See other bills
under the
same topic
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1331
PRINTER'S NO. 1446
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1257
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY MILLARD, PICKETT, JAMES, MOUL, MENTZER, WEBSTER,
WHEELAND AND ROWE, APRIL 21, 2021
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AS AMENDED, MAY 5, 2021
AN ACT
Establishing the COVID-19 Vaccine Providers Reimbursement
Program and the COVID-19 Vaccine Providers Reimbursement
Account to reimburse COVID-19 vaccine providers for the costs
incurred in administering STORING the COVID-19 vaccine; and
making an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the COVID-19
Vaccine Providers Reimbursement Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Account." The COVID-19 Vaccine Providers Reimbursement
Account established under section 4(a).
"CARES ACT." THE CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC
SECURITY ACT (PUBLIC LAW 116-136, 134 STAT. 281).
"COVID-19." The novel coronavirus identified in the
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Governor's proclamation of disaster emergency issued on March 6,
2020, published at 50 Pa.B. 1644 (March 21, 2020).
"COVID-19 vaccine." A vaccine for COVID-19 that has received
an emergency use authorization from the United States Food and
Drug Administration.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Program." The COVID-19 Vaccine Providers Reimbursement
Program established under section 3(a).
"Provider." A person or entity authorized to administer the
COVID-19 vaccine in this Commonwealth by the department.
Section 3. COVID-19 Vaccine Providers Reimbursement Program.
(a) Establishment.--The COVID-19 Vaccine Providers
Reimbursement Program is established within the department for
the purpose of reimbursing providers for the costs incurred in
administering STORING the COVID-19 vaccine.
(b) Eligible costs.--The department may reimburse a provider
under the program to cover the costs associated with
administering STORING the COVID-19 vaccine, including procuring
storage units and appropriate refrigeration equipment necessary
to store the COVID-19 vaccine.
Section 4. COVID-19 Vaccine Providers Reimbursement Account.
(a) Establishment.--The COVID-19 Vaccine Providers
Reimbursement Account is established as a restricted account in
the General Fund. Money received by the Commonwealth from the
Federal Government under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
(Public Law 117-2, 135 Stat. 4) shall be deposited into the
account AS NECESSARY TO REIMBURSE PROVIDERS UNDER THE PROGRAM.
Money in the account shall not lapse or be transferred to any
other account or fund.
(b) Appropriation.--All of the money in the account is THE
20210HB1257PN1446 - 2 -
<--
<--
<--
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
SUM OF $250,000 IS appropriated FROM THE ACCOUNT to the
department for the purpose of reimbursing providers under the
program.
Section 5. Administration of program.
(a) Administration.--The department shall administer the
program in accordance with this act.
(b) Application.--To apply for a reimbursement under the
program, a provider shall submit an application to the
department on a form and in a manner prescribed by the
department. A provider shall certify AND PROVIDE SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTATION FOR all of the following information in an
application under this subsection:
(1) The provider was deemed eligible to provide the
COVID-19 vaccine by the department during the period
beginning December 1, 2020, and ending March 18, 2021.
(2) The provider has received an allocation of the
COVID-19 vaccine from a vaccine manufacturer or the
department.
(3) The provider did not receive an allocation of the
COVID-19 vaccine after March 18, 2021, as a result of section
5 of the Order of the Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania
Department of Health Directing Vaccine Providers'
Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines, issued February 12,
2021.
(4) The provider is not an agent, employee, subsidiary
or affiliate of a health care facility on the department's
COVID-19 focused network provider list.
(5) The costs incurred in administering STORING the
COVID-19 vaccine.
(6) THE PROVIDER DID NOT RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR
20210HB1257PN1446 - 3 -
<--
<--
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
COVID-19 VACCINE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE PROVIDER RELIEF FUND
UNDER THE CARES ACT.
(c) Review.--Beginning no later than 30 days after the
effective date of this section, the department shall review
applications under subsection (b). No later than 15 days after a
completed application under subsection (b) is received from a
provider, the provider DEPARTMENT shall review and approve or
deny the application.
(d) Award of reimbursements.--The department shall reimburse
providers under the program on a first-come, first-served basis
until the amount of available funds in the account has been
completely expended.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20210HB1257PN1446 - 4 -
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14