Pennsylvania GeriatricS Society

The Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division hosted the 2025 Fall Program and Business Meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the PNC Champions Club at Acrisure Stadium. The evening began with the Society’s final business meeting of the year, followed by an engaging panel discussion titled “From Impact to Action: Understanding Shifts in Medicare and Medicaid for Pennsylvanians.”

The program featured expert panelists Alex Bardakh, MPP, CAE, PLC, Senior Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships for the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed); Howard Degenholtz, PhD, Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Management at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and the Center for Bioethics and Health Law; Chad Worz, PharmD, BCGP, Chief Executive of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and board-certified geriatric pharmacist; and Rob Maher, BS, PharmD, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network, Administrative Pharmacist, and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Duquesne University School of Pharmacy.

Together, the panel explored the implications of the July 2025 budget bill, which reshaped Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare funding across Pennsylvania. Topics included changes in post-acute, long-term, and home health services; access to care in rural and aging communities; and provider pay and reimbursement. Attendees gained valuable insight into the evolving healthcare landscape and connected with colleagues across the region.