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Authors Posts by Jack Phillips

Jack Phillips

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Mr. Phillips is responsible to assist the association with health policy, which primarily includes member communication and advocacy with the Governor’s office, General Assembly, and state regulatory agencies. Mr. Phillips was most recently at the Pennsylvania Department of State as Director of Legislative Affairs.

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Text of March 18 press release.

Harrisburg, PA — Health care professionals licensed under any of the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) licensing boards can provide services to patients via telemedicine during the coronavirus emergency.

“Telemedicine provides health care professionals flexibility to continue treating their patients while following best practices on social distancing as outlined by the Department of Health,” Secretary Boockvar said. “The department requested, and Governor Wolf granted us, the authority to allow health care professionals from out-of-state to treat Pennsylvania residents using telemedicine, when appropriate, due to COVID-19.”

This new guidance applies to the following boards:

o Chiropractic
o Dentistry
o Medicine
o Nursing
o Optometry
o Pharmacy
o Podiatry
o Psychology
o Osteopathic Medicine
o Nursing Home Administrators
o Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure
o Physical Therapy
o Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors
o Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
o Veterinary Medicine

Currently, no Pennsylvania law prohibits the practice of telemedicine.

Additionally, the department is working with the Governor’s office, the Department of Health, and Department of Human Services to identify regulations and requirements that can be suspended to give medical providers and facilities the flexibility they need to respond to the crisis. We will publish these notifications on our website as they become available.

Governor Wolf also granted the department’s request for a suspension to allow licensed practitioners in other states to provide services to Pennsylvanians via the use of telemedicine, without obtaining a Pennsylvania license, for the duration of the emergency. Out-of-state practitioners must:

o Be licensed and in good standing in their home state, territory, or country.

o Provide the Pennsylvania board from whom they would normally seek licensure with the following information prior to practicing telemedicine with Pennsylvanians:
• their full name, home or work mailing address, telephone number and email address; and
• their license type, license number or other identifying information that is unique to that practitioner’s license, and the state or other governmental body that issued the license.

Please submit the information requested above to the appropriate board resource account listed on the BPOA website.

All practitioners using telemedicine in Pennsylvania must remain informed on all federal and state laws, regulations and guidance regarding telemedicine, including a practitioner’s obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and recent guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Authorization to engage in telemedicine from a professional licensing standpoint is separate and apart from any insurance coverage/payment issues that fall under the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Insurance, or any other state or federal agency.

The Department of Human Services issued guidance for Behavioral Health Services Telemedicine here. The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs released Telehealth guidance for their programs and providers here.

Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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RCPA has been hearing from members regarding supplies they need to combat the COVID-19 epidemic. We have heard from members that they are running short on masks/respirators, hand sanitizers, gloves, etc. Regarding masks/respirators, RCPA understands there is a shortage of these items. Providers are in need of masks/respirators to take care of residents in group homes, inpatient facilities, etc. If a resident in one of these facilities is stricken with COVID-19, then staff will have to follow CDC protocol and be required to use masks/respirators. If providers do not have any to give to staff, then providers will have to transport the resident to the hospital. We understand hospitals would rather keep individuals in their current location.

In most instances, providers are working with their local hospitals to get masks/respirators, but there are limited quantities, if any. To try and combat this shortage, providers should contact their County Emergency Management office. RCPA understands that the mask/respirator issue is a major concern for providers and we are working with our state partners for assistance.

If providers are experiencing any other shortages such as medicine, food, or other supplies, please contact a member of the RCPA staff as soon as possible or as needs arise, so we can inform the applicable state agency. Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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RCPA was contacted by some of our Drug and Alcohol members asking about staffing ratios.  Specifically, the question asked was, will DDAP require providers to maintain inpatient ratios and outpatient group size limits? If so, providers believe treatment capacity may be severely limited.

RCPA reached out to DDAP leadership and asked if they will be providing a temporary waiver of staffing ratios to offset the likely loss of staff due to COVID-19 exposure. DDAP responded that this issue has been discussed in DDAP leadership meetings. Ultimately, DDAP has decided they will not be issuing blanket waivers for staffing ratios; however, they will consider waivers on a case by case basis.

Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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Text of March 13 press release.

HARRISBURG – The House is preparing to return for a historic session week on Monday, March 16. As a result of the Capitol complex being closed to visitors, several committee meetings, hearings and informational sessions have been postponed. Floor proceedings will go on as scheduled with an effort to work as expeditiously as possible to address key issues related to COVID-19. The session schedule could be shortened if legislation to address the virus is agreed upon. There will be no guests in the House chamber or in the gallery.

Legislation to be considered by the House is still being determined as leaders from the House, Senate and the Wolf administration collaborate on the best legislative course of action to assist in the continuing efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. Discussions are on-going and planned through the weekend to address possible funding, access to health care services, insurance and workplace protection reforms and the scope of a health emergency declaration.

The swearing-in ceremony for Roni Green, recently elected to represent the 190th Legislative District, will proceed as scheduled.

The public is encouraged to follow live web streams of House session and the majority of committee meetings at PAHouseGOP.com. Up to the minute changes to committee meetings and schedules is available at www.legis.state.pa.us. Important information and events may also be viewed by visiting Facebook.com/PAHouseGOP.

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Posted on Feb 12, 2020
Scarnati will retire from the Senate at the end of his term later this year

(HARRISBURG) – Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) today announced his retirement from the Pennsylvania Senate at the end of his 5th term in office.  Senator Scarnati represents the 25th Senatorial District, which includes Cameron, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties and portions of Clearfield County.

“Today I am announcing that I will not be seeking a 6th term as Senator for the 25th Senatorial District.  At the end of this year, I will have served the people of the 25th Senatorial District for 20 years.  With the support of my Senate colleagues, I have spent the last 14 of those years in the position of President Pro Tempore and served as Pennsylvania’s 31st Lieutenant Governor from 2008 to 2011. I have worked with five Governors and throughout this time I am proud to have been a leading advocate for rural Pennsylvania values.

“While I am greatly humbled by those who have once again supported my petition to have my name on the ballot, after many conversations with family and close supporters I have made a personal, and not political, decision that I will not be filing my petitions.  My concern with leaving office has always been in large part wanting to ensure the 25th Senatorial District is well represented after my departure from the Senate.

“I came to Harrisburg in 2001 as the first Senator elected as an independent. I was disappointed by the choices that our sitting Senator at the time had made, and could not support his candidacy. My independent streak never ended there in my tenure.  I have always believed that both sides of the aisle must work together on behalf of our constituents and compromise on issues without compromising on our values.  At the same time, I have always sought to protect working families and their hard earned tax dollars. Since the days of Governor Ed Rendell’s Administration, I have actively blocked the massive proposed tax hikes on workers and businesses as proposed by his Administration and others who have followed.

“I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished for the Commonwealth during my time in the Senate. We have overseen the largest Republican majority since Eisenhower was president (34-16). We have protected the unborn by supporting a strong pro-life agenda.  We have fought to safeguard our 2nd Amendment rights that the liberal left continues to attack. In 2012, we passed a landmark Marcellus Shale Impact Fee bill to ensure responsible drilling and investments in our local communities. We have prioritized job growth and creation across Pennsylvania. We have fought for historic levels of school safety funding – and will continue that fight.

“I thank my family for their unwavering support over the last two decades. Serving in public office is not something that you do alone. I am looking forward to traveling and spending more time with my wife Amy, our children and grandchild.  I also look forward to helping my parents who are both in their 80’s.

“Throughout my time in office, I am grateful to have been surrounded by friends and fellow senators whom I respect.  My success has been largely in part because of serving with incredible colleagues and working with a team of talented individuals who are not my staff, but my co-workers. It takes a strong team to serve constituents and to oversee operations of the Senate.

“I sincerely thank my constituents for the honor of representing them. While the announcement of my future departure comes today, I will still be actively engaged in serving my district and the Senate for the next nine months. I also look forward to continuing to lead the effort this year to maintain our Senate Republican Majority.  Following my departure from the Senate, I will be taking a more active role in my business and evaluating other opportunities.”

Questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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