Pittsburgh, PA (July 2, 2020) – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) today announced that John S. Lee, MD, has been appointed as the organization’s new Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO), effective immediately.  Dr. Lee succeeds Robert White, MD, who announced his plans for retirement earlier this year.  Dr. White will stay with AHN through the end of the year to help support a seamless transition.

Dr. Lee joins AHN from Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare, based in Naperville, Ill., where he has served as CMIO since 2016.  At AHN, Dr. Lee will assume oversight of the network’s electronic health record integration and optimization as well as direct all strategies and technological solutions related to the convergence and utilization of telemedicine, population health management and health care analytics.  In this capacity, he’ll work closely with network and Highmark Health clinical and executive leaders in assessing, designing and implementing clinical support systems that maximize quality, safety, patient engagement, and process improvement.

In 2019, all eight of AHN’s acute care hospitals were recognized as Most Wired® providers by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME).  Most Wired® is the industry-leading survey and recognition relative to IT implementation, integration and innovation in health systems across the country.   AHN is one of the nation’s largest health system’s with a singular electronic health record (Epic) that integrates all affiliated sites of care, including now 12 hospitals, five large Health + Wellness Pavilions and other outpatient care facilities, and hundreds of physician practices.

In addition to implementing systems such as Epic, Most Wired® designated organizations are those that have deployed technologies and strategies such as population health and cost-of-care analytics, telehealth, and patient portals, to expand access to care and improve clinical and efficiency outcomes.

“Information technology has been the foundation of our success in building a transformative, physician-led and patient-centered model of care for our region,’ said Cynthia Hundorfean, AHN president.  “It takes exceptional talent and visionary leadership to sustain and continuously advance the IT systems we deploy, and we could not have found a more accomplished and qualified physician executive to take those reigns for our organization than Dr. Lee.”

An undergraduate of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Lee earned his medical degree from the Loyola University of Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine, and completed residencies at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. His professional affiliations include fellowship in the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

Last year, Dr. Lee was named the Physician Executive Leader of the Year by both HIMSS and the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems (AMDIS).

“AHN’s commitment to investing in a robust, leading-edge IT strategy and system that drives better healthcare value, outcomes and experiences for patients has been extraordinary,” said Dr. Lee. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help build upon the program’s success and to shape its future course as part of a blended health and wellness enterprise.”

State Assistance Available When Federal $600 Weekly Unemployment Benefit Ends July 25

Harrisburg, PA – The Departments of Labor & Industry (L&I) and Human Services (DHS) are reminding Pennsylvanians that state assistance is available when the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, which provides an extra $600 per week to everyone receiving unemployment benefit payments, ends July 25, 2020.
Under federal guidelines, the week ending Saturday, July 25, 2020, will be the final claim week for the additional $600 payments. Eligible claimants who are waiting on FPUC payments for any claim weeks from April 4 through July 25 will receive those payments.

“Unemployment benefits have been a lifeline to many Pennsylvanians out of work because of COVID-19,” said L&I Secretary Jerry Oleksiak. “L&I paid more than $10 billion to Pennsylvanians through the FPUC program during a time of great need. It’s important for those individuals to know that help is available from the commonwealth both now and after the federal program ends.”

DHS’ programs are designed to help Pennsylvanians who have lost income or employment meet basic needs until they are able to start work again. Programs include Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). DHS has also received approval to administer benefits created specifically in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Recovery Crisis Program.

“Unless further action comes from Congress and the federal government to extend additional unemployment assistance or make an additional stimulus payment, people in Pennsylvania and across the country may soon find themselves in increasingly uncertain circumstances. In the absence of this, the Wolf Administration will do what we can to help people experiencing hard times,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller. “All of DHS’ programs are designed to help Pennsylvanians who have lost income or employment meet basic needs until they are able to start work again. If your circumstances are changing because FPUC is ending, I encourage you to apply and see if these programs can help you or your family.”

Pennsylvanians who have experienced a change in income or job loss, regardless of its relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, can apply for benefits online at any time at www.compass.state.pa.us. Those who prefer to submit paper documentation can mail to their local County Assistance Office (CAO) or place it in a CAO’s secure drop box, if available. Assistance can also be reached over the phone by contacting the Customer Service Centers where caseworkers are available to speak directly with callers to answer questions. Clients in Philadelphia with questions, information to report about their case, or who need a paper application mailed to them should call the Philadelphia Customer Service Center at 215-560-7226. Clients in all other counties can call the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930.

If you were laid off from your job due to COVID-19, have not returned to work yet, and are no longer receiving health insurance coverage through your previous employer, you should also visit www.insurance.pa.gov to learn more about continuing your health insurance through COBRA and other coverage options.

Visit the Resources for Pennsylvanians page at www.pa.gov to also find:

Mental health resources;
Financial help;
Mortgage and rent information;
Food assistance, and more.

Department of Revenue Offering Assistance to Tax Filers Ahead of July 15 Filing Deadline 

Harrisburg, PA — With the deadline to file 2019 Pennsylvania personal income tax returns set for July 15, 2020, the Department of Revenue is encouraging taxpayers who need help with their returns to call the department’s main call center.

The department’s Customer Experience Center is available by calling 717-787-8201. The call center will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-holiday weekdays through Wednesday, July 15 so that Revenue call center agents can assist taxpayers who need help with their returns. Taxpayers may also schedule a call at a time that is convenient for them.

“We understand that many Pennsylvanians are still working to file their returns. That’s why we want to offer as much help as we can prior to the filing deadline to make sure that any questions they may have are answered,” Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. “We’re encouraging taxpayers to reach out to us over the phone or visit our website to find information on personal income tax filing and answers to frequently asked questions.”

The deadline to file tax returns typically falls on April 15. However, this year taxpayers were granted an additional 90 days to file their 2019 returns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The extension of this year’s tax-filing deadline to July 15, 2020 applied to both final 2019 tax returns and payments, as well as estimated payments for the first and second quarters of 2020. The department also waived penalties and interest on 2019 personal income tax payments through the new deadline of July 15, 2020.

In addition to the assistance over the phone that is available by calling 717-787-8201, the Department of Revenue also offers help through its Online Customer Service Center. This online option provides taxpayers with answers to specific questions about 2019 personal income tax returns and the department’s electronic filing, or e-filing, options. It also provides an option to submit a question to a Department of Revenue representative through a secure, electronic process that is similar to sending an email.

As a reminder, tax returns that are filed electronically are processed faster, leading to taxpayers receiving their refunds sooner. Pennsylvanians can file their state tax returns by using the following paper-less e-filing options:

Padirectfile
Padirectfile, a free, secure, state-only electronic income tax filing system, is available through the Department of Revenue’s website. For more information or to begin filing, visit Padirectfile.

Electronic Filing Free

Free electronic filing options are available to file state and federal returns using software from a reputable vendor (income limits may apply). More vendor information is available on the department’s website. 

Electronic Filing for a Fee

Paid tax preparers and commercial tax preparation software providers offer e-filing for a fee. E-filing offers advantages not available to taxpayers filing by paper, including error-reducing automatic calculators, instant confirmation of successful filing, faster refund processing and direct deposit options.  

July 15 Deadline

All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2019 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight, Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

Filing Extensions

Taxpayers can request an extension to file a personal income tax return by submitting form REV-276. The department automatically grants an extension to file when an extension is granted by the IRS. As a reminder, an extension to file is not an extension to pay tax that is due. If you feel you will owe tax, you should send a payment for the amount of tax you expect to owe. Make sure you record your Social Security number on the check with the notation that you are making an “extension payment” for the tax year.

Find In-Person Taxpayer Assistance

Taxpayers who need in-person assistance will need to schedule an appointment at one of the Department of Revenue’s district offices. The department is asking taxpayers to make appointments to assist with social distancing and other health protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the COVID-19 information page on the department’s website, www.revenue.pa.gov, for a list of the district offices that are currently accepting appointments. Assistance at district offices is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and taxpayers are encouraged to bring their Social Security cards with them to facilitate tax filing.

Taxpayers can check the status of their income tax refunds online by visiting the department’s website and selecting the Where’s My Income Tax Refund? link on the department’s homepage; or by calling 1-888-PATAXES to find out the status of their refunds. Taxpayers will be prompted to provide their Social Security number and requested refund amount to obtain the current status.

Free tax forms and instructions are available at www.revenue.pa.gov. You can also visit the department’s pages on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for helpful filing information.

US adds 4.8 million jobs as unemployment falls to 11.1%
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added a substantial 4.8 million jobs in June, and the unemployment rate fell to 11.1%, as the job market improved for a second straight month yet remained far short of regaining the colossal losses it suffered this spring. The nation has now recovered roughly one-third of the 22 million jobs it lost to the pandemic recession. And with confirmed coronavirus cases spiking across the Sun Belt states, a range of evidence suggests that a job market recovery may be stalling. In those states and elsewhere, some restaurants, bars and other retailers that had re-opened are being forced to close again.

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today the House of Representatives passed the Moving Forward Act (H.R.2), a $1.5 trillion plan to rebuild America’s infrastructure.  Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) voted in support of the legislation, which was passed on a bipartisan basis.  The bill provides funding for roads, bridges and transit systems, as well as schools, housing, broadband access, clean energy, water infrastructure, modernizes the Postal Service, and provides a long-term investment in American manufacturing and job creation.

“This is first and foremost a jobs bill.  It will protect people’s jobs and create thousands of new ones at a good wage.  It will hire Americans to build roads, fix bridges and do other critical work using American steel.  This is money well spent at a time when we need to invest in our future.”

The Moving America Forward Act will:

• Rebuild highways, bridges, transit, rail, airports, ports and harbors by investing nearly $500 billion to improve safety, reduce gridlock and put the U.S. on a path toward zero emissions from the transportation sector, all while protecting American jobs with strong Buy America provisions and labor protections;
• Invest $130 billion in school infrastructure to rebuild old and crumbling schools;
• Modernize the country’s energy infrastructure by investing more than $70 billion to transform our electric grid, promote new renewable energy infrastructure and strengthen existing infrastructure, help develop an electric vehicle charging network, and support energy efficiency and climate resilience;
• Invest in affordable housing by directing over $100 billion to reduce housing inequality, create jobs, stimulate the economy, improve living conditions and increase environmental sustainability and climate resilience;
• Expand affordable high-speed Internet to underserved communities with a $100 billion investment that promotes competition, connects children to remote learning, closes broadband adoption and digital skills gaps and improves affordability;
• Upgrade hospitals and health care infrastructure by investing $30 billion to increase capacity and strengthen care, help community health centers respond to COVID-19 and future public health emergencies, improve clinical laboratory infrastructure, support the Indian Health Service’s infrastructure, and increase capacity for community-based care;
• Ensure all communities have clean water by investing tens of billions to remove dangerous contaminants from drinking water and invest in new, safe wastewater infrastructure;
• Deliver a 21^st Century Postal Service by modernizing infrastructure and pursuing a zero-emissions postal fleet; and
• Promote investments in communities by spurring private investment through the tax code through a revitalized Build America Bonds program, expansion of Private Activity Bonds, and significant enhancements to the New Markets Tax Credit and the Rehabilitation Tax Credit.

A member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Lamb fought for multiple provisions, including five amendments and one bill, that were included in the INVEST in America Act.  It passed out of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and is the foundation for H.R. 2.  On the House floor, Lamb offered several amendments which were included prior to the legislation’s final passage, including a study of the safety performance of cargo vans in the delivery industry, and a requirement for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other relevant agencies to assist communities in the Ohio River region with planning and preparing their infrastructure for the impact of climate change.

Prior to the development and consideration of H.R. 2, Lamb sent a letter to the Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee outlining his priorities for PA-17.  In the letter, Lamb called for significant investment to address structurally deficient bridges, highways, public transit research and innovation, and rail.  He also outlined the need for strong Buy America provisions as well as support for American workers.