The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has announced a new program, building on the impact of the Naloxone for First Responders Program (NFRP). The new program—the PA Overdose Prevention Program—will serve as a “one-stop-shop” for individuals and organizations seeking multiple formulations of naloxone and related harm reduction supplies, including fentanyl and xylazine test strips. It will also serve as a clearinghouse for information, training, and technical assistance to help groups involved in harm reduction work and others on the front lines of Pennsylvania’s evolving overdose crisis. Like the NFRP, the PA Overdose Prevention Program will focus on getting naloxone and harm reduction supplies into the hands of people who use drugs and those who serve and support them. Read more about the initiative.
Pennsylvania Governor’s Administration Releases Complete Catalog of All 2,400 State Filings
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration has made significant progress in cutting red tape, after completing the first-ever catalog of all 2,400 state permits, certificates, licenses, and other necessary filings to begin working or start a business in the state. Click here to read the Governor’s press release.
Pennsylvania State Budget, Pennsylvania Primary Care Practitioner Program Updates
The Senate returned to Harrisburg to pass Fiscal Code legislation providing authorization for several appropriations in the enacted 2023-24 Fiscal Year budget, as well as program implementation language across numerous state agencies. Notably, the Senate passed two separate Fiscal Code bills: HB 1300 and SB 757. The text of HB 1300 largely follows the standard format and content of previous Fiscal Code legislation, with program implementation and authorization language across a broad swath of agencies, including those in the health and human services space. Notable aspects of the bill include the Pennsylvania Primary Care Practitioner Program. In the budget bill signed by Governor Shapiro, HB 611, there is $8,350,000 allocated for the Pennsylvania Primary Care Practitioner Program, an 18% increase over last year’s allocation. HB 1300 provides details on how the funds are to be allocated and is awaiting passage in the state House of Representatives. Per the drafted code bill, the funds are to be distributed as follows: a minimum of $3.45 million for loan repayments, $1.5 million for the PA Academy of Family Physicians Residency Program, $1.3 million for the PA Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Residency Community Health Impact Grants, and $2.1 million to be shared by the other existing grantees. With passage in the Senate, both bills move to the House for consideration and action. It is unlikely that the House will return to session before September 26 to act on these or any other legislative items with the chamber deadlocked at 101-101, pending the outcome of a special election. As stated above, the Fiscal Code legislation passed by the Senate has significant disparities and omissions in policy that will need to be rectified with the House.
Pennsylvania Broadband Authority’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Open for Public Comment
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) has drafted its Volume I of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, as required through the National Telecommunication and Information Administration’s BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity and supplemental guidance. Volume I includes critical components of PBDA’s plans for implementing BEAD grant funding, to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to high-speed internet. To draft the document, PBDA complied with NTIA requirements and guidance on elements such as the application process, scoring criteria, labor standards, and other requirements, as well as Commonwealth policies.
Volume I will be available for public review and comment for the required 30 days, from September 11, 2023 through October 10, 2023. The draft document can be accessed here. Upon receipt and consideration of comments to this document, PBDA will seek approval from its Board of Directors and submit the Volume for consideration to NTIA. Public viewers are asked to share comments through this form by 11:59 PM on October 10, 2023. Please note that Volume II will be available to view and comment on later this fall and prior to the NTIA submission deadline of December 27, 2023.
Funding Opportunity Announced for Community Water Systems in Pennsylvania
PCOH is requesting proposals for Community Water Fluoridation Equipment Grants. This grant seeks to issue funds to those public water systems wishing to initiate, update, or expand the practice of community water fluoridation. This funding round gives priority to community water systems that are initiating a fluoridation program. Systems may be at any stage in the initiation process. Systems which have previously received equipment grants from PCOH may apply for equipment updates and replacements, though first-time applicants will receive priority consideration. The maximum request per water system wishing to initiate or currently fluoridating may not exceed $25,000. If funds remain after the first application deadline, a second funding round will be announced.
Applications are due November 9 by 5pm.
Funding for this project is through the Pennsylvania Department of Health through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Grant NU58DP006467: Using Surveillance Data and Evidence-based Interventions to Improve Oral Health Outcomes in Pennsylvania. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by CDC, HHS or the U.S. Government.
New Report Highlights Linkage Between Oral Health and Heart Infection Prevention
The American Heart Association published an article linking oral health to heart infection prevention. The article discussed how good oral hygiene and regular dental care are the most important ways to reduce risk of a heart infection called infective endocarditis caused by bacteria in the mouth.
September is Dental Infection Control Month
September is “Dental Infection Control Month” as recognized by the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention. This celebration brings awareness to infection prevention and control in dental settings. This year’s theme is “Staying in the Know Together.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides training materials and other resources to increase the knowledge, skills, and ability of dental health care personnel to adhere to CDC guidelines and recommendations.
The Pennsylvania Medicaid Agency Has Posted its Fee Schedule Revisions
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) on August 26 posted Medical Assistance fee schedule changes that become effective Sept. 5. DHS is adding and end-dating procedure codes according to the 2023 updates provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). DHS is adding procedure codes and setting limitations and making fee adjustments to current procedure codes.
Recent Data Shows Increase in Severe Maternal Morbidity Rates in PA
Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) analysts recently announced that they found an alarming rise in severe maternal morbidity among patients hospitalized in PA for delivery from 2016 through 2022. Severe maternal morbidity includes unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant consequences to a woman’s health. The rate of severe maternal morbidity in PA increased 40% from 2016 to 2022. In 2021-2022 the rate of severe maternal morbidity experienced in hospitals was 107.6 per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations; for a total of 2,625 women affected. The following categories of women had higher rates of severe maternal morbidity:
- Women who were black, non-Hispanic
- Women 40-55 years of age
- Women insured by Medicaid
- Women from zip codes with poverty rates over 25%
A Philadelphia Group Erases Medical Debt for 1,700 People
A group of Philly 30-somethings raised funding to buy more than $1.6 million in local medical debt. They celebrated with an unofficial debt burning, complete with lighter fluid, shots, Roman candles, and sparklers. More than 1,700 beneficiaries are slated to receive letters informing them that someone took care of part or all their medical debt starting mid-September.