Rural Health Information Hub Latest News

CDC Issues First Set of Guidelines on How Fully Vaccinated People Can Visit Safely with Others

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first set of recommendations on activities that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely resume. The new guidance, based on the latest science, includes recommendations for how and when a fully vaccinated individual can visit with other people who are fully vaccinated and with other people who are not vaccinated. This guidance represents a first step toward returning to everyday activities in our communities. CDC will update these recommendations as more people are vaccinated, rates of COVID-19 in the community change, and additional scientific evidence becomes available. While the new guidance is a positive step, most people need to be fully vaccinated before COVID-19 precautions can be lifted broadly. Until then, it is important that everyone continues to adhere to public health mitigation measures to protect the large number of people who remain unvaccinated. CDC has released resources to help people make informed decisions when they are fully vaccinated.

Billing Errors Costing U.S. Doctors Billions

Doctors in the U.S. are losing approximately $125 billion in revenue due to billing errors. This widely reported statistic is largely attributed to the growing complexity of our healthcare system and the increased challenges in navigating through the various rules and regulations. To help independent physicians and physician groups avoid revenue loss, Arnett Carbis Toothman, a PACHC Silver Corporate Member, provides medical billing and practice management solutions that focus on practice profitability. For more information on the solutions available to you, see this flyer and contact the company for a no-cost consultation.

DHS Public Charge Rule Permanently Blocked Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) decided to stop defending the Trump-era public charge regulations. Not long after, the Supreme Court dismissed the pending appeals, and the 7th Circuit dismissed the government’s appeal as well. This means that the final judgment entered in the Northern District of Illinois on Nov. 2, 2020, which vacated the public charge rule nationwide is now in effect. This means that the Trump Administration’s 2019 public charge rule is permanently blocked nationwide and no longer in effect, meaning that it is safe for immigrants and their families to access health, nutrition, and housing programs for which they are eligible without fear of doing so impacting decisions on permanent status.

Stimulus Bill Will Make Health Insurance More Affordable for Millions

The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package passed by Congress includes several provisions that aim to make health care more affordable for households. They include increasing premium subsidies through the federal marketplace and state exchanges for 2021 and 2022, expanding who qualifies for them, and forgiving amounts due by taxpayers who received too much in subsidies in 2020. The Congressional Budget Office report estimates that the expanded eligibility would result in 1.7 million more people getting insurance through the marketplace, with 40 percent of them being individuals who are currently ineligible for premium tax credits because their income is above the 400 percent cap. Read more.

Becerra Nomination to Lead HHS Moves to the Full Senate

The Senate Finance Committee voted 14-14 on Xavier Becerra’s nomination as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Due to the split vote, Becerra’s nomination will require four hours of debate and a majority vote by the Senate to bring it up for a final confirmation vote. A voting session has not yet been scheduled. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration is continuing to fill HHS vacancies and released a list of staff appointments.

Governor Wolf Nominates Physician General

Gov. Tom Wolf announced that he has nominated Dr. Denise A. Johnson, M.D., FACOG, FACHE, to serve as Pennsylvania’s physician general. Dr. Johnson will succeed Dr. Wendy Braund, who, in addition to her role as COVID-19 response director, served as interim physician general following the departure of Dr. Rachel Levine. Dr. Johnson will serve as acting physician general until she is confirmed by the Senate. Dr. Johnson was most recently Chief Medical Officer at Meadville Medical Center. Prior to joining the leadership team in 2008, Dr. Johnson spent 13 years in private practice in Meadville. She is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She serves as on the Governor’s Commission for Women. Dr. Johnson has been involved in various community and regional groups focusing on diversity and inclusion and on the needs of women and is the current board chair of the Meadville Area Free Clinic. She is past chair of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.