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.

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.

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

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.

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.

On Monday, Federal District Judge Brian Murphy issued a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of the Trump administration’s pared-down list of recommended childhood vaccinations.

Under the current federal administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (U.S. DHS) has lifted restrictions that previously prohibited Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from carrying out immigration enforcement actions.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) strongly opposes the recent rescinding of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Endangerment Finding; an action that removes a critical federal safeguard designed to protect the public from pollution and threatens public health.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has issued an order concerning the Civil Procedural Rules Committee's required two-year anniversary review of the medical malpractice venue rule change.

PHILADELPHIA—The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is notifying travelers and others of a possible measles exposure at the following location: Philadelphia International Airport Terminal E Thursday, February 12th, 2026 from 1:35 pm to 4:30 pm

On February 3, 2026, Governor Josh Shapiro delivered his annual budget address to the General Assembly, outlining his proposed Fiscal Year 2026–27.

On January 30, 2026, the Pennsylvania Health Department (DOH) identified five confirmed cases of measles in Lancaster County. These are the first cases to be identified in Pennsylvania for 2026.