- Colorectal Cancer Is Rising among Younger Adults. Some States Want to Boost Awareness.
- 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
- Safe and Stable Housing Is a Foundation of Successful Recovery
- Rural RPM Program Is a Lifeline for Pregnant Women
- 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
Hospital Groups to Fight Price Transparency Rule
Millennials’ Health Worse that Previous Generations
Millennials are experiencing chronic health issues at greater rates than previous generations, according to a report released this month by Moody’s and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The report noted that higher rates of chronic conditions could have a significant effect on millennials’ economic potential and health spending in the future. (Source: Bloomberg, 11/6)
Time to Celebrate the #PowerofRural!
Every year, the third Thursday of November is designated as National Rural Health Day (NRHD). What began as an annual, single day of recognition has grown to be a national conversation and movement!
Multiple events are happening in every state across the country throughout the week and on November 21. the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health has made it easy to participate by offering free communication tools, an idea guide, and an extensive listing of and registration for activities around the country – all available on PowerofRural.org!
Thanks again for all you do to help us transform this moment into a movement!
New AHRQ Medication-Assisted Treatment Resource
A new Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ) interactive resource provides the latest guidance, tools, and resources for organizations implementing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. It addresses the growing need for guidance as more primary care practices and health systems begin to implement MAT.
Apple Health Records Rollout for Nation’s Veterans
Apple and the Department of Veterans Affairs have completed the rollout of Apple Health Records to any iOS users among the more than 9 million veterans in the US and surrounding territories. Veterans will have secure access to a portable aggregated record of their allergies, immunizations, lab results, procedures and other health measures through the health records feature in Apple’s health app.The rollout includes 1,243 facilities across all 50 states as well as Cuba, Guam, Philippines, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. Data will be encrypted and secured with passwords, TouchID or FaceID. Earlier this year, the VA rolled out its LaunchPad app, designed as a one-stop shop to help veterans manage care across the VA system; view and share electronic health records; share other health information with care providers; more easily book appointments; and refill prescriptions. The VA also announced a partnership with Verizon, offering veterans who are Verizon customers unlimited access to the VA Video Connect telehealth app with no data charges.
Open Enrollment Off to a Healthy Start
More than 177,000 people signed up for Health Insurance Marketplace plans during the first two days of open enrollment, according to numbers released by the Trump administration. Nov. 1 marked the first day of open enrollment on HealthCare.gov, the federal government’s enrollment platform used by 38 states. Of the 177,082 people who selected plans, nearly 49,000 were new customers.
Countdown to Community HealthChoices (CHC) in Remaining 48 Counties
Community HealthChoices (CHC) is Pennsylvania’s mandatory managed care program for individuals 21 years of age or older who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid or who receive long-term services and supports through Medicaid because of disabilities. CHC is currently live in southwest and southeast Pennsylvania and will launch in the remainder of the state on Jan. 1, 2020. Here are some resources to be sure you are ready:
- Third party liability (TPL) & Coordination of Benefits Fact Sheet
- 30-minute online CHC training
- Comprehensive question and answer document
- Question portal
- CHC website
- CHC listserv for ongoing updates
The Department of Human Services has notified Pennsylvania residents who are eligible for CHC of the transition to this new program, what it means for them, and important deadlines throughout the summer and fall. Eligible participants have until Nov. 13 to select their managed care organization (MCO). After this date, participants will be automatically enrolled in one of the three MCOs providing services for CHC participants. If a participant would like to change their MCO, they are able to do that at any time. Participants have until Dec. 20 to make a plan selection change in order for it to be effective Jan. 1, 2020. After that point, MCO changes will take effect beginning later in 2020.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to Launch New Website
Over the next few weeks, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will launch a redesigned website. The homepage will still be accessible at www.dhs.pa.gov, but existing hyperlinks will change under the new structure. If you have bookmarked pages, they may no longer work. If you are trying to access a page and the link no longer works, go to the DHS homepage and use the search function to find the page you are looking for. All pages and content will still be available with the migration even if the old link is no longer functional. If you identify a problem following the transition, contact DHS’ Communications Office at RA-PWDHSPRESSOFFICE@pa.gov.
Pennsylvania Transitions Jan. 1 to Single Statewide Preferred Drug List
Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program will have a single statewide Preferred Drug List (PDL) effective Jan. 1, 2020. The statewide PDL was developed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee and published via an Oct. 10, 2019 MA Bulletin. Officials with the Department of Human Services (DHS) report that requiring the Medicaid managed care plans to use a single medication formulary will result in substantial cost savings for the Medicaid program and improve consistency for providers and recipients.
- Under the statewide PDL, all Medicaid HealthChoices and Community HealthChoices plans as well as MA Fee-for-Service (FFS) will use the same list of preferred medications and the same prior authorization guidelines
- The DHS pharmacy director reported at a public meeting in late October that 149,741 consumers would be impacted by the transition, meaning they would need to change medications or get prior authorization to continue taking their current medication
- Of those impacted, about 39,000 would have more than one medication impacted
- Both FFS MA and the Medicaid managed care plans are scheduled to mail letters to impacted consumers by Nov. 1, 60 days prior to the effective date
- Medicaid consumers who get a letter about the new PDL should talk to their doctors about the preferred medication listed and will need prior authorization to have their current medication covered once the new PDL goes into effect in January
- The Medicaid MCOs are required to decide prior authorization requests within 24 hours
- Any Medicaid consumer who has a script denied at the pharmacy because the medication they have been taking now requires prior authorization can request a 15-day emergency supply, which is reimbursed by the MCO but provided at the discretion of the pharmacist
- Consumers who are denied a medication can contact the PHLP Helpline at 1-800-274-3258
More information on the Medicaid program PDL and the P&T Committee
National Rural Hospital Week & National Rural Health Day
During the week of November 18, 2019, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) will partner with the Federation of American Hospitals to celebrate National Rural Hospital Week (November 18-22). NRHA will share messages on the importance of rural hospitals and ways rural providers do more with less together via a variety of media platforms: including an Op-Ed in ModernHealthcare, an episode of the Hospitals in Focus podcast, social media shares, and more! NRHA will also partner with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) to promote National Rural Health Day (November 21) and will share stories and factoids that highlight the #PowerofRural. Join NRHA as they draw attention to the challenges in rural America and celebrate the ways that rural health care is special.