- 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
HRSA Retains Dental Sealant Measure for 2020
The draft dental sealant measure, CMS277, captures the percentage of children age 6-9 years, at moderate to high risk for caries who received a sealant on a first permanent molar during the measurement period. The dental sealant measure will be retained for 2020. Based on feedback received during the public comment period, HRSA will not move forward with adding the fluoride varnish measure (CMS74) for 2020.
Expanded Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak
On March 17, 2020, the Trump Administration today announced expanded Medicare telehealth coverage that will enable beneficiaries to receive a wider range of healthcare services from their doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility. Beginning on March 6, 2020, Medicare—administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—will temporarily pay clinicians to provide telehealth services for beneficiaries residing across the entire country.
To read the Fact Sheet on this announcement visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet
To read the Frequently Asked Questions on this announcement visit: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-telehealth-frequently-asked-questions-faqs-31720.pdf
This guidance, and earlier CMS actions in response to the COVID-19 virus, are part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 click here www.coronavirus.gov. For information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
Message from PA Oral Health Coalition about COVID-19
The PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) has releaesd a statement on oral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic:
“As Pennsylvania has been justifiably proactive in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, the PA Coalition for Oral Health supports the state issuing directives to the dental community immediately to initiate ’emergency treatment only’ policies. Stopping the spread of this virus and protecting the health and safety of patients, their family members, and dental professionals is our first priority.”
CDC Update for Rural Communities on the COVID-19 Disease Response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put together a special program for RURAL providers and stakeholders for an update on the COVID-19 response. Registration is required by linking here.
Date: Monday, March 23, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Presenter: Dr. Jay Butler (Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases)
Dr. Butler will share guidance with partners, public health practitioners, healthcare providers, and others working to protect the health of rural communities. He will describe what CDC knows at this point and what CDC is doing in response to this outbreak. We will also have time for questions and answers.
Please email eocevent337@cdc.gov to submit questions in advance and indicate that questions are for the 3/23 call.
This event will be recorded. Questions not answered during it may be sent to ruralhealth@cdc.gov
REGISTER HERE:
zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_etqFB-z0Tjyp-_WGI8jfzw
Need Help with Health Insurance or Benefits in the Midst of the Crisis? PHAN Can Help!
Need help with health insurance or benefits in the midst of the crisis?
Call PHAN’s Helpline at 877-570-3642
The response to COVID-19 is changing rapidly. Many counties in our state are requiring tele-working, closing childcare centers, and more. All K-12 schools are closed, and Governor Wolf recently ordered the closing of all non-essential businesses for the next two weeks.
This means that many Pennsylvania residents will start to worry about things like health insurance, paychecks, utilities, housing, bills, and other things that could affect our families’ health and financial well-being. That’s why PHAN is offering their helpline to make sure folks get connected with appropriate programs:
Call PHAN’S Helpline at 877-570-3642 with questions!
“Low Income Levels” Used for Various Health Professions and Nursing Programs Authorized in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act
February 24, 2020
SUMMARY:
HRSA is updating income levels used to identify a “low income family” for the purpose of determining eligibility for programs that provide health professions and nursing training to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. These various programs are authorized in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act.
Executive Order on Combating Human Trafficking and Online Child Exploitation in the United States
Jan 31, 2020 — The President issued an executive order on combating human trafficking and online exploitation of children. Describes the federal government’s commitment to strengthen its responsiveness to human trafficking, prosecute human traffickers, and protect victims of human trafficking and exploitation.
United States Department of Agriculture Releases Community Facilities Guidebook for Loan Applicants
Community Facilities Guidebook for Applicants
USDA Rural Development released a new guidebook to help applicants apply for a Community Facilities (CF) Direct Loan Program. This guide outlines the application process, financial feasibility requirements, construction and closing of an essential community facility for small towns and rural areas.
What’s the bare-minimum income a Pennsylvania household of four needs to survive? Try nearly $60,000 a year.
To survive in Pennsylvania, a family of four needs to make $59,340 a year — a hard-to-fathom, sticker-shock number that shows how expensive life has become.
That’s the finding of a recently released report by Harrisburg-based United Way of Pennsylvania.
Comments Requested: PTAC Proposal on Remote Specialist Care
Comments Requested: PTAC Proposal on Remote Specialist Care – October 1. ThePhysician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) requests public comment on a proposal for a new payment model that would create either Regional Referral Centers (RRCs) or a single National Referral Center (NRC) to provide remote specialists and experts for most health issues. The specialists would support field providers such as visiting nurses, community providers, PCPs, or hospital doctors and would serve any geographic location. Comments can be emailed to PTAC@hhs.gov with the subject line “Public Comment – [name of document].”
Read the document here:
https://aspe.hhs.gov/system/files/pdf/261881/ProposalSobel.pdf