FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Winds Down

In 2021, Congress established this Federal Communications Commission program to increase access to the internet through monthly discounts for service and one-time payments to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.  Without additional funding from Congress, the program is projected to run out of money in April 2024.  Households currently enrolled in the program will receive a notice from their internet service provider about the end of the benefit.  The FCC is still accepting applications until midnight Eastern time on February 7, but enrollees must have their eligibility approved and sign up with an internet service provider before this deadline.  Households who have applied, been approved, and are receiving the monthly internet discount before February 8, 2024 will continue to receive their ACP benefit until funds run out, as long as the household remains enrolled in the program.

Read the full article here.

CMS Finalizes Prior Authorization Rule

From Becker’s

CMS has finalized a rule to streamline the prior authorization process and improve the electronic exchange of health information that it estimates will save $15 billion over 10 years.

The requirements generally apply to Medicare Advantage organizations, state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program agencies, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP-managed care entities and qualified health plan insurers on the federally facilitated exchanges, according to a Jan. 17 CMS news release. The agency proposed the rule in December 2022.

Beginning primarily in 2026, certain payers will be required to include a specific reason when denying requests, publicly report certain prior authorization metrics and send decisions within 72 hours for urgent requests and seven calendar days for standard requests.

The rule also requires affected payers to implement a Health Level 7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standard application programming interface to support electronic prior authorization.

“Together, these new requirements for the prior authorization process will reduce administrative burden on the healthcare workforce, empower clinicians to spend more time providing direct care to their patients and prevent avoidable delays in care for patients,” CMS said in the release.

The rule also finalizes API requirements to “increase health data exchange and foster a more efficient healthcare system for all.” CMS is delaying the dates for compliance from generally Jan. 1, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2027. Beginning in January 2027, affected payers will be required to expand their current patient access API to include information about prior authorizations and to implement a provider access API that providers can use to retrieve their patients’ claims, encounter, clinical and prior authorization data. CMS is requiring affected payers to exchange, with a patient’s permission, most of the same data using a payer-to-payer FHIR API when a patient moves between payers or has multiple concurrent payers.

The rule also adds a new electronic prior authorization measure for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals under the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and for Merit-based Incentive Payment System eligible clinicians under the promoting interoperability performance category.

New Medical School Opens in Pittsburgh, PA

From Becker’s Hospital Review

Pittsburgh-based Duquesne University opened its College of Medicine on January 17.

The college will welcome its inaugural class of 85 students in July with plans to grow enrollment to 170 students per year beginning in 2026, according to a university news release. The college will provide doctor of osteopathic medicine degrees.

Duquesne said it received significant gifts from foundations, corporations and government entities to support building the medical college. The building includes advanced simulation, augmented reality anatomy labs and other technology.

Deadline to Enroll in COVID-19 Therapeutics and Testing Supply Programs Released – January 26th

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced that the onboarding deadline for COVID-19 Therapeutics and Testing Supply Programs is Friday, January 26. Enrolling in these programs allows access to non-cost supplies in case of emergent COVID-19 needs, to enroll submit a request through the BPHC Contact Form. Learn more about the Testing Supply Program and the Therapeutics Program.

Department of Health PA HAN 733 Releases Information on Measles in Pennsylvania

The PA Department of Health (DOH) issued Health Advisory 733, concerning Measles cases in PA. As of Jan. 5, 2024, there have been seven cases of measles diagnosed in the commonwealth since Dec. 6, 2023. Six of these cases were epidemiologically linked and from southeastern Pennsylvania. One case was in northcentral Pennsylvania and not epidemiologically linked to the other cases. The index case in the southeastern Pennsylvania outbreak acquired measles while traveling abroad and the remaining cases were exposed via healthcare or childcare settings. The northcentral Pennsylvania case was unrelated, and the illness was acquired while living abroad. All these cases were in unvaccinated individuals. Providers should have an increased suspicion for measles in patients who are not immune and present with a febrile rash illness and follow the proper recommendations for testing and infection control measures. DOH reminds providers to immediately report suspected cases of measles to local public health authorities or to the DOH at 877-PAHEALTH (877-724-3258).

DANB Announces New Scholarship for Dental Assistants

A new scholarship is now available to help dental assistants launch their careers. The DANB/DALE Foundation Scholarship is now accepting applications. The scholarship is open to dental assisting students and current dental assistants with less than five years of experience. Scholarship funds can be used for education, credentials, and activities or services that improve oral health in groups that historically faced barriers to accessing dental care. Applications are accepted now through March 4, 2024. To learn more or apply, visit DANB’s website.

New Report Shows COVID’s Financial Hit on Pennsylvania Hospitals

According to a new report by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) in collaboration with The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), Pennsylvania’s hospitals lost $8.1 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic but continued to provide economic value to the state. Of the expenses and lost revenue reported, the largest expense was staffing, which amounted to $1.3 billion. The report also indicates that in fiscal year 2022, hospitals provided an economic value of $182 billion in spending, an increase of $39 billion from before the pandemic in fiscal year 2019. Read the report.

Free COVID-19 Tests Available for Households

The Biden-Harris Administration and Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) are committed to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 tests. ASPR is refreshing ordering on covid.gov for every U.S. household to order additional tests at no charge. Households that ordered this fall can order four more tests, and those that have not ordered this fall can submit two orders for a total of eight tests. Additionally, ASPR will continue to provide over four million free COVID-19 tests per week directly to long-term care facilities, schools, community health centers, and food banks. More information on these efforts and a digital toolkit to share through your social media avenues is available at covid.gov.

Pennsylvania Health and Human Services Costs Increased 63%

The state of Pennsylvania’s cost for health and human services has increased from $24.1 billion to $59.1 billion from 2006 to 2023. That is a 63% increase over the 17 years after adjusting for inflation. Health and human services have a significant role in the state’s budget, accounting for approximately 65% of the total general fund expenditures in 2023 according to a recent budget document released by the commonwealth. The state attributed the increase in costs to many variables, including the expansion of Medicaid in Pennsylvania in 2015, which added 900,000 more people to coverage. In 2022, the state extended Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days after the end of a pregnancy to one year. Click here to learn more.