On Saturday, January 25, The Patient Safety Authority (PSA) published draft recommendations for all hospitals and birthing centers licensed to provide obstetrical care aimed at reducing the risk of harm related to shoulder dystocia. During this session, HAP staff will review the recommendations released by the PSA and seek feedback from member hospitals on how best to craft the regulated community’s response.

The statewide QCA program began in 2011 and has proven to be a critical part of hospital reimbursement in Pennsylvania. Most recently, the QCA program was reauthorized on July 1, 2023, for five years.

During 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) began drafting proposed updates to all 35 chapters of hospital licensure regulations. The DOH shared information related to these proposals in a series of stakeholder feedback sessions hosted in the summer and fall of last year. At that time, HAP engaged regulatory experts from member hospitals to provide initial feedback. The DOH has indicated that it will release its proposed regulatory update in late spring.