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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 29-December 3

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

Governor Wolf

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

General Assembly

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

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

Financial paperworkState Revenue Update

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

Department of Human Services

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

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

Department of Health

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

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

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

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

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

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

Stakeholder Events

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – December 8

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

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – December 9

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

Patient Safety Authority – December 9

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

2021-12-03T22:12:20+00:00December 3rd, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, DSH hospitals, Medicaid supplemental payments, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 29-December 3
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 15-19

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of November 15-19, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Community and Economic Development announced a plan to spend nearly $300,000 on the state’s Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Program to expand its nurse residency apprenticeship program.  Go here to read the announcement and here to learn more about the state’s apprenticeship programs.

General Assembly

  • The House of Representatives passed House Bill 1995 by a vote of 115-85 this week.  This legislation clarifies the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ authority to promulgate regulations that affect licensed drug and alcohol treatment providers and subjects those regulations to the formal regulatory review process, including publication, notice, and comment.
  • The House Health Committee met on Tuesday, November 16 and favorably reported the following bills:
    • House Bill 1005 adds information to the prescription drug monitoring program (ABC-MAP) when Narcan/Naloxone is used to combat an overdose by emergency responders or medical professionals.
    • House Bill 1644 directs the Department of Human Services to develop a state-wide process to place patients enrolled in Medicaid who have behavioral health or other long-term-care needs in appropriate care settings in a timely manner.
    • House Bill 1959 authorizes the clinical study of the efficacy and cost/benefit optimization of psilocybin-assisted therapy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and various mental health conditions.
    • House Bill 2013 adds language to the state constitution establishing an individual’s right to refuse any medical procedure, treatment, injection, or vaccine.
    • House Bill 2033 extends the reporting requirement on the status of COVID-19 testing at the state laboratory until December 31, 2022.
    • House Bill 2077 creates certain exceptions to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
  • The House Human Services Committee held an informational hearing on reimbursement rates for drug and alcohol, mental health, and intellectual disability treatment.  A recording of the hearing may be viewed here.

Department of Human Services

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health shared updated guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services about visitation in nursing homes during the pandemic.
  • The Department of Health has produced a neonatal abstinence syndrome family guide toolkit in partnership with the Northwestern Pennsylvania Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Coalition and the Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative to help educate families on the symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome and treatment resources.
  • The Department of Health has posted a notice on its message board explaining that its Bureau of Epidemiology and Bureau of Facility Licensure and Certification have notified skilled nursing facilities that they are not required to call 1-877-PA-HEALTH or email Bureau of Epidemiology staff with each new case of COVID-19 identified in staff and residents.  Facilities should continue to call 1-877-PA-HEALTH only to report new outbreaks within their building.  Bureau of Epidemiology staff may request line lists or updates about the status of an outbreak during specific situations.  Facilities should continue to follow all other reporting mandates, including reporting to ERS, CMS, NHSN, or PA-NEDSS.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The general downward trend in new daily COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania has ended.  The new case totals for Wednesday, November 16 and Thursday, November 17 were the highest the state has experienced since mid-April.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths remains high.
  • “About nine in ten COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in Pennsylvania have involved people who are less than fully vaccinated against the virus, according to new data from the state health department,” PennLive reports.
  • All 67 Pennsylvania counties continue to experience a high rate of COVID-19 transmission.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19, in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19, and on ventilators because of the virus, all of which had declined during the first two week of November, are now higher than they were on the first of the month.
  • 73.3 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated – more than 6.5 million people.  49,000 Pennsylvanians were recorded as completing a vaccine regimen in the past week.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has announced the availability of $10 million in grant funding for stabilization payments to substance use disorder treatment providers to assist with pandemic-related expenses.  Learn more about the program and how to apply for funding in this department news release.  The deadline for funding applications is noon on December 8,

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs is in the process of implementing the ATLAS® (Addiction Treatment Locator, Analysis, and Standards) platform in Pennsylvania in the coming months.  Affected providers previously were asked to complete a survey for this purpose.  Find that survey here.  The following resources are available for those seeking assistance completing the survey:

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4)

PHC4 has published volume two of its annual ambulatory surgery centers financial analysis for 2020.  Its analysis found that the average total margin for ambulatory surgery centers decreased 1.66 percentage points, from 25.04 percent in FY 2019 to 23.38 percent in FY 2020, with the state-wide average operating margin decreasing 2.88 percentage points, from 25.13 percent in FY 2019 to 22.25 percent in FY 2020.  Go here (under “Ambulatory Surgery Centers Volume Two”) for the agency’s news release about the report, the report itself, and a link to downloadable data from the report.

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)

“Pennsylvania-licensed nurses could soon have some of their student loan debt paid off for them,” reports PennLive, explaining that “A one-time student loan forgiveness program will provide up to $7,500 in debt reduction under a program that the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency’s board authorized on Thursday.”  Learn more about the PHEAA board action here and about the PA Student Loan Relief for Nurses Program here.

Stakeholder Events

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.

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – December 9

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

Patient Safety Authority – December 9

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

2021-11-19T22:17:34+00:00November 19th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of November 15-19
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of October 18-22

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

Governor Wolf

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

House Chamber of the State HouseGeneral Assembly

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

Department of Human Services

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

Department of Health

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

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

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

Pennsylvania Rural Health Model

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

Stakeholder Events

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – October 27

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

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – October 28

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

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – October 28

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

Health Care Cost Containment Council – November 4

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

Organ Donation Advisory Committee Meeting – November 4

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

Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board – November 5

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

Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board – November 15

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

 

2021-10-22T21:03:04+00:00October 22nd, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of October 18-22
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of 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 September 20-24

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of September 20-24, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Harrisburg, PA capital buildingGeneral Assembly

  • House Republican leadership held a press conference on Monday to discuss their legislative agenda for the fall.  In addition to addressing the Wolf administration’s mask mandate for K-12 schools, they plan to work on legislation to address the opioid and addiction crises and COVID-19 regulatory waivers and flexibilities.  View the news conference here.
  • The House of Representatives sent House Bill 1861 to the Senate, where it was referred to the Health & Human Services Committee.  This bill will likely serve as the legislative vehicle for an extension of the health-related COVID-19 regulatory waivers and flexibilities set to expire on September 30, 2021.
  • The House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 1774, which amends the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program (ABC-MAP).  Specifically, the bill extends the sunset date to December 31, 2028 and grants the Department of Labor & Industry access to the prescription monitoring program.
  • Senate Bill 397 and Senate Bill 398 were reported as amended by the House Professional Licensure Committee on Monday.  These two bills would modernize Pennsylvania law on physician assistants and their oversight.
  • The House and Senate will be in session again next week on Monday (9/27), Tuesday (9/28), and Wednesday (9/29).  The following health care-related committee meetings have been scheduled:
    • The House State Government Committee will convene on Monday (9/27) to consider, among other bills, House Bill 1893, which amends the Disease Control and Prevention Act of 1955 to make disease information under this act subject to the Right-to-Know Law.  The committee also will consider Senate Bill 533, which prohibits certain regulatory and administrative actions during a disaster emergency.
    • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee will convene on Monday, September 27 at 12:00 p.m. to consider House Bill 1861 (COVID-19 regulatory waiver and flexibility extension); House Bill 1774 (Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program); Senate Bill 782 (payment for FDA-approved anti-obesity drugs); Senate Bill 815 (pelvic exam consent requirement); and Senate Bill 818 (allowable ambulatory surgical center procedures).

Department of Human Services

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health has updated its interim infection prevention and control recommendations for health care settings to add new options for fully vaccinated individuals working in facilities in counties with low to moderate rates of community transmission of COVID-19.
  • The Department of Health, Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency have written to Pennsylvania hospital officials advising them on how they can secure a supply of Narcan to support hospital- and community-based naloxone distribution efforts to help in the fight against overdose-related deaths.  See their letter here.
  • Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam has signed an order to ensure that vaccine providers are prepared to start COVID-19 booster shots as soon as the CDC issues federal guidance to do so.  The order requires vaccine providers, as possible, to provide online scheduling for vaccination appointments; provide a telephone number to assist with scheduling appointments; offer walk-in appointments; and work with local Area Agencies on Aging and Medicaid managed care plans to help schedule appointments for eligible adults and people who cannot leave their homes to get vaccinated.  Learn more from the Department of Health’s announcement about the order and the order itself.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases remained very high this week.  Today the number of Pennsylvanians who have contracted COVID-19 surpassed 1.4 million.
  • The number of COVID-19 cases among school-aged children (between 5-18 years old) is 12.2 times greater this year than in 2020.  Between September 15 and September 21, 2020 there were a total of 650 COVID-19 cases in school-aged kids compared to 7,928 cases in the same age group during the same week in 2021.
  • According to Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 dashboard, only 41 pediatric intensive care beds in the state – 11 percent of the total number of such beds state-wide – are currently unoccupied.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths also remains high.  Yesterday the number of Pennsylvanians who have died from COVID-19 rose past 29,000.
  • For the third consecutive week, every county in Pennsylvania is experiencing a high level of COVID-19 transmission (scroll down to page 13).
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19 rose 13 percent in the past week and has risen 44 percent since the first of the month; the number on ventilators has risen 14 percent in the past week and 38 percent since the first of the month; and the number in hospital intensive care units has risen 12 percent in the past week and 37 percent since the beginning of September.
  • 68.2 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated – 6.1 million people – up from 67.5 percent last week.  10,000 Philadelphians and 74,000 other Pennsylvanians were recorded as completing a vaccine regimen in the past week; some of the 74,000 were added to the ranks of the vaccinated as the result of a Department of Health adjustment of its vaccination data.

Around the State

  • “Regulatory waivers established last year to help hospitals and health-care workers fight COVID-19 will expire this month, and those in the field are warning the lapse could exacerbate an ongoing staffing crisis as coronavirus cases rise again,” reports Spotlight PA, which takes a closer look at some of the waivers that have been in place in Pennsylvania, what they do, and what the stakes might be if they are not renewed.
  • Emergency department volume at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Excel Health Frick Hospital has risen so much that the hospitals have erected tents to help them handle growing numbers of patients, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  • Mobile clinics operated by the organization Latino Connection are making a special effort to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Hispanic communities around the state, the Allentown Morning Call reports.
  • Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, a group launched to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines for Philadelphia’s African-American community, will extend its scope of endeavor and open a primary care clinic to help address health disparities and inequities.  The Philadelphia Inquirer explains the group’s evolution.
  • “A new study from Penn State shows Pennsylvania could avoid billions of dollars in health damages by joining a regional cap and trade program targeting power plant emissions… The team at Penn State used four types of damage estimates to find that the commonwealth could reduce health impacts caused by power plant pollution by between $18 and 40 billion dollars over the next nine years by joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).”  StateImpact Pennsylvania explains.
  • Spotlight PA has posted an update on its reporting on what it calls the “…growing dementia care crisis in one of the nation’s most rapidly aging states…”  Read it here.
  • “Mental health agencies in Bucks, Dauphin, Carbon, Monroe and Pike counties are using new grant funding to test out a program designed to help people who live with serious mental illness and are at risk of ending up in jail.”  Learn more from this WITF story.
  • An EMS organization serving parts of Lancaster County is encountering funding problems – a situation found in other parts of the state as well, according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

 

2021-09-24T20:29:14+00:00September 24th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, 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 20-24
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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 2-6

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of August 2-6, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

The Wolf Administration

The Wolf administration has announced plans to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for mothers.  Federal law requires Medicaid to extend eligibility for pregnant women with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level for 60 days following the birth of a baby but the American Rescue Plan Act authorizes states to expand the Medicaid postpartum coverage period for mothers to one year following the birth of a baby beginning on April 1, 2022.  Learn more from this Wolf administration news release.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health announced that it will begin sending text messages to people who received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine but have not received their second dose.  See the department’s announcement about this effort.
  • The Department of Health has updated its guidance for who should quarantine if they have been exposed to someone who is diagnosed with COVID-19 or has been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 and for how long they should quarantine.  See the updated guidance here.
  • The Department of Health has published a Health Alert Network notice that provides an update on the outbreak of C. auris in Pennsylvania, first reported in March of 2020 and affecting 52 cases in 13 health care facilities since then.  The notice describes the current epidemiology of C. auris and discusses risk factors, transmission, diagnosis, and prevention.  See the notice here.
  • The Department of Health will be publishing facility-level COVID-19 vaccination rates (as reported to the CDC) on its website next week.  It compiled materials from multiple sources to help educate skilled nursing facility staff about the safety and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.  Those sources include:

Department of State

The Department of State notified providers about its plans to phase out many of the current waivers and flexibilities in place for the pandemic as a result of legislation calling for an end to such waivers by September 30, 2021 or earlier at the discretion of each department.  These flexibilities will expire on either August 17, August 31, or September 15, 2021, as indicated in this announcement.  Licensees and other affected stakeholders are urged to return to compliance with all requirements without delay but in any event no later than the relevant expiration dates.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has issued an information bulletin explaining that the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has removed from its terms and conditions for grant funding a statement that prohibited any entity from receiving funds if the entity provides or permits marijuana use for the purposes of treating substance use or mental disorders.  Updated manuals can be found on the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs website.

Department of Aging

The Department of Aging announced changes to the maximum amount available to a qualified primary caregiver for out-of-pocket expenses incurred for services and the lifetime amount for home modifications or assistive devices.  The new maximum amounts will be effective August 10, 2021 and are the result of legislative changes enacted earlier this summer.  Find the new amounts in this Pennsylvania Bulletin announcement.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases rose considerably again over the past week.  Thursday’s new case count was the highest single day total since May 21.
  • The number of deaths, however, remains very low.
  • For the week from July 23 through July 29 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 3.9 percent, up from 2.6 percent last week and the fourth consecutive week with an increase after more than two months of declining rates.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19, in hospital intensive care units because of COVID-19, and on ventilators because of COVID-19 rose sharply in the past week.
  • According to the state’s revised figures, 63.4 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated, a small increase over last week’s number.  In Philadelphia, only 17,000 people reached full vaccination status in the past week and 46,000 have done so since July 1.

Around the State

Stakeholder Events

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Community Prevention Planning Committee

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

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

  • Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board

August 17 at 10:00 a.m.

The Board is charged with administering the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model and the virtual meeting will provide updates on a variety of topics including model status updates, Federal grant deliverables, global budget methodology, and more.  For information on how individuals can participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

  • Maternal Mortality Review Committee Virtual Public Meeting

August 18 at 9:00 a.m.

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

Stakeholder Event Materials

 

 

 

 

2021-08-16T15:17:35+00:00August 16th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of August 2-6
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of July 26-30

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

General Assembly

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

Department of Health

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

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

Department of Human Services

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

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

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

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

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

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

Around the State

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

Stakeholder Events

  • Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board

August 6 at 9:00 a.m.

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

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Community Prevention Planning Committee

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

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

 

 

2021-08-16T15:10:18+00:00July 30th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of July 26-30
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Pennsylvania Health Policy Update for the Week of June 7-11

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of June 7-11, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

The Wolf administration has outlined guidelines for unvaccinated children under the age of 12 and for their families to stay safe from COVID-19.  Those recommendations include parents of young children getting vaccinated themselves; children between the ages of two and 12 wearing masks in public settings, at events and gatherings, and any time they are indoors and around people from outside their own household; engaging in social distancing; and engaging in low-risk endeavors such as outdoor activities and small gatherings.  Learn more from this Wolf administration news release.

The Wolf administration and the United Way of Pennsylvania have launched the Local Innovations in Vaccine Equity in Pennsylvania project (LIVE PA) to administer $4 million in mini-grants to local organizations seeking to reduce vaccine hesitancy and ensure equitable vaccine distribution throughout the state.  LIVE PA is a collaboration between the Wolf administration’s Office of Advocacy and Reform and the departments of Health and Human Services, working with the United Way of Pennsylvania, to fund local, grassroots non-profit organizations to partner with certified vaccine providers to help the populations they serve overcome barriers to vaccination.  The pilot phase of LIVE PA will target the zip codes and census tracts with the highest levels of health disparities, poverty, and vaccine inequity in Pennsylvania.  Learn more from this Wolf administration news release.

Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Disaster Declaration

The General Assembly invoked its new constitutional power on Thursday and voted to terminate the governor’s COVID-19 disaster declaration.  House Resolution 106, which passed by a mostly party-line vote in both chambers, ends Governor Wolf’s recently renewed COVID-19 disaster declaration effective immediately.  House Resolution 106 does not have to be signed by the governor.

The General Assembly also approved House Bill 854 to sustain all of the waivers and regulatory flexibilities that were still in effect under the declaration.  Governor Wolf signed this bill on Friday.  House Bill 854 extends the waivers and flexibilities until September 30, 2021 but agencies and authorities have the discretion to terminate their respective waivers earlier.  If they choose to do so they must notify General Assembly leadership and the standing committees that have oversight authority.  Some agencies have already begun terminating certain waivers.  DHS published a Medical Assistance Bulletin in late April announcing its intention to reinstate prior authorization requirements that were in place pre-pandemic beginning on July 1.

Legislative Update

The following are health care bills that received third and final consideration in the state House and/or Senate during the week of June 7.  We are tracking other health care bills as they move through the legislative process as well.

  • House Bill 854, which was amended to extend all of the waivers and regulatory flexibilities tied to the COVID-19 disaster declaration until September 30, 2021, as described above, also requires executive agencies to preserve all records relating to the orders of a declaration of disaster emergency issued by the governor relating to COVID-19.  Governor Wolf signed the bill on Friday, June 11.
  • House Bill 118 requires a health care facility that possesses fetal remains to provide for the final disposition of those remains to be buried, in accordance with Pennsylvania Code, or cremated. The House passed the bill 118-83 and sent it to the Senate for consideration.
  • House Bill 253 establishes a task force to examine the opioid epidemic’s impact on infants and children.  The House unanimously passed the bill on Monday and sent it to the Senate for consideration.
  • House Bill 1012 provides for a $130 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 to whom they provide these services.  The House unanimously passed the bill on Tuesday and sent it the Senate for consideration.
  • House Bill 1024 makes numerous revisions to the state’s Medical Marijuana Act, including caregiver, dispensing, and criminal background check provisions.  The House passed the bill 164-38 on Monday and sent it to the Senate for consideration.
  • House Bill 1033 permits health care practitioners to order diagnostic tests and prescribe, administer, or dispense antibiotic therapy for the duration the health care practitioner determines appropriate for patients with a clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease or a related tick-borne illness.  The bill also imposes certain insurance coverage requirements.  The House passed the bill 136-66 on Monday and sent it to the Senate for consideration.
  • House Bill 1500 prohibits an abortion if it is sought solely due to the sex of the fetus or if the fetus receives a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.  The House passed the bill 120-83 on Wednesday and sent it to the Senate for consideration.
  • Senate Bill 618 prohibits the state, as well as counties, municipalities, school districts, and colleges that are subsidized with state funds, from requiring proof of vaccination or vaccine passports.  The bill also prohibits the Secretary of the Department of Health from requiring face masks, travel restrictions, social distancing, sheltering in place, and closures of privately owned businesses and also prohibits institutions of higher education that receive state subsidies from requiring their students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated.  Following final passage in the Senate the bill was sent to the House and referred to its Health Committee.  It is scheduled to be considered “off the floor” on June 14.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has issued an update on its work to permit temporary nurse aides to become permanent nurse aides following the end of the public health emergency.  The department has stopped accepting and processing temporary nurse aide applications while it reviews federal guidance on the training required to secure permanent status.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases continues to decline and has been in three digits for 14 days in a row.  With 297 new COVID-19 cases reported, Monday marked the lowest new daily case count since March 25, 2020, when 276 new cases were announced.
  • The number of COVID-19 deaths is now declining significantly.
  • For the week from May 28 through June 4 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 2.9 percent, down from 3.8 percent last week and 4.5 percent the week before.
  • Fifty-five counties had a positivity rate lower than five percent, up from 28 last week, and no counties had a positivity rate greater than 20 percent for the sixth consecutive week.
  • Thirteen counties are currently experiencing low levels of community transmission of COVID-19, up from ten last week; 53 counties are experiencing moderate levels of community transmission; and only one county (McKean) is currently experiencing a substantial level of community transmission, the same number as last week.
  • In just 11 days since June 1, the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 has fallen 40 percent; the number on a ventilator has fallen 27 percent; and the number in hospital intensive care units has fallen 32 percent.
  • Five 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 two weeks. Another 656,000 have been vaccinated in Philadelphia.  According to the state, 56.6 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated and 60.1 percent of the entire population has now received at least the first dose of a vaccine.

Department of Human Services

DHS has released the latest issue of its Positive Approaches Journal, which aims to provide the most recent research and resources to help people with mental health and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to live an everyday life.  Go here for information about the latest edition and a link to the publication itself.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs announced that Pennsylvania is one of four new states partnering with Shatterproof, a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending addiction, to develop and implement the Addiction Treatment Locator, Assessment, and Standards Platform (ATLAS).  During a 12-month implementation period the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs will work with Shatterproof to customize and align ATLAS with ongoing initiatives in Pennsylvania.  This project is part of the department’s 2020-2022 strategic plan goal to strengthen treatment systems by ensuring that care is delivered using evidence-based best practices.  See the announcement and learn more about the expected program here.

Pennsylvania State MapAround the State

  • While the outdoor mask mandate is now history, some Philadelphians are having trouble letting go.  WHYY shares their story.
  • They will have more changes to get used to as well:  as of Friday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, Philadelphia’s mask mandates have been lifted.
  • Faced with declining numbers of residents willing to get COVID-19 vaccines, Philadelphia is joining the big money incentives movement, planning three drawings that will give away two top prizes of $50,000 and other four-figure sums as well, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
  • Lycoming County’s plan to develop a county health care center to provide preventive services to county employees took its latest step when the county awarded a contract for design and engineering services for the planned facility.  The Williamsport Sun-Gazette offers the details.
  • Monongahela Valley Hospital will become part of Penn Highlands Healthcare later this year, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  • Erie County is taking its COVID-19 vaccination program on the road with a mobile clinic that will visit events, celebrations, workplaces, and more.  GoErie explains how and why.
  • The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded Pennsylvania $36 million to address health disparities in rural and minority communities.  PennLive has the story.
  • After two years on the market, Valley Forge Medical Center, an 88-bed addiction treatment center in Montgomery County, has been sold to Avenues Recovery Center, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports.
  • With 83 percent of its residents ages 12 and older at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 and 92 percent of those 18 and older at least partially vaccinated, Chester County is easing some of its mask requirements, according to the Daily Local News.

Stakeholder Events

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s Consumer Subcommittee Meeting

June 23 at 1:00 p.m.

Register here

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee Meeting

June 24 at 10:00 a.m.

Register here

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

June 28 at 11:00 a.m.

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

  • From the meeting link:

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

  • By meeting number:

Meeting number (access code): 132 280 2499

  • From a mobile device (attendees only):

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

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

  • By phone:

+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

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

Meeting password: Stakeholder

  • From a video system or application

Dial 1322802499@pa-hhs.webex.com

You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number

Stakeholder Events Documents

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee met on May 27, 2021.  The following documents from that meeting are now available:

2021-06-11T20:19:16+00:00June 11th, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19|Comments Off on Pennsylvania Health Policy Update for the Week of June 7-11
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of June 1

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

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

Governor Wolf

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

State Finances

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

House Chamber of the State HouseIn the Legislature

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

Department of Health

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

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

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

Department of Human Services

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

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

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

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council

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

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

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

Around the State

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

Stakeholder Events

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

June 10 at 10:00 a.m.

Join Meeting

Meeting number (access code):  132 168 3592

Meeting password:  Managed

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

  • Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s Consumer Subcommittee Meeting

June 23 at 1:00 p.m.

Register here

  • Medical Assistance Advisory Committee Meeting

June 24 at 10:00 a.m.

Register here

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

June 28 at 11:00 a.m.

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

From the meeting link:

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

By meeting number:

Meeting number (access code): 132 280 2499From a mobile device (attendees only):

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

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

By phone:

+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

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

Meeting password: Stakeholde

From a video system or application

Dial 1322802499@pa-hhs.webex.com

You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number

 

 

 

 

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