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Pennsylvania Poison Centers are seeing increased call volume related to both kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) consumption. These products lack clinical safety data and put consumers at risk of significant harm, including toxicity and developing dependence.

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Penn State’s Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research recently held a webinar titled Rewriting the Story: Talking About Substance Use Disorder With Care.

In March of 2025 we received a near 11th hour reprieve in the form of H.R. 1968 (2025) that provided the extension of telehealth flexibilities through September 30th, 2025. Many of us had hoped for a similar reprieve this time around, but, unfortunately, that has not come to pass as no additional legislation addressing telehealth was passed prior to the government shutdown.

During the shutdown, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expects slowdowns or suspensions of the following agency activities: (1) health care facility survey and certification, (2) policy development and rulemaking, (3) contract oversight, (4) outreach and education, and (5) beneficiary casework. CMS retains 53% of its staff to continue essential operations, while 47% of agency staff are being furloughed (i.e., temporarily on unpaid leave).

On September 5, 2025, the Trump Administration abandoned the defense of the federal noncompete ban, thereby killing the rule. The rule, if implemented, would have banned most noncompete agreements from employment contracts.

The transfer of $200 million from the Pennsylvania Joint Underwriting Association (JUA) to the general fund of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was completed on August 13, 2025. The $200 million consisted entirely of unspent premiums collected from Pennsylvania physicians and appreciation from investment of those funds.

Earlier this week, Senator Cris Dush (Cameron County) introduced Senate Bill (SB) 125. SB 125 is a Joint Resolution to provide amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution to give the Pennsylvania General Assembly the authority to legislate venue and pass laws that can return common sense to venue selection in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) strongly supports vaccines and other evidence-based practices that protect public health and prevent disease.

As the national shortage of Penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin L-A) continues, the Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends all medical providers prioritize the use of Bicillin L-A for treating women who are diagnosed with or suspected of having syphilis and who are pregnant.

Pfizer has agreed to implement measures designed to ensure Americans receive comparable drug prices to those available in other developed countries and pricing newly launched medicines at parity with other key developed markets.

Sanofi US has announced a broad expansion of its Insulins Valyou Savings Program by offering a 30-day supply of any Sanofi insulin for $35 to all patients in the US with a valid prescription.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued guidance for the upcoming respiratory season, including vaccination guidance, surveillance tools, outbreak management resources, and reporting requirements for health care providers to use to help protect Pennsylvanians during the respiratory virus season.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued updated guidance for work exclusion for health care personnel with confirmed or suspected respiratory viral infections, including COVID-19 and influenza.

The Patient Safety Authority (Authority) announces a meeting of the Authority's Board to be held virtually by means of the Authority's webinar platform Zoom on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 1 p.m. and is open to the general public.

As many know, the telehealth flexibilities were extended through September 30, 2025, due to a continuing resolution.

The Department of Transportation (Department) proposes to amend § 83.4 (relating to seizure disorder). Currently, § 83.4 imposes a recall of the driver's license of a person who has a seizure disorder. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Statewide HIV Planning Group, will hold a public meeting in Harrisburg, PA on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A late summer increase in COVID-19 activity in Pennsylvania is occurring. Based on national respiratory virus surveillance, test positivity for COVID-19 in PA has increased sharply in the past three weeks.

Effective July 1, 2025, AmeriTrust Group, Inc., an affiliate brand of AF Group, will no longer directly service Pennsylvania Medical Society members. To better support the association members, we have appointed World Insurance Associates LLC as the exclusive agent for brokerage services -- AmeriTrust will remain the insurance carrier.

Delegation Chair and Vice Chair, Jill Owens, MD and John Vasudevan, MD, led twenty-eight members of the Pennsylvania Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) at the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates (HOD or the House) in Chicago from June 6 – 11, 2025.