Oct. 25, 2021Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. is on the brink of regulating recovery homes for the first time. Here’s what you need to know.by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe Wolf administration could implement new oversight of recovery homes by mid-2022, though challenges could cause delays.
Sept. 29, 2021Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PANew records reveal the cost of Pa.’s failure to clarify rules around addiction treatment and marijuanaby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAFor 17 months, medical marijuana users were wrongly denied access to some care and funding options because of the Wolf administration’s inaction.
Sept. 23, 2021TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerPa. lawmakers know a dementia care crisis is coming. Will they agree on a response?by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAThe Wolf administration is focused on general improvements to nursing homes, including increasing the amount of direct care residents get each day.
Sept. 21, 2021Quinn Glabicki for Spotlight PA / PublicSourceWATCH: A free panel on Alzheimer’s disease preparedness in Pennsylvaniaby Spotlight PA StaffOn Oct. 8, Spotlight PA held a free Q&A on Alzheimer’s disease in Pennsylvania and possible solutions to the coming crisis.
Sept. 17, 2021Quinn Glabicki for Spotlight PA / PublicSourcePa.’s looming dementia care crisis, by the numbersby Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAExperts warn Pennsylvania is headed for a profound eldercare crisis as Alzheimer's disease and dementia rates continue to climb. Statistics illustrate the cause of their concern.
Sept. 14, 2021TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerWolf administration ordered to reveal details of cannabis use as drug addiction treatmentby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe Office of Open Records ruled in favor of Spotlight PA and ordered the health department to disclose how many patients are certified for cannabis under each of the state’s qualifying conditions.
Sept. 13, 2021Fred Adams / For Spotlight PAExpiring COVID-19 waivers could make Pa. health-care staffing shortages worseby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAWith cases rising, health-care professionals are urging the legislature to extend the regulatory changes to maximize the number of workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Sept. 2, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesScoring Pennsylvania’s response to the growing Alzheimer’s and dementia crisisby Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAKey provisions of a state plan still have not been completed seven years after its arrival.
Sept. 2, 2021Quinn Glabicki for Spotlight PA / PublicSourceThe coming crisis in dementia care and why Pa. is woefully unpreparedby Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA and Juliette Rihl of PublicSourceA lack of beds and staff, soaring costs, and action plans gone unheeded have left Pennsylvania, one of the oldest states in the nation, in a perilous position.
Sept. 2, 2021MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia InquirerThe Supreme Court’s decision on a Texas abortion ban raises the stakes for the Pa. governor’s raceby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PADemocratic Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto any effort to curtail abortion access, but his term ends in January 2023. Republicans plan to aggressively pursue the office.
Aug. 27, 2021JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerWATCH: A free panel on how Pennsylvania can keep people in addiction recovery safeby Spotlight PA StaffA recent Spotlight PA/KHN investigation found the Pennsylvania department tasked with oversight of these providers allowed some to continue operating despite harm to patients.
Aug. 24, 2021STEVEN M. FALK / Philadelphia InquirerWolf admin unexpectedly pulls the plug on controversial revamp of Pa. safety net programby Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe Department of Health did not explain why it abandoned a plan to change who administers a nutrition program for pregnant people and young children.
Aug. 13, 2021TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerHow many people in Pa. use cannabis for addiction? The Wolf admin won’t say.by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe state Department of Health said it was unable to "share specifics regarding patient use," despite doing so in the past.
Aug. 5, 2021Maria Nuñez / For Spotlight PAPa. patients swear by cannabis as a tool to fight opioid addiction. The research still isn’t there.by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAPennsylvania approved opioid use disorder as a condition that qualifies a person for medical marijuana in 2018, but experts are still conflicted about its use as an addiction treatment.
Aug. 4, 2021YONG KIM / Philadelphia InquirerFeds roll back ‘confusing’ addiction funding rules that had deadly consequence in Pa.by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe change impacts people who need addiction treatment and use medical marijuana for a substance use or mental health disorder.
July 21, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesNursing homes would provide more direct care to residents under proposed Pa. ruleby Jaime Martines of Spotlight PA and Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAThe state currently requires nursing homes to provide residents with 2.7 hours of direct care each day, despite a much higher federal recommendation.
July 2, 2021JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerLawmakers renew call for stronger addiction treatment oversight as two Pa. providers chargedby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PATwo Philadelphia addiction treatment facilities and their owners face criminal charges for allegedly sending illegal kickbacks to recovery homes and forcing patients into substandard care.
June 28, 2021YONG KIM / Philadelphia InquirerFailure by Pa. officials to clarify rules around medical marijuana, addiction treatment had serious consequencesby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PATyler Cordeiro was denied funding for treatment despite a state program offering help for anyone, even without insurance. The problem: his medical marijuana card.
June 11, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesWolf again vows to veto any bills that limit abortion access in Pa.by Shaniece Holmes Brown for Spotlight PAHouse Republicans this week passed a bill that would ban abortions on the basis of a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis as well as one on the handling of fetal remains.
May 7, 2021Courtesy Office of Rep. Mark GillenPa. can’t fine addiction treatment facilities that break rules. Some lawmakers want to change that.by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe ability to charge fines or fees could weed out bad actors and prevent ongoing harm, experts say, but there's already pushback from the provider industry.
April 30, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesOversight of Pa. recovery homes stalls as officials, advocates disagree on best approachby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAA state department said a licensing program with financial and safety requirements for recovery homes will save lives, but advocates are pushing back on the added costs.
April 29, 2021Kristina Serafini / TribLIVE for Spotlight PAAddiction treatment providers in Pennsylvania face little state scrutiny despite harm to clientsby Aneri Pattani of KHN and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAA Spotlight PA/KHN investigation shows the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs uses an inherently flawed oversight system that does little to ensure high-quality or effective care.
April 29, 2021Kristina Serafini/TribLIVE for Spotlight PAHow we investigated Pennsylvania’s addiction treatment industry and found weak oversight of providersby Aneri Pattani of KHN and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe final story was based on interviews with more than 80 people and a review of thousands of pages of state government and court records.
Jan. 25, 2021ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerThousands of drug, alcohol recovery homes in Pa. still operate without state oversightby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAThe Wolf administration has yet to implement regulations stemming from a 2017 reform law intended to better protect recovery home residents and address community complaints.
Dec. 16, 2020Dan Speicher / TribLIVEState-run psychiatric hospital can’t recruit enough workers as Pa. risks violating federal requirementsby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAStaff is “running out of gas” at Torrance State Hospital, where federal inspectors said short-staffing created safety risks in 2018 and 2019.
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