PAMED News

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has resumed processing visas and work permits for physicians after an update on its website, ending a months‑long pause that affected thousands of international clinicians.

PAMED has been informed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) that a provider has voluntarily surrendered their DEA License, which means the provider is currently unable to prescribe controlled substances.

The Pennsylvania Health Department (DOH) has identified three cases of measles in Lebanon County.

On April 30th, Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA) and Herb Conaway, MD (D-NJ) introduced the “Medicare Physician Data-driven Performance Payment System Act of 2026.” This bipartisan bill that makes key, targeted reforms to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) represents another cog in the AMA’s overarching, multi-pronged effort to improve the Medicare physician payment system.

Senate Bill 507, sponsored by Sen. Rosemary Brown, passed the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday, April 29, by a vote of 197-4 and now awaits Governor Josh Shapiro’s signature. The bill previously passed the Senate by a vote of 49-1.

PAMED recently received reports that people pretending to be from one of the health-related boards are contacting licensees by phone about their license.

The State Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine finalize regulations to implement 20 Pa.C.S. § 8628, which requires physicians to complete at least 2 credit hours of continuing medical education in organ and tissue donation and recovery process.

The State Board of Medicine is proposing an overall update to its regulations, including standards relating to issuing licenses, certifications, permits and registrations; graduate medical training (GMT); and continuing education requirements.

The Department of Human Services (Department) announces the availability of program payments for hospitals, health care providers and rural health facilities.

The Patient Safety Authority and Department of Health issued updated guidance to acute health care facilities with reporting duties under the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration has announced the immediate rescheduling of FDA-approved products containing marijuana and marijuana products regulated by a state medical license to Schedule III from Schedule I.

The American Lung Association has released their 2026 ”State of the Air” report.

Upcoming May Department of Health Meetings

Last week, a federal district court dismissed a lawsuit brought by Anthem Blue Cross that challenged numerous billing disputes adjudicated under the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process provided by the federal No Suprises Act (NSA).

On Monday, the Commonwealth Court struck down the provision of Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act that prohibited the use of Medical Assistance (Medicaid) funds to pay for an abortion, except in limited circumstances. The court found the provision violated the Pennsylvania Constitution and enjoined the Commonwealth from enforcing the restriction moving forward.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) identified recent sustained increases in tick bite-related emergency department visits.

The Patient Safety Authority Board meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 1 p.m. and is open to the general public.

The State Board of Pharmacy (Board) published a final-form rulemaking to expand the authority to administer injectable medications, biologicals and immunizations to individuals 18 years of age or older.

This final rule implements requirements of the Administrative Simplification subtitle of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by adopting standards for the electronic exchange of clinical and administrative documentation to support claims-related processes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Advisory to notify public health professionals, clinicians, laboratorians, and people at risk for overdose about increasing reports from U.S. jurisdictions detecting medetomidine.