PAMED News

Richard Wender, MD, a trailblazer in public health and family medicine, has been named the 2025 recipient of PAMED’s Distinguished Service Award and highest honor.

The Trump administration recently issued an Executive Order (EO) addressing state-level artificial intelligence (AI) laws.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) recently hosted its hybrid House of Delegates (HOD) meeting, welcoming participants both virtually and in person.

Earlier today, PAMED and the AMA picked up a win in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on a case in which we had partnered to submit an amici curiae brief. In Wunderly v. St. Luke’s Hospital, et al., a divided Supreme Court determined that the Mental Health Procedures Act had been properly applied to provide St. Luke’s Hospital with immunity from suit under the facts of the case.

The Department of Health published the guidelines and fees that a health care provider or facility may charge in response to a request for production of medical charts or records.

Long before he wore a white coat, Matthew Simpson, MD understood the power of care, and he has spent his life making sure others feel it too. rowing up, he witnessed the impact of chronic illness on his family and neighbors, and how preventable conditions could worsen due to a lack of access to care, education, and resources.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is urging health care providers to remain alert for acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) as AFM season approaches.

A message from incoming PAMED President, Arvind Cavale, MD, FACE, FCPP, PCEO

On May 12, 2023, the Department issued Bulletin OMHSAS-23-5, titled ''Confidentiality of Records Changes Due to Act 32 of 2022 and Aligning with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996'' to inform stakeholders of changes to the list of permissible disclosures and new definitions under the Act. The Department is issuing notice of proposed regulations to amend Chapter 5100 to align with Act 32 of 2022 and HIPAA requirements.

On December 5, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend individual-based decision-making for parents deciding whether to give the hepatitis B vaccine, including the birth dose, to infants born to women who test negative for the virus.

The State Board of Medicine (Board) proposes to amend continuing education and volunteer services regulations.

Shoulder dystocia is a rare but serious condition that occurs when one or both shoulders become stuck during a vaginal delivery and can result in serious injury to the neonate.

The Patient Safety Authority (Authority) and Department of Health (Department) provide updated draft guidance to acute healthcare facilities with reporting duties under the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act to assist with determining whether specific occurrences meet the statutory definitions of serious events, incidents or infrastructure failures as set forth in section 302 of the MCARE Act.

PAMED joined 87 other organizations representing physicians, payers, and patients in signing a letter supporting the Physician-Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act (H.R. 2191/S.1390). This critical bipartisan and bicameral legislation offers an innovative and practical solution to the growing healthcare crisis devastating rural America.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today adopted individual-based decision-making for hepatitis B immunization for parents deciding whether to give the hepatitis B vaccine, including the birth dose, to infants born to women who test negative for the virus.

It has been an honor to serve as president of PAMED. The experience allowed me to personally engage in our legislative process, interact with the media and, most importantly, listen to and appreciate our members.

The Department of Health (Department) is updating the residency criteria set forth in the Chronic Renal Disease Program. This program provides coverage for both children and adults who have end-stage renal disease.

The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine (Board) proposes to amend continuing education and volunteer services regulations.

Ada-Nkem Emuwa, MD, MPH, a leader in community health and advocacy, has been named the 2025 recipient of PAMED’s Community Voluntary Service Award.

Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the 2025-2026 Commonwealth Budget. Unfortunately, as part of a last-minute budget agreement, there was a transfer from the Joint Underwriting Association (JUA) to the Pennsylvania General Fund of $100 million.