- CMS: Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction Model
- CMS: Secretarial Comments on the CBE's (Battelle Memorial Institute) 2024 Activities: Report to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
- HHS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
- HRSA Announces Action to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Life-Saving Medications at Health Centers Nationwide
- Public Inspection: HHS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
- Increased Risk of Cyber Threats Against Healthcare and Public Health Sector
- Eight Hospitals Selected for First Cohort of Rural Hospital Stabilization Program
- Announcing the 2030 Census Disclosure Avoidance Research Program
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
HRSA Adds New Oral Health Resources
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has added two new oral health resources to their website as part of the “A Healthy Mouth for Every Body” campaign. The new resources highlight the role of oral health during pregnancy and the relationship between oral health and nutrition.
Pennsylvania AHEC SEARCH Academy for High School Students Accepting Applications
Do you have any high school students in your life? Pennsylvania AHEC Students Exploring and Researching Careers in Health (SEARCH) Academy is accepting applications for 2024. This free virtual program gives students the chance to learn about a variety of careers from health professionals across PA. Students may attend one or all three sessions, which will take place on Wednesday evenings starting in October. The oral health professionals session will be November 6th.
Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Negotiated Prices Announced for IPAY 2026 Rollout
CMS has published the negotiated maximum fair prices (MFP) for the first drugs selected for negotiation for 2026. CMS reached agreement for new, lower prices for all 10 drugs selected for negotiations, which will be effective on January 1, 2026.
The following materials are available to support outreach:
- An updated IPAY 2026 fact sheet (email version below, also posted to the newsroom and published as a PDF)
- A plain language infographic about the program and the 10 price discounts
- A social media toolkit that can used to amplify this announcement: https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/social-media-toolkit-negotiated-prices.zip
CDC Publishes Collaborative Study on Alzheimer’s Disease, Related Dementia Diagnoses Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adults
The CDC recently released a collaborative study with the Indian Health Service (IHS), and the Alzheimer’s Association providing the first estimates of dementia among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations who receive health care services through IHS. This study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
The study found 14% of IHS patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) were early-onset cases (below age 65). However, globally, only 9% of dementia patients have early onset of the disease.
Because the study is limited to AI/AN adults who used IHS health care, the findings cannot be generalized to the entire AI/AN population. The researchers note the rates of Alzheimer’s disease may be underestimated due to AI/AN individuals with private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, or another health plan are not reflected in the IHS data unless they received care at an IHS facility.
This study provides baseline data to help IHS, CDC, and other public health and tribal partners in addressing ADRD in AI/AN communities. The findings emphasize the need to implement ADRD risk reduction strategies, to screen and diagnose ADRD in younger populations, and to enhance clinical and community-based services to support AI/AN adults living with dementia and their caregivers.
As part of the National Healthy Brain Initiative (NHBI), CDC offers a Road Map tailored for AI/AN communities as they develop a broad response to ADRD. The Road Map is accompanied by a suite of resources to support AI/AN communities such as a planning guide, a dissemination guide, infographics, flyers and more.
New Brief Published: Changes in Rural Pharmacy Presence 2023
Fred Ullrich, BA; and Keith Mueller, PhD
This data brief continues the RUPRI Center’s series of reports exploring the availability of retail pharmacy services in rural areas of the U.S. It provides information on rural communities that have kept, lost, or gained a retail pharmacy between 2018 and 2023.
Read the full report here.
Additional products:
- Update on Rural Independently Owned Pharmacy Closures in the United States, 2003-2021
- Rural and Urban Pharmacy Presence – Pharmacy Deserts
For more information, contact
Keith J. Mueller, PhD; keith-mueller@uiowa.edu
Director, RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
University of Iowa College of Public Health
Pennsylvania Action Coalition (PA-AC) Brand Refresh: Introducing the Pennsylvania Nursing Workforce Coalition
We are excited to announce that as outcome of the thorough strategic planning process that we engaged in over the past several months, we have a new 5-year strategic plan and we will be refreshing our brand as the Pennsylvania Nursing Workforce Coalition (PA-NWC)!
A few notes about this change:
- We are calling this a “brand refresh” and not a “rebrand” because we want to be clear that the components of our structure are not changing. This includes the PA-NWC’s functioning as a program of the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium (NNCC), and our Advisory Board structure as a coalition with organizations as members and individual representatives.
- We look forward to strengthening our position as Pennsylvania’s Nursing Workforce Center. The PA-AC has “housed” Pennsylvania’s Nursing Workforce Center since 2016 when we became a part of the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers. The “brand refresh” is just making this work more front and center.
- The PA-NWC will continue its strong relationship with the Future of Nursing reports and the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action. Our feedback expressed that one of our core strengths was our anchor in the national framework of the Future of Nursing’s goals and that our participants continue to feel connected to and inspired by its principles. Many other nursing workforce centers across the country are simultaneously their state’s Action Coalition and workforce center.
Learn more about our new strategic plan and the process that we followed at the link below! Stay tuned for additional materials and communications as well. We are excited to work with you in our new chapter as the PA-NWC
Pennsylvania Insurance Department Announces 2025 Proposed Rate Increases – Requests Public Comment
The Individual and Small Group Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Proposed Rates for 2025 are available on the Pennsylvania Insurance Department’s (PID) Website. On average, the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange (Pennie) insurers on the individual market requested a 7.9 % premium increase based on rising drug costs, increased labor costs in the healthcare industry, and the utilization of medical services. Of the current nine insurers, Ambetter, Capital Blue Cross, CIGNA, Geisinger, Highmark, Independence Blue Cross, Jefferson Health Plans, Oscar, and UPMC, three are requesting to expand into additional counties. These insurers are Geisinger, Jefferson Health Plans and Ambetter. A public comment period on these rate requests and filings will be accepted through Sep. 2 and can be emailed to ra-in-comment@pa.gov. Open Enrollment for Pennie is November 1,2024 through January 15, 2025.
Pennsylvania Health Advisories on Emerging Substances in the Illicit Drug Supply Issued
The Pennsylvania Department of Health issued two Health Advisories on emerging substances in the illicit drug supply in Pennsylvania
· Health Advisory – 762 – ADV – Medetomidine, a Potent Non-opioid Veterinary Sedative, Has Been Detected in the Illicit Drug Supply
· Health Advisory – 763 – ADV – Emerging Substances in the Illicit Drug Supply
View a complete list of health advisories on the DOH’s website.
Pennsylvania Department of Health Press Release: Xylazine Wound Care Kits Distribution
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen visited the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Center for Addiction Recovery today to announce that the Shapiro Administration will distribute 50,000 xylazine wound care kits to provide care and relief for people with xylazine-associated wounds. “Xylazine’s emergence in Pennsylvania’s illicit drug supply is a major public health concern,” said Secretary Bogen. “Because the wounds caused by xylazine are more complicated and severe than those traditionally seen in people who use other drugs, there is a need for quick action, new medical protocols, and access to appropriate self-care wound supplies.”
2024 Salk Health Activist Fellowship Now Accepting Applications
Pennsylvania faces significant challenges related to substance use, some of which relate to the policies governing the services available. Overdose deaths continue to rise nationally, and the public health challenges are constantly evolving. The 2024 Salk Health Activist Fellowship will provide a focus for emerging health activists on effective policy change tactics to address the current substance use challenges in Pennsylvania. During the in-person program this fall in Pittsburgh, fellows will gain insight into the existing U.S. and Pennsylvania substance use policies, learn how to effectively lay out a case for change, explore strategic approaches to policy change, and gain tools for coalition building and maximizing media coverage. Fellows will also explore what substance use costs Pennsylvanians and consider how best to improve health outcomes through evidence-based policies and interventions.