The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of September 6-9, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

House Chamber of the State HouseGeneral Assembly

The state House will return to session on Monday, September 12.  The following is an overview of certain health-related committee meetings next week.

  • The House Insurance Committee will meet on Monday, September 12 at 11:00 to consider Senate Bill 1201, which ensures coverage for early refills of prescription eye drops at 70 percent of the original prescription price, and House Bill 2499, which adopts the National Association of Insurance Commissioners model law requiring insurers, with exceptions for small insurers, to conduct an annual risk assessment.
  • The House Professional Licensure Committee will convene on Monday, September 12 at 11:00 to consider, among other measures, House Bill 2800, which amends the Medical Practice Act to address an issue related to the licensure of prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists, and orthotic fitters in Pennsylvania.
  • The House Republican Policy Committee will hold an informational hearing on Monday, September 12 at 11:00 to examine the Supreme Court’s recent decision to eliminate the existing requirement that a medical professional liability action may only be filed in the county in which the cause of action occurred.
  • The House Human Services Committee will meet on Monday, September 12 at 11:15 to consider House Bill 2686, which establishes a grant program to support the start-up costs of a behavioral health collaborative care model in medical practices.
  • The House Children & Youth Committee will hold an informational meeting on Wednesday, September 14 at 10:00 to examine “Child & Adolescent Fatality Trends & Community Responses.”

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to notify dentists of updates to the Medical Assistance program dental fee schedule and the program’s Dental PROMISe™ Provider Handbook.  Find the bulletin here.

The Department of Human Services has updated its Pennsylvania Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) Directory.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has written to administrators of long-term-care facilities to encourage them to participate in the state’s Long-term Care Resiliency Infrastructure Supports & Empowerment (LTC-RISE) initiative as a strategy to build workforce resiliency and combat burnout that has resulted from the pandemic.  Find the letter to administrators here and learn more about LTC-RISE and find contact information for LTC-RISE programs serving individual Pennsylvania regions here.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

Monkeypox

  • The CDC has posted an updated map showing the distribution of 21,504 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the U.S. as of September 8, up from 19,465 cases on September 1.  624 of those cases were in Pennsylvania, up from 561 a week ago.
  • As of September 6, 380 of those Pennsylvania monkeypox cases were in Philadelphia, up from 257 a week ago.  Learn more about monkeypox in Philadelphia from the city Department of Public Health’s digital monkeypox dashboard.

Stakeholder Events

DHS – Assessing and Managing Key Conditions in Long-Term Care – September 15

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 enhancing skills to assess and manage key conditions in long-term care.  The webinar, to be held on Thursday, September 15 at 2:00, will feature best practices from nursing facilities across the state.  This webinar also offers continuing education units for RNs, MDs, and social workers.  Learn more about the webinar and how to participate from this announcement.

Pennsylvania Cancer Control, Prevention and Research Advisory Board – September 15

The Pennsylvania Cancer Control, Prevention and Research Advisory Board will meet virtually on Thursday, September 15 at 8:30.  In addition, the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition and the Data Advisory Committee will be holding their meetings at this time.  The purpose of these meetings is to discuss board updates and Pennsylvania Cancer Plan implementation activities.  Learn how to participate virtually from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS – Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health – September 16

DHS’s Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health will meet on Friday, September 16 at 9:00.  Interested parties can attend in person (in Harrisburg) or virtually.  Go here for information on how to participate in the meeting.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee Consumer Subcommittee – September 21

The consumer subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, September 21 at 1:00.  Go here to register to participate.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – September 22

DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, September 22 at 10:00.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Health – Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee – September 22

The Department of Health’s Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, September 22 at 1:00.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin 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.