pennsylvania fy 2023 budget Archives - Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania

PA Health Policy Update for Friday, July 15

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of July 11-15, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Final FY 2023 Budget

Governor Wolf signed the Fiscal Code (House Bill 1421) into law on Monday, July 11. With the Fiscal Code’s signing, all the relevant budget-related bills for FY 2023 are enacted, including the budget bill (Senate Bill 1100) and the Tax Code (House Bill 1342).

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf has signed several bills addressing health care issues.

House Bill 1421 increases Medicaid rates for skilled nursing facilities to help them meet upcoming Department of Health regulation updates that in part will increase staffing requirements. The rate increase of nearly 20 percent increases Medicaid funding for skilled nursing care by almost $300 million a year.
House Bill 2097 amends Title 35 (Health and Safety), in emergency medical services system, further providing for basic life support ambulances.
House Bill 2419 amends the Outpatient Psychiatric Oversight Act by adding a definition of “telebehavioral health technology” and provisions regarding the use of the technology.
House Bill 2604 amends the employee photo identification provisions of the Health Care Facilities Act.
House Bill 2679 amends the Pharmacy Act to preserve three regulatory suspensions authorized under the COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration, including the ability of pharmacists to provide influenza and COVID-19 vaccines to children ages five and older.
Senate Bill 818 amends the Health Care Facilities Act for the purpose of allowing ambulatory surgical facilities to seek an exception or waiver from the Department of Health for certain surgical procedures and permits cardiac catheterization to be performed in ambulatory surgical facilities.
Senate Bill 1235 amends the Insurance Company Law, further providing for contracts and coverage packages in comprehensive health care for uninsured children.
House Bill 2032 amends the Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act, providing that the failure to report injuries by firearm or criminal act does not constitute an offense if the submission of sexual assault evidence is an anonymous submission.

General Assembly

The state House and Senate are currently in recess. The House is scheduled to return to session on Monday, September 12 and the Senate is scheduled to return on Monday, September 19.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has published a series of Medical Assistance Bulletins to issue updated handbook pages that include the requirements for prior authorization and the type of information needed to evaluate the medical necessity of certain prescriptions. These bulletins apply to all licensed pharmacies and prescribers enrolled in the Medical Assistance program. The types of prescriptions covered by these bulletins are:

DHS’s Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Office of Developmental Programs, Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Office of Children, Youth and Families, and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services have issued a joint bulletin providing guidance to county and private children and youth social service agencies, county mental health/behavioral programs, early intervention programs, and managed care organizations on the process for referring children to county intellectual disability and autism programs when a child has a diagnosis of an intellectual disability, developmental disability, and/or autism. Find that joint bulletin here and see attachments on diagnostic and eligibility information for services through county intellectual disability and autism programs, an overview of the programs offered by the offices issuing the joint bulletin, and the importance of registering with county intellectual disability/autism programs.
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has informed states and stakeholders that as a result of the 2022 Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act and the Uniting for Ukraine program, many displaced Ukrainian nationals arriving in the U.S. are eligible for health insurance through Medicaid, CHIP, the health insurance marketplace, or the Refugee Medical Assistance program. Learn more from this CMS fact sheet.

COVID-19: By the Numbers

The daily average of newly reported COVID-19 cases rose 17 percent over the past week, to 2850 new cases a day.
COVID-19-related deaths in the past week remained comparable to their level of recent weeks.
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 and on ventilators because of the virus remained generally steady over the past week but the number in hospital ICUs rose 30 percent.
Fifty-two of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are currently experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19, down from 62 counties last week. Four counties experienced a moderate rate of community transmission and 11 a substantial rate.

Monkeypox

The Department of Health has issued a health alert advising providers about the current state of availability of testing for monkeypox and when providers should consider pursuing such testing for their patients. Find that alert here.

The CDC has posted an updated map showing the distribution of 1053 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the U.S. as of July 13, 32 of them in Pennsylvania and more than half of those cases in Philadelphia.

Stakeholder Events

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

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

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

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

Department of Health – Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council – July 28

The Department of Health’s Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program (SPBP) Advisory Council will hold a public teleconference meeting on Thursday, July 28, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The SPBP Advisory Council will provide program guidance and recommendations to the Department’s SPBP in regard to the following: drug formulary; covered lab services; drug utilization review; clinical programs; eligibility; and program management. Learn more about the meeting and how to register to participate in this notice.

jsteinbock2022-07-18T17:02:52+00:00July 18th, 2022|COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off

PA Health Policy Update for Friday, July 8

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of July 5-8, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

FY 2023 Budget Update

Governor Wolf and the General Assembly reached a final budget agreement for FY 2022-2023 this week. In total the budget spends $45.3 billion, which is $1.3 billion more than the prior fiscal year’s budget. The budget makes significant investments in education, housing, child tax credits, health care, and property tax and rent rebate programs. It also allocates $2.1 billion to the state’s rainy day fund. The following is an overview of budget-related bills and their status as of 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 8.

Senate Bill 1100 is the General Appropriations bill. The House passed the bill by a vote of 180-20 and the Senate subsequently concurred with House amendments by a vote of 47-3. The bill has been presented to the governor for his signature.
The Fiscal Code bill is House Bill 1421, which is scheduled to be considered off the floor by the Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee Friday afternoon.
The Human Services Code bill is House Bill 1420. It passed the House and Senate on Thursday but Governor Wolf vetoed the bill early Friday. The Senate is expected to amend Human Services Code language, with the exception of the “Agency with Choice” delay, into the Fiscal Code later today and send it to the House for concurrence.
House Bill 1342 is the Tax Code bill. The Senate and House both passed this yesterday. It was presented to the governor and is currently awaiting his signature.

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf signed House Bill 1561 and House Bill 1563 into law this week. These bills, which are now Act 32 and 33 of 2022, 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 share more easily patient mental health and substance use disorder treatment information. Both pieces of legislation were presented to Governor Wolf for his signature.
Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 861, which enters Pennsylvania into the EMS compact, on third and final consideration. The bill has been presented to Governor Wolf for his signature.

General Assembly

The state House and Senate remain in session while they work to finalize the FY 2023 budget and pass legislation before they recess and are not scheduled to return to Harrisburg until mid-September. The following is an overview of action taken by the General Assembly as of Friday, July 8 at 2:00 p.m.

The Senate voted to concur with House amendments to Senate Bill 818, which aligns the procedures permitted in ambulatory surgery centers with those permitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and sent it to Governor Wolf for his signature.
The Senate passed House Bill 2679 on third and final consideration. The bill, which is now on the governor’s desk, authorizes pharmacists and pharmacy interns to administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines to individuals five and older.
The Senate passed House Bill 2604, which amends the requirement for health care facility ID badges to permit the use of health system names rather than specific licensed facility names. The bill is now on the governor’s desk.
The Senate passed House Bill 2032, which states that a health care professional’s failure to report a victim’s injuries to law enforcement as required by the Crimes Code does not constitute a criminal offense when a sexual assault victim wishes to remain anonymous. The bill is now on the governor’s desk for his signature.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 106 and sent it to the House for concurrence. Senate Bill 106 includes a number of constitutional amendments, including one establishing that the state constitution does not grant the right to taxpayer-funded abortion or any other rights relating to abortion.
The Senate passed House Bill 2419, which expands access to outpatient psychiatric care via telemedicine, and sent it to Governor Wolf for his signature.
The House passed Senate Bill 1235, 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 bids. The bill is now on the governor’s desk.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has proposed amending the state’s Human Services Code to enable individuals who are 14 years of age or older but under 18 years of age who meet the admission requirements to gain access to psychiatric rehabilitation services; to amend the diagnoses that enable an individual to obtain those services without use of the exception process; and to revise outdated language and add definitions of ”serious mental illness” and ”serious emotional disturbance” that align with definitions currently used by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Learn more about what DHS has proposed and why it has proposed it in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
DHS has published a Medical Assistance Bulletin announcing the addition of procedure code A4928 to the Medical Assistance fee schedule for disposable surgical masks dispensed to Medical Assistance beneficiaries effective with dates of service on and after July 1, 2022. This bulletin applies to Medical Assistance-enrolled certified registered nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physicians, podiatrists, and medical suppliers that prescribe or dispense disposable surgical masks to Medical Assistance beneficiaries in the fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems. Find the bulletin here.
DHS has published a series of Medical Assistance Bulletins to issue updated handbook pages that include the requirements for prior authorization and the type of information needed to evaluate the medical necessity of certain prescriptions. These bulletins apply to all licensed pharmacies and prescribers enrolled in the Medical Assistance program. The types of prescriptions covered by these bulletins are:
DHS has posted the minutes of the June 23 meeting of its Medical Assistance Advisory Committee meeting. Find those minutes here.
DHS also has posted the minutes of the June 22 meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s consumer subcommittee. Find those minutes here.

Department of Health

The Department of Health (DOH) has updated its guidance to hospitals in response to Act 30 of 2022, recently passed by the state legislature, which extends COVID-19-related waivers through October 31, 2022. Among other things, this guidance addresses mandatory data reporting, suspension of services, alternative uses of hospital space, hospital-based laboratory analysis of COVID-19 tests, mandatory patient COVID-19 testing, and more. For a complete review of the implications of Act 30 for hospitals, see this updated DOH guidance.
DOH has announced that its COVID-19 community-based testing sites will now offer three forms of free testing: point-of-care tests where tests are performed and results are analyzed on-site; the distribution of at-home COVID-19 antigen tests; and continued administration of mid-nasal passage swab PCR testing. The department currently operates testing locations in Berks, Blair, Centre, Clarion, Clinton, Erie, and Washington counties. Learn more from this DOH announcement.
“COVID Alert PA,” DOH’s COVID-19 app that advises users of potential exposure to individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and provides updated data on the state of the pandemic in Pennsylvania, has a new message informing users that “The current app will be discontinued on July 27, 2022.”

COVID-19: By the Numbers

The daily average of newly reported COVID-19 cases fell 10 percent over the past week, to 2440 cases a day.
COVID-19-related deaths in the past week were the same as they were the week before.
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 remained generally steady over the past week, as did the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital intensive care units and on ventilators.
Sixty-two of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are currently experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19, up from 35 counties last week. The remaining five counties (Clarion, Forest, Potter, Sullivan, and Tioga) experienced a substantial rate of community transmission.

State Board of Pharmacy

The State Board of Pharmacy has published a final rule in the Pennsylvania Bulletin related to the administration of injectable medications, biologicals, and immunizations. The rule allows pharmacists to administer influenza immunizations by injectable or needle-free delivery methods to children nine years of age and older. Additionally, qualified and authorized pharmacy interns are permitted to administer injectable medications, biologicals, and immunizations to persons 18 years of age or older and administer influenza immunizations by injectable or needle-free delivery methods to children ages nine years and older under certain conditions. Find the bulletin here.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Health – COVID-19 Therapeutics – July 12

The Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency will hold a webinar on COVID-19 therapeutics on Tuesday, July 12 at 4:00. The webinar is intended for providers and facility administrators and will cover why, when, and
how to prescribe and obtain outpatient COVID-19 treatment and preventive therapies. Learn more about the webinar and how to register to participate in this notice.

Department of Health – Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – July 14

The Department of Health’s Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will meet virtually on Thursday, July 14 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. The agenda will include discussions about board member terms; updates from the Bureau of Family Health; payment options for additional conditions; research on dried blood spot specimens; a discussion on metachromatic leukodystrophy; and updates from the ethics, lysosomal storage disorders/X-ALD, cystic fibrosis, hemoglobinopathy, and critical congenital heart defects subcommittees. For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Long-Term Care Learning Network/Nursing Facilities – July 14

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 special populations webinar on “Filling the Day With Meaning: Thinking Outside the Box.” The webinar, to be held on Thursday, July 14 at 2:00, will seek to share with participants the benefits of meaningful engagement for residents living with dementia and is especially directed toward special population workers involved in recreational therapy, restorative team members, CNAs, and volunteers. Learn about registration and how to join the webinar from this notice.

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

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

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

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

jsteinbock2022-07-08T20:28:06+00:00July 8th, 2022|COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off

PA Health Policy Update for Friday, July 1

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of June 27 to July 1, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

FY 2023 Budget Update

As of 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 1, Governor Wolf and the General Assembly continue to work on finalizing Pennsylvania’s FY 2023 budget. Despite indications that a framework for a budget agreement has been reached, the state missed its June 30 deadline to enact a spending plan. The General Assembly is scheduled to return to session next Tuesday, July 5 to continue its work. The short-term impact of not having a budget by July 1 will be minimal; the state is obligated to maintain essential operations and cover Medicaid expenditures, state employee payroll, and debt payments.

General Assembly

The state House and Senate cancelled session this weekend and are schedule to return to session on Tuesday, July 5. Depending on the outcome of budget negotiations and the progress of budget-related legislation, they may have to add additional session days next week.

The Senate passed House Bill 1561 and House Bill 1563 on third and final consideration. These bills 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 share more easily patient mental health and substance use disorder treatment information. Both pieces of legislation were presented to Governor Wolf for his signature.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 225 on third and final consideration. The bill seeks to streamline and standardize the process for prior authorization of medical services. The bill was sent to the House and referred to the Insurance Committee for consideration.
The House passed Senate Bill 861, which enters Pennsylvania into the EMS compact, on third and final consideration. The bill has been presented to Governor Wolf for his signature.
The House passed Senate Bill 818, which aligns the procedures permitted in ambulatory surgery centers in Pennsylvania with those permitted by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on third and final consideration. Since the bill was amended, it was sent back to the Senate for concurrence.
The House passed House Bill 2679 on third and final consideration. The bill, which was subsequently sent to the Senate for consideration, authorizes pharmacists and pharmacy interns to administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines to individuals five years of age and older.
The House unanimously voted to concur with Senate amendments to House Bill 2097, which makes permanent a COVID-19 regulatory waiver that permits certified emergency personnel, such as firefighters with specific first-aid, CPR, and emergency vehicle training, to drive ambulances with an EMT on board. The bill will now be sent to the governor for his signature.
The House passed House Bill 2293 on third consideration and final passage and sent it to the Senate for consideration. This bill requires the registration and oversight of contract health care service agencies that provide temporary employment in certain health care facilities.

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf has signed into law House Bill 2401, which extends regulatory waivers that went into effect over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. This extension will permit many waivers to remain in place until October 31, 2022 unless the waivers are related to federal exemptions. Waivers related to federal exemptions will remain in place until the last day of the federal public health emergency or the last day the federal exemptions are authorized, whichever is later. House Bill 2401 also 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. Learn more from this Wolf administration news release.

Governor Wolf has signed Senate Bill 709, which establishes the CMV Education and Newborn Screening Act and requires the Department of Health to make available on its website certain information regarding cytomegalovirus (CMV), one of the most common viral infections that infants are born with in this country. Health care providers will be required to provide parents or guardians of newborns with information on CMV and to offer a screening or referral within 21 days if the newborn child fails the initial newborn hearing screening. Learn more from this Wolf administration news release and Senate Bill 709 (now Act 29).

Department of Human Services

In response to the COVID-19 emergency, the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in April of 2020 issued an exemption to opioid treatment programs from the requirement to perform an in-person physical evaluation for any patient who will be treated by such programs with buprenorphine if a program physician, primary care physician, or an authorized health care professional under the supervision of a program physician determines that an adequate evaluation of the patient can be accomplished via telehealth. Based on positive response to this practice, SAMHSA is extending this flexibility for one year from the formal end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Learn more from SAMHSA’s guidance.
The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has issued a bulletin to update its guidelines for payment of behavioral health services delivered using telehealth technology. Find the bulletin here and attachments here and here. The new guidelines take effect immediately.
DHS’s Breast & Cervical Cancer Prevention & Treatment Program provides eligible individuals treatment for confirmed cases of breast and cervical cancer or pre-cancerous conditions of the breast or cervix. DHS has posted a notice to providers reminding them how to determine whether patients may be eligible for services under the program and, if they are, how they can enroll in the program. Find that notice here.
DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin informing providers that as of November 1 it will reinstate the prior authorization requirements for shift care services provided to beneficiaries under the age of 21 in the Medical Assistance fee-for-service program. Medical Assistance managed care organizations may reinstate the prior authorization requirements for these services provided to children under the age of 21. Providers rendering services in the managed care delivery system should contact the appropriate managed care organization regarding any questions about prior authorization requirements. Learn more from this Medical Assistance Bulletin.
DHS has announced a funding opportunity for home and community-based service (HCBS) providers to improve and strengthen HCBS programs and services to better serve HCBS participants. Under the program DHS will provide up to $40,000 for each approved request to help HCBS providers implement a series of specific types of service improvement projects. Funding is limited to providers of services through the Community HealthChoices and OBRA 1915(c) waivers for activities that supplement HCBS services rather than supplant existing services. Learn more about the funding program and the specific types of projects DHS is interested in supporting from this DHS news release. For more detailed information, see this DHS description of the program, the funding guidelines, and how to apply. Applications will be accepted until December 31 or whenever the $38 million allocated for this purpose has been committed. All awarded funds must be spent by July 1, 2023.
DHS is seeking partners to help it through the public health emergency unwinding process during which people will need to re-establish their eligibility for Medical Assistance benefits. Specifically, it seeks individuals and organizations that will help guide current Medical Assistance beneficiaries through the eligibility renewal process or direct them to other resources for possible health care coverage. Learn more about what DHS seeks and how to participate in this undertaking from this DHS message.
DHS has decreased from 90 to 30 days the period of time individuals have to request a hearing appealing a Medicaid termination or denial. The time limit previously was 30 days, was extended to 90 days at the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency, and has now been restored to 30 days. Find the notice in this DHS memo (on page 7, in red).
DHS and the Department of Transportation have been awarded a $750,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to expand its Find My Ride online tool, Pennsylvania’s “one-stop shop” for access to human services transportation. The program was developed collaboratively with transit agencies and streamlines the application process for the five largest transportation assistance programs in the state, including the Senior Share Ride program, the Medical Assistance Transportation Program, ADA complementary paratransit, the Persons with Disabilities Program, and the Free Transit Program. The program enables third parties, such as family members or health care providers, to apply for services on behalf of riders. Learn more from this Wolf administration news release.

Insurance Department

The Insurance Department has received a federal grant as part of the State Flexibility to Stabilize the Market Grant Program Cycle II. One of the proposed projects includes studying the availability of providers in various specialties and geographic areas. The goal of this study is to understand areas of need based on the current availability of providers to accept new patients and the amount of time it takes to get an appointment with these providers and to assess network adequacy considerations based on the findings. The Insurance Department is seeking public comment from organizations, consumer advocates, providers, and consumers about their experience with getting appointments or finding available specialists. Learn more about the project and the areas of medical specialty the analysis may consider, and on which the department is interested in comments, in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. Comments are due by August 5.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has announced the availability of $3 million in funding for entities to provide pregnancy support services to address the needs of pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder. Last year the program awarded $599,000 to 12 organizations and this year the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs plans to award approximately three to five grants of up to $600,000 each to help provide services, streamline care, and assure that this population is connected with the most appropriate resources to reach long-term recovery. Learn more about this funding opportunity from this department news release and a program overview that describes eligible applicants and outlines the application process. Applications are due by July 29 for projects that begin on October 1 and end by September 30, 2023.

COVID-19: By the Numbers

After four weeks of falling case counts the number of new reported COVID-19 cases rose over the past week.
During this past week, Pennsylvania’s total of COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic rose past three million.
COVID-19-related deaths rose slightly during the week.
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 remained steady over the past week but the number in hospital intensive care units and on ventilators declined.
Thirty-five of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are currently experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19, down from 55 counties last week. Four counties experienced a moderate rate of community transmission and the remaining 18 experienced a substantial rate.

Stakeholder Events

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee Meeting – July 6

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet in Harrisburg on Wednesday, July 6 at 10:00; the meeting also will be available virtually. For further information about the location of the meeting and how to participate virtually, see this announcement.

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council – July 7

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) will meet virtually on Thursday, July 7 at 10:00. For access to the meeting agenda and information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Long-Term Care Learning Network/Nursing Facilities – July 7

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 to help nursing facility staff recognize expressions of behavior among residents living with dementia. The webinar will be held on Thursday, July 7 at 2:00. Learn more about the webinar and how to participate from this notice.

Department of Health – COVID-19 Therapeutics – July 12

Department of Health – Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – July 14

jsteinbock2022-07-01T20:16:07+00:00July 1st, 2022|COVID-19, Federal Medicaid issues, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off

PA Health Policy Update for the Week of February 21-25

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of February 25, 2022. (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

The state House Appropriations Committee continued its FY 2023 budget hearings this week and the Senate Appropriations Committee began its hearings this week. Hearings will conclude March 17. A complete schedule of the hearings can be found here.

The Department of Health and Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs are scheduled to appear before the House Appropriations Committee next Thursday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform Medical Assistance providers about updates related to billing and payment for the administration of monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of COVID-19. This bulletin applies to all physicians, certified registered nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, outpatient hospital clinics, home health agencies, independent medical surgical clinics, pharmacies, and renal dialysis centers enrolled in the Medicaid program who are authorized to administer monoclonal antibody therapies to Medicaid beneficiaries in the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery system. Providers rendering services in the Medicaid managed care delivery system should address any coding and billing questions to the appropriate managed care organization. Learn more from this Medical Assistance Bulletin.

The Department of Human Services has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinics (RHC) that it is implementing an alternative payment methodology to pay the Medical Assistance program fee schedule rate for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines during COVID-19 vaccine-only visit for dates of service on and after December 1, 2020 and that it will pay the enhanced Medicaid program fee schedule rate for the administration of those vaccines to homebound Medicaid beneficiaries during vaccine-only visits for dates of service on and after April 1, 2021. Find the bulletin here.

Department of Health

Ninety-five percent of all Pennsylvanians ages 18 and older have had at least one COVID-19 vaccination and 76.2 percent ages 18 and older are now fully vaccinated, the Department of Health reports.

The Department of Health has updated its guidance on when people should receive COVID-19 vaccines and the appropriate intervals between primary doses and between primary doses and boosters. The update is based on recent CDC guidance.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has announced more than $15 million in grant funding for stabilization payments to substance use disorder treatment providers to assist with pandemic-related expenses. Through 108 grant agreements, 375 substance use disorder treatment provider locations will receive funding. All eligible applicants that applied were awarded funding. Learn more about the purpose of the funding and find a link to a list of organizations awarded grants in this department news release.

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has posted a new FAQ for providers that combines questions from previous American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) level-of-care-specific FAQ documents along with questions received through the ASAM Transition email account and technical assistance meetings with providers and stakeholders. Find the new FAQ here.

COVID-19: By the Numbers

Daily COVID-19 case counts remain high but fell significantly again over the past week. Pennsylvania’s seven-day average yesterday (February 24) was 2294 cases day; a week ago (February 17) its seven-day average was 3159 cases a day.
The number of new COVID-19-related deaths also declined again over the past week. Pennsylvania’s seven-day average yesterday (February 24) was 65 deaths a day; a week ago (February 10) its seven-day average was 83 deaths a day.
The Department of Health reports that the percentage of available adult ICU beds fell from 22 percent to 19.6 percent during the past week and the percentage of available pediatric ICU beds fell from 8.5 percent to 7.7 percent over the same period of time, leaving just 30 unoccupied pediatric ICU beds in the state.
The Department of Health also reports that approximately 9.9 percent of all staffed adult ICU beds in the state are occupied by COVID-19 patients this week, down from 12.7 percent last week, and that 25.8 percent of all ventilators in the state are currently in use, down from 26.6 percent last week.
For the first time in recent months, all 67 Pennsylvania counties are not experiencing high rates of COVID-19 transmission: Sullivan County is experiencing a moderate rate of community transmission and Carbon, Delaware, Dauphin, Lehigh, Monroe, and Snyder counties are “only” experiencing substantial rates of community transmission.
The decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases is reflected in a 65 percent decline since February 1 in the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with the virus and a 28 percent decline over the past week. The number of people on ventilators has fallen 60 percent since the first of the month and 23 percent in the past week and the number in ICUs has fallen 63 percent since the first of February and 30 percent over the past seven days.

Stakeholder Events

DHS – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – March 1

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and support (MLTSS) subcommittee will meet virtually on Tuesday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m. Go here to register to participate.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – RFI on Medicaid and CHIP – March 1

On February 17, CMS published a request for information on access to care and coverage for people enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. On Tuesday, March 1 at 3:30 p.m. (eastern) the agency will hold a webinar discuss with stakeholders its objectives in issuing the RFI and the process for submitting responses. Go here to register to participate.

Department of Health – Advisory Health Board – March 16

The Department of Health’s Advisory Health Board will meet virtually on Wednesday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss programmatic and departmental activities. For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

jsteinbock2022-02-25T21:28:43+00:00February 25th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off

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