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PA Health Policy Update for August 11

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from August 7 – 11.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.) 

General Assembly

The House Professional Licensure Committee held a public hearing Monday, August 7 on HB 1000, which seeks to provide prescription authority to psychologists who complete specialized training. A recording of the hearing can be viewed here. 

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued Provider Quick Tip #263 with updated information regarding the electronic submission process for Office of Medical Assistance Fee-for-Service (FFS), Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), and long-term care 180-day exception requests requiring documentation.

The Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has reminded stakeholders that its application is still open for qualified entities to request funding to invest in technology and training for behavioral health telehealth providers. Organizations with 51 or more employees are ineligible. The application deadline is December 31, 2023. Learn more about this funding opportunity here. 

Department of Health 

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) have requested that organizations who plan to request fentanyl and xylazine test strips complete “pre-order” information here. DOH, DDAP, and the Commission on Crime and Delinquency are working to establish a new program that can provide organizations with a supply of test strips at no cost. Organizations that make a request through the pre-order form will be contacted when orders can be filled.

DOH has issued a Health Advisory (PAHAN – 714) notifying clinicians of recently identified variant influenza viruses (A H1N2v and A H3v) in the U.S. The advisory also contains diagnosis and reporting guidance for clinicians.  

Department of Aging

The Department of Aging has announced the state’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) will be hosting in-person listening sessions in all 67 counties to gather input on Pennsylvania’s Master Plan for Older Adults – a 10-year strategic plan designed to transform infrastructure and coordination of services for older Pennsylvanians.

Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is maintaining an online dashboard with Medicaid continuous coverage unwinding data. The data on this dashboard tracks the renewal process by county and zip code. Additional updates and resources about the Medicaid eligibility renewal process may be found here.

DHS has published the following resources to help providers educate patients about Medicaid renewals and what to do if they are no longer eligible for Medicaid.

2023-08-11T18:45:22+00:00August 11th, 2023|long-term care, Medicaid Eligibility Redetermination , Pennsylvania Medicaid|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for August 11
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PA Health Policy Update for July 21

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from July 17 – 21.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.) 

Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is maintaining an online dashboard with Medicaid continuous coverage unwinding data. The data on this dashboard tracks the renewal process by county and zip code. Additional updates and resources about the Medicaid eligibility renewal process may be found here.

DHS has published the following resources to help providers educate patients about Medicaid renewals and what to do if they are no longer eligible for Medicaid.

Governor Shapiro

The Governor’s Budget Office has issued a Budget Impasse FAQ that contains information relevant to commonwealth vendors, grantees, and other stakeholders.

Pennsylvania Executive Order 1996-1 requires all agencies under the jurisdiction of the governor to submit for semi-annual publication an agenda of regulations under development or consideration.  These agendas are compiled to give the regulated community advance notice of regulatory activity.  Learn more about what the agencies are contemplating and find contact information for seeking additional information from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. 

General Assembly

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania will hold a public hearing Thursday, August 3 at 9:00am on rural hospital and healthcare sustainability to explore difficulties facing rural hospitals and health systems. The hearing will be held at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and will be livestreamed here. More information on the hearing and a tentative agenda can be found here. 

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced Pennsylvania will receive an estimated $42 million in federal funding from CMS through the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program to continue existing activities and support new initiatives focused on serving individuals in the community. Find additional information in this press release.
  • DHS has issued Provider Quip Tip #263 notifying providers that an electronic submission process is available in the Promise Portal for Office of Medical Assistance fee-for-service (FFS) and Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) 180-day exception requests and other claims requiring documentation.
  • DHS has updated its calendar of mailing dates for Remittance Advices and corresponding electronic transfers and checks through August. Find the updated calendar here.
  • The Executive Board approved a reorganization of DHS. Additional information and a revised organizational chart is available in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. 

Department of Health 

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a Health Advisory (2023 – PAHAN – 708) alerting health care providers to have heightened clinical suspicion of Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) infection in persons with clinically compatible symptoms (similar to West Nile and Powassan virus). 

Department of Aging 

The Department of Aging held its third regional town hall to seek input on Pennsylvania’s Master Plan for Older Adults, which will be a 10-year, state-led strategic plan designed to transform the infrastructure and coordination of services for older Pennsylvanians. Governor Shapiro’s executive order directing the department to develop the plan is available here. 

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) has released a new Cardiac Procedures Report. The report focuses on the performance of acute care hospitals for five types of cardiac procedures. Find the report and a press release issued by PHC4 here. 

Stakeholder Events 

DHS – Medical Assistance Consumer Subcommittee – July 26

The Consumer Subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) will meet on Wednesday, July 26 at 1:00 p.m. Click here to register to participate.

DOH – HIV Community Prevention Planning Committee – July 26

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Community Prevention Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 26 and Thursday, July 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – July 27

The MAAC will meet on Thursday, July 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Click here to register to participate. 

DOH – Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – July 27

The Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a public meeting on Thursday, July 27 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be conducted in person. The agenda will include discussions about Board member terms; updates from the Bureau of Family Health; and updates from the Lysosomal Storage Disorders/X-ALD, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemoglobinopathy and Critical Congenital Heart Defects subcommittees. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

 

 

2023-07-21T20:21:56+00:00July 21st, 2023|Medicaid Eligibility Redetermination , Medical Assistance Advisory Committee, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for July 21
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PA Health Policy Update for June 30

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from June 26 – 30.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.) 

FY 2023-2024 Budget Update 

As of 4:00 p.m. Friday, June 30 Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly have not enacted a final Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024 spending plan despite being hours away from the state’s constitutionally mandated deadline. The Senate is preparing to vote on a $45.5 billion spending plan, but the Democratic leaders of the House haven’t signaled support for the measure. Negotiations are ongoing. 

Shapiro Administration

Dr. Val Arkoosh officially became Secretary of the Department of Human Services (DHS) in accordance with the Pennsylvania Constitution this week. Find additional information in this press release issued by the DHS.

Governor Shapiro officially recalled the nomination of Dr. Debra Bogen to serve as Secretary of Health. The recall followed a confirmation hearing held by the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. A recording of the confirmation hearing for Dr. Bogen, as well as Dr. Arkoosh, can be viewed here. 

General Assembly

The House and Senate returned to Harrisburg this week for voting session. The following are selected health-related proceedings. Please note the House and Senate remain in session as of 4:00 p.m. Friday, June 30. As a result, this is not an exhaustive list of legislative proceedings.

  • The House passed HB 106, “The Patient Safety Act,” on third and final consideration Wednesday, June 28 by a vote of 119 – 84. The bill, which would implement specific nurse-to-patient ratios, was amended on second consideration to decrease the penalties for violations and create a grant program – funded by the penalties paid by hospitals – for nursing recruitment and retention for rural and high Medical Assistance hospitals. The amendment also delays the ability of the Department of Health to impose penalties on rural and high Medical Assistance hospitals for two years and extended the effective date for the remainder of hospitals to one year, instead of six months. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
  • The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a voting meeting Tuesday, June 27 to consider HB 479, which requires both the Medical Assistance Capitation and Fee-for-Service programs to pay for all loaded ambulance miles at $4 per loaded mile beginning on January 1, 2025. A recording of the meeting can be viewed here.
  • The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee held a voting meeting Tuesday, June 27 to consider SB 739, which defines telemedicine, offers guidelines outlining who can provide telemedicine services, and addresses insurance company reimbursement for these services. The bill was reported as amended. A recording of the meeting can be viewed here.
  • The House Human Services Committee met this week to consider the following bills:
    • HB 1515, to extend the current nonnarcotic medication assisted treatment program in the county correctional system to all mediation assisted treatments. The bill was reported as committed.
    • HB 1218, which requires the Department of Human Services to submit a waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to establish a program allowing spouse caregivers to receive payment for the services they provide. The bill was reported as amended.

A recording of the meeting can be found here.

  • The House Human Services Committee is expected to reconvene for a voting meeting Friday, June 30 at the call of the chair to consider HB 876, which requires any entity providing goods or services reimbursable under the medical assistance program to have either a National Provider Identification (NPI) or receive a State Provider Identification number (SPI). The meeting will be held in Room 60 East Wing and livestreamed here.
  • The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee is expected to hold a voting meeting at the call of the chair Friday, June 30 to consider HB 1527 to increase the personal needs allowance deduction for residents of nursing facilities to $60 per month and HR 165 to direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the effect of the workforce shortage on State supported Medicaid home and community based waiver programs and the Pennsylvania Lottery funded OPTIONS programs. The voting meeting will be held in Room G-50 of the Irvis Office Building and will be livestreamed here.

Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is maintaining an online dashboard with Medicaid continuous coverage unwinding data. The data on this dashboard tracks the renewal process by county and zip code. Additional updates and resources about the Medicaid eligibility renewal process may be found here. 

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has published its annual list of exceptional Durable Medical Equipment (DME) in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has issued several Medical Assistance Bulletins related to prior authorization guideline changes. Following are the various bulletins.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin with Pennsylvania’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program periodicity schedule and coding matrix.
  • DHS has issued a Remittance Advice Alert to regarding the department’s delay in implementing Version 38.0 and 39.0 of the APR DRG classification system for Medical Assistance (MA) program enrolled general acute-care hospitals.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has published answers to frequently asked questions about new long-term care facility regulations that come into effect on July 1, 2023.
  • DOH has provided a staffing ratio calculation tool to assist long-term care facilities planning for compliance with new regulatory requirements as of July 1. Use of the tool is not required but may be useful when calculating the required number of nursing hours as well as the staff ratios. Click here for instructions, which opens in a Word document, and here for the tool, which opens as an Excel spreadsheet.
  • DOH has issued a Health Advisory (2023 – PAHAN – 707) to share information and notify clinicians, public health authorities, and the public about locally acquired malaria cases and concern for a potential rise in imported malaria cases associated with increased international travel during the summer.
  • DOH has issued a Health Advisory (2023 – PAHAN – 706) to request that clinicians continue to test for influenza in patients with respiratory illness throughout the summer due to the severity of recent human infections with avian influenza A(H5N1). 

Stakeholder Events 

PHC4 – Council Meeting – July 6

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) will meet on Thursday, July 6 at 10:00 a.m. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. 

DOH – Specialty Pharmaceutical Benefits Program – July 20

The next Specialty Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, July 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. 

DHS – Medical Assistance Consumer Subcommittee – July 26

The Consumer Subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) will meet on Wednesday, July 26 at 1:00 p.m. Click here to register to participate.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – July 27

The MAAC will meet on Thursday, July 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Click here to register to participate. 

DOH – Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – July 27

The Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a public meeting on Thursday, July 27 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be conducted in person. The agenda will include discussions about Board member terms; updates from the Bureau of Family Health; and updates from the Lysosomal Storage Disorders/X-ALD, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemoglobinopathy and Critical Congenital Heart Defects subcommittees. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

2023-06-30T20:28:31+00:00June 30th, 2023|Medicaid Eligibility Redetermination , Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2024 budget|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for June 30
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PA Health Policy Update for June 23

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from June 20 – 23.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is maintaining an online dashboard with Medicaid continuous coverage unwinding data. The data on this dashboard tracks the renewal process by county and zip code. Additional updates and resources about the Medicaid eligibility renewal process may be found here. 

General Assembly

The House and Senate returned to Harrisburg this week for voting session. The following are selected health-related proceedings.

  • The Senate voted to confirm Governor Josh Shapiro’s nominees for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Dr. Latika Davis-Jones, and Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Michael Humphreys. A recording of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee confirmation hearing can be viewed here. A recording of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee confirmation hearing can be viewed here.
  • The General Assembly passed SB 262, which requires the Maternal Mortality Review Committee to publish severe maternal mortality data. The bill will now be sent to the governor.
  • The House unanimously passed HB 1209 and HB 1407, which enable Pennsylvania to meet its obligations under the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with tobacco product manufacturers and ensure the state is able to continue receiving funds from the tobacco settlement for health-related programs.
  • The Senate adopted SR 46 to establish the Task Force on Women Veterans’ Health Care to study the health care and access issues facing women veterans.
  • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee held a voting meeting on Tuesday, June 20 at 10:30 a.m. to consider the following bills.
    • SB 683, which requires an acute-care hospital to include testing for fentanyl if the hospital conducts a urine drug screening to assist in the diagnosis of a patient’s condition. The bill was reported as amended, to include xylazine.
    • SB 768, which makes changes to the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority (RHRCA) Act, including financing of the authority and board membership. The bill was reported as committed.
    • SB 817, which creates a primary care workforce initiative for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The bill was reported as committed.

A recording of the meetings can be viewed here.

  • The House Human Services Committee held a voting meeting Wednesday, June 22 at 11:30am to consider HB 850, which requires the Departments of Health and Human Services to apply for a waiver if the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service creates and makes a waiver available to the states that would allow those receiving SNAP and WIC to use those programs for menstrual hygiene products. The bill was reported as amended. A recording of the meeting can be viewed here.

The House and Senate will return to Harrisburg for voting session Monday, June 26.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin to inform Medical Assistance (MA) providers that DHS has added CPT code 0174A to the MA Program Fee Schedule for the administration of an additional bivalent dose of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer, Inc.
  • DHS has updated its calendar of mailing dates for Remittance Advices and corresponding electronic transfers and checks through July. Find the updated calendar here.
  • DHS has announced the proposed Nursing Facility Assessment Program details for FY 2023-24, including the proposed assessment amount, the proposed assessment methodology, and the estimated aggregate impact on nursing facilities that will be subject to the assessment under the Nursing Facility Assessment Program. Find additional information in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. 

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4)

PHC4 has published volume one of its annual analysis of the financial performance of Pennsylvania’s acute-care hospitals.  The analysis found that hospital total margins across the state decreased 7.59 percentage points in FY 22. Go here to find a PHC4 news release describing the agency’s report, the report itself, and a link to downloadable data from the report. 

Independent Regulatory Review Commission 

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) submitted comments to the Department of Human Services on their regulation #14-543: Protective Services for Adults. 

Stakeholder Events 

DOH – Medical Marijuana Advisory Board – June 28

The Medical Marijuana Advisory Board will meet on June 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to discuss Medical Marijuana Program updates. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

PID – 1332 Waiver Reinsurance Program Public Forum – June 28

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) has announced it is accepting public comment on its 1332 State Innovation Waiver Reinsurance Program beginning June 1 and ending June 30. PID will also hold an in-person forum for public comment on Thursday, June 28 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DOH – Specialty Pharmaceutical Benefits Program – July 20

The next Specialty Pharmaceutical Benefits Program Advisory Council meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, July 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Go here for details on how to participate. 

DOH – Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – July 27

The Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a public meeting on Thursday, July 27 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be conducted in person. The agenda will include discussions about Board member terms; updates from the Bureau of Family Health; and updates from the Lysosomal Storage Disorders/X-ALD, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemoglobinopathy and Critical Congenital Heart Defects subcommittees. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

2023-06-23T21:27:26+00:00June 23rd, 2023|Medicaid Eligibility Redetermination , Medical Assistance Bulletin, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for June 23
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PA Health Policy Update for June 16

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania from June 12 – 16.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.) 

Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is maintaining an online dashboard with Medicaid continuous coverage unwinding data. The data on this dashboard tracks the renewal process by county and zip code. Additional updates and resources about the Medicaid eligibility renewal process may be found here.

U.S. Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra has sent a letter to governors urging states to adopt all options that HHS has offered to help eligible individuals and families maintain their health coverage during the redetermination process and leverage all partners to support individuals and families to complete renewal forms. 

Governor Shapiro

Governor Shapiro signed House Bill 739 (Act 2 of 2023) into law on Wednesday. Act 2 creates new cyber security-related requirements for health insurers and allows the Insurance Commissioner to adopt National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Valuation Manual exemptions by notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. 

General Assembly

The state House returned to Harrisburg for voting session Monday, June 12. The following are selected health-related proceedings.

  • The House Insurance Committee held a voting meeting Monday, June 12 at 11:00am to consider HB 1050, requiring health insurers to cover preventive health care services without cost-sharing. The bill was reported as amended. A recording of the meeting can be viewed here. The Insurance Committee was expected reconvene on Wednesday, June 14 to consider HB 1140; however, the meeting was cancelled.
  • The House Health Committee held a voting meeting Wednesday, June 14 to consider the following bills:
    • HB 78, establishing the Medical Debt Relief Program. The bill was reported as amended by a vote of 18-3.
    • HB 807, providing for perimenopause and menopause education. The bill was reported as committed by a vote of 20-1.
    • HB 817, amends the Pharmacy Act to provide education on drug take back programs. The bill was reported as committed by a vote of 20-1
    • HB 818, creates the Pharmaceutical Collection Sites Educational Program within the Department of State. The bill was reported as amended by a vote of 18-2.
    • HB 1209 and HB 1407, add two enforcement mechanisms to the Tobacco Product Manufacturer Directory Act and the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Act, which resolved legal claims between the commonwealth and participating manufacturers relating to health care costs for treating smoking-related illnesses. The bills were unanimously reported as committed.
    • HB 1351, which makes changes to the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority (RHRCA) Act, including financing of the authority and board membership.
    • SB 262, amends the Maternal Mortality Review Act to would add “severe maternal morbidity” to the list of reportable events within the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The bill was unanimously reported as committed.

A recording of the meeting can be viewed here. 

The Senate will return to Harrisburg Monday, June 19 and the House will return Tuesday, June 20 for voting session. The following are selected health-related proceedings.

  • The Senate Health & Human Services Committee will hold a voting meeting on Tuesday, June 20 at 10:30 a.m. to consider the following bills.
    • SB 683, which require an acute-care hospital to include testing for fentanyl if the hospital conducts a urine drug screening to assist in the diagnosis of a patient’s condition.
    • SB 768, which makes changes to the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority (RHRCA) Act, including financing of the authority and board membership.
    • SB 817, which creates a primary care workforce initiative for our Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
  • Immediately following, the Senate Health & Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing to consider the nomination of Dr. Latika Davis-Jones for Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP).

Both meetings will be held in Room 8E-A East Wing and will be live streamed here. 

Department of Health 

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a Health Advisory (2023 – PAHAN – 704) notifying providers of an anticipated increase in Legionellosis cases due to seasonality.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has shared the agenda for the June 22 Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) meeting. In advance of the meeting, DHS has also shared the public input it received regarding the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board prior authorization guideline briefing documents discussed at the May 25 meeting.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin informing providers the department has rescinded the statement of policy codified at § 1101.51a, which clarified the term “within a provider’s office” and updated the process for the enrollment or revalidation of providers that are in co-located arrangements. Effective January 14, 2023, providers who are in co-location arrangements no longer need to complete the attestation form during enrollment or revalidation in the MA Program.
  • The Executive Board approved a reorganization of DHS. Additional information and a revised organizational chart is available in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has announced the addition of a procedure code to the Medical Assistance (MA) Program Fee Schedule for the administration of an additional bivalent dose of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer, Inc. The effective date and MA Fee for the code is indicated in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice. 

Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs 

The Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has issued Licensing Alert 04-2023 to provide clarification on how to calculate client to counselor ratios for inpatient, non-hospital treatment and rehabilitation facilities for regulatory compliance. 

Department of Aging 

The Department of Aging held its first regional town hall in southeastern Pennsylvania to seek input on Pennsylvania’s Master Plan for Older Adults, which will be a 10-year, state-led strategic plan designed to transform the infrastructure and coordination of services for older Pennsylvanians. Governor Shapiro’s executive order directing the department to develop the plan is available here. 

Stakeholder Events

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee Meeting – June 22

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) will meet on June 22, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Individuals interested in participating may register here. 

DOH – Medical Marijuana Advisory Board – June 28

The Medical Marijuana Advisory Board will meet on June 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to discuss Medical Marijuana Program updates. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

PID – 1332 Waiver Reinsurance Program Public Forum – June 28

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) has announced it is accepting public comment on its 1332 State Innovation Waiver Reinsurance Program beginning June 1 and ending June 30. PID will also hold an in-person forum for public comment on Thursday, June 28 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Find additional information and details on how to participate in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

2023-06-17T00:10:13+00:00June 16th, 2023|Federal Medicaid issues, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for June 16
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End of PHE Could Cut Kids From PA Medicaid Rolls

When the formal COVID-19 public health emergency ends, as many as one out of every four Pennsylvania children enrolled in Medicaid could lose their state-sponsored health insurance, according to new research by the Pennsylvania Partnership for Children.

During the PHE, the number of uninsured children in the state fell from 4.6 percent to 4.4 percent, but some of that improvement could be reversed as the state begins to redetermine the eligibility of more than 3.5 million people currently on the state’s Medicaid rolls after a more than two-year hiatus in eligibility reviews.  Today, more than 1.4 million children in Pennsylvania are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP.

Even with the PHE-inspired improvements, 5.5 percent of children in the state who qualify for some kind of free or subsidized health insurance remain uninsured, according to the research.

Uninsured children, like the uninsured population at large, are far more likely than not to be treated by Pennsylvania’s safety-net hospitals such as those that belong to the Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP).  As a result, any reduction in the rate of uninsured children would have a correspondingly damaging effect on the financial health of those safety-net hospitals – and potentially, on the residents of the medically vulnerable communities those hospitals serve.

Learn more about how the end of the PHE may affect health care coverage for Pennsylvania children in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star article “Report:  Ranks of uninsured Pa. kids dropped during pandemic.”

2022-12-14T15:26:58+00:00December 14th, 2022|COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus|Comments Off on End of PHE Could Cut Kids From PA Medicaid Rolls
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SNAP Hospitals Benefit From New PA Health Care Funding

While a recent Pennsylvania law will result in all hospitals receiving supplemental funding to help with employee recruitment and retention, SNAP member hospitals will receive a little something extra.

Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania logoPennsylvania Act 2, passed earlier this year, appropriates $225 million in federal money and the state has earmarked a portion of that money for hospitals based on how many beds they have.  Hospitals that serve especially high proportions of Medicaid patients, however, will receive funding over and above the amount targeted to them based on bed count alone.

All Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania members – hospitals distinguished by their service to especially large numbers of low-income Pennsylvanians – will receive a portion of these additional resources.

All hospitals and other selected providers will share $100 million of the $225 million total; this portion will be distributed on a per-bed basis.  Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals, along with critical access hospitals and inpatient and residential behavioral health facilities, also will receive part of a separate, larger pool of $110 million.

Over the years, SNAP has consistently urged state officials to provide additional funding to Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals that care for especially high proportions of Medicaid and uninsured patients.  In this situation, state officials did exactly that.

Learn more about the $225 million appropriation and how it will be distributed from this Wolf administration news release and this list of funding recipients, which includes all SNAP members.

 

2022-03-25T13:10:50+00:00March 25th, 2022|Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals, Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania|Comments Off on SNAP Hospitals Benefit From New PA Health Care Funding
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SNAP Asks PA Delegation to Co-Sponsor, Support 340B Bill

SNAP has asked members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to co-sponsor and support bills (H.R. 3203 and S. 773) that would temporarily enable Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals and others already eligible for the 340B prescription drug discount program to remain eligible for the program despite short-term changes in their admissions patterns brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because of the manner in which the COVID-19 pandemic affected hospital admissions, some hospitals that have been eligible to participate in the 340B program could lose that eligibility for what is, in effect, a one-year anomaly.  The proposed bills would temporarily enable current 340B participants to retain their eligibility for the program until hospitals’ inpatient volume returns to normal and they can demonstrate whether they still meet the criteria to continue participating in the program.

340B has long been a vital tool through which Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals receive significant discounts on the prescription drugs their low-income patients need, enabling these hospitals and other eligible providers to stretch scarce resources in services to the communities that depend on them.

Learn more from SNAP’s letter to members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation.

2021-06-15T17:52:15+00:00June 15th, 2021|340b, Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals, Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania|Comments Off on SNAP Asks PA Delegation to Co-Sponsor, Support 340B Bill
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Change Atop PA’s Department of Human Services

Teresa Miller is out and Meg Snead will be in as Pennsylvania’s new Secretary of the Department of Human Services.

In separate news releases the Wolf administration announced that Miller, who has led DHS since 2015, “will be moving on to a new opportunity outside Pennsylvania” and leave her job at the end of April and that she will be replaced by Meg Snead, who currently serves as the governor’s Secretary of Policy and Planning.

Snead’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

The Secretary of the Department of Human Services is important to SNAP members and Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals because the state’s Medicaid program is administered by that department’s Office of Medical Assistance Programs.

Learn more about Miller’s departure here and about Snead’s nomination here.

2021-03-25T06:00:37+00:00March 25th, 2021|Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals, Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania|Comments Off on Change Atop PA’s Department of Human Services
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House to Consider Extending Medicare Sequester Delay

The moratorium on the two percent sequestration of Medicare payments could be extended under a bill the U.S. House of Representatives may consider this week.

If adopted, the bill would extend the sequester delay for nine months, providing financial relief that many health care providers seek as they continue to deal with the financial challenges posed by COVID-19.

The sequester delay was implemented early in the pandemic as a means of providing additional Medicare revenue to hospitals and other health care providers at a time when many people were delaying seeking medical attention out of fear of contracting COVID-19.

Without action by Congress, the current delay of the Medicare sequester will expire at the end of March.

Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania logoSNAP has urged Congress to extend the Medicare sequestration delay on a number of occasions, doing so most recently in this February 5 letter to members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation.

Learn more about the latest effort to extend the Medicare sequester delay in the Fierce Healthcare article “House to vote later this week on bill to delay Medicare sequestration payment cuts.”

2021-03-18T06:00:32+00:00March 18th, 2021|Medicare, Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania|Comments Off on House to Consider Extending Medicare Sequester Delay
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  • P: (717) 234-6970

  • 2020 Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania

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

  • P: (717) 234-6970

  • 2020 Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania

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