- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
- CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
- Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
All but One PA County Seeing “Substantial Spread”
Almost every county in Pennsylvania is now facing “substantial” spread of the coronavirus, according to the Wolf administration. A positivity rate of five percent or more is an indication of troubling community spread and Pennsylvania’s positivity rate has jumped to 11.7 percent, with the rate in some individual counties climbing above 20 percent. The only county not seeing a positivity rate of greater than five percent is Forest County. To date in Pennsylvania, more than 360,000 people have contracted COVID-19 and more than 10,300 deaths have been tied to the virus. Read more.
DHS Issues Dental Fee Schedule Update
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Medical Assistance Programs issued a new bulletin to notify dentists of updates to the Medical Assistance (MA) Program Dental Fee Schedule. This bulletin applies to dentists enrolled in the MA Program who render services to MA beneficiaries in the fee-for-service delivery system. Dentists rendering services to MA beneficiaries in the managed care delivery system should address coding or billing related questions to the appropriate managed care organization.
DOH COVID-19 Laboratory Testing FAQs
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has released a new document, COVID-19 Laboratory Testing FAQs. This is a good resource for labs and employers who would like to incorporate COVID-19 tests into their protocols.
Injunction and Restraining Order Sought in 340B Battle
Ryan White Clinics for 340B Access (RWC-340B) last week asked a federal district court to issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction requiring U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to issue 340B program binding administrative dispute resolution (ADR) regulations within 60 days, requiring Azar to declare that federal law entitles covered entities to buy covered outpatient drugs at 340B discounts, and ordering Azar to enforce covered entities’ rights to 340B discounts for contract pharmacy orders. RWC-340B asked for the order and injunction as part of its lawsuit to compel HHS to punish four drug that are denying 340B pricing on their products when ordered through contract pharmacy arrangements. In a memo RWC-340B filed with its motions for relief, the group said 340B covered entities and the patients they serve will suffer irreparable harm if the court waits until the end of the case to issue remedial orders.
Pennie Enrollment Activity Reporting
Assisters and ambassadors assisting and enrolling consumers in Pennie, should report their enrollment activity daily or weekly using this Pennie Assister Ambassador Online Reporting Tool . For instructions and frequently asked questions about the tool, please visit the PACHC Outreach and Enrollment Team Slack page under #reporting. Questions? Contact Tia Whitaker, statewide director for outreach and enrollment.
SNAP Benefits Arriving Early This Month
The current continuing resolution (CR) funding the federal government is set to expire on Dec. 11, 2020. The PA Department of Human Services (DHS), given the importance of SNAP benefits, is altering its distribution schedule for December in order to issue benefits before the CR sunsets to avoid any potential disruptions. All December SNAP payments will be available on EBT cards by December 11. Because of this, recipients may receive their benefits earlier than anticipated, but need to be aware that this early issuance is not an additional payment and will be the sole payment for December. For households that receive emergency allotments, their normal monthly payments and emergency allotments will be issued together. DHS is asking you to help communicate this to the people you serve to help alleviate potential confusion.
Fourth Stimulus Package Efforts Continue
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Representatives have proposed a $908 billion coronavirus relief package that they are hoping is used as a basis for jumpstarting negotiations between the House and Senate. The proposed package calls for significantly less funding than the House had previously demanded and more than the Senate’s latest package. The framework includes $160 billion for state and local government aid, $180 billion in additional unemployment insurance, $288 billion for the small business Paycheck Protection Program, and short-term federal protection from coronavirus-related lawsuits, among other things. Senator McConnell has circulated his own framework for stimulus legislation to Republican members that would establish a fresh round of funding for the small-business Paycheck Protection Program and implement widespread liability protections. The liability protections have been a non-starter for Democratic leadership in the House.
Governor Vetoes Bill to Limit Coronavirus Lawsuits
Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed legislation, HB 1737, that would have provided limited liability protections to Pennsylvania businesses, arguing the bill “invites the potential for carelessness and a disregard for public safety.” The legislation, which was passed by the General Assembly earlier this month largely along party lines, would have shielded businesses–as well as schools, child care providers and personal protective equipment manufacturers and individuals using PPE–from civil lawsuits related to COVID-19 exposure.
Pennsylvania Enacts Medicaid PBM Price Transparency Law
Gov. Wolf signed into law a bill that increases transparency regarding pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) pricing practices in the state’s Medicaid program. HB 941 (now Act 120 of 2020) allows the state Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to review how PBMs reimburse Medicaid plans, investigate reimbursement rates paid by PBMs to independent and chain pharmacies, and study the best practices adopted by other states to address concerns with PBM reimbursement practices.
Wolf Administration Expands Testing Sites Across the Commonwealth
The Wolf administration announced additional testing sites across Pennsylvania. The PA Department of Health entered a contract with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare (AMI) to provide COVID-19 testing in five regions across Pennsylvania to help contain local spread of COVID-19. Over the next 12 weeks, five strike teams will provide regional testing open to anyone who feels they need a test in the 61 counties that don’t have a health department. Up to 450 patients can be tested per day at each location using mid-nasal passage swab PCR tests. Testing is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is completely free to all patients. Click here to learn more about the testing plan and when AMI will be in your county.