- 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
Funding Opportunity Announced for Community Water Systems in Pennsylvania
PCOH is requesting proposals for Community Water Fluoridation Equipment Grants. This grant seeks to issue funds to those public water systems wishing to initiate, update, or expand the practice of community water fluoridation. This funding round gives priority to community water systems that are initiating a fluoridation program. Systems may be at any stage in the initiation process. Systems which have previously received equipment grants from PCOH may apply for equipment updates and replacements, though first-time applicants will receive priority consideration. The maximum request per water system wishing to initiate or currently fluoridating may not exceed $25,000. If funds remain after the first application deadline, a second funding round will be announced.
Applications are due November 9 by 5pm.
Funding for this project is through the Pennsylvania Department of Health through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Grant NU58DP006467: Using Surveillance Data and Evidence-based Interventions to Improve Oral Health Outcomes in Pennsylvania. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by CDC, HHS or the U.S. Government.
New Report Highlights Linkage Between Oral Health and Heart Infection Prevention
The American Heart Association published an article linking oral health to heart infection prevention. The article discussed how good oral hygiene and regular dental care are the most important ways to reduce risk of a heart infection called infective endocarditis caused by bacteria in the mouth.
September is Dental Infection Control Month
September is “Dental Infection Control Month” as recognized by the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention. This celebration brings awareness to infection prevention and control in dental settings. This year’s theme is “Staying in the Know Together.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides training materials and other resources to increase the knowledge, skills, and ability of dental health care personnel to adhere to CDC guidelines and recommendations.
The Pennsylvania Medicaid Agency Has Posted its Fee Schedule Revisions
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) on August 26 posted Medical Assistance fee schedule changes that become effective Sept. 5. DHS is adding and end-dating procedure codes according to the 2023 updates provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). DHS is adding procedure codes and setting limitations and making fee adjustments to current procedure codes.
Recent Data Shows Increase in Severe Maternal Morbidity Rates in PA
Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) analysts recently announced that they found an alarming rise in severe maternal morbidity among patients hospitalized in PA for delivery from 2016 through 2022. Severe maternal morbidity includes unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant consequences to a woman’s health. The rate of severe maternal morbidity in PA increased 40% from 2016 to 2022. In 2021-2022 the rate of severe maternal morbidity experienced in hospitals was 107.6 per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations; for a total of 2,625 women affected. The following categories of women had higher rates of severe maternal morbidity:
- Women who were black, non-Hispanic
- Women 40-55 years of age
- Women insured by Medicaid
- Women from zip codes with poverty rates over 25%
A Philadelphia Group Erases Medical Debt for 1,700 People
A group of Philly 30-somethings raised funding to buy more than $1.6 million in local medical debt. They celebrated with an unofficial debt burning, complete with lighter fluid, shots, Roman candles, and sparklers. More than 1,700 beneficiaries are slated to receive letters informing them that someone took care of part or all their medical debt starting mid-September.
Read About the New HRSA Frequently Asked Question on Acquiring COVID-19 Vaccines
Q: How can I use Expanding COVID-19 Vaccination (ECV) and Bridge funds to cover the COVID-19 vaccine that my health center previously purchased or to pre-order the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine?
A: You may use ECV funds to pre-order planned, but currently unavailable, COVID-19 vaccine to ensure you have an adequate supply of the newest vaccine compilation in the fall. This includes past pre-order costs that have not and will not be reimbursed by other sources. Consult with your Grants Management Specialist if this is a change of more than 25% of your current approved budget. If ECV-purchased vaccines are administered to individuals with payer sources (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance), you must seek reimbursement and adjust your financial records accordingly. Reimbursed funds are considered Program Income and must be used in accordance with 45 CFR Part 75.307. HRSA anticipates that you may use the upcoming Bridge funding to pre-order the newest vaccine compilation. However, HRSA also expects there will be requirements on Bridge funding awards for making and documenting reasonable efforts to obtain such vaccines for free. More information will be available when Bridge funding is awarded.
CMS Issues Final Rule for Medicaid, CHIP Quality Measures Reporting
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released on August 28, 2023, a final rule to require reporting of standardized quality measures in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The rule requires mandatory annual state reporting on three different quality measure sets, including child and adult core sets, health home core sets, and behavioral health core sets. The rule will begin in fiscal 2024. Read more.
Changes Have Been Proposed to Reduce Medicare Beneficiary Burden
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued draft guidance to allow people with Medicare to pay out-of-pocket prescription drug costs in monthly payments. The New Medicare Prescription Payment Plan will help people pay Medicare Part D costs over the year instead of all at once. The draft guidance provides information on topics such as identifying Medicare Part D enrollees likely to benefit from the program, the opt-in process for Part D enrollees, program participant protections, and the data collection needed to evaluate the program. The draft guidance solicits comments on these topics and on strategies to help ensure eligible Part D enrollees benefit from programs like the Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help to lower their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. The comment period is open until September 20, 2023.
Medicaid Enrollment Continues to Drop
Nationwide, millions of Medicaid beneficiaries are being disenrolled with many losing coverage because of missing or incorrect paperwork. Nearly 5.5 million people nationally are believed to have been disenrolled with at least 1 million of those being children. The Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University estimates that nearly half of people disenrolled still meet the eligibility criteria. In Pennsylvania, Medicaid enrollment has declined by 3% or 111,646 beneficiaries since April. Of the 3,596,759 enrollees, 2,172,041, or 60% are adults, and 1,424,718, or 40% are children. To review more data reporting information, access the DHS Federal Unwinding Report Dashboard.