The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) issued a Health Advisory to report Serious Adverse Events After Ceftriaxone Administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local health departments, is investigating reports of serious adverse events, including deaths, following receipt of injectable ceftriaxone. To date, events have not been associated with a single product manufacturer or lot, and a definitive causal link to ceftriaxone has not been established. DOH is requesting reports of serious adverse events following the administration of ceftriaxone to assist with the ongoing investigation. If you have any questions, or to report cases, please call your local health department or contact DOH at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3528).

Members of Congress are back in Washington, D.C. after a week-long recess. The House passed a budget resolution to set the stage for negotiations before the upcoming March 14 funding deadline. That leaves only 17 days until federal funding expires for programs like Community Health Centers, Teaching Health Centers, and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). The next opportunity for in-district advocacy is during the Congressional recess scheduled for March 17-21. Seeing the positive impact of rural health providers first-hand is the best way to invite your members of Congress to become champions for the 32.5 million patients you serve.

The Senate voted last Friday to adopt its budget resolution. The vote was mostly along party lines, 52-48, except for Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who voted against. While the House is expected to vote on its own budget resolution this week, the resolutions differ significantly. Both chambers must agree on a single version of the reconciliation bills to proceed.

The U.S. House passed Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) budget bill Tuesday. It is the critical first step for passing the massive fiscal agenda that Johnson and Pres. Trump have championed — though there are still more hurdles to clear. The vote was 217-215, with just one Republican — Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) — voting no and Democrats unified in opposition. Earlier Tuesday, Trump appeared to walk back his endorsement of the House budget by saying he is also considering the narrower version the Senate advanced last week. Johnson will also have to continue contending with right-wing hardliners in his conference, just a handful of whom can tank any party-line vote. Source: Axios

Representative Nancy Guenst has reintroduced legislation, HB 739, to grant full practice authority to nurse practitioners (NPs), increasing access to care for the people of Pennsylvania. The PACHC Board of Directors voted to support this legislation. Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia), who is a Nurse Practitioner at Family Practice and Counseling Network, is a co-sponsor of the legislation.