Pennie has just updated the Path to Pennie page and the Pennie Assister Resource page to add two new documents: Workaround for Path to Pennie Stakeholder Talking Points and Path-to-Pennie Customer Experience Job Aid. The Workaround for Path to Pennie Stakeholder Talking Points provides the steps for tax filers who used a known tax software program that did not provide the REV-1882 form and are uninsured to still be eligible for the Tax Filer Special Enrollment Period to enroll for coverage. The Path-to-Pennie Customer Experience Job Aid includes an example of the email the tax filer who is eligible for the Path to Pennie special enrollment period (SEP) will receive beginning Wednesday, April 6 telling them they will be receiving information via US mail because they submitted the REV-1182. Customers will receive a letter in the mail that will provide them with a unique access code. The document provides detailed instructions on how they go about accessing their Pennie account using this unique access code.

As Pennsylvania prepares for the eventual end of the federal public health emergency, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is strongly encouraging Pennsylvanians enrolled in Medical Assistance to make sure their contact information is correct and sign up for alerts through the myCOMPASS PA mobile app and by text to ensure they are getting updates about their cases quickly. Changes can be made on COMPASS, the state’s website to apply for and manage benefit information. On the COMPASS website consumers can also update their information for any of the following:

• Changes to the number of people living in the household
• Changes to the email address
• Changes to the phone number
• Changes to the mailing address

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ (DHS) seven program offices administer services that provide care and support to Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable individuals and families. The program offices are Administration, Child Development and Early Learning, Children, Youth and Families, Developmental Programs, Income Maintenance (IM), Long Term Living, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and the Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP). OMAP and IM work in tandem to oversee and provide healthcare coverage for eligible consumers. Enrollment assisters have access to the Medical Assistance Eligibility Handbook to review enrollment requirements, program descriptions, and consumer rights and responsibilities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Tuesday that it is considering a large-scale “transformation,” and that as a first step, HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care Associate Administrator Jim Macrae will lead a one-month effort to “kick off an evaluation of CDC’s structure, systems, and processes.” The CDC’s efforts are largely in response to widespread criticism about its performance as the lead national agency in the COVID-19 response. Jim’s one-month effort is scheduled to begin on April 11, and he will be supported by three senior CDC officials. It is expected that Tonya Bowers will fill in for Jim during his brief absence.

On Monday, April 4, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced there was a bi-partisan agreement on legislation to fund a $10 billion package for coronavirus relief. The agreement includes $9.25 billion for therapeutics, testing, and vaccines and $750 million to research future variants. The legislation is fully offset by unspent funds from previously passed COVID-19 funding packages. Senator Schumer and House Leadership aimed to pass the legislation this week, but the bill stalled in the Senate because of a partisan fight over whether to allow a vote on an amendment to reinstate the Title 42 restrictions that had been used to deny migrants’ asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border. Congress is now in recess.

On April 5, President Biden signed an Executive Order to strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by fixing the “Family Glitch” which made health coverage unaffordable for thousands of families. Under the current rules, employer-based coverage was seen as affordable if the coverage was for the employee only, and not for family members. If affordable for the employee, families were ineligible for tax credits even though they may need them to afford marketplace coverage. Coverage for family members of the employee was often very expensive and caused many to go without coverage. The “Family Glitch” affects more than 5 million people and has shut consumers out of affordable coverage and tax credits. This Executive Order proposes to eliminate the “Family Glitch” and will allow families to access tax credits on the marketplace. If made final, the rule would take effect in 2023.

The Pennsylvania A Department of Human Services (DHS) visited Scranton Primary Health Care Center this week to celebrate Pennsylvania’s extension of postpartum coverage for mothers and birthing people eligible for Medicaid because of their pregnancy to one year after giving birth. The change, effective April 1, 2022, was made possible to states as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Typically, Medicaid (Medical Assistance in Pennsylvania) coverage for people eligible due to their pregnancy ended 60 days after giving birth. Expanding postpartum coverage for mothers covered through Medicaid will provide continuity in health care by allowing mothers to maintain relationships with and access to care providers undisrupted through a critical period in the mother’s life Read more.

April is National Donate Life Month, and HRSA is celebrating how sweet life is when someone who needs an organ transplant finds a match. Help celebrate and honor the generosity of organ, eye, and tissue donors, donor families, as well as the lives saved through donation. This year’s theme is “Bee a Donor!” and HRSA encourages health centers to help create a buzz and to “bee” part of this life-saving community. Thank you for all you do to promote organ donation and encourage more donor registrations!