pennsylvania covid cases Archives - Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania

PA Health Policy Update for Friday, December 16

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of December 12-16, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services has issued Medical Assistance Bulletins addressing requirements for prior authorization and the type of information that will be needed, as of January 9, to evaluate the medical necessity of prescriptions for:

Department of Health

The Department of Health (DOH) is working to implement Act 128 of 2022, which requires temporary health care services agencies to register with DOH. Under the act, temporary health care services agencies are agencies that provide temporary health care personnel (RNs, LPNs, nurse aides, or direct care staff) to long-term-care nursing facilities, personal care homes, or assisted living residences. DOH has developed a survey for long-term-care facility administrators so it can compile information about temporary health care services agencies operating in Pennsylvania. Long-term-care facility officials can go here to complete the brief survey.
DOH has issued an alert advising providers of an outbreak of measles in neighboring Ohio, informing providers about the symptoms they should look for among possible measles patients and how to prevent, test for, and treat measles. The alert also reminds providers that they are required to report measles cases to the state. Learn more from this health alert.
DOH has issued an alert updating providers on its latest guidance for treating COVID-19. The alert notes that the most common strains of the virus cannot be treated by the monoclonal antibodies that were effective against earlier strains and that the federal government currently authorizes no such products for use in treating COVID-19 patients. Despite this, selected anti-viral therapeutics are still available to treat such patients. Learn more from this health alert.

COVID-19: By the Numbers

The number of new COVID-19 cases reported daily in Pennsylvania remained steady over the past week but still at an elevated post-Thanksgiving level. The number of new deaths remains within the usual range for recent months.
According to the Department of Health, the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19, on ventilators because of the virus, and in hospital ICUs rose, but just slightly, over the past week.
The CDC reports a modest increase over the past week in the seven-day rolling average of new daily COVID-19 hospital admissions.
As of December 14, 52 Pennsylvania counties were experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19; 14 were experiencing substantial rates of community transmission; and one county was experiencing a moderate rate of community transmission. This represents deterioration from the previous week, when 39 Pennsylvania counties experienced high rates of community transmission of COVID-19, 25 experienced substantial rates of community transmission, and three experienced moderate rates of community transmission.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs recommends that businesses that provide addiction treatment and supports consider training employees and volunteers regularly on preparing for and responding to an active shooter incident. Learn more from this message from the department to stakeholders.

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council

PHC4 has released “Hospital Performance Report – October 2020 through September 2021 Data,” which presents information about the performance of Pennsylvania acute-care hospitals for 13 common medical conditions. Among the factors reported are hospital-specific mortality, 30-day readmission ratings, case volume, and hospital charges for patients between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021. The report also looks at changes in statewide rates over time. For additional information see PHC4’s news release; a report summary; an introduction to the report; a summary of key findings; downloadable data sets; technical notes; and data about Medicare payments.

jsteinbock2022-12-16T21:54:49+00:00December 16th, 2022|COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid laws and regulations|Comments Off

PA Health Policy Update for Friday, October 21

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of October 17-21, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

The state Senate convened for session this week. The following is an overview of selected health-related legislation that received consideration.

The Senate passed on third and final consideration Senate Bill 1330, which requires insurance coverage for genetic counseling and genetic testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation if a person is diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer or has a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. The bill was received in the House and referred to the Insurance Committee.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 1225, which provides enhanced coverage of MRIs and ultrasounds for women with certain risk factors. The bill was received in the House and referred to the Insurance Committee.
The Senate Health & Human Services Committee met on Tuesday, October 18 and favorably reported the following bills.
- Senate Resolution 352 requires the Joint State Government Commission to study the specific data, calculations, and mechanisms the Department of Human Services uses to determine the capitation rate paid to drug and alcohol treatment providers in Pennsylvania.
- Senate Bill 359 requires the Secretary of DHS to apply for a waiver that would extend Medicaid coverage for pregnancy-related and postpartum medical assistance for up to ten additional months.
- Senate Bill 1136 amends the Vital Statistics Law to expressly include the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee as a government entity and to clarify that it may have access to vital statistics for research purposes.
- Senate Bill 1358 places certain restrictions on non-compete clauses for health care practitioners and requires patient notification.
- House Bill 293 allows FDA-approved anti-obesity drugs to be considered a compensable service under the state’s Medicaid program.
- House Bill 1443 permits certain diagnostic laboratory services to be directly marketed to Pennsylvania consumers.
- House Bill 1630 and Senate Bill 917 grant the Pennsylvania Auditor General the authority to audit managed care contracts and subcontracts with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Medicaid.
- House Bill 2293 requires the registration and oversight of contract health care service agencies that provide temporary employment in certain health care facilities.
- House Bill 2357 prohibits the preparation, manufacture, sale, or distribution of unsafe kratom products and the sale or distribution of kratom products to individuals younger than 21 years of age.
- House Bill 2530 ends the practice of prudent pay in DHS’s Office of Developmental Programs.
The Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure met on Tuesday, October 18 and favorably reported, among other bills, 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 Senate Aging & Youth Committee met on Tuesday, October 18 and favorably reported House Bill 2425, which requires the Department of Health or Department of Human Services to report allegations of older adult abuse to local area agencies on aging and the Department of Aging.
The state House and Senate will convene for voting session next Monday (10/24), Tuesday (10/25), and Wednesday (10/26).

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has extended its calendar for issuing Medical Assistance remittance advice notifications, mailing checks, and making electronic transfers into early December. Find the updated calendar here.
DHS has published a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform Medical Assistance providers that it has added CPT code 0094A to the Medical Assistance program fee schedule for the administration of a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Find that bulletin here.
DHS has announced the addition of new procedure codes to the Medical Assistance fee schedule for the administration of a pediatric booster dose or a pediatric dose of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Find the codes, the payment rates, and the effective dates of the new codes in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
DHS has published a final notice of its funding allocation for FY 2021-2022 to establish a new class of supplemental payments to promote the continuation of quality medical services to individuals enrolled in the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance program and provide financial relief to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. DHS is not otherwise changing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for these payments. The FY 2021-2022 impact of these payments is $70 million in total funds. Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
DHS has published a final notice of its funding allocation for FY 2021-2022 to establish a new class of supplemental payments to qualifying acute-care general hospitals that provide a high volume of services to Medical Assistance-eligible and low-income populations in non-rural medically underserved areas. The FY 2021-2022 budget impact of these payments is $5.283 million in total funds. Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
DHS has announced that the Pennsylvania Patient and Provider Network (P3N), the statewide federated health information exchange, has successfully transitioned to a new, cloud-based system that it believes will improve health care delivery across the state. The P3N is a centralized platform that connects independent health information organizations (HIOs) and facilitates information-sharing, connecting health care providers that participate with the goal of improving care coordination and outcomes for patients. Providers connected to a P3N-certified HIO can find patient medical records anywhere on the P3N network and receive notifications when their patients obtain services from other providers in the state, such as an emergency room visit. Learn more about the new system and its capabilities from this DHS news release.
Kristen Houser has resigned as deputy secretary of DHS’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). Dr. Dale Adair will serve as acting deputy secretary.

COVID-19: By the Numbers

According to the CDC, the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Pennsylvania over the past week rose slightly after several weeks of declines; the number of deaths was unchanged.
According to the Department of Health, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 and in hospital ICUs and on ventilators because of the virus remains relatively steady while the CDC reports a nine percent increase in the seven-day rolling average of new daily COVID-19 hospital admissions after a comparable decrease the previous week.
Sixty-two of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties continue to experience a high rate of community transmission of reported COVID-19 cases. The remaining five counties – Adams, Centre, Philadelphia, Snyder, and Sullivan – are experiencing moderate rates of community transmission.

Stakeholder Events

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.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – October 26

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s Consumer Subcommittee will meet virtually on Wednesday, October 26 at 1:00. Go here to register to participate.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – October 27

DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, October 27 at 10:00. Go here to register to participate.

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.

DHS – Trauma-Informed Management – October 27

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 trauma-informed management for skilled nursing facilities. The webinar will be held on Thursday, October 27 at 2:00. Learn more about the webinar, the skilled nursing professionals to whom it is directed, and how to participate from this notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Support Subcommittee – November 2

The Managed Long-Term Services and Support Subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet publicly on Wednesday, November 2 at 10:00 in Harrisburg. Interested parties may attend in person or via webinar; those participating through the webinar must register in advance. For information about the location of the meeting, how to join it virtually, how to register, and how to offer comments or submit questions, see this DHS notice.

Department of Health – Human Immunodeficiency Virus Community Prevention Planning Committee – November 2

The Department of Health’s Human Immunodeficiency Virus Community Prevention Planning Committee will hold a public meeting in Harrisburg on Wednesday, November 2 at 9:00. Interested parties can participate in person or virtually. For further information about the committee, the meeting, and how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Organ Donation Advisory Committee Meeting – November 3

The Department of Health’s Organ Donation Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting in Harrisburg on Thursday, November 3 at 10:00. Interested parties can participate in person or virtually. For further information about the committee, the meeting, and how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board Meeting – November 4

The Department of Health’s Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board will hold a public meeting in Camp Hill, PA on Friday, November 4 at 10:00. For information about the role of the board, the purpose of the meeting, and the location of the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

jsteinbock2022-10-21T20:30:06+00:00October 21st, 2022|COVID-19, Medicaid supplemental payments, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid|Comments Off

PA Health Policy Update for the Week of May 2-6

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of May 2-6, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a legislative agency of the state’s General Assembly, has issued a report on access to mental health services in rural Pennsylvania that identifies barriers and challenges to obtaining mental health care in rural areas and offers proposals for addressing them, including expanding and funding telehealth services. Learn more from the report “Access to Mental Health Services in Rural Pennsylvania.”

The House Democratic Policy Committee held an informational hearing this week examining the opioid epidemic. Find the hearing’s agenda and testimony here.

Revenue Collection Update

Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenue collections in April totaled $6.5 billion, which is $1.8 billion, or 38.7 percent, above estimate. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund revenue collections are $4.5 billion, or 12.4 percent, above estimate. Governor Wolf issued a press release noting that April’s revenue collection was the most ever collected by the state in a single month.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced its intent to allocate funds in FY 2022 for several classes of inpatient disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments and supplemental payments to Medical Assistance-enrolled, qualifying inpatient acute-care general hospitals. Specifically, DHS intends to allocate $9.510 million in total funds for DSH payments to qualifying acute-care general hospitals that provide a high volume of services to the Medicaid population to promote continued access to inpatient and ancillary outpatient services and to support academic medical programs that provide integrated, patient-centered medical services; to allocate $5.917 million in total funds for DSH payments to qualifying acute-care general hospitals to promote the availability of professional medical services to Medicaid populations in less urbanized areas by supporting medical education and academic medical programs; and to allocate $40.163 million in total funds for supplemental payments to qualifying acute-care general hospitals that treat a high percentage of Medicaid patients under 18 years of age. Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to clarify its guidelines for the delivery of services via telemedicine through the Medical Assistance program’s fee-for-service delivery system. The bulletin applies to all providers enrolled in the Medical Assistance program. Providers rendering such services under the managed care delivery system should address coverage and payment questions for the delivery of services via telemedicine to the appropriate managed care organization. Find the bulletin here.
DHS has shared presentations offered at the April 28 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) by:
DHS has posted a draft file note of the April 14 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed care delivery system subcommittee.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has issued a health alert updating its vaccine recommendations for hepatitis A and B.

The Department of Health has issued a health alert about failure to disinfect assisted blood glucose monitors between uses posing a risk for blood-borne pathogen transmission. The alert describes the problem, offers suggestions for how to prevent it, and points providers to resources for further information. Find the alert here.

COVID-19: By the Numbers

Daily COVID-19 case counts climbed for the sixth consecutive week. The state’s seven-day average of new cases rose eight percent, from 1734 on April 28 to 1834 on May 5.
The seven-day average of COVID-19-related deaths rose from nine on April 28 to 13 on May 5.
The growing number of COVID-19 cases in the state has led to a corresponding increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations, with Pennsylvania experiencing a 22 percent increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations for the second consecutive week.
While the number of these patients on ventilators rose 20 percent over the past week and the number in hospital ICUs rose 33 percent, the actual number of such patients remains modest in comparison to times earlier in the pandemic when the daily case counts were comparable.
During the past week 35 Pennsylvania counties, up from 22 last week, experienced high rates of community transmission of COVID-19; two counties, one fewer than last week, experienced a low rate of transmission; 21 counties, down from 22 last week, experienced a substantial rate of community transmission; and the remaining nine counties experienced a moderate rate.

Department of State

The Department of State has announced that the professional licensing waivers it issued under the COVID-19 disaster declaration will begin expiring in phases starting on May 23, with all waivers scheduled to expire by June 30. Go here for a list of the department’s waivers and their expiration dates.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – May 10

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, May 10 at 10:00. To register to participate, go here.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee Managed Care Delivery System Subcommittee – May 12

The managed care delivery system subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, May 12 at 10:00. For an agenda for the meeting and information about how to participate, go here.

Department of Human Services – Learning Network/Nursing Facilities – May 12

DHS’s 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 special population webinar on avoiding hospitalizations from nursing facilities on Thursday, May 12 at 2:00. Recommended nursing home participants are admissions coordinators, directors of nursing, and social services staff. For more information about the webinar and how to register, go here.

Department of Human Services – Learning Network/Nursing Facilities – May 19

DHS’s 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 the role that vaccinations, including influenza, pneumonia, COVID-19, and others, can play in avoiding hospitalizations from nursing homes. The webinar will be held on Thursday, May 19 at 2:00. For further information about the webinar and to register to participate, go here.

DHS – Office of Medical Assistance Programs – Gun Violence Roundtable – date in May to be determined

DHS’s Office of Medical Assistance Programs will convene a roundtable in May to discuss gun violence as a public health issue and to explore public health strategies that can be used by Medicaid managed care organizations to prevent and respond to gun violence. A save-the-date will be sent out in the next week or so and the managed care organizations will be given a list of questions to come prepared to discuss. An opportunity to present on current and planned initiatives, as well as challenges and limitations, will be offered to each managed care organization.

jsteinbock2022-05-06T20:29:10+00:00May 6th, 2022|COVID-19, DSH hospitals, Medicaid supplemental payments, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Uncategorized|Comments Off

PA Health Policy Update for the Week of April 4-8

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of April 4-8, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

The state Senate convened for session in Harrisburg this week.
The Senate passed House Bill 245 on third and final consideration this week. House Bill 245, which will be sent back to the House for concurrence, reduces the clinical residency requirement from three years to two years for an applicant who has graduated from an international medical college to receive licensure in Pennsylvania.
The state House and Senate will both be in session next Monday (4/11), Tuesday (4/12), and Wednesday (4/13).
As indicated by the House Republican Caucus “Week Ahead,” the House is planning to consider, among other bills, House Bill 2401, which makes permanent two COVID-19 waivers that permit non-physician practitioners to order and oversee orders for home health care services and permits the continued use of remote supervisory visits by registered nurses, and House Bill 2419, which expands access to outpatient psychiatric care via telemedicine.
Several committee meetings are scheduled for next week. The following are health-related.
- The House Health Committee will hold an informational meeting on Tuesday, April 12 at 8:00 a.m. regarding “Opioids in the Commonwealth: Lessons learned and next steps.”

- The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 12 at 9:00 a.m. to consider House Bill 2097, which would make permanent a COVID-19 regulatory waiver that allows certified emergency personnel, such as firefighters with specific first-aid, CPR, and emergency vehicle training, to drive ambulances with an EMT on board.

- The House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee will hold an informational meeting on Tuesday, April 12 at 9:30 a.m. to examine long-term-care facility workforce challenges.

- The Senate Health & Human Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m. to consider the following bills.

- - Senate Bill 749, which seeks to provide clarity for employees and employers regarding current ambiguity in the state’s medical marijuana law concerning the use of medical marijuana in the workplace.
  - Senate Bill 1121, which requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to verify wage records from employers and the Department of Revenue for Medicaid and SNAP beneficiaries.
  - Senate Bill 1124, which requires DHS to check death certificates at the Bureau of Vital Statistics against Medicaid and SNAP beneficiaries.
  - Senate Bill 1188, which seeks to increase awareness, testing, and access to treatment for Lyme disease.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has added two procedure codes to the Medical Assistance program fee schedule for use in laboratory testing for multiple respiratory pathogens, including COVID-19, effective with dates of service on and after March 21, 2022. Find the new codes in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
DHS’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin addressed to hospital emergency departments, county mental health/intellectual disability administrators, base service units, mental health review officers, and county crisis intervention programs to clarify the part of the Mental Health Procedures Act referring to the involuntary commitment process under section 302 and the 120-hour limit on holding a consumer for involuntary emergency examination and treatment. Find the bulletin here.
DHS has circulated the minutes of the March 24 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee.
DHS has updated its “Monthly Physical Health Managed Care Program Enrollment Report” to include February 22 data.
CMS has released its 2022-2023 Medicaid managed care rate development guide. This is a federal resource for states to use when setting capitation rates for Medicaid managed care plans. The guide provides details about information that must be included in states’ actuarial rate certifications for CMS to review and approve for rate periods between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. Find the guide here.

Department of Health

The Department of Health (DOH) has introduced minor updates of its guidance for hospitals and health systems on “whether measures being implemented or contemplated are compliant with the statutory and regulatory requirements under the jurisdiction of the Department.” Among other things, the guidance cites June 30, 2022 as the end date for certain regulatory suspensions that were continued through that date by Act 14 of 2022. Find the updated guidance here.
DOH has updated its COVID-19 booster vaccine recommendations to reflect recent changes in CDC guidelines.
DOH has updated its reporting requirements for COVID-19 test results to bring them in line with revised federal requirements.
DOH has updated information about therapeutics to prevent and treat COVID-19 to reflect federal guidance barring the use of sotrovimab to treat COVID-19 because it is not effective in treating the Omicron BA.2 variant, which is the predominant COVID-19 variant in the country today.

COVID-19: By the Numbers

Daily COVID-19 case counts climbed for the second consecutive week. The state’s seven-day average of new cases rose nearly 26 percent, from 585 cases on March 31 to 737 on April 7.
The number of new COVID-19-related deaths declined slightly, on the other hand, with the seven-day average of new deaths down by one, from 18 on March 31 to 17 on April 7.
The number of Pennsylvanians receiving hospital care for COVID-19, in hospital ICU units, and on ventilators because of the virus held steady over the past week.
After three weeks with no counties experiencing a high rate of transmission of COVID-19, two Pennsylvania counties found themselves in that category in the past week: Bradford and Pike. Another eight counties – Potter, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Adams, Susquehanna, Montour, Wayne, and Northampton – experienced substantial rates of community transmission. Five counties – up from three last week – experienced low levels of community transmission: Forest, Cameron, Snyder, Juniata, and Fulton. The remaining 52 Pennsylvania counties had moderate rates of community transmission over the past week. Find community transmission and other Pennsylvania-specific COVID-19 data here.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – April 12

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 12 at 10:00. To register to participate, go here. The dial-in number is 631-992-3221 and the access code is 766121118#.

Department of Aging – Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board Virtual Meeting – April 13

The Department of Aging’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Advisory Board will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 13 at 8:30. For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee – April 21

The Department of Health’s Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 21 at 10:30. The purpose of this meeting is to review the committee’s work, review the status and progress of the current request for applications, reaffirm priorities, evaluate and refine the process to review the next spinal cord research applications, and address emerging issues. For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – April 27

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s consumer subcommittee will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 27 at 1:00. Go here to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – April 28

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 28 at 10:00. Go here to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – May 10

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, May 10 at 10:00. To register to participate, go here.

jsteinbock2022-04-08T20:56:17+00:00April 8th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off

PA Health Policy Update for the Week of March 14-18

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of March 14-18, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Redistricting Update

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has denied several appeals of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s (LRC) final state legislative district maps. The maps will now be in place for the next decade. The Supreme Court also modified the election calendar for petition circulation so legislative candidates will circulate petitions from March 18 to March 28.

General Assembly

The General Assembly concluded its FY 2023 budget hearings this week. The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ presentation before the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday was the last health-related budget hearing. A recording of the hearing can be found here. If you would like to view any of the past budget hearings, you can find the Senate hearings here and the House hearings here.
The state House of Representatives cancelled voting session next week because of the modified election calendar for petition circulation. The House and Senate will return to session the week on March 28.

Department of Health

The Department of Health (DOH) has asked hospitals to complete a survey from the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee on the designation of a family caregiver for hospital inpatients. For information about the survey and a link to the survey itself, go here. DOH and the committee ask hospitals to complete the survey by March 31.
DOH has published the third of four planned packages of proposed amendments of the state’s nursing home regulations. These proposals address matters such as initial licensure and renewal, change in ownership, location, emergency preparedness, reportable diseases, and others. Find the proposed changes in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. Written comments are due within 30 days of the proposed regulations’ March 19 publication; see the bulletin notice for information about how to submit comments.
DOH has shared with the state’s health care providers two documents recently updated by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: updated guidance on nursing facility visiting, testing, and quarantine policies and an update to CMS guidance for nursing facilities on compliance with the federal rule requiring vaccination of staff and residents.
DOH continues to sponsor COVID-19 testing sites in six counties across the state. Go here for updated information about the sites and their hours.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has updated its calendar for delivering Remittance Advices and corresponding checks to extend into early May.
DHS has updated the Medical Assistance fee-for-service fee schedule with new procedure codes for the administration of the MenQuadfi^® and Vaxelis^® vaccines effective for dates of service on and after June 1, 2021. For details, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
DHS has updated the Medical Assistance fee-for-service fee schedule to reflect increased fees for the administration of ten COVID-19 monoclonal antibody products effective May 6 and has end-dated procedure code M0239 effective April 16, 2021. Find the details in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

COVID-19: By the Numbers

Daily COVID-19 case counts continue to fall. A week ago the state’s seven-day average of new cases was 1108 cases a day; yesterday (March 17) it was 751 cases a day.
The number of new COVID-19-related deaths is following the same downward trend: Pennsylvania’s seven-day average of deaths was 40 deaths a day a week ago but was 32 deaths a day yesterday (March 17).
The decline in the number of Pennsylvania counties experiencing higher rates of community transmission of COVID-19 continues. Last week, seven counties were in the highest rate of community transmission of COVID-19 cases; this week, none are. Last week, 37 counties were experiencing a substantial rate of community transmission; this week, 21 are. Last week, 23 counties were experiencing only a moderate rate of community transmission; this week, 46 are.
This week marked the first time since August 5 that the number of Pennsylvanians being treated on a ventilator for COVID-19 fell into double digits.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has awarded $1.3 million in funding to expand drop-in center services for individuals with substance use disorder in areas of the state experiencing high numbers of overdose deaths. Learn about the challenges the funding seeks to address, how the money will be used, and what organizations received the grant funding in this news release.

Office of the State Fire Commissioner

The Office of the State Fire Commissioner issued guidance this week for the EMS COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program. Established by Senate Bill 739 (Act 10), this program will provide $25 million to support Pennsylvania’s EMS companies. The guidance details eligible EMS companies and the certification process necessary to receive the funds.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – March 23

The consumer subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m. Go here to register to attend.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – March 24

DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m. Go here to register to attend.

Department of Health – Advisory Health Board – March 31

The Department of Health’s Advisory Health Board will meet virtually on Thursday, March 31 at 10.00 a.m. to discuss programmatic and departmental activities. This meeting was a previously scheduled for March 16. For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice, which has the original, superseded meeting date but still has the latest information on how to participate in the meeting.

Department of Health – Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – March 30

The Department of Health’s Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. The agenda will include discussions about board member terms; updates from the Bureau of Family Health and the RUSP workgroup; a discussion on pyruvate dehydrogenase; and updates from the Ethics, Lysosomal Storage Disorders/X-ALD, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemoglobinopathy, and Critical Congenital Heart Defects subcommittees. Learn how to join the meeting in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Health Research Advisory Committee – April 4

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Monday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m. to review the committee’s work, confirm its 2022 priorities, plan future health research priorities, and address emerging issues. To learn more about the meeting and how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports subcommittee – April 5

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 5 at 10:00 a.m. Public comments will be taken after each presentation. Questions can be entered into the meeting’s chat box during the presentations and will be asked at the end of each presentation. There will be an additional period at the end of the meeting for additional public comments. Go here to register to participate.

Department of Health – Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee – April 21

The Department of Health’s Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. The purpose of this meeting is to review the committee’s work, review the status and progress of the current request for applications, reaffirm priorities, evaluate and refine the process to review the next spinal cord research applications, and address emerging issues. For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

jsteinbock2022-03-18T21:10:08+00:00March 18th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, HealthChoices, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off

PA Health Policy Update for the Week of January 3-7

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of January 3-7, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf announced that the state is organizing regional support sites for both hospitals and long-term-care facilities and strike teams to support hospitals facing staffing shortages. The effort, to be coordinated by the Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, will include the following major components:

Critical capacity support through the launch of regional support sites for Pennsylvania hospitals suffering from a lack of beds or staffing to meet inpatient needs. Hospitals struggling to meet inpatient demands will have the opportunity to transfer patients to hospitals within these regional sites for care. Each regional site will have increased capacity for approximately 60 days beginning in February, supported by medical support staff including physicians, respiratory therapists, and registered nurses.
Staffing support that will be sent directly to hospitals from the Department of Health based on identified need. Staffing resources may include physicians, respiratory therapists, and registered nurses for short-term deployments over the next three months.
Expanded long-term-care capacity through the launch of regional sites to allow for more rapid discharge of patients by hospitals. Each site will increase the state’s capacity to support long-term-care residents with additional medical staff, including registered nurses and aides.

Go here to see the announcement from the governor’s office.

General Assembly

The House of Representatives will hold voting session during the week of January 10 on Monday (1/10), Tuesday (1/11), and Wednesday (1/12).
House Bill 1280, which amends the Patient Test Result Information Act, is scheduled for second consideration on Monday and third consideration on Tuesday. This bill would eliminate the definition of “significant abnormality” and revise the written notice requirement for health care providers in an effort to provide clarity and eliminate conflicting interpretations of the act.
The House Health Committee is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, January 11 at 9:30 a.m. to consider, among other bills, House Bill 1630, which would grant the Pennsylvania Auditor General the authority to audit managed care contracts and subcontracts with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Medicaid. The committee also will consider Senate Bill 780, which would create public awareness of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and provide for CMV screening for certain newborns.

State Revenue Collection

The Revenue Department announced that Pennsylvania collected $3.8 billion in General Fund revenue in the month of December – $464.3 million, or 13.7 percent, more than projected. Year-to-date General Fund revenue collections total $22.6 billion, which is $1.5 billion, or 7.0 percent, above estimate.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin explaining that Medicaid will pay pharmacies for the administration of vaccines to Medicaid beneficiaries by licensed pharmacists effective November 1, 2021. The bulletin also provides instructions for pharmacies to submit claims for the administration of vaccines by pharmacists to Medicaid fee-for-service beneficiaries. Find the bulletin here.

Department of Health

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued revised guidance, applicable to the general population in a community setting, about who needs isolation or quarantine because of a diagnosis of COVID-19 or contact with someone who has been diagnosed with or is suspected of having COVID-19 and how long that isolation or quarantine must last. Find that guidance here.
DOH has updated its recommended work restrictions for health care workers based on vaccination status and type of exposure.
DOH has recirculated a series of long-term care-specific vaccine materials that long-term-care facilities can use in their efforts to comply with federal requirements for staff vaccination. Find the vaccine outreach toolkit here and an accompanying fact sheet here.
DOH has updated its long-term-care facilities COVID-19 visitation guidance FAQ. Find it here. (Note: this link opens to a downloadable file.)
DOH has issued an alert about an outbreak of hepatitis A in southeastern Pennsylvania. The alert includes instructions for providers about diagnosing the condition, preserving laboratory samples, and reporting diagnosed cases to the state.
DOH has introduced changes in Lyme disease surveillance requirements and testing practices and has shared these changes with providers in this health alert.

COVID-19: By the Numbers

Daily COVID-19 case counts are higher than they have been at any time since the pandemic began. The state’s total of 29,026 new cases on Thursday, January 6 was the highest single-day total since the pandemic began, breaking a new record set the previous day.
The number of new COVID-19-related deaths remains high.
To date, Pennsylvania has had 1.8 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, nearly 400,000 cases that have been classified as “probably” COVID-19, and 37,500 deaths attributed to the disease.
All 67 Pennsylvania counties continue to experience a high rate of COVID-19 transmission.
From December 1 through December 31, the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19 rose 33 percent; the number in hospital ICUs because of COVID-19 rose 12 percent; and the number on ventilators because of the virus rose 23 percent.
This situation is reflected in the high rate of occupancy in the state’s hospitals. There currently are only 477 unoccupied adult ICU beds – 13.4 percent of the total of such beds in the state; 2026 unoccupied medical/surgical beds – 10 percent of such beds; 41 unoccupied pediatric ICU beds (11 percent); 239 unoccupied pediatric beds (21.9 percent); and 912 unoccupied airborne isolation beds (28.4).
On January 4 the Department of Health elaborated on some of these figures, reporting that approximately 28 percent of all staffed adult ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients and that 32 percent of all ventilators state-wide are in use.
Media reports confirm the challenges some communities and hospitals are facing, including limited numbers of hospital beds, staffing challenges, and difficulty getting enough COVID-19 testing materials. For examples, see these reports about conditions in the Philadelphia area (here, here, and here), the Pittsburgh area (here and here), and central Pennsylvania.
According to the CDC, as of Thursday, December 30, 74.1 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

Stakeholder Events

Health Research Advisory Committee – January 10

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 2:30 pm via Microsoft Teams at (267) 332-8737 with Conference ID: 994 021 882#. Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Medical Marijuana Advisory Board – January 27

The Medical Marijuana Advisory Board will hold virtual meetings on the following days at 10:00 am: Thursday, January 27, 2022; Tuesday, March 22, 2022; Thursday, May 26, 2022; Thursday, July 28, 2022; Tuesday, September 27, 2022; and Tuesday, November 22, 2022. These virtual meetings will be broadcasted live for the public through Commonwealth Media Services. Check www.medicalmarijuana.pa.gov and click on the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board tab for live streaming information the day of the virtual meeting. Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – January 27

The Statewide Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council will hold a public teleconference meeting on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 10 am. To participate dial in by location at (412) 648-8888 or (866) 588-4789. The meeting ID is 487 872 318#. Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

jsteinbock2022-01-07T21:14:24+00:00January 7th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19|Comments Off

SNAPShots

SNAPShots

Home / About Us / Advocacy / Why Join? / SNAPShots / Contact Us

Home / About Us / Advocacy / Why Join? / SNAPShots / Contact Us