COVID vaccine available to PAs not affiliated with health systems

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COVID-19 VACCINE OVERVIEW FOR PHASE 1A HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL NOT AFFILIATED WITH A HOSPITAL OR HEALTH SYSTEM

BACKGROUND

Getting Pennsylvanians immunized with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is an essential step in reducing the number of virus-related cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The Pennsylvania Department of Health (Department) guides the distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout 66 of the 67 counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia County receives independent federal funding and is establishing its own COVID-19  vaccination administration plan.

The Department’s goals are to prioritize persons, while the vaccine supply remains limited, who receive the vaccine to maximize benefits and minimize harms caused by the virus, promote justice, mitigate health inequities, and promote  transparency. In Phase 1A of the Department’s Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan, the Department needs providers enrolled to provide the COVID-19 vaccine, which are hospitals, health systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and pharmacies, to vaccinate healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system.

Interested healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system should follow the steps outlined in this document to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during Phase 1A.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL AND THEIR EMPLOYER

Enrolled hospitals, health systems, FQHCs and pharmacies have been directed in the Vaccination of Community Healthcare Personnel Order to designate at least 10 percent of each vaccine shipment for vaccination of Phase 1A healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system. Local county or municipal health departments (CMHDs) may also be offering vaccination clinics to only healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system.

  1. IDENTIFY WHICH TYPE OF ENROLLED COVID-19 VACCINE PROVIDER IS MOST APPROPRIATE
    To streamline the vaccination process and vaccinate all persons in Phase 1A as quickly as possible, healthcare personnel or their employer should identify, to the best of their ability, one enrolled COVID-19 vaccine provider that can accommodate their vaccination needs. Contacting more than one enrolled provider could cause delays in receiving the vaccine for all healthcare personnel in Phase 1A.
      • Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations identified in Phase 1A should work with the hospital with which they have a primary affiliation or to which they routinely transport patients.
      • All other healthcare personnel in Phase 1A not affiliated with a hospital or health system should work with an enrolled hospital, health system, FQHC or pharmacy in their jurisdiction.
  2. FIND A PARTICIPATING LOCATION
    A map of enrolled hospitals, health systems, FQHCs and pharmacies vaccinating healthcare personnel, including facility contact information, can be found on the Department’s website. Healthcare personnel should reach out to the listed contact information to schedule a vaccine appointment.
  3. CALL FOR PATIENCE AND PRIORTIZE STAFF
    The vaccination process must be orderly and not overwhelm the capacity of the facilities providing the vaccination  services. Vaccination of all Pennsylvanians, including those healthcare personnel in Phase 1A not affiliated with a  hospital or health system, depends on the vaccine supply. Initial supply of vaccine is expected to be limited in comparison to the demand and there will not immediately be enough vaccine to immunize everyone in Phase 1A. Estimates of the number of healthcare personnel in Pennsylvania approach 1 million individuals. Employers of healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system must prioritize staff to receive vaccine consistent with the Phase 1A sub-prioritization guidance found in Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan.
  4. SCHEDULE FULL VACCINE REGIMEN
    A vaccine provider shall provide the brand and date of the vaccination given to each individual vaccinated, along with the COVID-19 vaccine reminder card that provides a date for a return appointment for the second dose of vaccine. It is the responsibility of the healthcare personnel, not the vaccine provider, to maintain the scheduled appointment for the second dose, with the vaccine provider. Both the Moderna and the Pfizer BioNTech vaccines require two doses: a  priming dose, followed by a booster shot. The interval between Moderna doses is 28 days; for the Pfizer vaccine, the interval is 21 days.
  5. PROVIDE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION
    Healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system must provide proof of occupation to receive a vaccine. This could include a state license or certification, letter from the employer on organization letterhead, facility identification/security badge, group listing on employer letterhead, or other proof of occupation. Although vaccination information will be reported to the Department by vaccine providers, all healthcare personnel or their employers are requested to track vaccine participation and keep records of those who accept and those who decline vaccination.


RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Pennsylvania COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan can be found on the Department’s website.
More information on COVID-19 can be found on the Department’s website: www.health.pa.gov

Coronavirus Relief & Omnibus Agreement Authorizes PAs to Receive Direct Payment Under Medicare

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AAPA’s Top Federal Priority Secured in Bipartisan Agreement

December 22, 2020

AAPA commends Congress for passing legislation authorizing PAs to receive direct payment under Medicare as part of the Coronavirus Relief & Omnibus Agreement, which is expected to be signed into law by the president soon.

The PA Direct Payment Act (S.596/H.R. 1052) was included in the omnibus, along with a number of additional changes related to the Medicare program, and will take effect January 1, 2022.

Enactment of the PA Direct Payment Act will place PAs on equal footing with other Medicare providers who can be directly paid for services provided to Medicare patients. Current Medicare policy requires that the employer of a PA be paid for services provided to Medicare patients. However, other health professionals – physicians, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), physical therapists, psychologists, podiatrists, social workers, and others – are permitted to receive direct payment under their own name and National Provider Identifier number.

“The difficulties PAs face as a result of this outdated policy have never been more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said AAPA President and Chair of the Board Beth R. Smolko, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, DFAAPA. “AAPA leadership and advocacy staff have worked tirelessly to make the case to Congress that it was necessary to pass this legislation in order to modernize Medicare and fully utilize the PA workforce when our nation is confronting the pandemic. By including this bill in the omnibus, Congress has demonstrated its commitment to improving access to quality healthcare services provided by PAs. AAPA extends our gratitude to Congress for working to get a bipartisan agreement across the finish line that includes many updates to Medicare policy as well as providing much-needed support to American families and businesses.”

Advocating for passage of the PA Direct Payment Act has been a top priority for AAPA and PA advocates this Congress. Direct payment for PAs is one of the three important legislative pillars of Optimal Team Practice and has been a legislative goal for the organization since 2017. AAPA applauds the primary sponsors of the bill, Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tom Carper (D-DE) in the Senate and U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) in the House of Representatives, for shepherding this bill through Congress.

Authorizing PAs to be paid directly by Medicare will ensure they can reassign their payments in a manner similar to physicians and APRNs. It will also ensure PAs who own their own practice in accordance with state law will be able to receive direct pay from the Medicare program. The inability to be paid directly hinders PAs from fully participating in the increasing number of emerging models of healthcare delivery. For example, the restriction often impedes PAs from obtaining employment with healthcare staffing companies or group practices used by hospitals to deliver care because PAs cannot reassign their Medicare payments to the hospital.

The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the urgent need for the PA Direct Payment Act to become law by bringing to light many of the obstacles faced by PAs as a result of this outdated policy. This is especially the case in rural areas, where Medicare allows PA-owned rural health clinics (RHCs) to receive Medicare payments in some instances. These PA-owned RHCs are only permitted to receive Medicare payment for bundled RHC primary care services. PA-owned RHCs are required to bear the costs of services not included in the bundled payment. For instance, COVID-19 and flu testing, as well as other laboratory services, are not included in the payment bundle for RHC primary care services.

Another key update to Medicare policy included in the omnibus authorizes PAs in RHCs and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to furnish and bill for hospice “attending physician” services when RHC and FQHC patients become terminally ill and elect the hospice benefit.

Pennsylvania Cuts Red Tape Again To Help Health Care Professionals Fight COVID-19

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Extends License Renewal Deadline For State Board Of Medicine, Reactivations For Retirees And Temporary Practice Permits For Out-Of-State Healthcare Professionals

12/22/2020

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania today announced that it will extend the license renewal deadline for healthcare professionals licensed under the State Board of Medicine, will extend emergency temporary licenses granted to licensed practitioners in other states and jurisdictions and will extend reactivated licenses for retired and inactive Pennsylvania-licensed practitioners.

“As COVID-19 cases increase across Pennsylvania, we must make sure that as many healthcare professionals as possible are able to serve patients,” said Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar. “The Department of State’s goal since the beginning of the emergency disaster declaration is to remove unnecessary administrative barriers for our licensed professionals so they can continue to practice during the pandemic.”

The following license renewal deadlines have been extended:

  • The renewal deadline for licensees under the State Board of Medicine is extended by 90 days, to March 31, 2021. Licenses will remain in “active” status on the Department’s website until March 31, 2021.
  • The renewal deadline for emergency temporary licenses has been extended to June 30, 2021.
  • Previous license reactivation waivers have been extended to allow retired/inactive Pennsylvania practitioners who have reactivated, or wish to reactivate, their Board of Medicine license to assist in the pandemic.
    • If those practitioners who have reactivated licenses are unable to meet the renewal requirements prior to the December 31 deadline, they may still continue to practice after December 31, 2020, and will have until June 30, 2021, to meet the renewal requirements, including the accumulation of sufficient continuing education credits.

Additional information for practitioners regarding these extensions can be found on the Department of State’s website.

A complete list of COVID-19-related guidance for licensed professionals is also available from the Department of State.