Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Spring 2021 - 21

seniors and people with immune deficiencies.
To say the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan has been
very bad is a severe understatement. The inconsistencies in
communication, logistics and supply chain distribution have had
a detrimental impact on our citizens across Pennsylvania. The
mismanagement of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan
has ranked our Commonwealth the 43rd state out of 50 in the
distribution and administration of these critical vaccines.
So, what is being done to combat the problem? Most
recently, the Wolf administration responded to our constant
concerns by creating a COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force
with the Legislature. The goal of the task force is to improve
communications regarding what we, as lawmakers, are seeing and
hearing in our own communities about vaccine issues, getting
answers about those issues and ultimately making improvements as
a result.
Also, House Bill 326 would get the National Guard involved in
the distribution and administration of the vaccine so more people
who are clamoring for the shots can get them as soon as possible.
The bill was approved unanimously in the House and Senate and is
now with the governor awaiting his signature.
In addition, my bill, House Bill 1189, would provide tax
credits to employers who allow their employees, who are volunteer
firefighters or ambulance personnel, to respond to emergencies
during work hours. The bill passed the House unanimously and is
now awaiting Senate consideration.
Here are COVID-19 health care bills signed into law or
awaiting further action:

State Senator Judy Schwank
11th Legislative District
The American Rescue Plan is the newest federal stimulus to
become law. While I'm not a congresswoman, this legislation will
have huge impacts on how state legislators, like myself, help the
Commonwealth recover from the pandemic. The bill contains
many measures that will help us provide better, more expansive
services to residents. One of the bill's components guarantees
Medicaid coverage for 12 months for women who have given birth
(an increase from the original 60 days). I was especially pleased to
see this included as I had introduced legislation to this same effect
for Pennsylvania.
The Rescue Act is going to significantly impact the way
we deliver services, though it's also important to guard against
becoming dependent on these funds. It's not guaranteed that we
will see the same funding in the 2022-2023 budget cycle. So, going
forward, we'll need to balance how we use federal dollars versus
state dollars.
And, just like we would do in person, I have a legislative update
for you. The following bills are proposals I've introduced or support
that may be of interest:
* SB317: This proposal follows CDC guidelines to implement
Expedited Partner Therapy in the Commonwealth to manage
sexually transmitted diseases by allowing clinicians to prescribe
antibiotics without seeing the individual who would be taking the
medication.

* Act 10 of 2020 will help Pennsylvania's frontline health care
facilities by allowing the Secretary of the Budget to transfer up
to $50 million to purchase medical equipment and supplies for
hospitals, nursing facilities, and emergency medical services to meet
patient and staff needs to respond to COVID-19.

* SB52: This proposal, which anticipates the US Supreme
Court finding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional,
would prohibit health insurance policies in the state from imposing
annual or lifetime limits.

* Act 17 of 2020 will provide Basic Life Support (BLS) staffing
waivers for all counties and creates new Chapters for COVID-19
Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits and COVID-19 Benefits
for Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

* Immunization Information: This legislation would require
a standardized form for requesting exemptions from vaccination
requirements for school-age children and require speaking to a
physician before exemptions are approved.

* Act 24 of 2020 will provide for regional response health
collaborations to promote health in facilities by supporting
COVID-19 readiness and response and improving the quality of
infection prevention; and making emergency appropriations for
human services. Also, provides for various fiscal code allocations as
part of the 2020-21 fiscal budget.

* Emergency Addiction Treatment: This legislation would
expand treatment space at existing long-term residential addiction
treatment facilities and licensed halfway homes to create an
Emergency Addiction Treatment Program funded by the
Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

* HB 2509 will establish the Long-Term Care Facility Personal
Protective Equipment Reimbursement Grant Program. The bill is
with the Senate for consideration.
House Republicans will continue to work to keep Pennsylvania
safe and not overwhelm our health care system while reaching for
economic recovery.

The next two bills don't have numbers yet but will soon.

If my office can be of assistance in helping you with any staterelated program or service, or you see a community need that isn't
being addressed, please call us at 610-929-2151.
State Senator Judy Schwank represents Pennsylvania's 11th
Senate District. Connect with the office at www.senatorschwank.
com or 610-929-2151.
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SPRING 2021

http://www.senatorschwank.com

Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Spring 2021

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