Hackers Target PA Businesses
As President Trump was meeting with Vladimir Putin on Monday, there was a lot of talk about Russian hacking, the 12 indictments by Robert Mueller and holding that nation accountable. Russian hackers have their sights set on more than just the American election process. Kevin Sunday with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry says Pennsylvania businesses are being targeted, and just like with political issues, Russian trolls are trying to meddle in the debate over PA's energy industry with the goal of boosting their own. As for the level of Russian hackers targeting PA industries and attempting to sow discord, Sunday says the efforts are escalating.
Opioid Treatment Initiatives Continue
Opioid Command Center incident commander Ray Barishansky says the naloxone leave-behind program, which allows emergency medical personnel to leave behind the opioid antidote following an opioid overdose reversal, is flourishing in Allegheny, Bucks and Fayette Counties. Barishansky says more than 1,000 cases of neo-natal abstinence syndrome, in babies born to opioid-addicted mothers, have been reported by hospitals across the state. In addition the Department of Health has waived fees for birth certificates for nearly 350 people with opioid use disorder seeking treatment.
Medicaid Air Transport Reimbursement Increases
The recently approved state budget includes an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates for patients who must be transported by air. An amendment to the state budget was spearheaded by Representative Tina Pickett who chairs the House Insurance Committee. It increases the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for air ambulance services to a maximum of 33 hundred dollars per flight. Pickett says the maximum had been 200 dollars. Pickett says the higher reimbursement restores fairness for all patients who rely on this service, and will hopefully encourage other insurers to cover it as well.
