- Rural America Faces Growing Shortage of Eye Surgeons
- NRHA Continues Partnership to Advance Rural Oral Health
- Comments Requested on Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit Draft
- Q&A: What Are the Challenges and Opportunities of Small-Town Philanthropy?
- HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, Joined by Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Announces New Funding, Policy Action, and Report to Mark Landmark Year of HRSA's Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $60 Million Investment for Adding Early Morning, Night, and Weekend Hours at Community Health Centers
- Volunteer Opportunity for HUD's Office of Housing Counseling Tribe and TDHE Certification Exam
- Who Needs Dry January More: Rural or Urban Drinkers?
- Rural Families Have 'Critical' Need for More Hospice, Respite Care
- States Help Child Care Centers Expand in Bid To Create More Slots, Lower Prices
- Rural Telehealth Sees More Policy Wins, but Only Short-Term
- Healing a Dark Past: The Long Road To Reopening Hospitals in the Rural South
- Study: Obstetrics Units in Rural Communities Declining
- Q&A: Angela Gonzales (Hopi), on New Indigenous Health Research Dashboard
- Not All Expectant Moms Can Reach a Doctor's Office. This Kentucky Clinic Travels to Them.
Pennsylvanians Encouraged to Test for Radon
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Executive Deputy Secretary Ramez Ziadeh and Pennsylvania Second Lady Gisele Fetterman encouraged Pennsylvanians to test their homes for radon as part of National Radon Action Month.
Check out the press release here: https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/press_releases/20375_dep_radonAction2_release.pdf
In Pennsylvania: LGBTQ+ Cancer Screening Disaparities
According to the 2020 Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ Health Needs Assessment, many LGBTQ+ individuals never receive proper cancer screening services. For example, compared to the general population, LGBTQ+ individuals eligible for pap smears were more than 3 times as likely to never have one. A resource that is available to address this need is the PA Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (PA-BCCEDP), a program that provides free breast and cervical cancer screening to those who qualify including Pap tests, HPV tests, mammograms, and follow-up diagnostics for abnormal screening results. Clients must have income less than 250% of the federal poverty income guidelines, be uninsured or underinsured (high co-pays or deductibles) and live in Pennsylvania.
The age range for breast services is 40-64 and cervical services is 21-64. Younger high-risk clients may also be eligible. Transgender individuals may also be eligible. PA-BCCEDP does not cover the costs of HPV vaccines; however, the HPV vaccine is cervical cancer prevention. The vaccine is nearly 100% effective in preventing HPV-related cancers; it is recommended for ages 11-12 and is available for people up to 45 with clinician recommendation. Free HPV vaccines may be available for up to age 18 through the Pennsylvania Vaccines for Children Program. For more information regarding LGBTQ+ populations and cancer planning, please visit the National LGBT Cancer Network website.
Health Plans Can No Longer Impose Cost Sharing for Follow-up Colonoscopy
The policy loophole that allowed patients to be charged for colonoscopy following a positive non-colonoscopy screening text has been plugged. On January 10, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Treasury issued FAQs regarding coverage of colonoscopies pursuant to USPSTF recommendations. The FAQ specifies that plans are required to cover without cost-sharing, a follow-up colonoscopy performed to evaluate a positive non-invasive stool-based screening test or direct visualization test. Plans and issuers must provide coverage without cost sharing for plan or policy years beginning on or after May 31, 2022.
There are some limitations, to find out more visit View the FAQs (see questions seven and eight on pages 11-12). You can also visit the American Cancer Society’s CAN press release to learn more at: New Guidance from Administration Helps Ensure Coverage for Follow-up Colonoscopies, Will Save Lives from Colon Cancer.
Rural Hospitals that Closed between 2017‐20: Profitability and Liquidity in the Year Before Closure
Researchers at the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center used data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Healthcare Cost Report Information System to compare the pre-closure profitability of rural hospitals that closed between 2017 and 2020 with the performance of rural hospitals that remained open.
Click here to read the results of the analysis: Rural Hospitals that Closed between 2017‐20: Profitability and Liquidity in the Year Before Closure
New Research Brief: The High Performing Rural Health System
This brief presents the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Health Panel’s vision for a high-performing rural health system and specific pillars of such a system. The RUPRI Health Panel envisions rural health services that are affordable and accessible for all rural residents through a sustainable health system that delivers high quality, high value services. A high-performing rural health system informed by the needs of each unique rural community and population groups will improve community health and well-being.
Click here to access the brief: High Performing Rural Health System.
Updated Materials Available – Visiting Nursing Homes During Omicron Surge
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated our Nursing Home Resource Center with two new informational products.
As of January 6, 2022, the Nursing Home Visitation FAQs have been updated to provide additional guidance about visitation during the Omicron surge. CMS has also created an infographic to graphically represent how to safely conduct visits to nursing homes during this time of spiking COVID cases around the country. These two new resources are available for nursing home providers, patients, caregivers, and CMS partners to stay informed about CMS’ latest thinking for keeping nursing homes safe in the current COVID climate.
USDA Seeks Applications to Improve Rural Transportation Systems
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is accepting applications to enhance the operation of rural transportation systems. These investments in rural transportation build opportunity and prosperity for the people who live in rural communities by connecting them to economic resources they may not otherwise be able to access.
The grants are part of the Rural Business Development program https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-business-development-grants. Eligible applicants are qualified national organizations seeking to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve passenger transportation services and facilities. USDA does not provide funding directly to individuals under this program.
USDA is offering priority points to projects that advance key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, advance equity and combat climate change. These extra points will increase the likelihood of funding for projects seeking to address these critical challenges in rural America.
Applications will be scored, reviewed, and selected on a competitive basis. Applications must be submitted to the applicant’s nearest USDA office by April 14, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. local time.
Four Years Later: Pennsylvania Opioid Disaster Declaration Continues to Open Doors for Progress, Treatment, and Recovery
Much like COVID-19, the prescription opioid and heroin overdose epidemic continues to plague the public health of Pennsylvania. It affects individuals across the commonwealth — from big cities to rural communities.
Every day, Pennsylvania loses 14 Pennsylvanians to substance use disorder overdoses. Preliminary numbers show there have been 5,063 drug overdose deaths reported for 2020 through July 21, 2021. In comparison, Pennsylvania saw 4,458 drug overdose deaths in 2019. Recent statistics reveal that 2020 ranks second to 2017, in which there were 5,403 overdose deaths, the most overdose deaths in a single year since the opioid epidemic began.
Pennsylvania Governor Wolf’s administration has made the fight against opioid use disorder a top priority by taking an all-hands-on deck approach to prevent the disease from happening, rescuing those suffering, and getting Pennsylvanians into treatment. Since Governor Wolf took office, he and his administration have worked with the General Assembly to take aggressive steps to combat opioids, making Pennsylvania a national leader in the fight. Governor Wolf first signed the opioid disaster declaration in January 2018 to help the commonwealth fight the deadly opioid and heroin epidemic and renewed the declaration 15 times, most recently on August 4, 2021.
As the commonwealth continues to fight this battle, It’s important to know where to get treatment and resources. Preventing overdose death and finding treatment options are the first steps to recovery.
The Risk of Prescription Opioids
Prescription opioids can be an important part of treatment for pain, but they also come with serious side effects and risks. It is important to consider the risks and talk to your health care provider about your options. Physical tolerance and dependence, addiction, and death from overdose are some of the serious risks associated with opioids. These risks are specifically associated with long-term use, but can happen anytime.
- Learn more about possible side effects and risks
- Talk to your healthcare provider about other treatment options
- Learn about things that increase risk for overdose.
Finding Treatment
Call the Get Help Now hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
If you or someone you know are suffering from substance use disorder, help is available. Call the Get Help Now hotline for information about treatment resources. Your call is confidential. The hotline is staffed by trained professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is available in both English and Spanish.
Find County Treatment Programs
Local treatment programs are administered through county drug and alcohol offices called Single County Authorities. These programs can help with treatment funding, assessing the need for treatment, and making referrals to match treatment and/or service needs.
Find a Treatment Provider
You can reach out directly to a treatment provider for treatment. A treatment provider or facility provides treatment options for those suffering from substance use disorder.
Centers of Excellence
Centers of Excellence, created by the Wolf Administration in 2016, are designed to get more people into treatment and keep them engaged in their care. The centers coordinate care for people with Medicaid and, to date, more than 40,000 Pennsylvanians have engaged with the 60 centers to receive treatment. Treatment is team-based and “whole person” focused with the explicit goal of integrating behavioral health and primary care.
Get Naloxone: It Can Save a Life
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug (prescription pain medication or heroin). When given during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores breathing within two to eight minutes. Naloxone is safe to use and has no potential for abuse.
Family members and friends can access naloxone by:
- Obtaining a prescription from their family doctor
- Using the standing order issued by Acting Physician General Denise A. Johnson. To use the standing order, print it and take it to the pharmacy or have the digital version on your phone.
What type of Naloxone is available?
Two of the most common ways naloxone is administered are intranasal (nasal spray) and auto-injector.
- Intranasal has two pieces that are easily assembled: a prefilled medication tube and an atomization device, which is sold separately.
- The auto-injector comes in a manufactured dosage form (similar to an EpiPen) and has a recorded message to talk you through giving the medication.
* Please note, not all pharmacies have both forms, and insurance coverage can vary depending on the type of medication being purchased and each individual insurance plan.
How do I administer Naloxone?
- Talk to your health care provider and/or pharmacist
- Take a brief online training through the Department of Health:
Help for Families
It’s not easy supporting a loved one with substance use disorder or dealing with the many challenges that come along with it. You are not alone. Resources are here to help you.
Support Resources
- Online chat: Chat online with an expert (you can stay anonymous if you wish).
- Get Help Now hotline: Call the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ hotline at 1-800-662-4357 and get connected to supports.
- Grief support: Coping with the loss of a loved one due to a drug or alcohol overdose? Find a grief support group in Pennsylvania.
- Nar-Anon: Nar-Anon Family Groups help people who feel desperation around the substance use disorder of someone they are close to.
- Family Therapy: Find a therapist who specializes in substance use issues.
PA KinConnector
- Call the PA KinConnector Hotline at 1-866-546-2111 | Learn more
- Find family resources in a county near you
As a result of the opioid crisis, more grandparents and extended relatives are raising children in Pennsylvania. PA KinConnector was created to connect grandparents and other caregiver relatives to local, state, and federal resources, including physical and mental health services, health care coverage, school enrollment help, support groups, financial assistance, legal aid, and more.
Drug Take-Back Boxes
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Office of the Attorney General, the National Guard, and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, spearheaded an expanded prescription drug take-back box program placing hundreds of take-back boxes across all 67 of Pennsylvania’s counties. Since it’s inception, more than 500 tons of prescription drugs have been collected and safely discarded by the program.
Bipartisan Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act Introduced
Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) and Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02) introduced the bipartisan Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act to rescue rural hospitals on the brink of bankruptcy and help put these critical care providers back on solid ground.
“This isn’t a new problem. Our rural hospitals have been struggling to keep their doors open to patients for years,” said Graves.“But, the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly made this crisis worse, as many critical access hospitals are facing severe workforce shortages and skyrocketing expenses while reimbursement rates fall behind. This legislation reverses disastrous Medicare cuts that have hamstrung our rural hospitals for years and will help many of them get back on track. There’s no better time to get this done.”
“For years, rural hospitals have faced seemingly insurmountable odds: a raging pandemic, provider consolidation, and ever-increasing costs have piled challenge after challenge at their doors. And now, they’re facing added pressures brought on by the Omicron variant—leaving many hanging on by a thread,” said Rep. Huffman. “Rural hospitals and health centers, like the many in my district that have stepped up to care for our community, need legislative action and they need it now. My bill with Rep. Graves takes the steps necessary to help keep rural hospitals afloat and protect access to high-quality care, regardless of where folks live. By offering greater Medicare reimbursement, we can provide a much-needed lifeline to facilities on the edge of collapse—and save lives in the process.”
The Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act comes at a time when rural hospitals and health centers are facing unprecedented challenges. Since 2005, more than 170 rural hospitals across the country have closed their doors—forcing patients to travel further to get the care they need and leaving others to put off necessary healthcare. This problem has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and today 453 rural hospitals are currently operating at levels similar to those that have shut down over the last decade.
The Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act will reverse this dangerous trend by:
- Eliminating Medicare sequestration for rural hospitals
- Making Medicare telehealth service enhancements permanent for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
- Extending increased Medicare payments for rural ground ambulance services currently set to expire December 31, 2022
The bill was applauded by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and the National Rural Health Association.
“The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) applauds Rep. Graves and Rep. Huffman for introducing this comprehensive rural health bill. This comes at a critical time for rural communities and rural health providers as our nation continues to deal with the Public Health Emergency. We call on House members from both sides of the aisle to support and advance this important piece of legislation in 2022.” – Teryl Eisinger, Executive Director of National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH).
“The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Representatives Graves and Huffman for introducing the Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act. Since 2010, 137 rural hospitals have closed their doors, leaving the majority of those communities without access to a health care provider. The provisions in this important legislation will ensure that the more-than-60 million Americans who reside in rural America will maintain access to the care they need. NRHA believes passing the Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act will improve and expand access to health care in rural America.” – Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association.
You can read the bill here.
You can read highlights of the bill here.
Delayed & Missed Child Preventive Checkups During the Pandemic
A new study from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) found that more than 1 in 4 households have delayed or missed children’s preventive checkups due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, “Missed and Delayed Preventive Health Care Visits Among U.S. Children Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” was published by Public Health Reports and uses data collected in April and May of 2021.