HAP's Latest News

Today, Governor Wolf provided details about the state’s efforts to stockpile personal protective equipment in advance of a potential second surge of COVID-19 patients this autumn and winter. 

Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released preliminary Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) data highlighting a steep decline in the rates of vaccinations, primary, and preventive services among children. Nearly 40 million children currently are covered by Medicaid and CHIP, raising concerns about long-term health outcomes for many children in Pennsylvania.

The flu season is quickly approaching while the state and nation continues to battle against COVID-19. Though both are caused by different viruses, many of the precautions Pennsylvanians have adopted during COVID-19 also can help protect them from the flu. In addition to handwashing, social distancing, and the use of a face mask, Pennsylvanians are encouraged to add a flu shot to their protection measures.

This week, the Wolf Administration announced the launch of COVID AlertPA, a smartphone app to notify people of potential exposure to someone who has COVID-19.

A new analysis from the Urban Institute reports that, between April and July, more than 3 million adults lost their employer-sponsored coverage and nearly 2 million became uninsured.

A new Commonwealth Fund survey into the disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to highlight the long-standing inequities by race, ethnicity, and income. The analysis also shows that the experience of economic hardships and mental health concerns during the pandemic varies by race, gender, and income.

The outcome of this year’s election will be critical to those who work in health care because those who are elected will make important decisions that affect health care as well as Pennsylvania’s hospitals. HAP is supporting the American Hospital Association’s “We Care, We Vote” campaign and is encouraging hospital employees to register to vote and to vote on November 3.

Today, the Pennsylvania House Health Committee passed legislation supporting the health care community in providing care for patients after the COVID-19 pandemic has come under control. The Retaining Healthcare Innovations Act, House Bill 2779, sponsored by Representative Chris Quinn (R-Delaware), ensures that the transition is a gradual return to health care practices for both the provider and the patient by extending waivers and administrative flexibilities for 90 days beyond the end of the emergency declaration.

In a tweet today, Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Administration would withdraw a proposed Medicaid regulation which stakeholders cautioned would have significant consequences, putting economic pressure on states and negatively impacting Medicaid beneficiaries across the country.

A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found an estimated 40.9 percent of U.S. adults have avoided medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, including 12 percent who avoided urgent or emergency care and 31.5 percent who avoided routine care.