Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the release of an annual report that ranks Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section number one nationally in number of fraud charges filed against individuals and third overall in convictions taking action against those who abuse Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program. During the 2024 federal fiscal year, the section recovered more than $11.3 million in misused Medicaid funding, most through criminal prosecutions. During that same year, the section filed fraud charges against 113 people, filed neglect, abuse, and endangerment charges against 6 people, and secured convictions in 74 cases, which were filed last year or in previous years. The unit recovered $3.46 for every $1.00 spent in 2024.
Loan Repayment Program Applications Now Open
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment programs help repay part of school loan debt in exchange for service in a medically underserved area. Did you know Community Health Centers are automatically approved sites for these programs? The 2025 application is now open, and interested clinicians can now access the Application and Program Guidance documents for the NHSC, Substance Use Disorder, and Rural Community loan repayment programs. The application deadline is May 1. Share this information with your clinicians and clinician candidates!
Physician Assistant Regulations Finalized
The Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine finalized the regulations to implement the Physician Assistant modernization bills, Act 78 of 2021 and Act 79 of 2021. The Acts removed unnecessary restrictions on Physician Assistants (PAs), placed decision making with PAs and supervising physician(s), placed a permanent PA representative on the Medical and Osteopathic Boards, allowed the filing of written agreements without needing prior approval of written agreement (states that already allow this do not show an increase in malpractice/reportable events), removed the 100 percent countersignature requirement and allowed supervising physicians to determine need for countersignature, and aligned the supervision requirements under the Medical Board and Osteopathic Board. A summary of the changes in the Medical and Osteopathic Practice Acts after passage of SB 397 and 398 is available on the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA) website. Click here for the final rulemaking on IRRC’s website.
Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 US Influenza Season
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) posted information on the flu vaccine composition for the 2025-2026 US flu season. The agency, in consultation with federal partners, reviewed the available data and made its recommendations to manufacturers of the US-licensed influenza vaccines for the production of updated vaccines for the 2025-2026 flu season. Based on this timing, the agency does not anticipate any impact on vaccine supply or timing of availability.
Trump’s HHS Backs Rejection of Drug Discount Plan Rebate Model
The Trump administration is defending a Biden-era decision to reject drug manufacturer plans that would allow them to discount medicines through a rebate rather than up front under a federal drug discount program. HRSA on Monday doubled down on its argument that implementing a rebate model is inconsistent with the 340B statute and requires approval from the HHS secretary. The agency, however, signaled that it could be open to further consideration of the plan.
CMS Innovation Center Ends Some Models
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center announced changes to its model portfolio. The Primary Care First and the Making Care Primary models, running through 2026 and 2034 respectively, will now end early on Dec. 31, 2025. Additionally, CMS may reduce the size of the Integrated Care for Kids model and will no longer move forward with the Medicare $2 Drug List and the Accelerating Clinical Evidence Model. Participants involved in these models should expect follow-up communications from CMS on the close-out process. This does not impact the Aledade ACO.
PA Senate Republicans Challenge Medicaid Expansion
Senate Republican leaders have asked the Trump administration to rescind an 1115 Medicaid waiver that would expand social services for vulnerable populations, including low-income families, chronically homeless individuals, and people being released from incarceration. Republicans believe the added services in the waivers — approved last year under the Biden administration, but not yet implemented — will balloon Pennsylvania’s Medicaid costs. In response, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has scaled back implementation plans.
Government Funding Continues for Six Months
US Senators worked down to the wire to avoid a midnight funding lapse in Washington DC last week. Despite widespread Democratic criticism of the House’s six month “Continuing Resolution” (CR), a number of Democrats joined their Republican colleagues and voted to pass the legislation. The CR provides both mandatory and discretionary funding at the FY24 levels for Section 330, the National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Centers, through Sept. 30, 2025.
The PBDA is hosting two webinars in anticipation of opening the second round of the Digital Connectivity Technology Program (DCTP). Each webinar will provide an overview of the program, review FAQs, and will implement breakout sessions focusing on libraries, non-profits, workforce, and education. Each breakout session will include an awardee from Round One of the program who will provide background on their project and will highlight the key elements that contributed to their success.
You can find additional details for each webinar, including registration, by clicking the links below. Please note that content covered at each session will be the same, however, questions and dialogue may differ. PBDA will be recording these sessions to post as resources on our website.
Research Brief Highlights Population Estimates
The U.S. Census Bureau released estimates of the July 1, 2024 population at the county level. This release includes both total population as well as components of change: births, deaths, and migration.
Key Findings from the Report:
- Twenty-eight counties increased from 2020 to 2024. The fastest-growing counties included Pike (+3.5%), Cumberland (+6.2%), and Chester (+4.9%).
- Thirty-nine counties decreased from 2020 to 2024. Counties that experienced the largest percentage decreases included Greene (-5.5%), Forest (-5.4%), and Cameron (-4.4%).
For more information on county population change in Pennsylvania, read this month’s brief.