CDC Reports on Suicide Rates; Largest Increase Among Native American Women.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified suicide as one of the leading cause of death in the U.S.  Suicide rates increased by 33 percent between 1999 and 2017, but the largest increase occurred for non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native women, up 139 percent.

Sens. Amy Klobuchar, (D-Minn.), Gary Peters, (D-Mich.), and John Thune (R-S.D.) recently introduced the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act, which is intended to improve the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission’s broadband availability maps by improving the broadband data collection process. “Broadband maps are a critical tool in our effort to close the digital divide in rural areas like those throughout my home state of South Dakota, but they are only as good as the data that’s used to produce them,” Thune says. Additionally, the U.S. Senate on June 5 passed by unanimous consent a bipartisan bill offered by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), to conduct an assessment and analysis of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on America’s economy.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released the seventh preliminary report on automatic Health Professional Shortage Area scores (auto-HPSAs). Uses may have noticed in their scores that the Nearest Source of Care (NSC) for primary care, dental or behavioral health was inaccurate. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), which serves as the commonwealth’s Primary Care Office, HRSA knows that most of the NSCs for the auto-HPSAs are not correct. DOH is unable to change those providers, however, until after the national update when the HRSA auto-HPSA portal will be available to change the NSC and submit supplemental documentation. The national update will take place when the preliminary scores become official and take the place of the current scores. Information provided about NSCs cannot be entered since the portal is not yet available, so DOH is asking Community Health Centers to wait until after the national update to request a change. This will help DOH track, comply and best change requests. To request a change, please send an email to Belinda Williams, Public Health Program Administrator, at belwilliam@pa.gov.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is still accepting feedback for the Health Center Program Service Area Considerations Request for Information (RFI) that may inform HRSA decisions regarding Health Center Program expansion through an existing health center’s addition of new service delivery sites. The deadline is Monday, July 8. HRSA welcomes feedback on the following areas of consideration: unmet need; proximity; reasonable boundaries for service area; consultation with other local providers; demonstrated capacity and performance in existing service area; and insuring patient input/representation. Share your thoughts and thank you to those who have already submitted input.

At the start of every year, the Health Care Advisory Board conducts the Advisory Board Research Annual Health Care CEO Survey to identify the top strategic priorities for hospital and health system leaders. The survey found that 57% ranked improving ambulatory access a high priority, while strengthening primary care alignment and redesigning systems for population health were also ranked as high priorities by more than half. Read more.

Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores for National Health Service Corps scholars in Class Year 2020 have once again gone up, making the list of eligible sites even smaller. Priority for assignment of NHSC scholars at NHSC-approved sites is as follows:

• Primary medical care HPSAs with scores of 19 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are primary care physicians, primary care nurse practitioners, or primary care physician assistants; primary medical care HPSAs with scores of 16 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are certified nurse midwives.
• Mental health HPSAs with scores of 21 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are psychiatrists; mental health HPSAs with scores of 19 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are mental health nurse practitioners or mental health physician assistants; and
• Dental HPSAs with scores of 19 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are dentists.

The NHSC has determined that the minimum HPSA scores listed above for all service-ready NHSC scholars will enable it to meet its statutory obligation to identify a number of entities eligible for NHSC scholar assignment that is at least equal to, but not greater than, twice the number of NHSC scholars available to serve in the 2020 class year. Read more on the HRSA website.

The School-Based Health Alliance is the national school-based health care advocacy, technical assistance, and training organization based in Washington DC. The Alliance works to improve the health of children and youth by advancing and advocating for school-based health care. As youth-friendly and accessible settings, school-based health centers (SBHCs) are uniquely positioned to deliver high quality, confidential services that equip children and adolescents with the information, tools, and support they need to be healthy and safe where they are, when they need it… in school.  Visit the website to access resources and learn more. Also stay tuned as PACHC is working with the School-Based Health Alliance to offer a webinar on Adolescent Motivational Interviewing sometime in July.

Online Training and Resources for Rural First Responders.  The Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium provides free online training and resources to help rural communities plan for and respond to mass injuries and fatalities.  Supported by The Center for Rural Development, the site provides self-paced online training and scheduled, in-person training that has been certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.