- Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration Highlights Investments in Rural America, Invites Public Nominations for Rural Innovators Initiative
- Rural Victims of Intimate-Partner Violence Need More Resources and Support, Study Finds
- A Tribe in Maine Is Using Opioid Settlement Funds on a Sweat Lodge to Treat Addiction
- Fact Sheet: USDA, HHS Announce New Actions to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1
- Call for Experts: Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence
- Bill to Expand Definition of 'Village' Qualifying for Water Funds Passes Alaska House
- Child Care Workers Caught in Middle of Michigan's Broken Child Care System
- Few Options Available for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Big Bend
- In Rural Texas, ERs Are Facing a Growing Mental Health Crisis
- Ways and Means Members Put Forth Solutions to Strengthen Telehealth Access and Improve Health Care for Rural Communities
- Sage Memorial Hospital in Navajo Nation Constructs New Facility to Improve Health Care
- How the State, Tribes and Federal Government Are Working to Curb SD's Syphilis Epidemic
- Rural Children Struggle to Access Hospital Services, Say Researchers
- RPHARM Program Fulfills Need for Rural Pharmacists
- A Pilot Program in Rural Vermont Hopes to Build a Blueprint for Substance Abuse Recovery
Medicaid Enrollment Surge Is Coming
The U.S. economy has lost more than 38 million jobs since COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency in March 2020. Many of the newly unemployed will turn to Medicaid for healthcare coverage. So far, enrollment growth it is only happening in pockets of the country and is relatively modest. This blog from the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) explores six reasons why the enrollment surge has not happened yet, but is still coming.
IRS Rule Lets Workers Make Benefits Changes Midyear – with a Caveat
In what amounts to a mid-year open enrollment period, the IRS has announced that it will let employees add, drop or alter some of their benefits for the remainder of 2020. But there is a catch: the employer must allow the changes. The new guidance applies to both employers that buy health insurance to cover their workers and those that pay claims on their own. Read more.
House Committee Assesses COVID-19 Impact on Minority Communities
On May 27, the House Committee on Ways and Means (W&M) held its first virtual hearing. The hearing, titled “The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color,” is available for viewing on W&M’s website here, along with a witness list and submitted witness testimony. The hearing featured health experts with knowledge of existing health disparities in the African American, Latino, Native American, and Pacific Islander communities, as well as a health expert on the economic impact of the virus. Members agreed that the disparities among communities of color were the result of preexisting cracks in the health system, now being widened by the coronavirus pandemic.
State’s YTD Revenue $2.6 Billion Short of Projections
Although not quite as bad as April, Pennsylvania’s revenue collections were nearly $440 million below estimate, pushing the commonwealth’s current revenue shortfall to $2.6 billion. While May did see some loosening of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 restrictions, the month’s General Fund revenues were still $439.7 million, or 17.3 percent, less than anticipated, leaving the year-to-date General Fund revenue total $2.6 billion short of estimate, according to a report on Monday from the Department of Revenue.
Find Health Centers with COVID-19 Testing
HRSA has updated the Find a Health Center tool to allow users to filter for health center sites that offer COVID-19 testing. In addition to displaying all health centers, users can now see only those with testing. Visit the site to see if your health center’s COVID-19 capabilities are accurately reflected. If you have questions or need the information for your FQHC, contact Amanda Tekely, PACHC’s Events and Communications Manager.
CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 6/8/20
CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.
Call details are below. Conference lines are limited so we highly encourage you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser. You are welcome to share this invitation with your colleagues and professional networks. These calls are not intended for the press.
Calls recordings and transcripts are posted on the CMS podcast page at: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/PodcastAndTranscripts
CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls (Tuesdays at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern)
Office Hour Calls provide an opportunity for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to:
- Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls;
- Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce;
- Put Patients Over Paperwork; and
- Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare
This week’s Office Hours:
Tuesday, June 9th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 4892554
Audio Webcast link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=6b9f9bee-37cbb2c5-6b9faad1-0cc47a6d17cc-71d1a27a3efd1e66&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2171
Weekly COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls
CMS hosts weekly calls for certain types of organizations to provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. One to two leaders in the field also share best practices with their peers. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters if time allows.
Home Health and Hospice (Tuesdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Tuesday, June 9th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 7359947 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=00232b73-5c770258-00231a4c-0cc47a6d17cc-31afca23fe25ca11&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2160
Nursing Homes (Wednesdays at 4:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, June 10th at 4:30 – 5:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 9782909 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=9b60f2d6-c735fbc5-9b60c3e9-0cc47adb5650-5cc8b6ca21a0bb55&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2215
Dialysis Organizations (Wednesdays at 5:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, June 10th at 5:30 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 6553907 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=cb8280fa-97d69986-cb82b1c5-0cc47adc5fa2-2ac51b79b83598dd&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2225
Nurses (Thursdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Thursday, June 11th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 2863547 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=842afbda-d87ff2c9-842acae5-0cc47adb5650-f3419d0fb8afb1c7&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2231
To keep up with the important work the White House Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 click here: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=36fa2226-6aae0b0d-36fa1319-0cc47a6d17cc-2d06c219f858d641&u=http://www.coronavirus.gov/. For information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
Process to Reopen Pennsylvania Announced
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented event that has impacted every part of the globe. All Pennsylvanians – businesses, communities, neighbors – have been affected and the Commonwealth has responded aggressively to the spread of COVID-19.
As stabilization starts to occur, Pennsylvania plans to proceed with returning to work cautiously. On April 22, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced his detailed plan for reopening Pennsylvania, categorizing the reopening with three phrases: red, yellow, and green. Phases are based on the conditions in the county, counties, or regions.
The guidance needed for businesses located in green phase counties is provided below.
Green Phase
As regions or counties move into the green phase, most restrictions will be eased, AND THE stay at home and business closure orders WILL REMAIN SUSPENDED to allow PA’s economy to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health.
Work & Congregate Setting Restrictions
- Telework strongly encouraged
- In-person business operations must follow the COVID-19 Business Guidance
- All businesses operating at 50% occupancy in the yellow phase may increase to 75% occupancy
- Child care may open complying with guidance
- Congregate care restrictions in place
- Prison and hospital restrictions determined by individual facilities
- Schools subject to CDC and Commonwealth guidance
Social Restrictions
- Large gatherings of more than 250 prohibited
- Restaurants and bars open at 50% occupancy with continued implementation of the Restaurant Industry Guidance
- Personal care services (including hair salons and barbershops) open at 50% occupancy by appointment only
- Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities, and personal care services (such as gyms and spas) open at 50% occupancy with appointments strongly encouraged
- All entertainment (such as casinos, theaters, and shopping malls) open at 50% occupancy
- Construction activity may return to full capacity with continued implementation of the Construction Guidance
Requirements for COVID-19 Safety Communication
Businesses conducting in-person operations or serving the public are required to make employees and customers aware of the guidance provided by the Commonwealth to keep people at their establishment safe. Businesses must print, sign and post the “COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Businesses” flyer and post it on their premises in employee common spaces and near the business’s public entrance(s).
The flyer is available in English or Spanish and larger sizes can be found on the DCED website.
PPE & Supplies Directory
As businesses reopen, it is imperative they equip their employees with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep their workers and customers safe.
If your business needs PPE, visit the COVID-19 PPE & Supplies Business-2-Business (B2B) Interchange Directory to connect with manufacturers that have masks, thermometers, hand sanitizer, face shields, medical gowns, and cleaning disinfectants available.
Questions?
For any questions, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development at 1.866.466.3972 or stay up-to-date with COVID-19 information by visiting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Responding to COVID-19 Guide
Fact Sheet on Developing Hospital Alternate Care Sites (ACS)
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released instructions for State and local governments, hospitals, and other providers to obtain payments for inpatient and outpatient care furnished at an alternate care site through CMS programs – Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). An ACS is any building or structure of opportunity that is temporarily converted for healthcare use. Urban and rural governments and providers may use these structures to expand capacity for providing care during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Read more here.
Access to Medicare Part D Plans: A Comparison of Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas
The Medicare Part D program allows Medicare beneficiaries to add prescription drugs to their Medicare coverage. Within Medicare, two plans – Part D prescription plans and Medicare Advantage prescription plans– offer an array of payment options and benefits. Researchers at the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis found that Medicare Advantage prescription drug coverage plans were offered in lower numbers of noncore counties, had higher monthly premiums, and were less likely to offer enhanced benefits. Read more here.
Learning About Local Health Workforce Through Commute Patterns
To learn more about the available supply of nurses and allied health workers at local levels, researchers at the University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies looked at commute patterns found in the American Community Survey. The report says a key takeaway for researchers and workforce planners is a need to measure local supply based not only on where people report working, but also where they live. Read the report here.