The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of May 16-20, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Primary Election

Pennsylvania’s 2022 primary election was held on Tuesday, May 17.  State Senator Doug Mastriano secured the Republican nomination for governor and will face Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.  In upsets, it appears the Republican chairmen of the appropriations committees in the state House and Senate may have both lost their bids for renomination.  A complete list of the unofficial election results can be viewed here.  Please note that some races are still too close to call.

General Assembly

• The state House and Senate will be in session next Monday (5/23), Tuesday (5/24), and Wednesday (5/25).
• The House Insurance Committee will meet on Monday, May 23 at the “call of the chair” to consider House Bill 2585, which prohibits the Department of Human Services from developing or using bidding or service zones that limit a health service corporation or hospital plan corporation contractor from submitting a bid.
• The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee will convene on Wednesday, May 25 at 9:00 a.m. to release a report on the impact of the Pennsylvania CARE Act.
• The House Consumer Affairs Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m. to hold a public hearing on House Bill 2202, which addresses consumer data privacy.  The bill requires large organizations and personal information aggregators to share more information with consumers about what personal data they gather, track, and sell.

Department of Human Services

• The Department of Human Services (DHS) has updated its calendar for delivering Remittance Advice and corresponding checks and electronic transfers to extend into early July.
• DHS’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, will award $130,000 in grants to support the training and use of crisis intervention teams throughout the state.  The grants are available to eligible Pennsylvania counties and municipalities to support new or expanded crisis intervention programs to support costs associated with training emergency and response personnel, certification of coordinators, and participation and completion of train-the-trainer curriculum.  Learn more from this notice.  Applications are due by June 28.
• The consumer subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee has posted the minutes of its meetings of March 23 and April 27.

Department of Health

• The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a health alert on Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, noting that it has identified recent sustained increases in tick bite-related emergency department visits in nearly all regions of the state.  The alert includes surveillance data, information about diagnosis and treatment, laboratory information, and more along with resources for further information and a link to a department webinar on the problem.  Learn more from this DOH health alert.
• DOH has issued a health alert informing providers of the current iodinated contrast media shortage, explaining the situation, alternatives to using such media, ideas for conservation of supplies currently on hand, and links to additional resources.  Learn more from this DOH health alert.
• DOH has issued a health alert to inform providers about monkeypox, the first case of which was recently diagnosed in the U.S.  The alert includes general guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of monkeypox, offers a link to additional information, and urges providers to report any cases they diagnose to DOH.  Learn more from this DOH health alert.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

• Daily COVID-19 case counts climbed for the eighth consecutive week, rising 26 percent, from a seven-day average of 3140 new daily cases on May 11 to 3971 new daily cases on May 18.
• The seven-day average of COVID-19-related deaths (12) remains unchanged.
• The growing number of COVID-19 cases in the state led to a 27 percent increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations in the past week.
• The number of these patients on ventilators rose 77 percent over the past week while the number in hospital intensive care units rose 40 percent.  Despite these significant increases, the actual numbers of patients on ventilators and in hospital ICUs is modest compared to earlier in the pandemic.
• Fifty-seven of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19.  Of the remaining 10 counties, three (Mifflin, Snyder, and Somerset) are experiencing a moderate rate and seven (Blair, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Jefferson, and Juniata) are experiencing a substantial rate of community transmission.

Stakeholder Events

DHS, Department of Health, Department of Veterans Affairs – PA Cares Training Summit – May 24

Pennsylvania’s departments of Human Services, Health, and Veterans Affairs, in cooperation with the five branches of the U.S. armed forces, will hold a “PA Cares Training Summit 2022” on Tuesday, May 24 at 8:00 a.m.  The event will focus on considerations that are needed to promote wellness in the lives of service members, veterans, and their families.  The target audience is professionals in the field and includes but is not limited to community mental health and substance abuse agencies, social workers, professional counselors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, clergy/pastoral or spiritual practitioners, and the staff of Pennsylvania veterans centers.  Learn more about the event, its agenda, the presenters, and how to participate from this program announcement.  Participation is limited to the first 300 people who register.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – May 25

The consumer subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, May 25 at 1:00.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Health – Statewide HIV Planning Group – May 25 and 26

The Department of Health’s Statewide HIV Planning Group will hold a public meeting in Harrisburg, on Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26 from 9:00 to 4:30 on both days.  The purpose of these meetings is to conduct an integrated prevention and care HIV planning process in which the Department of Health works in partnership with the community and stakeholders to enhance access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services.  Interested parties also may participate virtually.  For additional information, including the location of the meeting and how to join virtually, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – May 26

DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, May 26 at 10:00.  Go here to register to participate and go here to see the meeting’s agenda.

Department of Human Services – Long-Term Care Learning Network/Nursing Facilities – May 26

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 reducing avoidable hospitalizations from nursing facilities by improving processes and outcomes for vaccination and immunization in nursing facilities.  The webinar is especially targeted to infection control nurses and medical directors of nursing facilities and managed care organizations.  The webinar will be held on Thursday, May 26 at 2:00.  For further information about the webinar and how to participate, go here.

DHS – Medical Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – June 1

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports subcommittee will be held virtually on Wednesday, June 1 at 10:00.  There will be an opportunity to submit questions and offer comments.  Go here to register to participate or dial in at 415-655-0052, access code 498030891#.

DHS – Office of Long-Term Living – Financial Management Services Stakeholder Meeting – June 3

DHS’s Office of Long-Term Living will hold a financial management services stakeholder meeting on Friday, June 3 at 1:00.  The purpose of this virtual meeting is to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of financial management services under the Community HealthChoices, OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs.  Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living and Community HealthChoices managed care organizations will discuss upcoming changes.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Long-Term Care Learning Network/Nursing Facilities – June 23

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 “learning collaborative” webinar in which participants in past Long-Term Care Learning Network events share information about best practices for avoiding hospitalizations from nursing homes.  The webinar will be held on Thursday, June 23 at 2:00 and the deadline to sign up to share best practices is June 1.  For further information about the webinar, sharing best practices, and participating virtually, go here.