Pa. awaits guidance on court's health center order

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Department of Health says it’s awaiting guidance after the state Supreme Court ordered a halt to the agency’s plan to close nearly half of Pennsylvania’ 60 community health centers.

The high court’s order, issued Wednesday, reverses a lower-court decision on the request for an injunction until the justices can hear a lawsuit challenging the plan.

A state employees’ labor union, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, says the department’s required to reopen three closed health centers while the case is pending.

But a Health Department spokeswoman says it needs more information about the scope of the order to understand the full impact. It says thus far it has closed seven health centers and that it’s in the process of closing six others.

It says services continue through scheduled events or home visits.