House signs bill extending hundreds of COVID-19 waived and suspended regulations  

A bill extending nearly 500 waived and suspended regulations into next year is awaiting a signature from Governor Tom Wolf after receiving passage in both the House and Senate. It is expected to allow Pennsylvania’s hospitals the flexibility they need to continue fighting COVID-19.

The waived and suspended regulations were last extended in June and were set to expire on Thursday. Pending Wolf’s signature of House Bill 1861, those regulations will continue through March 2022.

“Back in June, when these regulatory waivers and suspensions were continued, it was done so we could have additional time to review the impact of the waivers and suspensions, whether the regulations were still needed, and what—if any—needed to be modified. This bill reflects the first major effort at tackling this massive change,” said Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R- Centre and Mifflin counties.

The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Andrew Lewis, R- Dauphin County.

When the waivers were initially introduced, they allowed health care providers to expand telehealth services, increase vaccine access, quickly alter their facilities for influxes of patients and more.

The flexibilities given to health care providers through the legislation will help providers avoid any disruptions in care, said Andy Carter, president and CEO of the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

“The innovations that hospitals and health systems have implemented to manage this pandemic will continue to transform health care into the future,” said Carter. “We plan to continue our work with the General Assembly and Governor to make permanent some of these flexibilities—such as expanded telehealth—that improve access to care for all Pennsylvanians.”