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Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) is operating a Health Care Rationing Hotline during the pandemic. Individuals with disabilities, or family members or caregivers of individuals with disabilities, who experience discrimination in health care rationing, who are denied effective communication at the hospital, or who are prohibited from bringing a needed family member or staff with them in the hospital should contact DRP at 800-692-7443, ext. 402.

Please share this hotline widely. This is a 24/7 hotline answered by a disability rights attorney. This should be shared with anyone who might have the need to take a person with a disability to the hospital.

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PA Dept of Banking and Securities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2020

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) is providing recommendations for Pennsylvanians receiving their stimulus checks, known as an economic impact payment, in paper check form instead of direct deposit. The payments are part of the federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). The department also is reminding licensees of limitations on fees for cashing government checks.

“It is important consumers understand check cashing fees so they keep as much of their money as possible,” said Acting Secretary Richard Vague. “We will be ensuring that check casher licensees are complying with statutory provisions related to fees on government checks during ongoing examinations.”

Economic impact payments are specifically defined as a “Government Check” in the law that regulates check cashers in Pennsylvania. For any consumer that uses a licensed check casher or a registered retail check casher (e.g. grocery store) to cash this check, a maximum fee of 1.5 percent of the value of the check may be assessed. For example, on a $1,200 check, the maximum allowed fee is $18. A consumer would receive cash in the amount of $1,182.

To be sure that the establishment is properly licensed or registered consumers can search on the NMLS Consumer Access website or call 1-800-PA-BANKS.

If an establishment cashes your Government Check and charges more than 1.5 percent, please contact DoBS immediately by calling 1-800-PA-BANKS or visiting the website at dobs.pa.gov. It is important that you retain records of the transaction including a receipt.

“Consumers should remain vigilant about various coronavirus scams,” said Vague. “No government official will call you to confirm bank account information or your Social Security number. Never give out personal information if you did not initiate the phone call.”

For more detailed information related to financial scams and tips for protecting yourself, DoBS has developed a financial scams guide.

Learn more about COVID-19 information and guidance for financial Institutions and consumers from DoBS. Anyone can contact DoBS at 1-800-PA-BANKS or 1-800-600-0007 to ask questions or file complaints about financial transactions, companies, or products.

Visit the commonwealth’s Responding to COVID-19 guide for the latest guidance and resources for Pennsylvanians or the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s dedicated coronavirus webpage for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.

MEDIA CONTACT: Virginia Lucy, 717-214-6036, RA-BNDOBSCOMM@pa.gov

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PA Pursue Your Happiness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2020

Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s (DCED) Tourism Office encouraged Pennsylvanians to support local restaurants by visiting the CarryoutPA website, which offers a comprehensive list of restaurants offering takeout, curbside, or delivery services during the state’s stay-at-home order.

“As this public health crisis continues to unfold, it is important that we practice social distancing and adhere to the stay-at-home order when possible,” said DCED Secretary Dennis Davin. “But it’s also critical to remember that we can all still do our part to support the restaurants in our communities as they work to provide safe dine-out options.”

CarryoutPA.com was developed by the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA) to serve as a go-to resource for dine-out options in support of the commonwealth’s restaurant industry, which accounts for 10 percent of jobs statewide. Pennsylvania restaurants that would like to be added to the registry can register here.

“Restaurants in Pennsylvania and the nation have been hit hard by the mandated closure of dine-in service due to COVID-19. As the statewide organization for the commonwealth’s restaurant industry, PRLA moved quickly to establish a website for restaurants to let the public know that they were open and ready to serve their communities,” said John Longstreet, PRLA president & CEO. “Any restaurant in Pennsylvania that is open for take out and delivery may add their listing to CarryOutPA.com, at no charge.”

According to the association, 4 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product is spent on eating out, with the restaurant industry generating around $863 billion in 2019. More than 70 percent of restaurants are single-unit operations, many of which are family owned.

“Small business is the backbone of Pennsylvania’s tourism industry, and we are committed to supporting our commonwealth’s business owners as we work through these unprecedented times together,” said DCED Deputy Secretary for Marketing, Tourism, and Film, Carrie Fischer Lepore. “By visiting the CarryoutPA website, Pennsylvanians can treat themselves to a safely-prepared dine-out meal while helping their community on the road to recovery from this pandemic.”

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, Pennsylvanians should visit: Responding to COVID-19 Guide.

The Pennsylvania Tourism Office, under the Department of Community and Economic Development, is dedicated to inspiring travel to Pennsylvania as the state’s official destination marketing organization. Pennsylvania welcomed 204 million visitors in 2019, generating a $43 billion economic impact which supports 500,000 jobs. For more information, visit the visitPA website or sign up for our Happy Thoughts newsletter, become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check out photos on Instagram, share pins on Pinterest, or watch us on Youtube.

MEDIA CONTACT: Casey Smith, casesmith@pa.gov

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Are you or someone you support struggling with getting a good night’s sleep? Whether this is a new issue arising during COVID-19 or an ongoing issue, it is more important than ever to focus on proper sleep hygiene. Sleep is an essential human process that effects our physical and mental health. This includes being critical to the optimal functioning of the immune system, mental health, and cognitive function.

Aid in PA has released an information rich webinar on Sleep Hygiene. The 12-minute presentation covers the basics of Sleep Hygiene and Restorative Sleep and includes several great resources, including this informative piece on Sleep Hygiene and Disabilities. First and foremost, assist supporters and individuals in identifying if there is a sleep issue, and the potential culprit or reason. If there is an issue, work with them to try some of the suggested strategies listed.

Are there other strategies or recommendations that have been effective for the participants you support? If so, let us know! Please send any suggestions or questions related to this email or requests for additional resources via email.

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Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new recommendations that are targeted specifically to communities that are in Phase 1 of the Guidelines for President Trump’s Opening Up America Again with low and stable incidence of COVID-19 cases. These guidelines recommend a gradual transition and encourage health care providers to coordinate with local and state public health officials, as well as reviewing the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), workforce availability, facility readiness, and testing capability to factor into the decision making process to re-start or increase in-person care.

These recommendations update earlier guidance that was issued by CMS on limiting non-essential surgeries and medical procedures. Health care facilities and providers that are in areas still seeing higher numbers of COVID-19 cases are encouraged to continue following the recommendations made by CMS last month. These were issued to expand capacity to care for patients with COVID-19, to reduce the risks of transmission and exposure to patients, and to conserve adequate supplies (especially PPE) and manpower, during the public health emergency.

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