Pursuant to the Governor’s authorization, as conferred in the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued on March 6, 2020 and the Governor’s Order to Enhance Protections for Health Care Workers issued on May 6, 2020, all statutory and regulatory provisions or portions thereof, that would impose an impediment to implementing the guidance outlined below are suspended. Said suspensions will remain in place throughout the duration of the Governor’s Proclamation.

The Bureau of EMS issues the following guidance as it relates to the utilization of out of state EMS personnel, as detailed below:

• EMS providers that hold an active credential with another state’s EMS certifying body, or whom hold an active certification with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, may practice in Pennsylvania on the sole basis of that certification. This suspends requirements found at 35 Pa. C.S. § 8113 and 28 Pa. Code § 1021.21.
• Individuals holding an out-of-state certification and are practicing in Pennsylvania with a licensed Pennsylvania EMS agency should not exceed the scope of practice or training that they received and are credentialed to perform in their home state. However, regardless of the scope of their home state, they may not exceed the established Pennsylvania Scope of Practice
• Prior to utilizing individuals whom do not hold Pennsylvania EMS certification, Pennsylvania EMS agencies should make a good faith effort to verify that the individual holds the credentials that they claim to hold, and should document what those efforts entailed. All NREMT certifications can be verified online at www.nremt.org in addition, many states have online verification options as well. Please visit https://www.nremt.org/rwd/public/states/state-ems-agencies, select the state you are trying to verify, then click the green button that says verify a state license. If available, you will be taken to that state’s certification portal. Please note, this is not an option for every state.
• Irrespective of certification level, the EMS agency medical director must approve all individuals with an out-of-state credential prior to their service with a Pennsylvania EMS agency.
• For the purposes of PCR documentation, any out of state provider should be entered with their name, and OOS as the certification number
• This guidance does not apply to out-of-state individual providers who are operating under an EMS service/vehicle licensed in another state. Pursuant to EMSIB 2020-09 Out of State Licensed EMS Agencies out-of-state EMS agencies may operate within Pennsylvania pursuant to the laws and regulations of the state in which they are licensed.

Please address any questions to your Regional EMS Council.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf was joined by Attorney General Josh Shapiro to announce that he signed an executive order that protects Pennsylvanians from foreclosures or evictions through July 10. The action builds on a Pennsylvania Supreme Court order which closed court eviction proceedings until May 11 and ensures no renter or homeowner will be removed from their home for 60 more days.

In almost all circumstances, renters and homeowners are required to continue making monthly payments. If you are a Pennsylvanian struggling to make your monthly payments, you should contact your landlord or mortgage servicer immediately.

The Wolf Administration provided recommendations last week to stem foreclosures, evictions and help people experiencing homelessness. The Department of Human Services activated the commonwealth’s Sheltering Taskforce and is working with local and state partners to coordinate resources for people without housing. The Department of Community and Economic Development is also accepting applications for Emergency Solutions Grants to assist with the rapid rehousing of people experiencing homelessness, street outreach, homelessness prevention, and emergency shelter activities.

PHFA is also taking action to help homeowners and renters. The agency has stopped foreclosures and evictions and is offering forbearances with late fee waivers to homeowners with a PHFA mortgage who are experiencing a financial hardship because of COVID-19. PHFA also developed a list of renters’ rights and responsibilities to clarify the situation for apartment residents and is working with landlords and property managers to distribute it to renters. PHFA is also encouraging Low-Income Housing Tax Credit building managers to be flexible on rent payments and to waive late fees for tenants whose employment has been affected by the crisis.

USDA announced $3 million in competitive grants is available for urban agriculture and innovative production projects. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until midnight July 6, 2020.

Planning Projects should initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs. Projects may target areas of food access; education; business and start-up costs for new farmers; and development of policies related to zoning and other needs of urban production.

Implementation Projects should accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor, and other agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers. Projects will improve local food access and collaborate with partner organizations and may support infrastructure needs; emerging technologies; educational endeavors; and urban farming policy development.

To learn more please follow this link.

Pennsylvania Governor Wolf’s Administration received approval from the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a plan to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to students who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at school through the National School Lunch Program. This program, known as Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), will be temporary and is designed to bridge the gap left by schools closing and help families who may have strained resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The approved P-EBT plan will allow for DHS to provide SNAP funds to households with children who have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program due to pandemic-related school closures. P-EBT benefits will be issued through EBT cards issued to qualifying families. A family’s benefit will be determined based off the federal reimbursement rate for the daily rate of free school breakfasts and lunches, or approximately $5.70 per child. This benefit will be calculated for the remainder of the school year, leading to an approximate benefit of $370.50 per child if they were receiving free or reduced-price school meals when school closures began. Now that the program is approved, benefits will begin to be issued to qualifying families within approximately 15 business days.

If a family’s economic situation has changed since school closures began, they can still apply for the National School Lunch Program and, if determined eligible, receive P-EBT benefits. Families can apply online at www.compass.state.pa.us.

The Department of Health and Human Services has extended the deadline for healthcare providers to attest to receipt of payments from the Provider Relief Fund and accept the Terms and Conditions. Providers will now have 45 days, increased from 30 days, from the date they receive a payment to attest and accept the Terms and Conditions or return the funds. As an example, the initial 30-day deadline for providers who received payment on April 10, 2020, is extended to May 24 from May 9, 2020. With the extension, not returning the payment within 45 days of receipt of payment will be viewed as acceptance of the Terms and Conditions.

President Trump is providing support to healthcare providers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic through the bipartisan CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act which provide $175 billion in relief funds to hospitals and other healthcare providers on the front lines of the coronavirus response. This funding will be used to support healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19 and to ensure uninsured Americans can get treatment for COVID-19.

In allocating the funds, the Administration is working, among other things, to address both the economic harm across the entire healthcare system due to the stoppage of elective procedures, and addressing the economic impact on providers particularly impacted by COVID-19, and to do so as quickly and transparently as possible.

Visit hhs.gov/providerrelief for more information on the allocations. Recipients of payments from any of these allocations must attest and accept the Terms and Conditions within 45 days.

• HHS is distributing $50 billion across the healthcare system to providers and facilities that bill Medicare.
• Recognizing the financial strain from COVID-19 inpatient admissions, HHS is distributing $12 billion to hospitals that reported at least 100 COVID-19 inpatient admissions through April 10 to HHS.
• HHS is distributing $10 billion to rural hospitals and clinics.
• HHS is distributing $400 million to tribal healthcare providers.
• HHS is using a portion of the Provider Relief Fund to reimburse healthcare providers, at Medicare rates, for COVID-related treatment of the uninsured.
• HHS is working to provide relief to additional healthcare providers including skilled nursing facilities, dentists, and other providers significantly impacted by COVID-19.