Governor Tom Wolf announced on November 12, 2019 that the 2019-20 Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF) is accepting grant applications for programs and services benefiting Pennsylvania veterans. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) will award up to $800,000 in VTF grants to non-profit organizations, veteran service organizations and county directors of veteran affairs across the state. Grant applications must be received no later than 3 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 18, 2019.

“Pennsylvania has always held its service members in high regard because of their tremendous sacrifices in defense of our nation and commonwealth,” said Gov. Wolf. “Pennsylvanians routinely contribute to the Veterans’ Trust Fund to show their gratitude and continued support. This fund would not be successful, and our veterans would not be as cared for without these generous donations.”

Up to a total of $150,000 in grant funding is available for new, innovative or expanded programs or services operated by the county directors of veterans affairs or the Pennsylvania Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs. The areas of emphasis for applicants in this category are veterans’ outreach and veterans’ court programs.

Up to $650,000 in VTF funding is available to veteran service organizations with 501(c)(19) status and non-profit organizations with a mission of serving Pennsylvania veterans granted 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Code. Funding priorities for applicants in this category are homelessness, behavioral health initiatives and Veterans’ Courts.

Eligible applicants from either category may also submit applications for programs addressing newly identified, unmet or emerging needs of veterans and their families.

Since the grant program began in 2013, 155 grants totaling $3,732,860 have been awarded to organizations providing services to veterans in Pennsylvania.

“The Veterans’ Trust Fund is a tremendous program that enables us to grant donated money to organizations that provide direct positive effects on our veterans lives,” said Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general. “Donating to the fund is a great option for anyone who wants to do more for Pennsylvania’s veterans. These grants supplement other federal and state programs directing more assistance towards our veterans.”

The VTF is funded by generous Pennsylvanians who voluntarily donate when applying for or renewing driver’s licenses, photo IDs or motor vehicle registrations; purchase Honoring Our Veterans license plates; or make private donations.

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is authorized to solicit and accept donations to the VTF on behalf of the commonwealth. Tax-deductible donations can be made online at www.donate.dmva.pa.gov or mailed to: PA Veterans’ Trust Fund, Edward Martin Hall, Bldg. 0-47, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA  17003-5002.

To learn more about the VTF and the grant application process, visit www.vtf.pa.gov or follow DMVA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/padmva.

In October 2019, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced 54 new grants, totaling a $44.4 million investment, to help diversify the economy in the Region’s coal-impacted communities via ARC’s POWER Initiative. This week, representatives from most of these projects were in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a two day training focusing on grant implementation, monitoring and evaluation; project sustainability; communications; and legal issues. During the convening, this new cohort of grantees developed stronger networks to set their projects up for success.  Since 2015, ARC’s POWER Initiative has invested over $190 million in 239 projects touching 326 coal-impacted counties across Appalachia. Together, these investments are projected to create or retain more than 23,000 jobs, and leverage more than $811 million in additional private investment into Appalachia’s economy.  A list of all of ARC’s POWER investments is available at www.arc.gov/power.

ARC’s POWER Initiative will continue in the next fiscal year, pending Congress’ final appropriation for fiscal year 2020.   Meanwhile, ARC is preparing a Request for Proposals (RFP), scheduled for release in early December.  Applications for funding will be due in March, 2020.  To help prospective applicants prepare strong applications in response to the forthcoming RFP, ARC staff and other experts will be hosting a series of POWER Application Workshops in Pennsylvania (December 11); Ashland, Kentucky (January 15); and Johnson City, Tennessee (January 28).  Each workshop will run from 9am–3pm and is free to attend, although pre-registration is required at www.arc.gov/power.

U.S. residents living in rural areas of the country were more likely to die from preventable causes than those living in urban areas from 2010 to 2017, according to a CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released during the week of November 4, 2019. Overall, the researchers found heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke ranked as the five leading causes of death in the United States in 2017. (Source: CBS News/WCBI, 11/8)

The Leapfrog Group released its Fall Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, giving about one-third of hospitals an “A,” but giving more than 40% of hospitals a “C” or lower. Leapfrog also published an infographic that looked at the rates of avoidable deaths at hospitals for each grade. (Source: HealthLeaders Media, 11/7)

What Are Social Determinants of Health?

To put it briefly, social determinants of health are the ways that the conditions in which people live affect their health. They might include such factors as transportation, housing, education, or social isolation which can influence health status. These influences are important for healthcare professionals to consider because addressing them is a key part of achieving health equity.

Minority groups, in particular, tend to be disproportionately affected by social determinants of health. There are a number of ways that healthcare providers are beginning to incorporate social determinants of health into patient care.

Example Z Codes in ICD-10-CM

In some situations, a clinician may decide to make a note of a patient’s socioeconomic and psychosocial needs. If this happens, there is a group of codes within ICD-10 that can help record this information – Z codes. Some examples of these Z codes include:

• Z56: Problems related to employment and unemployment
• Z58: Problems related to physical environment
• Z59: Problems related to housing and economic circumstances
• Z60: Problems related to social environment

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is also conducting tests to determine whether finding and dealing with the health-related social needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries can improve their health outcomes or affect their healthcare costs. One of the ways they are examining this potential difference is by asking providers to use the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Health-Related Social Needs Screening Tool. This tool focuses on five core areas:

• Housing instability
• Food insecurity
• Transportation problems
• Utility help needs
• Interpersonal safety

This screening tool also includes eight supplemental domains covering topics such as financial strain, family and community support, education, and mental health. It is important to note that the AHC Health-Related Social Needs Screening Tool is not yet standard practice nationwide. It is primarily being used as a way to increase awareness of social determinants of health. However, it is a standard tool for the communities that are participating in the AHC Model.

Are Social Determinants Of Health Data Protected Under HIPAA?

Once your organization has collected data about social determinants of health that are potentially influencing a patient, what steps should you take to keep this information secure and protected? Before answering this question, you should first identify whether any of this information might be protected under HIPAA.

• Read the Entire Article, Get Links to Screening Tool and more – Click Here
• Learn Medical Coding – Click Here

From the American Institute for Healthcare Compliance, November 11, 2019

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognizes a need for new approaches to prevention and, as a first, is requesting input from the public to better understand:

• The barriers to effective chronic disease prevention in the U.S.
• Highlights of effective chronic disease prevention strategies
• The potential of scientific and technological advancements, innovative partnerships, and human-centered design to create and scale new models of chronic disease prevention

Help advance chronic disease prevention in the U.S. by sharing your input. HHS will accept responses to this request for information until Friday, December 13, 2019.

“Trauma can lead to homelessness, and homelessness itself is traumatizing.”  A recent article in Slate notes that people without homes are living with “Trauma in Plain Sight.”  It also discusses the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and how it is often overlooked.  Trauma-informed principles need to be incorporated into services and advocacy.  You can learn about trauma and how it affects people without homes and improve your understanding with a trauma-informed care webinar series or contact the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) to learn how your health center can become trauma-informed.

The Rural Health Clinical Congress (RHCC) 2019 is a free, fully-online, multi-topic CME/CE event, designed with the unique needs of rural providers, practices, and patients in mind. National experts will present on a wide range of clinical, practice management, and patient-centric topics. Attendees can test their knowledge by responding to polling questions and ask questions to faculty in real-time through the interactive platform. RHCC 2019 will feature a panel discussion on the award-winning documentary, The Providers. Following segments of the film, panelists will discuss the challenges of providing care in rural communities as well as potential solutions. You can register on the Rural Health Clinical Congress website.

Geisinger and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine have announced the Geisinger Primary Care Scholars Program to provide debt-free medical school and living assistance to medical students who commit to work within primary care at the health system after graduating. The program will expand access to care for the communities in the Geisinger Service Area. Nationally, medical students carry an average of $200,000 in debt, driving many to seek higher-paying specialty careers. With a nationwide shortage of primary care physicians projected in the coming years (including the areas Geisinger serves), removing financial burden will make it easier for more students interested in primary care to pursue a career in it. Read the press release.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) announced that it has fined Aetna $190,000 and UnitedHealthcare $1 million for violating health insurance parity laws, including those requiring that coverage for substance use disorders and mental health be offered at the same level of benefits as medical or surgical treatment. Violations included incorrect application of copays, coinsurance, and visit limits, as well as violations involving prior authorization for treatment according to a news release. PID previously fined Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania $90,000. PID said it plans to examine all major health insurers in the commonwealth to ensure that they are in compliance with the parity laws.