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

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of August 2-6, 2021.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

The Wolf Administration

The Wolf administration has announced plans to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for mothers.  Federal law requires Medicaid to extend eligibility for pregnant women with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level for 60 days following the birth of a baby but the American Rescue Plan Act authorizes states to expand the Medicaid postpartum coverage period for mothers to one year following the birth of a baby beginning on April 1, 2022.  Learn more from this Wolf administration news release.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health announced that it will begin sending text messages to people who received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine but have not received their second dose.  See the department’s announcement about this effort.
  • The Department of Health has updated its guidance for who should quarantine if they have been exposed to someone who is diagnosed with COVID-19 or has been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 and for how long they should quarantine.  See the updated guidance here.
  • The Department of Health has published a Health Alert Network notice that provides an update on the outbreak of C. auris in Pennsylvania, first reported in March of 2020 and affecting 52 cases in 13 health care facilities since then.  The notice describes the current epidemiology of C. auris and discusses risk factors, transmission, diagnosis, and prevention.  See the notice here.
  • The Department of Health will be publishing facility-level COVID-19 vaccination rates (as reported to the CDC) on its website next week.  It compiled materials from multiple sources to help educate skilled nursing facility staff about the safety and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.  Those sources include:

Department of State

The Department of State notified providers about its plans to phase out many of the current waivers and flexibilities in place for the pandemic as a result of legislation calling for an end to such waivers by September 30, 2021 or earlier at the discretion of each department.  These flexibilities will expire on either August 17, August 31, or September 15, 2021, as indicated in this announcement.  Licensees and other affected stakeholders are urged to return to compliance with all requirements without delay but in any event no later than the relevant expiration dates.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has issued an information bulletin explaining that the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has removed from its terms and conditions for grant funding a statement that prohibited any entity from receiving funds if the entity provides or permits marijuana use for the purposes of treating substance use or mental disorders.  Updated manuals can be found on the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs website.

Department of Aging

The Department of Aging announced changes to the maximum amount available to a qualified primary caregiver for out-of-pocket expenses incurred for services and the lifetime amount for home modifications or assistive devices.  The new maximum amounts will be effective August 10, 2021 and are the result of legislative changes enacted earlier this summer.  Find the new amounts in this Pennsylvania Bulletin announcement.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • The daily number of new COVID-19 cases rose considerably again over the past week.  Thursday’s new case count was the highest single day total since May 21.
  • The number of deaths, however, remains very low.
  • For the week from July 23 through July 29 the state’s overall COVID-19 test positivity rate was 3.9 percent, up from 2.6 percent last week and the fourth consecutive week with an increase after more than two months of declining rates.
  • The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of COVID-19, in hospital intensive care units because of COVID-19, and on ventilators because of COVID-19 rose sharply in the past week.
  • According to the state’s revised figures, 63.4 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are now fully vaccinated, a small increase over last week’s number.  In Philadelphia, only 17,000 people reached full vaccination status in the past week and 46,000 have done so since July 1.

Around the State

Stakeholder Events

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Community Prevention Planning Committee

August 11-12 at 9:00 a.m.

The state-wide Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Community Prevention Planning Committee will hold public meetings on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, and Thursday, August 12, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  To see the agenda and find information about where the meeting will be held and how individuals can participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

  • Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority Board

August 17 at 10:00 a.m.

The Board is charged with administering the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model and the virtual meeting will provide updates on a variety of topics including model status updates, Federal grant deliverables, global budget methodology, and more.  For information on how individuals can participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

  • Maternal Mortality Review Committee Virtual Public Meeting

August 18 at 9:00 a.m.

The purpose of the virtual public meeting is to discuss new and ongoing issues relating to treatment of maternal mortality and the Department of Health’s programs related to care and treatment.  For information on how individuals can participate virtually, see the meeting announcement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Stakeholder Event Materials