 7.  State employees who are not vaccinated will be required to undergo weekly testing. Approximately 25,000 employees working in 24-hour-operated state facilities (such as state hospitals, state centers for people with intellectual disabilities, veterans homes, community health centers, and state correction institutions) will be affected.

The Wolf administration has published its annual regulatory agenda.  The agendas, submitted by individual state agencies and authorities, are compiled to provide members of the regulated community advanced notice of regulatory activity.  See the announcement published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

General Assembly

Following Governor Wolf’s 15th renewal of the state’s opioid disaster declaration, Republican leaders in the House and Senate informed the governor that they will not reconvene the General Assembly to extend the declaration beyond the 21-day renewal term.  Instead, they said they would continue working with the administration to enact legislation focused on combating the opioid and heroin epidemics.

Department of Health

The Department of Health announced that skilled nursing facilities will be required to have at least 80 percent of their staff vaccinated for COVID-19 by October 1.  Facilities that do not meet the 80 percent threshold will be required to perform more frequent testing of unvaccinated employees.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services notified stakeholders that under Act 21 of 2021, the suspension of various regulatory provisions under the COVID-19 state disaster emergency declaration will expire on September 30, 2021.  A list of the regulations that were suspended and their current status may be found on the DHS website here.

DHS informed stakeholders this week that a public notice announcing the Office of Long-Term Living’s proposed amendment to the Community HealthChoices section 1915(c) waiver will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on August 21, 2021 and not August 14, 2021, as previously announced.  The 30-day public comment period on the proposed amendment will be from August 21 to September 19, 2021.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • This week marked the fourth straight week Pennsylvania has seen an increase in its COVID-19 case numbers. As of 12:00 a.m. on August 13, there were 2,082 additional positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 1,246,014.
  • The statewide positivity rate for the week of July 30 to August 5 increased to 5.4 percent, up from 3.9 percent the prior week.
  • The trend in hospitalizations also continued upward. There are 935 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 226 of them in intensive care units.
  • As of Friday, August 13, 5.8 million Pennsylvanians (excluding Philadelphians) are fully vaccinated. Approximately 15,000 people a day are receiving vaccinations according to a seven-day moving average.

Around the State

Stakeholder Events

Health Care Cost Containment Council – Special Meeting

August 18 at 12:00 p.m.

The Health Care Cost Containment Council has scheduled a virtual special meeting for Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at 12 p.m.  For information on how to participate, contact rgreenawalt@phc4.org.

Sandata Alternate Electronic Visit Verification Virtual Town Hall

August 20 at 11:00 a.m.

Sandata, in conjunction with DHS, will be hosting an Alternate Electronic Visit Verification Virtual Town Hall on Friday, August 20, 2021.  The webinar will cover the following topics:  an overview of the integration process (specification and addendum review); understanding the certification process; common errors and troubleshooting steps; and vendor and provider resources.  It will also include a Q&A. To register, please see the Sandata PA DHS Alternate EVV Virtual Town Hall registration page.

State Child Death Review Team Virtual Public Meeting

August 20 at 9:00 a.m.

This virtual public meeting will provide an overview of data from a number of sources on motor vehicle deaths of children from birth to 21 years of age.  In addition, meeting participants will discuss local team recommendations and current prevention efforts related to motor vehicle deaths.  For information on how to participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee Meeting

September 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The next Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, as a webinar with remote streaming. To register for the webinar, please click on this webinar registration link.  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

 

 

2021-08-16T20:49:44+00:00August 16th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of August 9-13
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of June 28-July 2

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of June 28-July 2, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

FY 2021-2022 Budget

On Wednesday Governor Wolf signed into law Pennsylvania’s FY 2021-2022 General Fund appropriations bill and related code bills.  The governor partially vetoed Senate Bill 255, the General Appropriations Act, to remove the funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the establishment and operation of a new Bureau of Election Audits.  The full package of budget-related bills passed by the legislature and signed by the governor includes the FY 2022 General Appropriations Act – Senate Bill 255; the Fiscal Code – House Bill 1348; the Administrative Code – House Bill 336, and the Tax Code – House Bill 952.

House Chamber of the State HouseLegislative Update

The legislature has passed, and Governor Wolf has signed, the following health care-related bills:

  • House Bill 649 (Act 67) – requires the Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to establish protocols to permit an essential caregiver to provide in-person physical and emotional support to a congregate care facility resident during a declaration of disaster emergency.
  • House Bill 1024 (Act 44) – revises to the state’s Medical Marijuana Act, including caregiver, dispensing, and criminal background check provisions.
  • House Bill 1429 (Act 48) – adds a new section to the state Crimes Code providing for the offense of financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person.  It also clarifies that district attorneys have the right to investigate and institute criminal proceedings for any violation of this new section.
  • House Bill 1431 (Act 49) – adds a new section to the Crimes Code that defines as abuse and establishes as a misdemeanor the use of social media by employees who post pictures of care-dependent individuals without permission.
  • Senate Bill 108 (Act 56) – provides for a $130 supplemental per diem payment for ventilator or tracheostomy care provided by qualified skilled nursing facilities that meet certain criteria based on the volume and proportion of Medicaid patients they serve.
  • Senate Bill 115 (Act 68) – establishes the Nurse Licensure Compact Act, which makes the state a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact with all other states that have joined the compact.
  • Senate Bill 416 (Act 60) – establishes the certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) designation in the commonwealth.  The legislation grants an individual licensed to practice professional nursing and who meets the requirements of this act the right to use the CRNA designation.
  • Senate Bill 425 (Act 61) – 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.
  • Senate Bill 445 (Act 23) – permits a person renewing a driver’s license, identification card, or vehicle registration electronically through the Department of Transportation’s web site to contribute $5 to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition for breast cancer research.
  • Senate Bill 484 (Act 63) – adds the chair of the State Veterans Commission or a designee to the Pennsylvania Long-term Care Council.

Governor Wolf vetoed Senate Bill 618, which would have prohibited the use of vaccine passports by government entities and prevented institutions of higher education from requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19.  The bill also sought to restrict the Secretary of Health’s ability to implement certain disease control measures. See the governor’s veto message here.

The General Assembly has now adjourned until September.

Department of Human Services

Department of Health

  • The departments of Health and Human Services have extended to September 30 the period during which the Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams (RCAT) will remain available to help long-term-care facilities prevent and respond to COVID-19.  See the announcement here and updated call center information here.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases continues to decline and the number of COVID-19 deaths continues to decline significantly.
  • For the week from June 18 through June 24 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 1.2 percent, down from 1.4 percent last week and 1.9 percent the week before.
  • Sixty-five counties had a positivity rate lower than five percent, up from 64 last week, and no counties had a positivity rate greater than 20 percent for the ninth consecutive week.
  • Fifty-five counties are currently experiencing low levels of community transmission of COVID-19, up from 37 last week; the remaining 12 Pennsylvania counties are experiencing moderate levels of community transmission and no counties are experiencing a high level of community transmission.
  • On July 1 the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 was less than one-third of what it was on June 1; the number on ventilators was 30 percent of what it was on June 1; and the number in hospital ICUs was 25 percent of what it was on June 1.
  • 5.4 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, with fewer than 100,000 new, complete vaccinations reported in the past week. Another 760,000 people have been vaccinated in Philadelphia.  According to the state, 60.3 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated and 62.9 percent of the entire population has now received at least the first dose of a vaccine.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

Around the State

  • While Pennsylvania is among the nation’s leaders in the percentage of its residents receiving their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine it is the fifth-worst state when it comes to getting those first shot recipients their second dose.  The Philadelphia Inquirer lays out the situation and explores why.
  • Following a 2018 fire at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works site the number of asthma-related visits to doctors’ offices and hospital emergency departments nearly doubled, according to a new study.  WESA Pittsburgh tells the story.
  • According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, “A partnership involving an Allentown-based health system and a recently formed hospital turnaround company has emerged as a bidder for the financially struggling Tower Health.”  Learn more here.
  • After today Lancaster County closes its COVID-19 mass vaccination site.  Lancaster Online recounts some of the site’s accomplishments and experiences.
  • With people spending more time at home, HIV testing at non-health care sites in Philadelphia fell 75 percent in 2020, according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

Stakeholder Events

  • 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
  • Health Research Advisory Committee Meeting

July 12 at 10:00 a.m.

The public meeting will be held virtually by means of Microsoft Teams at (267) 332-8737 with Conference ID: 689 378 043#.

  • 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

Financial Management Services Meeting – June 28

At the most recent Financial Management Services stakeholder meeting on June 28, 2021the Community HealthChoices managed care organizations announced that Tempus Unlimited, Inc. will be the new statewide Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent, with HHA eXchange as the software solution, supporting FMS in the Community HealthChoices program.

Stakeholder Events Materials

DHS has shared materials presented at the June 28 meeting of its Financial Management Services stakeholder meeting.  This public meeting discussed the upcoming changes for 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 participated in the meeting.  Those presentations are:

 

 

2021-07-06T03:16:48+00:00July 6th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Federal Medicaid issues, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2022 budget|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of June 28-July 2
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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 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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  • P: (717) 234-6970

  • 2020 Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania

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