- VA Announces Expansion of "Close to Me" Cancer Program as Part of the Cancer Moonshot, Bringing Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Closer to Thousands of Veterans
- Biden-Harris Administration Releases National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and First-Ever Federal Action Plan
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Increase Access to Quality Care, and Support to Families and Care Workers
- Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don't Meet Them.
- Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeed
- Rural Communities Face Primary Care Physician Shortage
- Miles for Milk: How Student-Run Grocery Store Reshaped Rural Community's Food Access
- Native Americans Have Shorter Life Spans, and It's Not Just Due to Lack of Health Care
- Promotoras Play Essential Role in Connecting Farmworkers with Health Care in Rural NorCal
- Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Rise
- Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings
- Sunsets, Wildlife and Limited Care: Challenges of Aging in Place in Rural America
- City-Country Mortality Gap Widens amid Persistent Holes in Rural Health Care Access
- Tribal Environmental Impact Network
- Minnesota's Rural Ambulance Providers Look to State Capitol for Their Own Lifeline
Swaying the “Movable Middle” to Vaccine Acceptance
Primary care providers (PCPs) can be key players in the movement to building confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine. Since last November, CVS Caremark has surveyed thousands of Americans about their intentions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, finding that 45 percent combined said that they definitely would, or definitely would not, get the vaccine, while 55 percent considered themselves to be in the “movable middle.” Donald Berwick, MD, MPP, former CMS administrator and founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, emphasized that “trust is everything… trust in science … trust in accumulated experience, and trust in the helpers.”
Hospitals Open Pediatric Long-Haul COVID-19 Units for Kids
At least five hospitals in the U.S. have started pediatric long-haul clinics to help kids with lingering COVID-19 illness as the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mount a massive, nationwide study of long-haul COVID-19 that includes children. Read more.
COVID-19 Brazil Variant on the Rise in U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show that cases of the COVID-19 variant first detected in Brazil are on the rise in the United States. According to the data released last Thursday, there are 434 reported cases of the P.1 variant across 28 jurisdictions. According to the CDC, this variant detected first in the United Kingdom is now the most dominant strain of the virus in the U.S. That variant spreads more easily and can cause more spikes in infections.
U.S. Suicide Rate Drops Contrary to Pandemic Predictions
The number of U.S. suicides fell nearly six percent last year amid the coronavirus pandemic — the largest annual decline in at least four decades, according to preliminary government data. Death certificates are still coming in and the count could rise. But officials expect a substantial decline will endure, despite worries that COVID-19 could lead to more suicides. It is hard to say exactly why suicide deaths dropped so much, but one factor may be a phenomenon seen in the early stages of wars and national disasters, some experts suggested. Read more.
Axios: America Might Be Close to Hitting a Vaccine Wall
There are growing signs that parts of the country may be close to meeting demand for the coronavirus vaccine — well before the U.S. has reached herd immunity. For the last few months, the primary focus of the U.S. has been getting shots to everyone who wants them, as quickly as possible. Soon, that focus will abruptly shift to convincing holdouts to get vaccinated.
PA-HAN Update on Infection Prevention & Control for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings
This HAN Update provides comprehensive information regarding infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in healthcare settings and replaces PA-HAN-524. Major additions and edits in this version (compared to HAN 524) include:
- Edited language to emphasize that to be effective, facemasks and cloth face coverings must be well-fitting.
- The addition of options for screening patients, visitors, and healthcare personnel (HCP) upon entry to the healthcare facility.
- The recommendation to utilize universal use of eye protection for all patient care encounters now excludes facilities located in areas with minimal to no community transmission. Applicable definitions are provided at the end of the Update.
- The addition of clarifying language to indicate that the prevention measures indicated for persons with COVID-19 are also indicated for persons on quarantine.
- Respirators are recommended for care of persons with COVID-19. Language suggesting the use of facemasks if respirators are not available has been removed.
If you have questions about this guidance, please contact DOH at 1-877-PA- HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) or your local health department.
Pennie American Rescue Plan Act Additional Savings
Beginning today, Friday, April 16, Pennie’s Phase 1 of the American Rescue Plan Act takes effect. Current customers will be able to access the Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) enhanced subsidies during this phase, as long as they actively resubmit their Pennie application. The second phase in Pennie’s implementation plan relates to re-running eligibility for current Pennie customers. Pennie will be automatically updating their plans with the enhanced subsidies and will implement these savings by no later than June. Pennie will be notifying their customers when these changes will be available in their accounts, and what steps they need to take to receive them, if necessary. For more information access these Pennie Job Aids. Here are the steps to update an account for someone already receiving APTC, applied for APTC but earned too much to qualify, and NOT eligible for unemployment.
- Login to dashboard
- Scroll down to Household Eligibility
- Click link to edit application
- Go through the application, verify all info is correct
- Make all the attestations on the Sign & Submit Page (click all the check boxes)
- Sign & Submit
- Get updated eligibility
President Releases Outline of Discretionary Budget Request
On April 9, 2021, President Biden released his discretionary budget request. The request included a 16 percent increase for non-defense discretionary spending and a 23.5 percent increase in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The “skinny” budget outlined top-line numbers for federal agencies and did not include specific funding levels for programs like health centers. The entire budget will be introduced in May or June. Negotiations over the size and scope of Biden’s FY22 budget and other spending priorities continue. While Democrats look to reconciliation to pass major legislation, Biden met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on April 12, 2021, to discuss his $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal.
Lawmaker Proposes Legislation to Require County Health Departments
State Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster) plans to introduce legislation that would require counties to build local public health capacity, either by starting their own health departments or joining their neighbors to create regional ones. The idea is in its early stages, and the proposed bill has yet to be written. Rep. Sturla said he is floating the proposal now to give stakeholders a chance to respond and offer feedback. At present, only six of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties have their own health department. There are four municipal health departments. Click here to learn more about the county and municipal health departments.
We’re in a Race between Variants and Vaccinations
Hesitancy is a growing concern for all of us in the race of the vaccines versus the COVID-19 variants. We need to maintain maximum acceleration of the vaccine rollout, particularly as we once again witness a growing case count and hospitalization rate. What strategies and tools has your health center found to be effective in convincing the “moveable middle?” Are more of your own health center staff choosing to be vaccinated? Let us know! Here are some resources you might find helpful:
- The We Can Do This campaign includes educational materials targeted to specific audiences and seeks volunteers for the COVID-19 Community Corps
- The THE CONVERSATION: Between Us, About Us – is a public information campaign where Black doctors, nurses and researchers dispel misinformation and provide accessible facts about the COVID-19 vaccines available to health centers for free educational use.
- The Ad Council developed communication toolkits to help community partners educate and provide answers to their members and stakeholders. These free, easy-to-use toolkits include messaging tips, videos, FAQs, social and digital media assets, educational events and research that was rigorously vetted by CDC.
- Public health toolkit
- Black community toolkit
- Hispanic community toolkit
- Black faith toolkit
- Hispanic faith community toolkit