Rural Health Information Hub Latest News

Oral Health and Health Equity Infographic Available

The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation created an infographic highlighting the challenges to achieving optimal oral health. NIHCM identifies opportunities for advancing health equity moving forward. Gum disease remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States with 46% of adults over 30 showing symptoms. Although significant improvements have been made to improve oral health in America, many people still experience barriers to preventive or essential dental care. Black Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans, as well as low-income populations, children and pregnant people are at greater risk of oral health diseases. The disparities experienced by these populations have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Click here to view the infographic.

Application Process Open! PA Primary Care Loan Repayment Program

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is pleased to announce the opening of the Pennsylvania Primary Care Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Practitioner Application.

The LRP provides grant funding for educational loan repayment to primary care practitioners serving medically underserved populations.  Educational loan repayment is an incentive to recruitment and retention of practitioners for service in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas and other underserved communities:

  • The Request for Applications (RFA) #67-137 is attached for your reference.  Copies of RFA#67-137 can be downloaded from   https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Health-Planning/Pages/Loan-Repayment.aspx
  • Applications are being accepted from December 1, 2021 until 11:59 pm January 12, 2022.
  • Program information, application procedures and application instructions are found in RFA#67-137.
  • All applications must be submitted via the Loan Repayment Program’s web-based application through the link on the above website.

Questions regarding this RFA must be submitted via email to loanrepayment@pa.gov on or before December 15, 2021.  No questions will be answered via phone or e-mail.  Answers to all question submitted by December 15 will be posted on the above website by December 29, 2021 and will be considered an addendum to the RFA.