PA Health Policy Update for July 18
The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from July 14 – July 18. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents).
Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Update
Governor Shapiro and legislative leaders continue to negotiate a final Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 budget agreement. The state House of Representatives and Senate briefly convened in Harrisburg this week to position House Bill 1330, which provides for appropriations from the General Fund, to enable the budget to be swiftly enacted when an agreement is reached. Both chambers are currently recessed pending a final agreement.
General Assembly
The state House of Representatives and Senate convened in Harrisburg this week. The following is an overview of selected health care-related legislative activity that occurred.
- The House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 564, which requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to implement a campaign to increase public understanding and engagement with the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline. The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.
- The Senate passed Senate Bill 604, which authorizes the state to join the National Counseling Compact. The bill was subsequently sent to the House of Representatives and referred to the Professional Licensure Committee.
- The Senate Health & Human Services Committee met on Thursday, July 17 and favorably reported House Bill 1429, which requires a study on the feasibility of implementing chip-enabled electronic benefit cards (EBT) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and House Bill 1527, which extends the Rare Disease Advisory Council’s sunset date to 2028.
- The Center for Rural Pennsylvania held an informational hearing on Wednesday, July 16 regarding health care provider policies that have been implemented in other jurisdictions to address the shortage of health care workers in rural areas. A recording of the hearing is viewable here.
Department of Human Services
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued a Remittance Advice (RA) related to its previous announcement that it will begin to mass adjust claims submitted for discharge dates October 1, 2024 through June 6, 2025 due to a delay in implementing Version 42 of the APR DRG classification system for Medical Assistance (MA) enrolled acute care general hospitals.
DHS has updated its calendar of mailing dates for Remittance Advices and corresponding electronic transfers and checks through the month of August. Find the updated calendar here.
Department of Health
The Department of Health (DOH) has issued final notice to temporarily schedule any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following Nitazene substances, their salts, isomers and salts of isomers: Butonitazene, Etodesnitazene, Flunitazene, Isotonitazene, Metodesnitazene, Metonitazene and Protonitazene. This final order to temporarily schedule will temporarily categorize this class of compounds as Schedule I controlled substances. Find more information in this press release.
Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs
The Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs (DDAP) along with the Department of Human Services has announced that licensing staff from both agencies will begin conducting coordinated annual inspections of substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment facilities that are licensed by both agencies for outpatient, partial hospitalization and residential services.
Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) has announced the release of a report that includes state-wide data and facility-specific information about the financial health of Pennsylvania’s general acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2023. Financial Analysis, Volume One, is the first in a three-part series of financial reports produced annually by PHC4.
Around the State
- The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has written an article about the potential impact of the recently enacted federal reconciliation package on Medicaid coverage in the Pittsburgh area.
- Spotlight PA has published a piece about the board that oversees how Pennsylvania counties spend opioid settlement money and how it operates outside of the state’s transparency laws.
- WESA has published an article about Pennsylvania’s FY 2025-26 budget, which is more than two weeks late, and the state of negotiations.
Stakeholder Meetings
DHS – Consumer Sub-MAAC – July 23
The Consumer Subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) will hold a public meeting on July 23 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually. Click here for additional information.
DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – July 24
The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) will hold a public meeting on July 24 at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held virtually. Click here for additional information.
DOH – Organ Donation Advisory Committee – August 7
The Organ Donation Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on Thursday, August 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in person and virtually. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
DOH – Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee – August 7
The Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on Thursday, August 7 from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at 6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112. The meeting will be conducted in person only. Find information on how to RSVP in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.