Pa. Health Inspections on Hold

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Most regular inspections of hospitals, nursing homes and other licensed health facilities have been put on hold in the state of Pennsylvania even as the number of victims of the coronavirus has continued to grow.
Acting under a disaster declaration from Gov. Thomas Wolf and a series of directives from federal agencies, the state Health Department has put on hold license renewal inspections usually conducted by a crew of more than 100 state surveyors.
That action comes at the same time as families and friends of patients in Pennsylvania health facilities have been barred from even entering the facilities where their loved ones are confined.
A review of state reports on state surveyors visits to hospitals and nursing homes show they are checking to determine if the faciities are following the multiple directives and guidances from state and federal regulators on the handling of coronavirus issues.
"The facility was in compliance with the current Pennsylvania Department of Health, CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as they pertain to Covid-19," several recent reports state.
Facilities found in compliance include UPMC East, UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, Indiana Regional Medical Center, Excela Health Westmoreland, UPMC Hanover and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
According to state Health Department spokesman Nate Wardle, the new reviews of Covid-19 compliance began on March 18. And regular renewal inspections of state licensed health facilities will remain on hold as long as the disaster declaration remains in effect.
"All facility or agency licenses that have expired from March 6 through the duration of the disaster emergency proclamation will be extended as needed for 90 days," according to the department.
In one directive to health providers, the state Health Department made it clear that compliance with the new directives trumps existing state laws and regulations.
"All statutory and regulatory provisions that would impose an impediment to implementing this guidance are suspended," the directive states.
A review of Health Department Covid-19 directives shows that not only are inspections on hold, but a host of other longtime requirements, such as prior approval for any expansions, have been set aside.
As for acting on complaints, the agency has stated that only cases in which a patient is at risk of serious harm or death, will an immediate inspection take place and even that may not trigger an actual onsite visit.
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