HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) Associate Administrator Jim Macrae presided over two days of meetings (September 18-19) with state officials working to speed the adoption of health information technology in health centers nationwide. Computerized record systems promise to revolutionize care delivery while dramatically cutting costs and medical errors.

HRSA Acting Administrator Tom Engels — who oversaw adoption of a statewide health information system in Wisconsin —  addressed officials from state Primary Care Associations, which recently were awarded almost $42 million to expand and maintain Health Center Controlled Networks to promote the use of digital technology.

“Overall, Health Center Controlled Networks … serve 24 million patients at over 10,000 participating health center sites,” observed the Acting Administrator, “(and) help health centers navigate the operational and clinical challenges related to the use of health information technology … And many of you are working to ensure that patients have better access to their own personal health data.”

Read more about the adoption of health information technology in health centers.

More than half of the 1.1 million people diagnosed with HIV in America get medication and care through HRSA’s Ryan White Program — and more than 8 out of 10 of those in care — are able to lead normal lives as a result. But some 400,000 people with the virus are outside the HRSA system, and 1 in 7 are unaware they are infected. Making HIV testing an essential part of routine primary health care offered by community health centers could be key to getting the remainder into treatment, the agency’s senior leaders say.

Widely recognized for having helped transform the once deadly illness into a manageable disease, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS and Health Center Programs will be integral to making it preventable, agreed HRSA Acting Administrator Tom Engels and Associate Administrators Laura Cheever (HAB) and Jim Macrae (BPHC).

The trio addressed the annual gathering of HAB’s National Partners on September 17.

“The agency,” Engels pledged, “will play a leading role in helping to diagnose, treat, prevent, and respond to end the HIV epidemic in the United States.”

Read more about ending the HIV epidemic.

CDC last week released new guidance for clinicians to use to evaluate and treat patients with a lung illness officials believe is linked to e-cigarette use and vaping—and gave the illness a new name. CDC dubbed the illness EVALI, which stands for “e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury,” and stressed that clinicians should closely follow up with patients experiencing symptoms of the illness, as symptoms in some cases can progress rapidly or overlap with symptoms of influenza and other viral respiratory illnesses. (Source: STAT News, 10/11)

HHS last week released a guide outlining the steps clinicians should take to taper patients off of opioid prescriptions without causing patients harm. Brett Giroir, HHS’ assistant secretary for health, said the guidelines reflect “a very large body of data across the scientific and medical literature that would say that abrupt discontinuation or abrupt reduction in [opioid] dosage can be harmful to patients.” (Source: STAT News, 10/10)

Medscape last week released its annual RN/LPN Compensation report, which highlights trends in nurse compensation over the last year. The report showed that 49% of registered nurses and 58% of licensed practical nurses do not feel fairly compensated. (Source: Medscape, 10/11)

A federal judge ruled on Oct. 2 that a Pennsylvania nonprofit’s plan to open a safe-injection site, where drug users can inject under medical supervision, does not violate federal drug laws. The Department of Justice had sued to stop Philadelphia’s Safehouse operation, which features medically supervised injections to prevent overdoses and easy referrals to treatment. The Justice Department is expected to file an appeal. Read More.

The Wolf Administration announced this week that, under the guidance of the Department of Human Services (DHS), it is expanding home visiting supports to first-time mothers and mothers of children with special needs covered by Medicaid. The expansion, made possible in collaboration with physical health Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs), will guarantee at least two home visits to new parents and families with children with additional risk factors across Pennsylvania, expanding access to evidence-based models that promote and support healthy child and family development. The home visiting expansion is effective Jan. 1, 2020 through the MCOs’ 2020 agreement. Read more.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Oct. 9, that the Department of Human Services (DHS) will implement a single preferred prescription drug list for all companies that manage pharmacy benefits under Medicaid, starting Jan. 1, 2020. DHS estimates the change will save the state $85 million per year, at least in part by allowing the state to take full advantage of federal Medicaid drug rebates. Managed care organizations (MCOs) are not eligible for federal rebates. The companies affected, loosely organized as the Pennsylvania Coalition of Medical Assistance MCOs, assert the proposed change would cost the state $81 million more in the first year and make life harder for doctors. Read More.