- The Biden-Harris Administration Supports Rural Health Care
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $52 Million Investment for Health Centers to Provide Care for People Reentering the Community after Incarceration
- On National Rural Health Day, Reps. Sewell and Miller Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Rural Hospitals
- Terri Sewell Cosponsors Bill Reauthoring Program to Support Rural Hospitals
- HRSA: Inclusion of Terrain Factors in the Definition of Rural Area for Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Grants
- Celebrating National Rural Health Day
- DEA, HHS: Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- Talking Rural Health Care with U of M
- Public Inspection: DEA, HHS: Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- CDC Presents a Five-Year Plan for Rural Healthcare
- Kansas Faith Leaders 'Well Positioned' To Help Fill Mental Health Care Gaps in Rural Areas
- The CDC Wants More Kansas Farm Workers to Get Their Flu Shots This Season
- Study: Rural Residents More Likely to Struggle With Medical Debt
- Deaths From Cardiovascular Disease Increased Among Younger U.S Adults in Rural Areas
- VA Proposes to Eliminate Copays for Telehealth, Expand Access to Telehealth for Rural Veterans
Penn State Extension Offers Interactive Map to Aid Broadband Providers
An interactive map unveiled recently by Penn State Extension — and created in consultation with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission — will help internet service providers as they prepare to bid on projects to expand broadband services to unserved regions in Pennsylvania.
“One of the great realizations to many policymakers, to educators and to retailers during the COVID-19 outbreak is the inability of Pennsylvanians in rural areas to access high-speed broadband,” said Brent Hales, director of Penn State Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
“People told to telecommute are unable to do so due to lack of critical infrastructure,” Hales said. “Students cannot complete necessary lessons online. Businesses are challenged to serve customers because of limited access. We are committed to working with legislators and providers to find solutions to ensure the future economic and community vitality of the commonwealth.”
One solution to help the roughly 800,000 Pennsylvanians without broadband internet access is to assist the companies that can provide that service, noted Harry Crissy, extension educator in business and community vitality.
Crissy explained that the Federal Communications Commission, through its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, has allocated $20.4 billion for projects that expand broadband in unserved rural areas. Internet providers are invited to bid on projects at “reverse auctions,” the first of which is set for Oct. 22.
To help these companies better estimate their project costs and the infrastructure needed, Penn State Extension and the PUC created an interactive map that breaks the commonwealth into “census blocks,” the smallest group division designated by the U.S. Census Bureau. At this level, the map displays the name of the service provider and the level of service provided.
These geographic pockets, which can range from a handful of homes to several city blocks, are underserved by FCC standards. Auction preference is weighted toward blocks with service of less than 25 megabits per second.
The map, which features measuring tools to help providers make estimates, also includes reserve prices at the census block group level and the number of eligible sites within the block group. In addition, users can find details on existing structures, transmission lines, substations, tower data and legislator information.
“The PUC has been committed to addressing broadband availability and affordability for all consumers in Pennsylvania as far back as 1993 under laws enacted by the General Assembly as well as federal law,” said Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille of the PUC. “This extension map should help the public to focus on, and learn more about, the details about the broadband challenges facing Pennsylvania.”
Expanding high-speed internet services will enhance the quality of life for all citizens, Crissy contends. “A critical step in accomplishing this is to put tools in the hands of those who can make it happen. We believe this map is one of those tools.”
The map is available at https://extension.psu.edu/pennsylvania-broadband-map-app. For additional information, contact Crissy at 814-802-1024.
Also instrumental in the project were Joseph Witmer, advisor and legal counsel to Brown Dutrieuille; James Ladlee, Penn State Extension assistant director for energy, business and community vitality programs; Tom Beresnyak, extension client relationship manager; Tonya Lamo, extension educator; and Sascha Meinrath, the Palmer Chair in Telecommunications in Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.
CMS NEWS ALERT May 19, 2020
As part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts taken in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), following is a summary of recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) actions. To keep up with the important Task Force work being done in response to COVID-19, click here www.coronavirus.gov. For information specific to CMS, please visit the CMS News Room and Current Emergencies Website. CMS updates these resources on an ongoing basis throughout the day; the information below is current as of May 19, 2020 at 4:00 pm ET.
Trump Administration Issues Guidance to Ensure States Have a Plan in Place to Safely Reopen Nursing Homes
CMS announced new guidance for state and local officials to ensure the safe reopening of nursing homes across the country. The guidance released today is part of President Trump’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. It details critical steps nursing homes and communities should take prior to relaxing restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including rigorous infection prevention and control, adequate testing, and surveillance. The recommendations allow states to make sure nursing homes are continuing to take the appropriate and necessary steps to ensure resident safety and are opening their doors when the time is right.
CMS Releases Additional Waivers for Hospitals and Ground Ambulance Organizations
CMS continues to release waivers for the healthcare community that provide the flexibilities needed to take care of patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). CMS recently provided additional blanket waivers for the duration of the PHE that:
- Modify existing physical environment waivers to allow for increased flexibilities for surge capacity and patient quarantine at hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and critical access hospitals as a result of COVID-19; and
- Modify the data collection period and data reporting period for ground ambulance organizations.
Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers
Medicare Payment for COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests
Earlier this year, CMS took action to ensure America’s patients, health care facilities, and clinical laboratories were prepared to respond to COVID-19. To help increase testing, CMS developed two codes that laboratories can use to bill for certain COVID-19 lab tests, including serology tests. CMS has updated its guidance to include payment details for additional CPT codes created by the American Medical Association. There is no cost-sharing for Medicare patients.
CMS Gives States Additional Flexibility to Address Coronavirus Pandemic
CMS has approved over 200 requests for state relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including recent approvals for Alaska, Iowa, Hawaii, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and Virginia. These approvals help to ensure that states have the tools they need to combat COVID-19. This is done through a wide variety of waivers, amendments, and Medicaid state plan flexibilities, including support for programs that care for the elderly and people with disabilities. CMS also developed a toolkit to expedite the application and review of each request and has approved these requests in record time. These approved flexibilities support President Trump’s commitment to a COVID-19 response that is locally executed, state managed, and federally supported.
1915(c) Waiver Appendix K Amendments
Medicaid State Plan Amendments
Deadline to Register to Vote in Pennsylvania’s Primary Election Approaches
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar today reminded all eligible Pennsylvanians to register to vote by the May 18 deadline so they can participate in the June 2 primary election.
Boockvar encouraged voters to use the state’s Online Voter Registration (OVR) website whether they are registering for the first time or updating an existing registration with a change of name, address or party affiliation.
Individuals wishing to register to vote in the June 2 primary must be:
- A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the primary.
- A resident of Pennsylvania and of the election district in which the individual plans to register and vote for at least 30 days before the primary.
- At least 18 years of age on or before the date of the primary.
The deadline to register to vote was extended by 15 days thanks to historic bipartisan legislation signed into law last October by Governor Wolf. In addition to more time to register to vote, Pennsylvania voters will benefit from other major election reforms that will go into effect with the June primary. Voters will be able to:
- Vote by mail-in ballot without having to provide a reason. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is May 26.
- Return their mail-in or absentee ballot by mail or at their county election office until 8 p.m. on election day.
- Ask to be placed on a permanent mail-in voter list.
In addition, more secure and accessible voting systems will be in use in all 67 counties. The new systems produce a paper record that voters can verify before casting their ballot.
Polling places will be open in all counties, including those designated in the red phase of the COVID-19 emergency, although some polling places may be consolidated. Voters should check with their county election office or visit the department’s polling place tracker to verify their voting location.
Pennsylvania Governor’s Administration to Distribute $255,000 in ‘Farm to Food Banks’ Funding, Redirect Agricultural Surplus to Address Food Insecurity
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced that Pennsylvania has been awarded $255,373, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Food Bank Program, which the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will distribute to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to reimburse farmers for costs associated with harvesting, packing, processing, and distributing donated agricultural surplus.
Farm to Food Bank is a product of the 2018 federal Farm Bill – based on legislation introduced by Senator Bob Casey and championed by Congressman Glenn Thompson – and was modeled after the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS), which was enacted into law in 2010 and first funded by Governor Tom Wolf in 2015. Pennsylvania’s funds are equitably distributed through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, a Feeding Pennsylvania member, and their 13 subcontractors to procure surplus agricultural products from Pennsylvania farmers and food processors, he department’s $1.5 million Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System serves as a match for the federal Farm to Food Bank Program.
States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions – Updated WalletHub Study
With most states partially reopened after closing down non-essential businesses earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released updated rankings for the States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions, as well as accompanying videos.
To identify which states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 11 key metrics. Our data set ranges from whether child-care programs and restaurants have reopened to the presence or absence of a “shelter-in-place” order. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
|
States with the Fewest Restrictions |
States with the Most Restrictions |
| 1. South Dakota | T-41. Connecticut / Michigan |
| 2. Wisconsin | T-41. New York |
| 3. Idaho | T-44. New Mexico |
| 4. Missouri | T-44. Washington |
| 5. Utah | 46. Hawaii |
| 6. Wyoming | 47. Vermont |
| 7. Montana | 48. Massachusetts |
| 8. Arizona | 49. District of Columbia |
| 9. North Dakota | 50. Rhode Island |
| 10. Iowa | 51. Illinois |
Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Monday, May 18, 2020.
Biggest Changes in Rank from the Previous Report
- Wisconsin moved from 34 to 2, up 32 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state has lifted all restrictions on large gatherings, had closed but fully re-opened restaurants and bars, has child care programs open and has fully reopened all non-essential businesses.
- Arizona moved from 32 to 8, up 24 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state has lifted all restrictions on large gatherings and has lifted all stay-at-home mandatory restrictions.
- Georgia moved from 11 to 28, down 17 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state requires wearing a face mask in public and that the state still has its legislative sessions postponed.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-fewest-coronavirus-restrictions/73818/
CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 5/18/20
CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.
Call details are below. Conference lines are limited so we highly encourage you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser. You are welcome to share this invitation with your colleagues and professional networks. These calls are not intended for the press.
Calls recordings and transcripts are posted on the CMS podcast page at: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/PodcastAndTranscripts
CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern)
Office Hour Calls provide an opportunity for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to:
- Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls;
- Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce;
- Put Patients Over Paperwork; and
- Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare
This week’s Office Hours:
Tuesday, May 19th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 1908409
Thursday, May 21st at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 9984433
Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 (Fridays at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern)
Lessons from the Front Lines calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians are invited to share their experience, ideas, strategies, and insights with one another related to their COVID-19 response. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters.
This week’s Lessons from the Front Lines:
Friday, May 22nd at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 877-251-0301;
Access Code: 6086125
Weekly COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls
CMS hosts weekly calls for certain types of organizations to provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. One to two leaders in the field also share best practices with their peers. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters if time allows.
Home Health and Hospice (Tuesdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Tuesday, May 19th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 6477704
Nursing Homes (Wednesdays at 4:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, May 20th at 4:30 – 5:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 4879622
Dialysis Organizations (Wednesdays at 5:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, May 20th at 5:30 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 3287645
Nurses (Thursdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Thursday, May 21st at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 2874976
To keep up with the important work the White House Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 click here: http://www.coronavirus.gov/. For information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
Institute Looks at Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Employment in Pennsylvania
Continuing its analysis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania, the Institute of State and Regional Affairs (ISRA) at Penn State Harrisburg has released a report comparing the economic impact of the pandemic on business sectors in Pennsylvania. The report — which is one tool that may be used to inform decision-making by local officials — found that unemployment claims grew at an alarming rate from the week of March 21 through the week of April 11, totaling nearly 1.7 million cases, and that cases may continue to grow past 2 million.
“As the commonwealth reopens, statewide leaders have many factors to consider. It is important that tools being used to support decision-making related to economic impacts pay attention to the job sectors that were hardest hit,” said Philip Sirinides, director of ISRA.
Using employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s definition of essential businesses paired with data on establishments, employment, and unemployment claims, the new report assesses the economic impact of the pandemic in Pennsylvania. The report found that at least 1.2 million employees worked in industries impacted by business establishment closures.
APHA and NAM: COVID-19 Conversations
The American Public Health Association (APHA) and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) hosted a webinar series over the last seven weeks with experts from the fields of public health, infectious disease, risk communication, and crisis standards of care. The recordings of past sessions are available here.
Introduction to Grants.gov Video Series
Applicants for federal funding can learn about the portal website, how to use the site’s search function, the contents of a grant opportunity, and steps for applying. Find more information here.
CMS Issues Final Rule for the 2021 Annual Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters
On May 7, 2020, CMS released the final annual Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters and Letter to Issuers for the 2021 benefit year. This final rule and Letter set forth payment parameters and instructions to insurers participating in the Health Insurance Exchanges or “Marketplaces”. Among the changes for 2021 are counting drug manufactures coupon toward the annual limitation on cost sharing and promoting the adoption of Value-based Insurance Designs (VBID). CMS also announced a one-week extension of the Qualified Health Plan (QHP) certification and rate review timelines to help issuers and states to better collect and assess data around the effects of COVID-19 and thereby establish more accurate premium rates. Find more information on the notice here. Generally, more information on rural health insurance issues is available from the RHIhub.