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PA Health Policy Update for May 12

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from May 8 – 12.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.) 

End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Hospital building

  • CMS has released an updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) document regarding changes made to the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023.
  • CMS has sent a memo to state Medicaid and CHIP programs about the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the COVID-19 national emergency and the implications for Medicaid and CHIP.  Find that memo here. 
  • The DEA has announced that the full set of telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled medications that were established in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency will remain in place for six more months, through November 11.  During this period the DEA and HHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will continue to consider the flexibilities’ future.  Learn more from this DEA announcement, which includes a link to a Federal Register notice. 
  • DOH has notified health care providers the CMS waiver allowing for Temporary Nurse Aides (TNAs) ends with the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. TNA’s who have not completed the testing by May 11, 2023 may become Nurse Aide Candidates by enrolling in an approved Nurse Aide Training Program. After May 11, 2023, nurse aide candidates will have four months to complete the required testing as long as they are enrolled in an approved nurse aide training program. Nurse aide candidates may continue to work in facilities while they complete the training program. Information on preparing and scheduling tests can be found here. 

General Assembly

  • The state Senate returned to Harrisburg on Monday, May 8 for voting session and is now recessed until Monday, June 5.
  • The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee held an information meeting Wednesday, May 10, to receive updates from local Area Agencies on Aging and to discuss scams targeting older adults. A recording of the meeting can be viewed here.
  • The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on May 18 to discuss access to rural medicine and health care in Pennsylvania. The hearing will be held at the Carnegie Natural History Museum in Pittsburgh at 11:00 a.m. and will be livestreamed here.
  • The state House will return to Harrisburg for voting session Monday, May 22. The following are selected health-related proceedings.
    • The House Health Committee will hold a voting meeting Monday, May 22 at 10:00am to consider, among several resolutions, HB 1131 sponsored by Representative Lisa Borowski, which would remove the requirement for counties to operate state health centers in counties establishing their own local health departments. The meeting will be held in Room G-50 of the Irvis Office Building and will be live streamed here.
    • The House Human Services Committee will hold a voting meeting Tuesday, May 23 at 9:00am to consider, HB 849 sponsored by Representative Mike Schlossberg, to allocate funding for the Behavioral Health Commission on Adult Mental Health’s recommendations for funding, and HB 931 sponsored by Representative Eddie Day Pashinski, to establish the Kinship Care Legal Assistance Grant Program. The meeting will be held in Room 523 of the Irvis Office Building and can be live streamed here. 

Joint State Government Commission

The Joint State Government Commission issued a study on the use of contracted workers at Medicaid funded long-term care facilities, as authorized under Senate Resolution 288 of 2021. The study can be viewed here. 

Department of Health 

  • The Department of Health (DOH) issued an update (PAHAN – 694 – 05-11) with information regarding infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in health care settings based on changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on May 8, 2023.
  • DOH reminded nursing care facilities that June 1, 2023 is the deadline for submitting the MCARE Surcharge Invoice Payment.  The 2022-23 surcharge letters and invoices were emailed to administrators on March 3 and again on April 22.
  • DOH issued a notice that the Division of Home Health will have the following new address effective May 8, 2023 – 2525 North 7th Street, Harrisburg PA 17110. 

Department of Human Services 

  • The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) issued a bulletin clarifying the 120-hour timeframe for Section 302 emergency involuntary commitments in response to questions regarding the previous bulletin issued in November 2022. The OMHSAS Bulletin may be viewed here.
  • DHS published Provider Quick Tip #233 confirming the waiver of Prudent Pay will not end on May 11, 2023 with the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). It will remain in effect until further notice.

Independent Regulatory Review Commission 

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) released the agenda for its May 18 meeting. Following are certain health-related regulations IRRC will consider.

Stakeholder Events

DOH – HIV Community Prevention Planning Committee – May 18

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Community Prevention Planning Committee will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, May 17 and Thursday, May 18. For information on how to participate, review this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Consumer Subcommittee – May 24

The Consumer Subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 24 at 1:00 pm. Go here to register to participate. 

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – May 25

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m.  Go here to register to participate.

2023-05-12T21:27:54+00:00May 12th, 2023|COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations, Pennsylvania Medical Assistance|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for May 12
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End of PHE Could Cut Kids From PA Medicaid Rolls

When the formal COVID-19 public health emergency ends, as many as one out of every four Pennsylvania children enrolled in Medicaid could lose their state-sponsored health insurance, according to new research by the Pennsylvania Partnership for Children.

During the PHE, the number of uninsured children in the state fell from 4.6 percent to 4.4 percent, but some of that improvement could be reversed as the state begins to redetermine the eligibility of more than 3.5 million people currently on the state’s Medicaid rolls after a more than two-year hiatus in eligibility reviews.  Today, more than 1.4 million children in Pennsylvania are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.

Even with the PHE-inspired improvements, 5.5 percent of children in the state who qualify for some kind of free or subsidized health insurance remain uninsured, according to the research.

Uninsured children, like the uninsured population at large, are far more likely than not to be treated by Pennsylvania’s safety-net hospitals such as those that belong to the Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP).  As a result, any reduction in the rate of uninsured children would have a correspondingly damaging effect on the financial health of those safety-net hospitals – and potentially, on the residents of the medically vulnerable communities those hospitals serve.

Learn more about how the end of the PHE may affect health care coverage for Pennsylvania children in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star article “Report:  Ranks of uninsured Pa. kids dropped during pandemic.”

2022-12-14T15:26:58+00:00December 14th, 2022|COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus|Comments Off on End of PHE Could Cut Kids From PA Medicaid Rolls
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PA Health Policy Update for Friday, November 4

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

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf signed 66 bills into law this week and vetoed one, Senate Bill 736.  The following is a selection of health care-related bills signed into law by the governor.

  • House Bill 220, which is now Act 101 of 2022, specifies that a person does not need to test positive for drugs to begin addiction treatment.
  • House Bill 1393, which is now Act 111 of 2022, seeks to prevent overdose deaths by legalizing fentanyl test strips for personal use.
  • House Bill 2293, which is now Act 128 of 2022, requires the registration and oversight of contract health care service agencies that provide temporary employment in certain health care facilities.
  • House Bill 2527, which is now Act 135 of 2022, expands Pennsylvania’s “Good Samaritan” law to cover all opioid reversal medicines approved by the FDA.
  • House Bill 2800, which is now Act 143 of 2022, amends the Medical Practice Act to address an issue related to the licensure of prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists, and orthotic fitters in Pennsylvania.
  • Senate Bill 225, which is now Act 146 of 2022, streamlines and standardizes the process for prior authorization of medical services.  The Insurance Department has issued a news release about this new law.
  • Senate Bill 522, which is now Act 150 of 2022, requires all pregnant women and children in Pennsylvania to receive blood tests to detect lead poisoning.

General Election

The 2022 general election will be held on Tuesday, November 8.  Pennsylvanians will be voting for one U.S. Senate seat, 17 U.S. House of Representatives seats, governor, half of the 50 state Senate seats, and all 203 state House seats.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has updated its guidance to hospitals’ response to COVID-19 to reflect the October 31 expiration of the COVID-19 state regulatory waivers and flexibilities. Find the updated guidance here.  At the same time, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has updated its list of regulations that have been suspended in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.  Find the updated list here and scroll down to see the latest regulation suspensions that have expired; they are highlighted in red.
  • DOH has issued a health advisory about the increase in the number of cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) nationally and in the state.  The alert describes the virus, outlines testing and treatment recommendations, and asks providers to report laboratory-confirmed RSV cases to DOH through Pennsylvania’s electronic reportable disease surveillance system,  PA-NEDSS.  It also urges providers to report outbreaks or clusters of severe respiratory illness, regardless of etiology, to the state and local health departments.  Find the advisory here.
  • DOH has issued a news release outlining the changes in the state’s regulations for skilled nursing facilities that have been approved by Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission and now await review by the state’s Attorney General.
  • DOH has released a request for applications for its Long-Term Care Quality Investment Pilot, which will distribute approximately $11.7 million in federal funds to long-term-care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, personal care homes, assisted living facilities, and intermediate-care facilities for the purpose of building resilience.  These funds are designed to be invested in key areas such as workforce development and retention, infection prevention control, emergency preparedness, and improvements to facility infrastructure.  To apply for this funding, facilities must participate in the state’s LTC RISE program’s quality improvement projects and cannot be located in Philadelphia.  Find the state’s request for applications here and learn about LTC RISE here.  The application deadline is December 31.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that Pennsylvania has received approval from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to extend its postpartum coverage period for mothers and birthing people eligible for Medicaid because of their pregnancy from 60 days to 12 months.  Learn more from this DHS news release.
  • DHS has extended into early January of 2023 its Remittance Advice calendar for mailing checks and electronically sending Medicaid payments.  Find the updated calendar here.
  • In response to the passage and signing of House Bill 1630 (now Act 98), which addresses, among other things, the delivery of some mental health and substance use services, DHS’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has written to stakeholders to advise them of some of the new law’s implications and to list the sections of the Pennsylvania Code the new law repeals.  Find the OMHSAS message to stakeholders here.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin advising providers who are not a recognized provider type under the Medical Assistance program that they now may enroll in the program for the purpose of billing for cost-sharing for services provided to beneficiaries who receive both Medicare and Medicaid.  This bulletin also provides information on how to complete and submit an enrollment application.  Find the bulletin here.
  • DHS has added a procedure code to the Medical Assistance fee schedule for the administration of a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has issued Medical Assistance Bulletins addressing requirements for prior authorization and the type of information needed to evaluate the medical necessity of prescriptions for:

These requirements take effect on January 9, 2023.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • According to the CDC, the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Pennsylvania over the past week rose 12 percent after a decline of 12 percent the week before; the number of deaths rose slightly.  The state is averaging more than 1800 new reported cases a day and about 19 daily deaths.
  • According to the Department of Health, the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 and on ventilators because of the virus remains relatively steady but the number in hospital ICUs (172) is at its highest level since early March.
  • The CDC reports a modest increase in the seven-day rolling average of new daily COVID-19 hospital admissions after a 15 percent decrease last week.
  • As of November 4, 54 Pennsylvania counties are experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19; 13 are experiencing substantial rates of community transmission; and Cameron County is experiencing a moderate rates of community transmission.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Health – State Child Death Review Team – November 9

The Department of Health’s State Child Death Review Team will hold a public meeting in Harrisburg on Wednesday, November 9 at 10:00.  The state’s Child Death Review Program provides training and technical assistance to local Child Death Review teams.  This meeting will focus on suicide deaths.  For information about the location of the meeting and the Child Death Review Team, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – December 7

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet in Harrisburg on Wednesday, December 7 at 10:00.  Interested parties can join the meeting in person or via webinar.  For information about the location of the meeting and how to join virtually, see this DHS notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – December 7

The consumer subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, December 7 at 1:00.  Go here to register to participate.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – December 8

DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, December 8 at 10:00.  Go here to register to participate.

 

2022-11-04T20:15:28+00:00November 4th, 2022|COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for Friday, November 4
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PA Health Policy Update for Friday, June 10

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of June 6-10, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf has signed House Bill 889, which authorizes the State Board of Nursing to approve graduates of international nursing education programs to sit for the RN licensure examination provided that such international programs are determined to be equivalent to that which is required in Pennsylvania.  The bill is now Act 22 of 2022.

General Assembly

  • The state House and Senate convened for voting session this week in Harrisburg.
  • The House passed on final consideration House Bill 2585, which prohibits the Department of Human Services from developing or using bidding or service zones that limit a health service corporation or hospital plan corporation contractor from submitting a bid.  The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.  The Senate passed a companion bill, Senate Bill 1235, which will now be sent to the House for consideration.
  • The House Insurance Committee held an informational meeting on Wednesday, June 8 to examine cybersecurity and insurance data security.  Find a recording of the hearing here.
  • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee met on June 7 and favorably reported the following bills.
    • Senate Bill 571, which establishes a uniform time frame for distributing SNAP benefits.
    • Senate Bill 1198, which seeks to promote and improve the availability of and access to assisted living residences.
    • Senate Bill 1202, which requires health insurers to cover the use of medically prescribed pasteurized donor human milk in inpatient and outpatient settings for children under the age of 12 months.
    • House Bill 2401, which makes permanent two COVID-19 waivers that permit non-physician practitioners to order and oversee orders for home health care services and permits the continued use of remote supervisory visits by registered nurses.

Find a recording of the hearing here.

  • The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Monday and favorably reported House Bill 2097, which makes permanent a COVID-19 regulatory waiver that permits certified emergency personnel, such as firefighters with specific first-aid, CPR, and emergency vehicle training, to drive ambulances with an EMT on board.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has updated its Act 2 payment guidance to incorporate additional questions the department has received.  The updated guidance provides further clarification on eligible staff, employer tax withholding, and more.   Find the expanded guidance here.
  • DHS has unveiled new provider enrollment portal enhancements designed to improve providers’ enrollment experience.  Learn more about these enhancements here.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform providers enrolled in the Medical Assistance program that it has updated its blood lead reference value and updated the qualifications for environmental lead investigators to enroll in the program.  Find that Medical Assistance Bulletin here.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics that it is implementing an alternative payment methodology to pay the Medical Assistance program fee schedule rate for administering COVID-19 vaccines during vaccine-only visits for dates of service on and after December 1, 2020 and that it will pay the enhanced Medical Assistance program fee schedule rate for administering COVID-19 vaccines to homebound Medical Assistance beneficiaries during vaccine-only visits for dates of service on and after April 1, 2021.  Find that Medical Assistance Bulletin here.
  • DHS has posted the minutes of the May 26 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee.  Find those minutes here.

HealthChoices Changes

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a health advisory alerting providers to an anticipated seasonal increase in Legionella infections combined with a potential increase in cases resulting from changing building occupancies.  The advisory describes the symptoms of Legionella infection, risk factors, testing, and treatment and provides links to additional resources.  Find the health advisory here.
  • DOH has sent a reminder to long-term-care facilities about the outpatient COVID-19 therapeutics available to them and how to obtain these medications through the agency’s health care partner portal.
  • DOH has shared recommendations for residents of long-term-care facilities (a Word download) to receive a second COVID-19 vaccine booster this summer based on updated CDC guidance.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The Department of Health has issued its monthly report on COVID-19 trends in Pennsylvania.  Find it here.
  • For the second consecutive week COVID-19 case counts fell, declining from a seven-day average of 3552 on June 1 to 3228 on June 8, a nine percent decline.
  • The seven-day average of COVID-19-related deaths rose, however, from 15 to 23, over the same period of time.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 and on ventilators and in hospital intensive care units remained mostly steady over the past week.
  • Sixty-five of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are currently experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19.  The exceptions were Juniata County, with a moderate rate of community transmission, and Fulton County, with a substantial rate.

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4)

PHC4 has published volume one of its annual analysis of the financial performance of Pennsylvania’s acute-care hospitals.  The analysis found that hospital total margins across the state increased 7.84 percentage points, from 3.93 percent in FY 2020 to 11.77 percent in FY 2021, and statewide operating margins increased 4.18 percentage points, from 3.73 percent in FY 2020 to 7.91 percent in FY 2021.  The analysis also found that in FY 2021, 25 percent of the state’s acute-care hospitals posted a negative total margin, 10 percent posted a total margin between 0 percent and four percent, and the remaining 65 percent posted a total margin higher than four percent.  The analysis found that for FY 2021, acute-care hospitals’ uncompensated care rose from $832 million in the previous year to $866 million, an increase of 4.1 percent.  Go here to find a PHC4 news release describing the agency’s report, the report itself, and a link to downloadable data from the report.

Stakeholder Events

Rural Health Redesign Center Authority – June 21

The board of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority will meet virtually on Tuesday, June 21 at 10:00.  Learn more about the board and how to participate in this meet from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant Application for Federal Fiscal Year 2022; Public Hearing – June 21

The Department of Health is making available copies of its proposed Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Application for federal FY 2022.  This block grant application shall serve as the state’s request to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for block grant funding to address the Healthy People 2030 Health Status Objectives.  A public hearing will be held virtually on June 21 at 10:00.  Learn more about the hearing, how to participate, and how to obtain a copy of the grant funding application from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Long-Term Care Learning Network/Nursing Facilities – June 23

DHS’s Long-Term Care Learning Network, part of its quality strategy for nursing facilities, is offering in collaboration with the Community HealthChoices managed care organizations and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation a “learning collaborative” webinar in which participants in past Long-Term Care Learning Network events share information about best practices for avoiding hospitalizations from nursing homes.  The webinar will be held on Thursday, June 23 at 2:00 and the deadline to sign up to share best practices is June 1.  For further information about the webinar, sharing best practices, and participating virtually, go here.

Patient Safety Authority – June 23

The board of the Patient Safety Authority will meet virtually on Thursday, June 23 at 1:00.   Registration is required.  Learn about how to participate in the meeting from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee Meeting – July 6

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet in Harrisburg on Wednesday, July 6 at 10:00; the meeting also will be available virtually.  For further information about the location of the meeting and how to participate virtually, see this announcement.

 

 

2022-06-10T20:21:36+00:00June 10th, 2022|HealthChoices, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for Friday, June 10
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PA Medicaid Enrollment Could Plunge

Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians could lose their Medicaid coverage in the year after the COVID-19 public health emergency officially ends.

Health Benefits Claim FormThe state’s Medicaid rolls have grown by approximately 600,000 during the pandemic, and under the terms Congress set for states to receive additional federal funding to support their Medicaid programs, the state was prohibited from re-evaluating the eligibility of those receiving Medicaid and removing them from the state’s Medicaid rolls if they were found ineligible.  Once the pandemic officially ends, however, states will once again be able to review the eligibility of their Medicaid participants.  In Pennsylvania today, that amounts to approximately 3.4 million people.

The loss of Medicaid eligibility would be a major blow to those currently receiving care through the program and the providers that are being paid for the care they deliver to qualified recipients.  This could pose a special challenge for Pennsylvania’s safety-net hospitals, which care for disproportionately large numbers of Medicaid patients.

Learn more about the coming challenge of reviewing Medicaid eligibility in the WESA-FM report “As COVID-19 subsides, thousands of Pennsylvanians could lose Medicaid coverage.”

2022-03-08T16:19:56+00:00March 8th, 2022|Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus|Comments Off on PA Medicaid Enrollment Could Plunge
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PA Health Law Project Newsletter

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

Included in this month’s issue are articles about:

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

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

 

2022-01-31T18:58:51+00:00February 1st, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, HealthChoices, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Law Project Newsletter
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 24-28

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

General Assembly

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

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

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

Department of Human Services

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

Department of Health

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

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

Stakeholder Events

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

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

Organ Donation Advisory Committee – February 3

The Organ Donation Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, February 3 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  The purpose of this meeting is to review progress in the area of organ and tissue donation in Pennsylvania, recommend education and awareness activities, recommend priorities in expenditures from the Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Fund, and advise the acting secretary on matters relating to the administration of this fund.  Learn more about the meeting and how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

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

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

Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board – February 4

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

Public Health Advisory Council – February 7

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

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

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

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

2022-01-28T22:39:08+00:00January 28th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, DSH hospitals, Medicaid supplemental payments, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania Medical Assistance|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 24-28
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 17-21

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of January 17-21, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

  • The Senate held voting sessions on Tuesday (1/18) and Wednesday (1/19) this week and passed, among other bills, Senate Bill 818, which aligns the procedures permitted in ambulatory surgery centers with those permitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and eliminates the need for facilities to request an exception, and Senate Bill 861, which enters Pennsylvania into the EMS interstate compact.  Both bills will now be sent to the state House.
  • The Senate Health and Human Services Committee convened on Tuesday and favorably reported Senate Bill 1019, which addresses COVID-19 regulatory waivers and suspensions.
  • The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will convene again next week on Tuesday, January 25 to consider the following bills:
    • Senate Bill 152, which provides direction to the Department of Human Services on how to distribute funding intended for women’s health and family planning services.
    • Senate Bill 956, a constitutional amendment that clarifies that there is not a right to an abortion or abortion funding in the state constitution.
    • House Bill 1420, which directs the Department of Human Services to establish a public awareness campaign to provide information regarding the programs and services available for first responders, health care workers, and other frontline workers suffering from mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Senate Aging and Youth Committee meeting previously scheduled for Tuesday, January 18 has been rescheduled for Monday, January 24 at 12:30 to consider the following bills:
    • Senate Bill 936, which mandates the reporting and tracking of infants born with an addiction to opioids or other illegal substances within the state.
    • House Bill 996, which requires the departments of Human Services and Health to establish protocols to permit residents of long-term-care facilities to receive visits by a member of the clergy during a disaster emergency.
    • House Bill 1737, which enables a county children and youth agency to petition the court for an order to compel a drug screening when there is evidence that substance use may be a contributing cause of child abuse or neglect.
  • The House Professional Licensure Committee will convene on Monday, January 24 at 10:30 a.m. to consider the following bills:
    • House Bill 19, which establishes professional licensure for behavioral analysts.
    • House Bill 1440, which provides for the regulation and licensure of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.
    • House Bill 1862, which preserves the COVID-19 regulatory waiver that authorizes physicians with an institutional license in a teaching hospital to serve patients at more than just two facilities in a health system.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services has updated its schedule of Remittance Advice (RA) mailing dates and electronic RA delivery dates.  The schedule now extends into early March.

DHS has published final notice of the assessment amount, assessment methodology, and estimated aggregate impact on nursing facilities that will be subject to an assessment under the Nursing Facility Assessment Program for FY 2022.  Find that information in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a health alert outlining options for treating patients with the COVID-19 omicron variant.

DOH continues to establish new sites for COVID-19 testing, adding sites this week in Greene and Pike counties.  Find information about these and other state-sponsored sites in this department news release; about plans for a new high-volume site in Hershey; and about another high-volume site in Delaware County.

DOH reports that the state has had 28,475 laboratory-confirmed flu cases and that such cases have been found in all 67 counties.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts remain very high but declined over the past week.  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average yesterday (January 20) was 20,958 cases a day; a week ago (January 13) its seven-day average was 26,224 cases a day.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths also remains very high but it, too, declined over the past week.  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average yesterday (January 20) was 127 deaths a day; a week ago (January 13) its seven-day average was 120 deaths a day.
  • The Department of Health reports that from January 1, 2021 to January 4, 2022, 78 percent of reported COVID-19 cases were in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people; 85 percent of reported hospitalizations with COVID-19 as the primary diagnosis/cause of admission were in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people; and 84 percent of COVID-19-related deaths were in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people.
  • The Department of Health also reports that 31.8 percent of all staffed adult ICU beds are COVID-19 patients and 32.4 percent of all ventilators state-wide are in use.
  • All 67 Pennsylvania counties continue to experience a high rate of COVID-19 transmission.
  • The decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases is reflected in a seven percent decline over the past week in the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with the virus.  The number of people on ventilators and in ICUs because of the disease held steady over the past week after two months of steeply increasing numbers.
  • As a result of the decline in hospitalizations, there are a slightly more unoccupied adult ICU and medical/surgical beds in the state this week.  While the occupation rate of pediatric ICU beds increased just slightly, occupancy of pediatric and airborne isolation rates rose 7.6 percent and two percent, respectively, over the past week.  There are still only 33 unoccupied pediatric ICU beds and 501 unoccupied adult ICU beds in the state.
  • On January 18 the Department of Health elaborated on some of these figures, reporting that 31.8 percent of all staffed adult ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients and 32.4 percent of all ventilators state-wide are currently in use.  Both numbers are almost identical to the previous week’s totals.
  • Media reports are mixed but suggest reason for optimism.  Around the state,
    • New cases are declining in Lancaster County but the decline in hospitalizations is more modest.
    • The new case rate is falling significantly in the Lehigh Valley but hospitalizations are down only slightly.  Even so, the city of Easton closed its city hall because of COVID-19 cases and exposures.
    • Erie County hospitals have more COVID-19 patients than at any time since the pandemic began but fewer of them are dying and fewer of them are being treated in ICU beds.  County health officials are concerned that many cases are not reflected in official counts.
    • New case figures are stabilizing in Allegheny County but the number of infants and children hospitalized is rising.
    • Both cases and hospitalizations are declining in Philadelphia and its surrounding suburban counties.

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4)

PHC4 has issued a legislatively mandated report on the effects of the COVID-19 emergency on the state’s hospitals and health care facilities.  The report notes that “Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems reported $214,055,540 in COVID-19 related expenses and revenue losses for the period July 2021 – September 2021. These expenses and revenue losses were attributable to coronavirus and used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.  Total COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenue reported by Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems through September 2021 (Jan 2020-September 2021) were $6,925,269,148.”  The report does not reflect any offsetting state and federal funding intended to help providers with these expenses and losses.  Find the report here.

Stakeholder Events

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s Consumer Subcommittee – January 26

The consumer subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, January 26 at 1:00 p.m.  Go here to register to participate.

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – January 27

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m.  Go here to register to participate.

Medical Marijuana Advisory Board – January 27

The Medical Marijuana Advisory Board will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m.  This meeting will be broadcast live through Commonwealth Media Services.  Check www.medicalmarijuana.pa.gov and click on the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board tab for live streaming information on the day of the virtual meeting.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Patient Safety Authority – January 27

The Patient Safety Authority will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, January 27 at 1:00 p.m.  For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – January 27

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

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

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

Organ Donation Advisory Committee – February 3

The Organ Donation Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, February 3 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  The purpose of this meeting is to review progress in the area of organ and tissue donation in Pennsylvania, recommend education and awareness activities, recommend priorities in expenditures from the Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Fund, and advise the acting secretary on matters relating to the administration of this fund.  Learn more about the meeting and how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

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

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

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

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

2022-01-21T22:25:57+00:00January 21st, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, 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 policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 17-21
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 10-14

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of January 10-14, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

The Wolf administration has announced the creation of the Long-Term Care Resiliency, Infrastructure Supports, and Empowerment program, or LTC RISE, which seeks to give long-term-care facilities “…the support they need to battle COVID-19, recover, and rebuild.”  Under the program, long-term-care facilities can pursue improvement projects in the areas of infection prevention and control and emergency preparedness; building a sustainable outbreak response operation; and promoting professional development and a resilient long-term-care facility workforce.  The program is funded by a federal grant and replaces the state’s Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams program, which expired at the end of 2021.  Learn more about LTC RISE from this Wolf administration news release and from the LTC RISE web page.

General Assembly

  • The House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 1280, which amends the Patient Test Result Information Act.  This bill eliminates the definition of “significant abnormality” and revises the written notice requirement for health care providers in an effort to provide clarity and eliminate conflicting interpretations of the act.  The bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
  • The House Health Committee convened on Tuesday, January 11 and favorably reported House Bill 1630, which would grant the Pennsylvania Auditor General the authority to audit managed care contracts and subcontracts with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Medicaid.  The committee also reported Senate Bill 709, which would create public awareness of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and provide for CMV screening for certain newborns.
  • The House Republican Policy Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on rural health care issues next Wednesday, January 19 at 9:30 a.m.  The hearing will take place at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
  • The state Senate will hold voting session during the week of January 17 on Tuesday (1/18) and Wednesday (1/19).
  • The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will convene on Tuesday, January 18 to consider Senate Bill 1019, which addresses COVID-19 regulatory waivers and suspensions.
  • The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to convene on Tuesday January 18 to consider, among other bills, Senate Bill 818, which aligns the procedures permitted in ambulatory surgery centers with those permitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); Senate Bill 861, which enters Pennsylvania into the EMS interstate compact; and Senate Bill 927, which expands eligibility for the Medical Officer Health Incentive Program.
  •  The Senate Aging and Youth Committee will convene on Tuesday, January 18 at 11:30 a.m. to consider the following bills:
    • Senate Bill 936, which mandates the reporting and tracking of infants born with an addiction to opioids or other illegal substances within the state.
    • House Bill 996, which requires the departments of Health and Human Services to establish protocols to allow a resident of a long-term-care facility to receive visits by a member of the clergy during a disaster emergency.
    • House Bill 1737, which enables a county children and youth agency to petition the court for an order to compel a drug screening when there is evidence that substance use may be a contributing cause of child abuse or neglect.

Department of Human Services

  • Various Department of Human Services (DHS) regulations were suspended to facilitate the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Some of those suspensions have been lifted, so some of the temporarily suspended regulations are being enforced again.  For an updated list of regulations and their current status, organized by offices within DHS and with the most recent changes highlighted, go here.
  • DHS has announced the addition of procedure codes to the Medical Assistance fee schedule for the administration of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines.  To find those new codes and the rates to be paid, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has announced the addition of procedure codes to the Medical Assistance fee schedule for the administration of the Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine.  Find the procedure codes, rates, and more in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin informing providers of changes in billing procedures for certified registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants serving fee-for-service patients.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin informing providers and pharmacies that the fee-for-service program will require prior authorization for prescribing Aduhelm (aducanumab), the new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin informing providers and pharmacies that it has issued updated handbook pages presenting the requirements for prior authorization and the type of information needed to evaluate the medical necessity of prescriptions for Xyrem (sodium oxybate)/Xywav (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium oxybates) for fee-for-service patients.  Find the notice here.
  • DHS announced that it intends to continue making Medical Assistance Day One Incentive payments to qualified non-public nursing facilities in FY 2022.   These payments seek to give incentives to non-public nursing facilities to serve individuals who are Medical Assistance-eligible on the day of admission.  Learn more about how and when the payments will be made and how they will be calculated in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS is making available for public review and comment its proposed renewal application for extension of the Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration titled “Medicaid Coverage for Former Foster Care Youth from a Different State and SUD Demonstration.”  The effective dates of the current approved demonstration are October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2022.  The extension requested will be for an additional five years, through September 30, 2027.  Learn more about the program and the state’s planned request from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning has updated its FAQ on its guidance for tuberculin skin testing and COVID-19 vaccinations for providers participating in its licensed programs.  Find that FAQ here.

Department of Health

In the past week the Department of Health announced the opening of a new COVID-19 testing site in Cambria County to go along with other recently opened testing sites in Berks, Blair, Centre, Clinton, Delaware, Luzerne and Mifflin counties.  In addition, the state has announced that a new high-volume and high-throughput COVID-19 testing site will be opening soon in Delaware County at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital.  This site will be staffed by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services contractors with additional support from the host location, the costs for which will be eligible for reimbursement by FEMA.  The Department of Health continues to talk to federal officials about the possibility of opening an additional high-volume testing site in the south-central part of the state.

The Department of Health has announced that Credentia will serve as its new contractor to operate the Pennsylvania nurse aide registry previously operated by Pearson Vue.  Go here for the nurse aide registry search.  The Pearson Vue link no longer works as of January 3.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

Stakeholder Events

Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board – January 18

The Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board will hold its next virtual meeting on Tuesday, January 18 at 10:00 a.m.  The meeting will provide updates on a variety of topics, including model status updates, federal grant deliverables, global budget methodology, and more.  It also will address current and upcoming activities.  For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee – January 20

The Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting both in person and virtually on Thursday, January 20 at 1:00 p.m.  Agenda items will include reports by the cytomegalovirus and audiology subcommittees, an assessment of audiology training currently in development, and a review of upcoming program activities.  For information about how to join the meeting, either virtually or in person, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s Consumer Subcommittee – January 26

The consumer subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, January 26 at 1:00 p.m.  Go here to register to participate.

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – January 27

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m.  Go here to register to participate.

Medical Marijuana Advisory Board – January 27

The Medical Marijuana Advisory Board will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m.  This meeting will be broadcast live through Commonwealth Media Services.  Check www.medicalmarijuana.pa.gov and click on the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board tab for live streaming information on the day of the virtual meeting.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Patient Safety Authority – January 27

The Patient Safety Authority will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, January 27 at 1:00 p.m.  For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – January 27

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

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

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

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

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

 

2022-01-14T22:33:59+00:00January 14th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, HealthChoices, 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 policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 10-14
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 3-7

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

Governor Wolf

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

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

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

General Assembly

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

State Revenue Collection

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

Department of Human Services

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

Department of Health

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

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

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

Stakeholder Events

Health Research Advisory Committee – January 10

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

Medical Marijuana Advisory Board – January 27

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

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – January 27

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

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