The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of September 26-30, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform providers that it has added CPT codes for administering COVID-19 pediatric boosters.  The new codes can be used immediately.  Find that bulletin here.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to advise providers of the addition of procedure codes to the Medical Assistance fee schedule for the provision of private duty nursing services, which are provided through home health agencies to beneficiaries under 21 years of age.  The additions take effect on October 1.  Find that bulletin here.
  • DHS’s Office of Long-Term Living has launched its American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding reporting portal.  The online portal will be available beginning on September 30, 2022 for Office of Long-Term Living providers to submit costs associated with American Rescue Plan funding distributed in 2021, as required by the state.  Learn more from this announcement of the portal’s launch and from DHS’s guide on to how to use the portal.
  • DHS has updated its data on physical health HealthChoices enrollment and participation in the Medical Assistance Transportation Program.  Find the update here.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has issued new guidance for health care providers and their employees who have been exposed to or contracted COVID-19.  The first addresses the return to work for health care workers with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 and the second describes work restrictions for health care workers who have been exposed to COVID-19.  Both are introduced to align state standards with recently revised guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • DOH has updated its definition of how it defines whether individuals are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.  Go here to see the updated definition and learn about the department’s rationale for this change.
  • DOH has issued a health alert to notify providers, laboratories, infection control specialists, and local health departments about an unvaccinated adult with poliovirus infection and acute flaccid paralysis.  Wastewater testing in treatment facilities in Rockland County, New York, which is adjacent to Pennsylvania, and surrounding counties also identified related poliovirus, indicating that the virus is circulating in the community and others may become ill.  DOH urges providers to consider polio as a possible cause of sudden onset of limb, facial, oropharyngeal, or respiratory muscle weakness; to contact their local or state health department to discuss such cases; and to encourage any unvaccinated patients to receive polio vaccines.  Learn more from this health alert.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The weekly average of newly reported COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania and COVID-related deaths continues to hold relatively steady:  roughly 2500 new daily cases and 20 new deaths with weekly variances of 10-20 percent.
  • The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 and in hospital ICUs and on ventilators because of the virus also remains relatively unchanged.
  • According to the CDC, the seven-day moving average of new hospital admissions for COVID-19 in Pennsylvania was 191 admissions a day over the past week, a slight reduction from the previous week.
  • Sixty-six of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties continue to have a high rate of community transmission of COVID-19.  Snyder County is currently experiencing “only” a substantial rate.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has issued Licensing Alert 02-22 to inform drug treatment programs about the process for establishing mobile narcotic treatment programs.  Find the alert here.

Insurance Department

The state Insurance Department has released Pennsylvania’s 2023 individual and small group Affordable Care Act health insurance rates.  The release also shares changes in the number of insurers offering coverage to Pennsylvanians and offers information about federal rate subsidies.  Learn about the newly released information and find a link to the rates and insurers themselves in this Insurance Department news release.

Monkeypox

  • The CDC has posted an updated map showing the distribution of 25,613 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the U.S. as of September 29, up only slightly from 23,364 cases on September 21.  713 of those cases were in Pennsylvania, up from 684 a week ago.
  • As of September 25, 475 of those Pennsylvania monkeypox cases were in Philadelphia, up from 446 on September 18.  Learn more about monkeypox in Philadelphia from the city Department of Public Health’s monkeypox web page.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Health – Health Research Advisory Committee Meeting – October 3

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Monday, October 3 at 10:00 to hold a formal vote on upcoming priorities.  Learn more about the meeting and how to participate from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee Meeting – October 4

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports subcommittee will meet in Harrisburg on Tuesday, October 4 at 10:00; interested parties also may participate virtually.  For information about the location of the meeting or to register to participate virtually, see this DHS notice.

Department of Human Services Preventing Workplace Injuries – October 6

DHS’s Long-Term Care Learning Network, part of its quality strategy for nursing facilities, is offering in collaboration with the Community HealthChoices managed care organizations and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation a webinar on “Protecting and Preserving our Workforce by Preventing Common Injuries” among health care workers on Thursday, October 6 at 2:00.  Learn more about the webinar and how to register to participate from this notice.

DHS – Long-Term Care Workforce Motivation – October 13

DHS’s Long-Term Care Learning Network, part of its quality strategy for nursing facilities, is offering in collaboration with the Community HealthChoices managed care organizations and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation a webinar on how to express appreciation for long-term-care workers.  The webinar will be held on Thursday, October 13 at 2:00.  Learn more, including how to participate, from this notice.

DHS – Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Office of Developmental Programs – Suicide Prevention – October 21

The Department of Human Services’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs will host a quarterly “Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices” meeting that will share the most recent research and resources to help people with mental health and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities live everyday lives.  The specific subject of the meeting, to be held on Friday, October 21 at 9:00, will be suicide prevention and intervention.  Find the meeting agenda and information about how to register to participate from this DHS notice.

Department of Health – Pennsylvania Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Board – October 25

The Department of Health’s Pennsylvania Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Board will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, October 25 at 9:30.  The meeting location will depend on COVID-19 mitigation efforts at that time.  If the meeting can be held in person it will be in Room 129 in the Pennsylvania Health and Welfare Building at 625 Forster Street in Harrisburg.  If the meeting is held virtually it will be held at bit.ly/ABC_MAP.  To dial in, call 267-332-8737, conference ID 440 338 696#.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program – Advisory Council – October 27

The Department of Health’s Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council will meet in Harrisburg on Thursday, October 27 at 10:00.  Interested individuals may attend in person or participate virtually.  For information on the location of the meeting and how to join the meeting virtually, see this Department of Health notice.