PA Department of Health Declares Hepatitis A Outbreak May 21, 2019

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine yesterday announced that Pennsylvania has declared an outbreak of hepatitis A, with 171 cases in 36 counties since January 2018. The department has launched enhanced hepatitis A information, including an interactive map with vaccine clinics on its website at health.pa.gov.

The summer issue of the PAFP's Keystone Physician magazine has just been released! Relive the Gettysburg CME Conference, meet our award winners including the 2019 PAFP Family Physician of the Year, revisit Match Day, and get caught up with the latest government affairs and legal compliance news. Click here to view the latest issue of Keystone Physician!

The Pa. Supreme Court is to hear arguments on May 16 in the case of extending the landmark Highmark/UPMC consent decree (TribLive) that granted certain patients access to both networks/insurers. The Pittsburgh-based dispute is a case of interest around the nation as the lines between provider networks and insurers blur in other regions and states.

The U.S. measles outbreak continues to grow, with a total of 839 cases confirmed across 23 states, including Pennsylvania. According to The Hill, there have been 75 new cases in the past week as the outbreak inches toward the 1994 record of 963 cases. Some states have begun taking steps to limit exemptions for parents who don't want to vaccinate their children.

Senate Bill 25 seeks to remove the collaborative agreement requirements for CRNPs, contending the agreements are no longer necessary and restricting service to rural areas. The PAFP, along with all the other physician associations in Pennsylvania, opposes this legislation in the name of patient safety. Click here to use the AAFP's Speak Out tool to contact your senator.