Category: State Government Actions

Medicaid Reimbursements to Impact Schools (March 6, 2023)

Upcoming changes in Medicaid coverage and policy could take a toll on districts and the families they serve, education policy experts and advocates say. Much of the expected coverage loss will be due to administrative churn and impact district reimbursements as well as overall student health and attendance.

Medicaid eligibility rates impact school-based Medicaid reimbursement as well as how districts certify students as qualifying for free-and-reduced lunch in some states. If fewer students suddenly qualify for Medicaid, this will directly impact district finances.

Medicaid is the third or fourth largest federal revenue stream for school systems, according to the Medicaid in Schools Coalition.

Students with less access to healthcare are also more likely to be chronically absent and rely on limited school-based health services instead. 

To read more from K-12 Dive, click here.

Shapiro Administration: Thousands Of Overdose Reversals Made As Result Of Pennsylvania’s Naloxone Program (March 6, 2023)

The Shapiro Administration is reminding Pennsylvanians about the multiple ways to access the life-saving opioid reversal medication, naloxone, as nearly 23,000 opioid overdose reversals have been made with naloxone purchased through one of the state’s programs since 2017.

“Anyone can save a life by administering naloxone to a person who is experiencing an opioid overdose,” said Acting Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen. “I encourage Pennsylvanians to obtain naloxone from a pharmacy, community give away event, or other sources – and learn how to give it. You never know when you could save the life of a stranger neighbor, friend, or family member.”   
Naloxone is a medication approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose by quickly restoring breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped.   

While naloxone can be administered by individuals with or without medical training to help reduce opioid overdose deaths, individuals are strongly encouraged to take this free training to better prepare themselves to assist someone in need. Completing this training and printing a certificate of completion will protect individuals administering naloxone as Good Samaritans.  

Pennsylvania residents as well as community organizations can obtain naloxone through a variety of low- or no-cost options.   

Naloxone for First Responders  
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) Naloxone for First Responders Program (NFRP) distributes free naloxone to organizations and individuals who may encounter someone experiencing an overdose.   
Through the NFRP since 2017, Centralized Coordinating Entities (CCEs) distributed 214,514 kits (429,028 doses) to organizations and individuals who may encounter someone experiencing an overdose and an additional 265,308 kits of naloxone directly to organizations serving high-need communities through its statewide portal.   
More than 22,815 overdose reversals have been reported using state-purchased NARCAN, a particular brand name of naloxone.   

Standing Order  
Pennsylvania residents can purchase or use their insurance to obtain naloxone at local pharmacies without a prescription from their physician by presenting a copy of the Department of Health’s standing order.    
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s PACE prescription assistance program is using its network of 2,800 retail and health system pharmacies to help with distribution. Anyone, regardless of insurance status, can receive $75 in financial assistance to purchase any naloxone medication authorized through the Department of Health’s standing order.      

Free by Mail  
Pennsylvania partners with Prevention Point Pittsburgh and NEXT Distro to support a statewide mail-based naloxone program for Pennsylvania residents to request and receive naloxone for free by mail.   
Learn more about the Shapiro Administration’s efforts in combating the overdose crisis at pa.gov/opioids.    

Gov. Shapiro Proposes $2,500 Tax Credit to Recruit New Teachers, Nurses, and Police Officers in PA  (March 5, 2023)

Governor Josh Shapiro has announced he will propose a three-year tax incentive of up to $2,500 a year for newly certified teachers, nurses, and police officers in his upcoming Budget Address. Governor Shapiro understands the critical workforce shortage the Commonwealth faces and is committed to taking action to support workers and businesses.

“I’ll be proposing a new $2,500 personal income tax credit to hire new cops, teachers, and new nurses every year for at least the next three years,” Governor Shapiro told KYW Newsradio and KDKA. “It’s going to help us put more teachers in the classroom, more nurses in the hospital, and more police officers and troopers in our communities.”

Earlier this week, Governor Shapiro also shared that his upcoming budget proposal will include a 50% increase for the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program and a 25% increase in funding for computer science and STEM education through Pennsylvania’s PA Smart Program.

According to Governor Shapiro, building an economy that works for everyone, ensuring that every Pennsylvania child receives a quality education, and making communities across the Commonwealth safer are his top priorities as reflected in his first Governor’s Budget Address on Tuesday, March 7th.

Click to access the PRESS RELEASE.

Gov. Shapiro Appoints Lt. Governor Austin Davis Chairman of the PCCD (March 4, 2023)

On February 28, 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro announced he is appointing Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The Shapiro-Davis Administration has made public safety a top priority, working to invest in the safety of our children, families, and neighbors.

Then-Montgomery County Commissioner Shapiro served as Chairman of the PCCD from 2015 to 2017 and served on the Commission from 2011 to 2017. Governor Shapiro believes that all Pennsylvanians, no matter their background, want and deserve a criminal justice system that keeps our communities safe and enforces the laws in a fair and consistent manner.

“I am proud to appoint Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis to lead the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency,” said Governor Shapiro. “For far too long, too many communities have been forgotten and left out of the conversation in Harrisburg. Every Pennsylvanian deserves to be safe and feel safe in their communities and together, Lieutenant Governor Davis and I will work to support the work of law enforcement, invest in our communities, promote anti-violence initiatives and youth programming, and pursue smart reforms to keep people safe across the Commonwealth.”

“A shooting in my neighborhood in McKeesport is what first spurred me to action and called me to public service, back when I was still in high school,” said Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis. “Now it’s 18 years later, and this work is more important than ever. As Lieutenant Governor, I will not allow politics to stand in the way of progress on this issue. Our children are counting on us to get this done. I’m honored that the Governor has put his trust in me to lead the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. We will bring together the top experts, use the latest research, and study best practices from across the country with the goal of preventing gun violence.”

As Chairman, Lieutenant Governor Davis will work to invest in services for Pennsylvania’s youth and violence prevention initiatives and will help drive investment into communities that have been left behind for far too long.

The PCCD serves as the justice planning and policymaking agency for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. By bringing together a wide range of experts in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice, victim services, and related professions, PCCD finds and implements violence prevention solutions. Click to view the PRESS RELEASE.

PA DHS Stands Ready To Help Pennsylvanians With Federal Changes To Medicaid Renewals (March 4, 2023)

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Acting Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh has affirmed in an op-ed that the Shapiro Administration is ready for the upcoming federal changes to Medicaid renewals that will take effect April 1, 2023. 

Medicaid recipients are required to renew their coverage every year in order to keep their coverage. Under federal rules during the pandemic, DHS still sent annual renewals to recipients but their health coverage did not change even if they became ineligible; this is known as continuous coverage.

A recent federal law has ended this temporary requirement that allowed coverage to continue. Starting on April 1, Medicaid recipients will need to, once again, begin completing annual renewals on-time to maintain their coverage. All Medicaid recipients will need to go through a renewal process around the time of their normal renewal date in the next 12 months to determine if they are still eligible for Medicaid. In some cases, DHS will use recent available case data to automatically complete the renewal. Those households will receive a letter affirming that their renewal is complete and they are eligible for another year of coverage. When that information is not available, DHS will send renewal information to ouseholds which must be completed and returned to DHS within a specified timeframe. 

Acting Secretary Arkoosh emphasized that, despite the April 1 effective date for the end of continuous coverage, no Pennsylvanian will automatically lose their health coverage without first having an opportunity to renew or update their case. She also called on Pennsylvanians to help DHS spread the word in their communities using resources like flyers, social media posts, and web graphics, that are available on the DHS website.

Read Acting Secretary Arkoosh’s op-ed by clicking Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. is ready to help with Medicaid changes. We need your help too.