- Rural Hospitals Built During Baby Boom Now Face Baby Bust
- Food Stamps Go Further in Rural Areas — Until You Add Transportation Costs
- CMS Announces Resources and Flexibilities to Assist with the Public Health Emergency in the State of Texas
- CMS Proposes New Payments for Digital Health Under CY2025 PFS Draft Rule
- Improving Public Health by Strengthening Community Infrastructure
- Biden Harris Administration Proposes Policies to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Advance Health Equity, and Support Underserved Communities
- Nearly Half of U.S. Counties Don't Have a Single Cardiologist
- Randolph County, Ill. Turns Unused Part of Nursing Home Into State-Of-The-Art Behavioral Health Center
- Rural RPM Program Is a Lifeline for Pregnant Women
- Safe and Stable Housing Is a Foundation of Successful Recovery
- Expert: Rural Hospitals Are Particularly Vulnerable to Increasing Cyberattacks Targeting Healthcare Facilities
- Biden-Harris Administration Invests Over $200 Million to Help Primary Care Doctors, Nurses, and Other Health Care Providers Improve Care for Older Adults
- AJPH Call for Papers Special Section on Intersections of Public Health And Primary Care
- NIH HEAL Initiative Turns Attention to Pragmatic Trials in Rural Communities
- Limited Continuing-Care Options in Rural Virginia Create Challenges for an Aging Population
Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee Prepares to Vote on Senate-Passed Telemedicine Bill
The House Insurance Committee unanimously passed a telemedicine bill that passed the state Senate last month. Senate Bill 739 would require that health insurance policies cover medically necessary and otherwise covered healthcare services delivered through telemedicine. The bill was approved by the Senate by a 47-1 vote. The bill does allow telemedicine services to be provided by FQHCs. The bill now goes to the House for a vote. Since the bill was amended in the House Insurance Committee, it would need to go to the Senate for final approval.
Pennsylvania 2024 LGBTQ+ Health Needs Assessment Unveiled
The Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center is collecting responses for the 2024 Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ Health Needs Assessment. This survey is designed to better understand LGBTQ+ patients’ health and better understand the wellbeing and health care experiences of the community. The survey is available in English and Spanish. Please spread the word and share the survey with your networks.
Click here for the English survey.
Click here for the Spanish survey.
New Strategic Plan for Aging in Pennsylvania Launched: Aging Our Way, PA
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and the Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich unveiled a new blueprint for enhancing services targeted at the state’s elderly population. The plan, “Aging Our Way, PA,” is a ten-year strategic plan aimed to transform how state, regional, and local agencies work together to meet the needs of Pennsylvania’s fast-growing senior population and improve their quality of life.
Pennsylvania Announces Medicaid Program Dental Fee Schedule Changes
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) announced updates to the Medical Assistance (MA) Program Fee Schedule based upon the 2024 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) updates and based on clinical review. MAB 99-24-03 issued on May 28th can be reviewed in full on the Office of Medical Assistance Program website. See below for dental procedure codes that have been added.
- D2991 – refers to the application of hydroxyapatite
- D0190 – refers to screening of a patient
- D0191 – refers to assessment of a patient
Center of Excellence for Telehealth and Aging: Creating Access to Care in Rural America
A recording of a May 2024 webinar describing how CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center utilized telemedicine hubs to ensure access to care in rural West Virginia communities. The presentation discusses lessons learned, development of the program, and future plans. There’s also a panel discussion with telehealth, geriatric care, and rural health experts on improving healthcare delivery in rural areas. The Center for Excellence in Telehealth and Aging is a collaboration that includes the HRSA-supported Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center.
With New EMS Quality Measures, Florida Aims to Have a National Impact on Rural Care
A feature article in The Rural Monitor features the Feasible, Actionable, Impactful and Relevant (FAIR) EMS Measurement Project, an initiative by the Florida Department of Health which developed rural-relevant EMS quality measures for use in the state and nationally.
Preparing Behavioral Health Clinicians for Success and Retention in Rural Safety Net Practices
A study published by the Journal of Rural Health assesses how training in rural communities relates to confidence in skills important in their work settings, successes in jobs and communities, and anticipated retention. Here, a summary of the study is provided by 3RNET, a national nonprofit that helps rural practices expand their reach for posting job vacancies.
CMS is Extending Medicaid Unwinding Data Reporting
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued this letter to inform Medicaid agencies that CMS is extending current state reporting requirements for certain metrics contained in the Unwinding Data Report. Monthly state reporting about renewal actions occurring on or after July 1, 2024, and fair hearing requests that have been pending for more than 90 days, will continue on an ongoing basis. CMS will continue reporting data publicly to maintain transparency into Medicaid and CHIP renewal outcomes at the national and state levels. Medicaid is an important source of insurance coverage in rural areas. The unwinding of the continuous Medicaid coverage provision has resulted in over 22 million enrollees being disenrolled as of May 23, 2024 and over 49 million have had their coverage renewed.
New Occupations Added to Guide for Licensure Portability
The Multi-Discipline Licensure Resource Project is an effort supported by HRSA to improve licensure portability for health care professions working between states and for people who are geographically isolated. Previously, the site provided guidance for four disciplines: Psychology, Social Work, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy. New disciplines have been added: Counseling, Dentistry, Dietitians, Emergency Medical Services, Physician Assistants, Nursing, Advanced Practice Nursing, and School Psychologists.
Apply for Medicare ACO Primary Care Flex Model Request for Applications
Deadline August 1. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now accepting applications for the ACO Primary Care Flex Model (ACO PC Flex Model). This voluntary model focuses on improving primary care delivery in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Accountable Care Organizations (ACO)s participating in the ACO PC Flex model will receive monthly prospective primary care payments, replacing traditional fee-for-service reimbursement, for primary care services for all participating primary care providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Rural Health Clinics. They will also receive an upfront Advanced Shared Savings Payment of $250,000. Organizations interested in participating must first apply to the Shared Savings Program by June 17 then submit a supplemental ACO PC Flex application questionnaire. CMS will host a webinar TODAY, June 6 at 2:00 pm Eastern to provide an overview of the ACO PC Flex Model’s application process.