Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam provided an update today on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania and the many challenges that are ahead because of limited supply of doses from the federal government. They were joined at a press conference by Interim Acting Physician General Dr. Wendy Braund and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield.

“Pennsylvania has not received enough doses to vaccinate the number of Pennsylvanians who need it, and that’s frustrating to all of us,” said Gov. Wolf. “The Trump Administration asked states to give more doses to more people, but the national stockpile was depleted.

“It is incredibly disappointing that the national vaccine supply is extremely limited, because states rely on the federal government to get the vaccine. My administration is fighting to make sure Pennsylvania gets our fair share of doses. Our goal remains to ensure every Pennsylvanian who wants a vaccine can get one.”

Following the poorly planned and executed rollout of the vaccine by the Trump Administration, the Wolf Administration is hopeful the new Biden Administration will provide a fair and effective national vaccine distribution strategy. The commonwealth remains focused on working with the federal government to receive more doses and get them into arms as soon as possible.

“We know that Pennsylvanians are ready for the vaccine,” said Acting Secretary Beam. “We ask for patience as the amount of the vaccine in Pennsylvania and the nation is limited. We want to ensure that the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient, which is why we are taking a phased approach. This way we can make sure the most vulnerable residents can get vaccinated now.”

Vaccine providers have administered vaccine to a total of 605,633 people, including 473,449 people who have received their first dose and 132,184 who have received two doses and are considered fully vaccinated. Pennsylvania will receive 143,275 first doses of vaccine and 137,625 second doses of vaccine this week, bringing the total doses the commonwealth has received to more than 1.5 million total doses of vaccine.

Federal institutions and Philadelphia are receiving and administrating their own doses, which are not included in the state’s totals.

Information on the vaccine, including the state’s vaccine plan, COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, a vaccine provider map and vaccine distribution data can be found here.

“I have been impressed to see so many Pennsylvanians willing to make the sacrifices necessary to help each other get through the pandemic,” said Acting Interim Physician General Dr. Wendy Braund. “With the vaccine rollout happening across the state we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I want to specifically thank all of the local vaccine providers who are working hard to get the vaccine into arms as quickly as it is available.”

PEMA is working with the Department of Health and county emergency management partners to ensure that county plans will be ready to execute as vaccines become more readily available. With a state as diverse as Pennsylvania, needs for planning or vaccine event support vary widely across the state.

“Like many people, we look forward to the day that we have sufficient COVID vaccine doses for everyone who wants one,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “When that day comes, PEMA and our federal and county partners will be ready to open vaccination clinics that meet the needs of the diverse communities across the state.”

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam provided an update today on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania and the many challenges that are ahead because of limited supply of doses from the federal government. They were joined at a press conference by Interim Acting Physician General Dr. Wendy Braund and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield.

“Pennsylvania has not received enough doses to vaccinate the number of Pennsylvanians who need it, and that’s frustrating to all of us,” said Gov. Wolf. “The Trump Administration asked states to give more doses to more people, but the national stockpile was depleted.

“It is incredibly disappointing that the national vaccine supply is extremely limited, because states rely on the federal government to get the vaccine. My administration is fighting to make sure Pennsylvania gets our fair share of doses. Our goal remains to ensure every Pennsylvanian who wants a vaccine can get one.”

Following the poorly planned and executed rollout of the vaccine by the Trump Administration, the Wolf Administration is hopeful the new Biden Administration will provide a fair and effective national vaccine distribution strategy. The commonwealth remains focused on working with the federal government to receive more doses and get them into arms as soon as possible.

“We know that Pennsylvanians are ready for the vaccine,” said Acting Secretary Beam. “We ask for patience as the amount of the vaccine in Pennsylvania and the nation is limited. We want to ensure that the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient, which is why we are taking a phased approach. This way we can make sure the most vulnerable residents can get vaccinated now.”

Vaccine providers have administered vaccine to a total of 605,633 people, including 473,449 people who have received their first dose and 132,184 who have received two doses and are considered fully vaccinated. Pennsylvania will receive 143,275 first doses of vaccine and 137,625 second doses of vaccine this week, bringing the total doses the commonwealth has received to more than 1.5 million total doses of vaccine.

Federal institutions and Philadelphia are receiving and administrating their own doses, which are not included in the state’s totals.

Information on the vaccine, including the state’s vaccine plan, COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, a vaccine provider map and vaccine distribution data can be found here.

“I have been impressed to see so many Pennsylvanians willing to make the sacrifices necessary to help each other get through the pandemic,” said Acting Interim Physician General Dr. Wendy Braund. “With the vaccine rollout happening across the state we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I want to specifically thank all of the local vaccine providers who are working hard to get the vaccine into arms as quickly as it is available.”

PEMA is working with the Department of Health and county emergency management partners to ensure that county plans will be ready to execute as vaccines become more readily available. With a state as diverse as Pennsylvania, needs for planning or vaccine event support vary widely across the state.

“Like many people, we look forward to the day that we have sufficient COVID vaccine doses for everyone who wants one,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “When that day comes, PEMA and our federal and county partners will be ready to open vaccination clinics that meet the needs of the diverse communities across the state.”

Important PEUC program extension information for claimants follows.

1. You can file for the additional 11 claim weeks during your biweekly cycle beginning Saturday, January 24.
2. If you had some of your original 13 weeks left over on December 26, you will also receive the additional 11 weeks on Sunday.
3. If you were being paid on the Pennsylvania’s Extended Benefits (EB) program before December 26, 2020, you MUST complete your EB benefits before the additional 11 weeks of PEUC can be added to your claim.
4. You will automatically receive the extra $300 weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) – you do not need to take any action to get this boost.

PEUC provides additional claim weeks to workers who have exhausted their regular Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits. Claimants are automatically enrolled in PEUC after they have reached their maximum claim weeks for UC. More information about the program is available here.

Yesterday, L&I announced it was issuing extended Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, benefit payments.

Claimants who have questions about their enrollment in the CARES Act extension programs or who have issues with their claims should send an email to UC staff and include their first and last name as it appears on the claim and the last four digits of their Social Security number.

1. PEUC or FPUC questions should be emailed to uchelp@pa.gov
2. PUA questions should be emailed to ucpua@pa.gov

L&I Resources and Links for Claimants

For information on unemployment programs, visit uc.pa.gov or follow L&I on Facebook or Twitter. Click here for the latest L&I news.

(Photo Courtesy of AHN)

Pittsburgh, Pa – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has awarded Allegheny Health Network (AHN) a $350,000 contract to further evaluate and assess the use of reusable elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMR) in the healthcare field and their sustainability during global public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Led by AHN chief medical operations officer, Sricharan Chalikonda, MD, the project titled “Best Practices and Preferred Uses of Reusable Elastomeric Half Mask Respirators  in Healthcare,” will formally survey clinical populations at AHN, evaluate and aggregate that data to propose respective guidelines for putting EHMR into practice during times of global PPE shortages.

As the national supply of N95 respirators dwindled during the early stages of the COVID19 pandemic, AHN was one of the first health systems in the country to pilot the use of EHMRs by frontline caregivers. The Network partnered with Pittsburgh-based MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) to secure the respirators for its caregivers.  EHMRs are often used in the construction industry and closely resemble gas masks that cover both the nose and mouth. They feature P-100 rated cartridge filters, meaning they filter out at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles.

“The MSA Advantage® 200LS EHMRs with P100 filters fit roughly 94 percent of the 2,000 clinicians who received them, and of that population, not one caregiver chose to return to using disposable N95s. They are extremely cost-effective, able to withstand rigorous cleanings and overall have been very well-received,” said Dr. Chalikonda, principal investigator of the CDC/NIOSH funded project.

AHN published its initial observations and findings about the use of the MSA EHMRs in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons in June. The authors of the study, led by Dr. Chalikonda, stated that these long-lasting respirators cost at least 10 times less per month than disinfecting and reusing N95s intended for single-use.

The current AHN research initiative will be conducted through NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Lab (NPPTL), based in Pittsburgh, which is the lead federal laboratory responsible for approving all respirators used in workplaces across the country and conducting research and evaluations of PPE such as respirators, gloves, surgical gowns and more. AHN hopes its findings will further educate industry peers about the efficacy of EHMRs with P100 filters in the setting of a pandemic and establish industry implementation guidelines.

“Since we’re one of the first early-adopters of reusable EHMRs, we have a unique opportunity to serve as a model for the industry, by engaging with our clinicians and leveraging their feedback and experiences to further develop effective PPE strategies,” continued Dr. Chalikonda. “To that end, we’ve designed a comprehensive survey and intend to collect responses from up to 1,000 frontline employees who used the masks during the initial pilot phase.”

A sampling of survey topics include mask discomfort, communication challenges, training, disinfecting methods and ease of frequent use, among others.

In addition to Dr. Chalikonda, other AHN leaders participating in the study include Hope Waltenbaugh, vice president of surgical services; Sara Angelilli, director, perioperative education; Meghan Napoli, quality process engineer; and Brian Blend, project manager.

“We’re beyond grateful to the CDC’s NIOSH organizations for recognizing the ingenuity of the clinical teams across Allegheny Health Network,” said Dr. Chalikonda. “We’re confident that our experience can ultimately help guide other health institutions on establishing effective PPE strategies that enable them to maximize the safety of their caregivers and patients.

(Harrisburg, Pa.) The Pennsylvania Department of Health has made a very controversial move in updating those who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine in Phase 1A in the state.
Smokers are now among a new group of Pennsylvanians that are eligible to move to the front of the line to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The department said in a press release that “Pennsylvania has chosen to follow the CDC’s recommendations and include smoking among the list of medical conditions putting individuals at greater risk.”

Officials point to public health experts who agree that smoking is associated with the increased severity of disease and death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Wolf Administration Reminds Older Adults of Their Rights Regarding Federal Stimulus Checks 

Harrisburg, PA – As Pennsylvanians receive a second round of federal stimulus payments as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, the Pennsylvania departments of Aging, Human Services (DHS) and Insurance are again reminding consumers living in long-term care facilities that these checks belong to them, not the facilities where they live.

“When the first round of federal stimulus checks went out last spring, we received complaints that involved residents of long-term care facilities being told that their federal stimulus checks count as income that must be surrendered, in part or in whole, to pay for services. What we said then, we repeat now: Residents should know that this is not true,” said Pennsylvania State Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman Margaret Barajas of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. “These stimulus payments are issued with the general expectation that long-term care residents – like all citizens receiving checks – will make their own choices about how to spend their money. I, as the State Ombudsman, am committed to advocating for and resolving these issues for older adults, case-by-case.”

DHS has issued guidance for how economic impact payments affect the eligibility of those receiving long-term care for Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program, Medical Assistance (MA). This guidance directs that the economic payment is not considered income for the purposes of MA eligibility. The portion of the economic impact payments that are spent within 12 months of receipt is also considered an excluded resource for MA eligibility. DHS also issued guidance on economic impact payments for personal care homes and assisted living residences.  There should be no change to a resident’s monthly charges in their contract due to this payment. Residents may direct their concerns or complaints to the DHS Complaint Hotline at 877-401-8835.

“We want to assure residents of these facilities that these stimulus payments are theirs – it is not meant to be a rent rebate,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller. “No one should worry that accepting this payment will affect their ability to keep Medicaid eligibility or their housing. The Department of Aging and DHS are working closely together to make sure that people who live in long-term care facilities are aware of their rights to this economic payment. Any resident of a facility who is concerned that their payment is in jeopardy should reach out to the Pennsylvania State Long-Term Care Ombudsman right away.”

“The Insurance Department has remained dedicated to ensuring Pennsylvania residents are clear that neither Medicaid, nor the facility in which a Medicaid beneficiary resides, has rights to an individual’s stimulus check,” said Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman. “Stimulus checks are tax credits and the Federal Trade Commission has continued to make this clear since last Spring. The payments are not ‘resources’ for purposes of qualifying for federal benefit programs and may not be taken from residents.”

“One of our key responsibilities at the Department of Aging is to advocate on behalf of older adults,” said Aging Secretary Robert Torres. “Part of that involves making sure older adults, whatever their living situation, know their rights and where they can turn to for help and information. The federal government has made it clear that these stimulus payments should go directly to the individual whose name is on the check. If an older adult or their loved one has questions or concerns, they should seek help.”

Consumers with concerns should call the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office at 800-441-2555. But if they need some extra help preparing to make their complaint, the Department of Aging’s LTC State Ombudsman is happy to offer support. The number to call for help is 717-783-8975.

Sec. Torres also noted that consumers may receive the Economic Impact Payment by prepaid debit card, instead of by paper check. These cards arrive in a plain white envelope. EIP Card recipients can make purchases, get cash from in-network ATMs, and transfer funds to their personal bank account without incurring any fees. The EIP Card can be used online, at ATMs, or at any retail location where Visa is accepted. Some people who received a paper check last time might receive a prepaid debit card this time, and some people who received a prepaid debit card last time may receive a paper check. To learn more about stimulus payment eligibility or check on the status of a payment, visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus.

HARRISBURG—Attorney General Josh Shapiro is today alerting consumers that certain Pennsylvanians may experience delays in receiving their federal stimulus checks.

“As federal stimulus checks are being distributed to Pennsylvanians, there may be some delays,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “If you’re eligible for a stimulus check and haven’t received one, you can call the IRS or visit their website to file a complaint.”

Tax preparation companies, like H&R Block and Intuit, use temporary bank accounts when they assist with filing tax returns. Unfortunately, the IRS used that information to issue stimulus checks, and therefore, some of the checks have been held up.

Pennsylvanians who are affected by this issue and have not yet received their stimulus checks should expect to receive them after February 1, when the IRS issues a second round of payments through mailed checks.

If you qualify, and have not yet received your stimulus check, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-919-9835 or go to www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today announced the opportunity for one-time, $600 grants for child care workers across Pennsylvania. The funds are available to child care providers licensed by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) through federal Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) quality dollars and remaining funding previously made available through federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated for child care providers.

“A healthy, vibrant child care industry is a cornerstone of a healthy economy. As with many other sectors of our economy, Pennsylvania’s child care providers have been greatly challenged by this pandemic,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “For nearly a year, child care professionals have continued to work through a challenging environment, providing a safe and caring setting for our youngest Pennsylvanians as their parents go to work performing essential work through a tumultuous period. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment to our children and families and their resilience through this time.”

This award is available to all licensed child care providers that are currently open and operating regardless of Keystone STARS level and will be administered through local Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) on behalf of OCDEL and will replace the quality Keystone STARS Education and Retention Award (ERA) for state fiscal year 2020-2021, and provide approximately 33,000 child care employees across the commonwealth the one-time $600 award. The previous ERA provided payments to approximately 9,000 child care employees, so this restructuring will significantly expand this reach during a time of great need.

“Child care workers shape and care for our youngest minds during some of their most formative years, and a safe, loving child care center can be an extension of family for parents and children who rely on their work,” said Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller. “I am incredibly grateful that we are able to reallocate this federal funding to support the child care workforce, and I urge all providers to apply for this opportunity on behalf of their staff.

Eligible employees include child care workers who:

1. Are employed by a licensed child care provider as of January 1, 2021;
2. Earn less than or equal to a gross salary of $70,000, annually; and,
3. Work a minimum of 20 hours per week at a licensed child care provider.

Child care providers that are currently licensed and certified through OCDEL can begin to apply on behalf of their eligible employees. All applications must be sent to the provider’s ELRC and received by February 12, 2021. The COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Award will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding will be distributed regionally and be limited, so applicants are encouraged to apply sooner rather than later.

In addition to repurposing these existing funds, approximately $220 million in CARES funding has been allocated to support child care providers across Pennsylvania since the COVID-19 crisis began in Pennsylvania to support this critical educational and economic infrastructure for children and families across the commonwealth. The distribution method of CARES funding was based in part on the findings of researchers at Penn State Harrisburg’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs, who studied the impact of COVID-19 on Pennsylvania’s child care industry.

On December 27, 2020, an additional $10 billion dollars was allocated by the federal government to support child care. States should receive their share of the additional funds made available in the coming weeks.

For more information on child care providers operating during the COVID-19 public health crisis, visit www.dhs.pa.gov.