- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
Pennsylvania Medicaid Enrollment Swells by More than 400,000
WITF reported on May 3, 2021, that Medicaid enrollment in Pennsylvania increased 14.7 percent, or 400,000 individuals, to 3.2 million since February 2020. The economic fallout from COVID-19 and federal rules preventing states from disenrolling Medicaid members during the pandemic drove the membership gains. Read More.
U.S. House Appropriations Committee Introduces Earmark Database
Following new earmark (community project funding) guidelines calling for transparency in Member requests, the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee created a new website that will list all spending earmarks requested by House members. To see what earmarks your Representatives requested, click here.
It Truly Has Been a Year of the Nurse
By serendipity, the World Health Organization designated 2020 the Year of the Nurse, in honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. As we all know, the year, whether designated or not, truly did prove to be the year of the nurse. As we celebrate National Nurses Week 2021, to honor the special nurses working in Community Health Centers across the nation, NACHC has released a new publication: 52 Weeks In The Life Of A Community Health Center Nurse. While every community health center nurse is unique, they all have one thing in common: to provide their patients with the highest level of care, regardless of the challenges in front of them. From persistence and resilience to courageousness and heroism, these 52 stories provide examples of the awe-inspiring nurses working in our FQHCs and honor and celebrate their contributions and commitment to their patients and community.
Report Pushes for Investment in Primary Care Infrastructure
The federal government must aggressively bolster primary care and connect more Americans with a dedicated source of care, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine warn in a new major report that sounds the alarm about an endangered foundation of the U.S. health system. The urgently worded report calls for a broad recognition that primary care is a “common good” akin to public education. The plan’s five objectives are:
- Pay for primary care teams to care for people, not doctors to deliver services.
- Ensure that high-quality primary care is available to every individual and family in every community.
- Train primary care teams where people live and work.
- Design information technology that serves the patient, family and interprofessional care team.
- Ensure that high-quality primary care is implemented in the United States.
The authors recommend that all Americans select a primary care provider or be assigned one, a landmark step that could reorient how care is delivered in the nation’s fragmented medical system. And the report calls on major government health plans such as Medicare and Medicaid to shift money to primary care and away from the medical specialties that have long commanded the biggest fees in the U.S. system. Currently, only about five percent of U.S. health care spending goes to primary care, versus an average of 14 percent in other wealthy nations, according to data collected by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Read more.
HRSA Orders Drug Manufacturers to Resume 340B Sales for Contract Pharmacy Dispensing
On May 17, 2021, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) sent letters to six drug manufacturers stating that their policies placing restrictions on 340B Program pricing to covered entities that dispense medications through pharmacies under contract have resulted in overcharges and are in direct violation of the 340B statute. In it’s letter HRSA is requiring each manufacturer to:
- Immediately begin offering its covered outpatient drugs at the 340B ceiling price to covered entities through their contract pharmacy arrangements and
- Refund or credit all covered entities for overcharges that resulted from the manufacturers’ policies regarding drugs dispensed by contract pharmacies.
The 340B Program Ceiling Price and Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) final rule states that any manufacturer participating in the 340B Program that knowingly and intentionally charges a covered entity more than the ceiling price for a covered outpatient drug may be subject to a Civil Monetary Penalty not to exceed $5,000 for each instance of overcharging. Assessed CMPs would be in addition to repayment for overcharging.
HRSA stated that it had determined that these policies have resulted in 340B ceiling price overcharges and are in direct violation of the 340B statute. HRSA’s letter states: “[The drug manufacturer] must immediately begin offering its covered outpatient drugs at the 340B ceiling price to covered entities through their contract pharmacy arrangements, regardless of whether they purchase through an in-house pharmacy. [The drug manufacturer] must comply with its 340B statutory obligations and the 340B Program’s CMP final rule and credit or refund all covered entities for overcharges that have resulted from [this] policy. . . . Continued failure to provide the 340B price to covered entities utilizing contract pharmacies, and the resultant charges to covered entities of more than the 340B ceiling price, may result in CMPs as described in the CMP final rule.”
The full text of the letters can be found by visiting www.hrsa.gov/opa/index.html.
PA Health Department Seeking Comments on Draft 2021 ALS, BLS Statewide Protocol Update
As part of the 2021 statewide protocol update process, the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has posted the draft ALS and BLS protocols on its website for public review and comment. The draft documents will remain posted until June 6, 2021. Recommendations for additions/changes, which are not grammatically or formatting in nature, must be supported by medical evidence. The EMS Information Bulletin 2021-06 can be found at www.pehsc.org
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Open Comment Period Announced on Pediatric Dental Caries Prevention
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is seeking public comments on a draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review, “Screening and Interventions to Prevent Dental Caries in Children.” The Task Force recommends primary care clinicians use fluoride varnish and fluoride supplementation in young children to prevent cavities. There is not enough evidence to recommend for or against screening for cavities in primary care. The draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review are available for review and public comment from until June 7.
Pennsylvania Awards Millions of Dollars in Pandemic Relief to Restaurants and Hospitality Industry
The $145 million COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) launched by Pennsylvania Governor Wolf’s administration is successfully providing pandemic financial relief to Pennsylvania’s restaurant and hospitality industry. Gov. Tom Wolf announced the program early this year after his administration secured a transfer of $145 million for grants to support the hospitality industry.
“These state-funded grants provide the critical relief that family-owned and local businesses across the state need to recover from the pandemic and build our economy stronger,” said Gov. Wolf. “Millions of dollars in immediate relief has gone to business owners to help them get back on their feet, hire employees and support local economies. If the grants are still available in your county; I urge you to apply.”
The state has worked with counties and economic development partners to quickly disburse millions to the hospitality industry with several already announcing at least $50 million in grants. Most recently awarding funding to restaurants, bars, and other businesses in various counties across the state including: $15 million to Allegheny County, $6.5 million in York County, $4.1 million to Lehigh County, $3.5 million to Northampton County, $3.4 million in Luzerne County, $3.3 million in Berks County, $3 million in Erie County, $3 million in Dauphin County, more than $2 million to Washington County, $1.8 million in Centre County, $1.2 million in Lycoming County, more than $1 million to Adams County, and nearly $900,000 to Clearfield County.
Following the creation of the program, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) acted quickly to disburse the $145 million in the form of block grants to all 67 counties based on population.
Counties administer the funding through one or more designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) or Community Economic Development Organization (CEDO), which began processing applications from businesses in each county on March 15. Funding must be provided to businesses by July 15, 2021.
For more information on the program, including eligibility requirements and application procedures visit COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) or reach out to one or more Certified Economic Development Organizations or Community Development Financial Institutions.
Pennsylvania’s Administration Visits Mushroom Farm Mobile Vaccine Clinic, Acknowledges Workforce Dedication to Food Security
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Governor’s Advisory Commission for Latino Affairs Executive Director Luz Colon visited a vaccine clinic at Giorgio Mushrooms in Berks County where more than 600 farmworkers received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The clinic was available through a mobile vaccine and testing unit operated in partnership by the Latino Connection and Highmark Blue Shield.
“These frontline workers have accepted risk and worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to ensure the availability of food,” said Redding. “Now, as the COVID-19 vaccine is available, we see they’re not only dedicated to feeding Pennsylvania, but they’re dedicated to doing their part to ensure of a safer, healthier commonwealth.
“Thank you for saying ‘yes’ to agriculture and ‘yes’ to a brighter, healthier future. Your commitment to community makes Pennsylvania a better place,” added Redding.
In August 2020, a unique partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Latino Connection, and Highmark Blue Shield initiated a first-of-its-kind mobile Community-Accessible Testing & Education (CATE) unit to strategically reach underserved, diverse populations and meet their COVID-19 testing needs. Now, it’s used to administer COVID-19 vaccinations in coordination with community partners. So far, more than 1,500 agricultural and migrant farmworkers have been successfully vaccinated through the CATE mobile unit.
“We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has created great hardship and anxiety for Latino families that face barriers, especially with all of the misinformation out there,” said Colon. “This unique partnership makes the COVID-19 vaccine 100% accessible by meeting the Latinx community where they are.”
Pennsylvania is home to more than 60,000 farmworkers – both citizen and migrant – who work to ensure Pennsylvania’s farms run efficiently and produce food to feed the nation. Pennsylvania’s mushroom industry leads the nation in production, with nearly 60% of all mushroom production occurring in southeast Pennsylvania. The industry supports nearly 9,000 jobs and contributes $1.1 billion to the economy.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania’s nation-leading mushroom industry stepped up to the plate to both feed America and keep their workers safe. These farmworkers became eligible for vaccine as part of the commonwealth’s expanded special initiative to vaccinate frontline workers.
Essential workers who get the COVID-19 vaccine are protecting themselves, their family, their co-workers, and their community. In addition to this, farmworkers who choose to protect their health with the vaccine are also protecting the availability and accessibility of food.
Pennsylvania to Increase Indoor and Outdoor Events and Gatherings Maximum Capacity on May 17
Pennsylvania’s administration announced that event and gathering maximum occupancy limits will be increased to 50 percent for indoor events and gatherings and 75 percent for outdoor events and gatherings effective Monday, May 17 at 12:01 AM.
“As more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with the commonwealth’s reopening efforts,” said Governor Wolf. “We recognize the significant strain businesses have faced during COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Throughout the last year and half, we have seen businesses continue to put the safety of their patrons first and I believe they will continue to do so even with this capacity increase.”
This update will not prevent municipalities, school districts, restaurants and venues from continuing and implementing stricter mitigation efforts. Based on current CDC guidance, social distancing is strongly recommended for municipalities, school districts, restaurants, and venues.
An event or gathering is defined as a temporary grouping of individuals for defined purposes, that takes place over a limited timeframe, such as hours or days. For example, events and gatherings include fairs, festivals, concerts or shows and groupings that occur within larger, more permanent businesses, such as shows or performances within amusements parks, individual showings of movies on a single screen/auditorium within a multiplex, business meetings or conferences, or each party or reception within a multiroom venue.
Face coverings are still to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home. In accordance with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians are not required to wear a mask during certain activities. The current order requiring Pennsylvanians to wear masks will be lifted when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
“As we continue implementing our reopening plan as quickly as possible, the safety of Pennsylvanians remains at the forefront of our decision making,” said Gov. Wolf. “During the pandemic, all Pennsylvanians have worked collaboratively to stop the spread of COVID-19. We must continue that same mindset during our reopening efforts. I urge each eligible Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated to help protect your neighbors and loved ones as we work to safely reopen our beloved commonwealth communities.”
Currently, maximum occupancy is 25 percent for indoor events and gatherings and 50 percent for outdoor events and gatherings, regardless of venue size and only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.
All Pennsylvanians ages 16 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. To find a vaccine provider, visit vaccines.gov. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health’s hotline at 1-877-724-3258.