The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of October 25-29, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Harrisburg, PA capital buildingGeneral Assembly

  • The Senate passed Senator Vogel’s telemedicine bill (Senate Bill 705) this week by a vote of 46-4.  The bill has been received in the House and referred to the Insurance Committee.
  • The House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 1260, which, among other things, increases the maximum income eligibility limits for PACENET from $27,500 to $33,500 for individuals and from $35,500 to $41,500 for married couples.  The bill has been received in the Senate and referred to the Aging & Youth Committee.
  • The House Human Services Committee met on Tuesday, October 26 and favorably reported the following bills:
    • House Bill 1561 and House Bill 1563 amend the Mental Health Procedures Act and the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act, respectively, 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.
    • House Bill 1995 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.
    • House Bill 1308 enables local communities and agencies to establish overdose fatality review teams.
  • The House and Senate will be in recess the week of November 1.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has posted a Behavioral Health Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) memorandum in response to inquiries regarding recent OMHSAS behavioral health telehealth policy changes in OMHSAS-21-09 Guidelines for the Delivery of Behavioral Health Services Through Telehealth.

DHS has published Medical Assistance physical health managed care enrollment data for September.

Department of Health

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases remained steady over the past week.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths remains high but did not rise during the past week.  The state surpassed 31,000 deaths from COVID-19 this week.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized, in hospital ICUs, and on ventilators because of COVID-19 has remained steady throughout October.
  • 71.6 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated – more than 6.4 million people.  43,000 Pennsylvanians were recorded as completing a vaccine regimen in the past week.

Insurance Department

The Insurance Department has notified all basic insurance coverage insurers and self-insured participating health care providers that the annual assessment to be levied for calendar year 2022 shall be 12 percent applied to the prevailing primary premium for each participating health care provider.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Stakeholder Events

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.

Health Research Advisory Committee – November 15

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Monday, November 15 at 1:00 p.m.  For information on how to attend virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board – November 16

The Department of Health’s Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board, which is charged with administering the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, November 16 at 10:00 a.m.  For information on how to attend virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – November 18

The Department of Health’s Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m.  For information on how to attend virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Stakeholder Events Materials

Medical Assistance Advisory Committee

Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee met on Thursday, October 28.  The Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Office of Long-Term Living, Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, and Office of Developmental Programs all made presentations.  Go here for links to those presentations.