- 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
Link Between Oral Health and ADHD Explored
Nearly 9 million adults in the United States have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to a new report from CareQuest, adults with ADHD face more oral health risks than adults without ADHD. This is partly due to the medications used to treat ADHD causing side effects such as increased tooth decay, gingivitis, and other issues. Dental and medical providers should work together to maintain optimal oral health.
CDC Releases Dental Caries Surveillance Report
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report, the “2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report: Dental Caries, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 2018-March 2020.”
This report used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to provide national estimates for the prevalence and severity of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth for individuals 2 years or older and for tooth retention in adults age 20 years or older. Among the findings, the report found that half of children ages 6 to 9 have had cavities in their primary or permanent teeth. More than 1 in 7 adults ages 65 and older have lost all of their teeth.
Connecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients to Health Coverage: A Toolkit for Partners
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new toolkit to help partners share information with DACA recipients who will be able to enroll in health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace ® for the first time starting November 1, 2024. DACA recipients who meet the eligibility criteria for coverage will qualify for a 60-day Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to select and enroll in a health plan through the Marketplace. Eligible DACA recipients who want 2024 coverage should select a plan by November 30, 2024, to have coverage that begins on December 1, 2024. DACA recipients who need 2025 coverage should enroll during Open Enrollment, which runs from November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025 on HealthCare.gov.
This toolkit is designed to help you reach uninsured, qualified DACA recipients and inform them on how to enroll in Marketplace coverage. You can use these resources on social media, in listservs, and in other modes of communication.
The toolkit includes the following resources:
- Drop-In Article
- Fact Sheet
- Fillable Flyer
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Postcard
- Social Media Messages
- Social Media Graphics
Help CMS spread the word about this new opportunity for DACA recipients to apply for and select an affordable health plan on HealthCare.gov.
Visit healthcare.gov/immigrants/coverage/ for more information on health coverage for immigrants, and visit the Partners Tools & Toolkits page for additional Marketplace Open Enrollment resources, including a Spanish version of the new toolkit that will post soon.
Pennsylvania Health Care Marketplace Opens. Help is Here!
Open Enrollment for Pennie.com plans starts today!
That means it’s time to enroll in health insurance for 2025, now through January 15th. For plans starting January 1st, make sure you enroll by December 15.
Nine out of 10 Pennsylvanians qualify for financial assistance! These tax credits save the average person more than $500 a month on a health insurance plan.
Now is the time to shop around! Plans and prices change from year to year, so don’t wait until the last minute to look at your options for 2025.
If you need help or want to know if you qualify for financial assistance, call or text our FREE, statewide helpline:
FOR FREE HELP, CALL OR TEXT: 877-570-3642
USDA and Reinvestment Fund Invest $150,000 to Increase Equitable Access to Healthy Foods in Pennsylvania
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Rural Development Bob Morgan announced today that USDA is partnering with Reinvestment Fund to invest $150,000 through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Planning Grant Program, which provides grants to organizations for healthy food retail or food retail supply chain projects in early-stage planning and predevelopment phases.
The Keystone Development Center will use the investment to expand membership and community engagement for Aliquippa Food Co-op, a community-owned grocery store. The funding will help the center continue to provide the co-op with education and organizing support, which it has provided for the last two years.
“Many low-income communities in Pennsylvania lack adequate, access to healthy food,” State Director Morgan said. “USDA is proud to partner with Reinvestment Fund to ensure that these funds and resources reach the communities where they are needed most, so people can find nutritious food options anywhere they live.”
This announcement is part of USDA’s comprehensive set of efforts, bolstered by funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, to create more and better markets that benefit both producers and American consumers.
HFFI is designed to support new and expanded markets for a diversity of growers while helping people across the nation access affordable, healthy foods.
You can read the national announcement that was also made today on our website here.
Previous HFFI awards in Pennsylvania can be viewed here.