HAP's Latest News

Co-chaired by state Representative Wendy Ullman (D-Bucks), the House Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing about the impact that COVID-19 has had on nursing homes and congregate care facilities.

Today, the House Republican Policy Committee, chaired by Representative Martin Causer (R-McKean), held a hearing in the Lehigh Valley to discuss COVID-19’s impact on the economic recovery for health care and social assistance services.

A new analysis released today shows the COVID-19 public health crisis will leave lasting scars on Pennsylvania and its hospital community. The report is a follow-up to an April analysis commissioned by The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvanian and conducted by Health Management Associates.

Yesterday, Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Health Subcommittee Chair Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar expressing strong concerns about recent actions taken by drug manufacturers that undermine the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this week announced that it has expanded the availability of COVID-19 relief funding to assisted living facilities. This announcement comes as Congressional leaders and White House officials have been unable to reach a consensus on an additional COVID-19 financial relief package.

Governor Wolf today announced a second extension of the COVID-19 Disaster Declaration. The initial declaration was signed March 6, 2020, the same day as the announcement of the first two presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.

In my line of work, it’s not unusual to face a crisis—either during training or responding to one in real time. Experiences in public safety, safety consulting, and emergency management (EM) have taught us that, during an emergency—when seconds can make all the difference—effective leadership can make or break a team. I’ve worked with some great leaders during my tenure, and many of the best ones have adopted a transformational style of leadership. Their examples are the ones that I have used most often as I strive to be an effective leader in my own work in the EM community.

Recently released analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that nearly 40 percent of patients saw reductions in their access to one or more types of care as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. HAP has created a special webpage and resources to encourage Pennsylvanians to get their health care back on track.

Across the U.S., as the COVID-19 pandemic increases the health concerns and economic struggles of many American families, new studies continue to magnify the fact that certain Americans are being disproportionately affected by the pandemic’s devastation. Americans of color—Black, American Indian, Alaska Native Americans, and Latinx—are facing more COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths than White Americans.

A Kaufman Hall National Hospital Flash Report released Monday shows the overwhelming financial impact that COVID-19 has had on U.S. hospitals. July marked the fifth consecutive month of volumes that fell below 2019 and below budget, further devastating hospitals’ financial stability.