The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from June 12 – 16.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.) 

Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is maintaining an online dashboard with Medicaid continuous coverage unwinding data. The data on this dashboard tracks the renewal process by county and zip code. Additional updates and resources about the Medicaid eligibility renewal process may be found here.

U.S. Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra has sent a letter to governors urging states to adopt all options that HHS has offered to help eligible individuals and families maintain their health coverage during the redetermination process and leverage all partners to support individuals and families to complete renewal forms. 

Governor Shapiro

Governor Shapiro signed House Bill 739 (Act 2 of 2023) into law on Wednesday. Act 2 creates new cyber security-related requirements for health insurers and allows the Insurance Commissioner to adopt National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Valuation Manual exemptions by notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. 

General Assembly

The state House returned to Harrisburg for voting session Monday, June 12. The following are selected health-related proceedings.

  • The House Insurance Committee held a voting meeting Monday, June 12 at 11:00am to consider HB 1050, requiring health insurers to cover preventive health care services without cost-sharing. The bill was reported as amended. A recording of the meeting can be viewed here. The Insurance Committee was expected reconvene on Wednesday, June 14 to consider HB 1140; however, the meeting was cancelled.
  • The House Health Committee held a voting meeting Wednesday, June 14 to consider the following bills:
    • HB 78, establishing the Medical Debt Relief Program. The bill was reported as amended by a vote of 18-3.
    • HB 807, providing for perimenopause and menopause education. The bill was reported as committed by a vote of 20-1.
    • HB 817, amends the Pharmacy Act to provide education on drug take back programs. The bill was reported as committed by a vote of 20-1
    • HB 818, creates the Pharmaceutical Collection Sites Educational Program within the Department of State. The bill was reported as amended by a vote of 18-2.
    • HB 1209 and HB 1407, add two enforcement mechanisms to the Tobacco Product Manufacturer Directory Act and the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Act, which resolved legal claims between the commonwealth and participating manufacturers relating to health care costs for treating smoking-related illnesses. The bills were unanimously reported as committed.
    • HB 1351, which makes changes to the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority (RHRCA) Act, including financing of the authority and board membership.
    • SB 262, amends the Maternal Mortality Review Act to would add “severe maternal morbidity” to the list of reportable events within the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The bill was unanimously reported as committed.

A recording of the meeting can be viewed here. 

The Senate will return to Harrisburg Monday, June 19 and the House will return Tuesday, June 20 for voting session. The following are selected health-related proceedings.

  • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee will hold a voting meeting on Tuesday, June 20 at 10:30 a.m. to consider the following bills.
    • SB 683, which require an acute-care hospital to include testing for fentanyl if the hospital conducts a urine drug screening to assist in the diagnosis of a patient’s condition.
    • SB 768, which makes changes to the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority (RHRCA) Act, including financing of the authority and board membership.
    • SB 817, which creates a primary care workforce initiative for our Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
  • Immediately following, the Senate Health & Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing to consider the nomination of Dr. Latika Davis-Jones for Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP).

Both meetings will be held in Room 8E-A East Wing and will be live streamed here. 

Department of Health 

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a Health Advisory (2023 – PAHAN – 704) notifying providers of an anticipated increase in Legionellosis cases due to seasonality.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has shared the agenda for the June 22 Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) meeting. In advance of the meeting, DHS has also shared the public input it received regarding the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board prior authorization guideline briefing documents discussed at the May 25 meeting.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin informing providers the department has rescinded the statement of policy codified at § 1101.51a, which clarified the term “within a provider’s office” and updated the process for the enrollment or revalidation of providers that are in co-located arrangements. Effective January 14, 2023, providers who are in co-location arrangements no longer need to complete the attestation form during enrollment or revalidation in the MA Program.
  • The Executive Board approved a reorganization of DHS. Additional information and a revised organizational chart is available in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has announced the addition of a procedure code to the Medical Assistance (MA) Program Fee Schedule for the administration of an additional bivalent dose of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer, Inc. The effective date and MA Fee for the code is indicated in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. 

Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs 

The Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has issued Licensing Alert 04-2023 to provide clarification on how to calculate client to counselor ratios for inpatient, non-hospital treatment and rehabilitation facilities for regulatory compliance. 

Department of Aging 

The Department of Aging held its first regional town hall in southeastern Pennsylvania to seek input on Pennsylvania’s Master Plan for Older Adults, which will be a 10-year, state-led strategic plan designed to transform the infrastructure and coordination of services for older Pennsylvanians. Governor Shapiro’s executive order directing the department to develop the plan is available here. 

Stakeholder Events

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee Meeting – June 22

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) will meet on June 22, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Individuals interested in participating may register here. 

DOH – Medical Marijuana Advisory Board – June 28

The Medical Marijuana Advisory Board will meet on June 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to discuss Medical Marijuana Program updates. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

PID – 1332 Waiver Reinsurance Program Public Forum – June 28

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) has announced it is accepting public comment on its 1332 State Innovation Waiver Reinsurance Program beginning June 1 and ending June 30. PID will also hold an in-person forum for public comment on Thursday, June 28 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.