- 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
- Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings
- Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Rise
- 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
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Support the Primary Care Workforce
Nurse Faculty Loan Program Funding Opportunity
Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)
Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-22-047
The application deadline is January 13, 2022
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released this new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcement to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide. The completion of up to four years of post-graduation full-time nurse faculty employment in an accredited school of nursing, the program authorizes cancellation of up to 85 percent of the original student Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) provides funding to accredited schools of nursing to establish and operate a student loan fund and provide loans to students enrolled in advanced education nursing degree programs who are committed to becoming nurse faculty. In exchange for loan amount (plus interest thereon).
Through these efforts, the NFLP will build upon HRSA’s existing health workforce development investments, increasing access to a skilled health workforce.
HRSA anticipates to award up to 80 grantees with a total of approximately $26.5 million to support training of advanced education nursing students who will serve as nurse faculty upon graduation, with a focus on doctorate preparation.
Visit Grants.gov to apply.
Rural Health Value
The Rural Health Value team has released a revised Value-Based Care Strategic Planning Tool (VBC Tool). The web-based tool is designed for rural health care leaders to assess organizational capacities or capabilities (e.g., resources, processes, infrastructure) to deliver value-based care as part of their strategic planning process. Upon completion of the on-line tool, a report is provided that can be used to support strategic planning and prioritize action plans that are responsive to a changing health care payment and delivery environment. Supplemental resources, including an action planning tool and a brief guide to assist leaders in preparing their organization for value-based care are also available.
Value-Based Care Assessment Tool (updated December 2021)
This online tool helps the organization assess readiness for the shift of healthcare payments from volume to value. The resulting report may be used to guide the development of action plans. Supplemental resources, including an action planning tool and a brief guide to assist leaders in preparing their organization for value-based care are also available.
Link: Value-Based Care Assessment Tool | RuralHealthValue.org (uiowa.edu)
Dental Assistant Workforce Needs Assessment
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) is conducting a needs assessment to better understand the current state and needs of community health centers’ dental assistant workforce. The results of this needs assessment will inform the development of national resources to assist with the recruitment, retention and training of dental assistants. The needs assessment will take five minutes to complete and is intended for dental leadership and dental assistants working in community health centers. By completing the needs assessment, you will be eligible to enter a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card. The needs assessment will close on January 31, 2022. Click here to complete.
Study Finds Lack of High School Education Predicts Hesitancy
A lack of a high school education was the most important predictor of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in 3,142 U.S. counties, finds a study yesterday in the American Journal of Infection Control. Of all reasons cited for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, a lack of trust in the vaccines (55%) was the most common, followed by worries about side effects (48%) and low trust in the government (46%). Five of the 10 most common reasons given for vaccine hesitancy were related to a lack of knowledge about potential side effects, benefits, effectiveness and risks of being unvaccinated.
COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement for Uninsured Patients
Health Resources and Services Administration is accepting requests for claims reimbursement to healthcare providers, generally at Medicare rates, for testing uninsured individuals for COVID-19, for treating uninsured individuals with a COVID-19 primary diagnosis and for COVID-19 vaccine administration to the uninsured. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. A separate program, the HRSA COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund, is available to reimburse providers for COVID-19 vaccine administration to underinsured individuals whose health plan either does not include COVID-19 vaccination as a covered benefit or covers COVID-19 vaccine administration but with cost-sharing.
Pennsylvania Health Department Issues Update Guidance on COVID-19 Protocols
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) issued several Health Alert Updates to reflect the most recent guidance related to COVID-19, including updates for the general population and return to work guidance for healthcare personnel.
- 616 – UPDATE: Work Restriction Issued
- 615 – 12/30/2021 – UPD – UPDATE: Isolation and Quarantine Periods for COVID-19 for the General Population
- 614 – 12/28/21 – UPD – UPDATE: Return to Work Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19
- 613 – 12/23/21 – UPD – UPDATE: COVID-19 Treatment Options
Click here for the latest DOH Health Alerts, Advisories and Updates.
New Legislative Report Calls for Changes to Help Overcome Primary Care Physician Shortage
A new report by a Pennsylvania legislative research agency offers many recommendations to help Pennsylvania’s nine medical schools take more steps to ease a shortage of primary care doctors in the state. The report by the Joint State Government Commission looks at the training needed to become a primary care doctor and efforts by the medical schools to promote primary care as a career choice. It examines a host of issues believed to contribute to the shortage in that practice, including student debt burden, doctor burnout and low public investment in primary care. Read the report, Medical School Impact on the Primary Care Physician Shortage.
Update on Telehealth in Pennsylvania
In October, the state Senate passed SB 705 authorizing the regulation of telemedicine by professional licensing boards and providing for insurance coverage of telemedicine. Sponsored by Senator Vogel, SB 705 is now with the House of Representatives for their consideration. The bill has language that was in the previous version of the bill that led to Governor Wolf vetoing the bill last session. PACHC is not aware that any progress has been made between the House of Representatives and the Governor’s office to address the issues from last session. At this time, the House is not expected to act on this legislation. This creates a conundrum when reviewing the OMAP Telehealth Bulletin, which notes that telehealth is allowed “if permitted according to their scope of practice, licensure, or certification.” Nothing in the practice acts “permits” telehealth. The current waiver allowing for telehealth expires on March 31, 2022. There have been rumors of a possible extension of some of the waivers, such as telehealth, beyond the March 31 deadline. PACHC is working with the legislature and the administration, along with other provider groups, to try and get clarification on the future of telehealth amidst these political issues.
COVID-19: New HCPCS Code for Remdesivir Antiviral Medication
Following the recent statement from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel regarding therapies for the COVID-19 Omicron variant, CMS created HCPCS code J0248 for VEKLURY™ (remdesivir) antiviral medication when administered in an outpatient setting. This code is available for use by all payers and is effective for dates of service on or after December 23, 2021:
- Long descriptor: Injection, remdesivir, 1 mg
- Short descriptor: Inj, remdesivir, 1 mg
Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) determine Medicare coverage when there is no national coverage determination, including in cases when providers use FDA-approved drugs for indications other than what is on the approved label. The MACs consider the major drug compendia, authoritative medical literature and accepted standards of medical practice to determine medical necessity when considering coverage. Therefore, the MACs will determine Medicare coverage for HCPCS code J0248 for VEKLURY™ (remdesivir) administered in an outpatient setting.
Your MAC will share coverage and claims processing information for J0248. Contact your MAC if you have questions about coverage.
CDC Releases “Rural Considerations for Vaccine Confidence and Uptake Strategies”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released another COVID-related rural resource that may be of interest. A “Rural Considerations” addendum was recently added to its field guide for conducting a Rapid Community Assessment (RCA).
An RCA is a process for quickly collecting community insights about a public health issue in order to inform program design. The assessment involves reviewing existing data and conducting community-based interviews, listening sessions, observations, social listening, and surveys. In addition to the rural considerations addendum, the CDC RCA webpage provides an assessment guide and tools for those who wish to better understand their community’s needs regarding COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake among adults, adolescents, and children. Addendums for conducting RCAs in tribal communities and among adolescent populations were also recently posted to the webpage.
The original COVID-19 Vaccination Field Guide: 12 Strategies for Your Community presents evidence-based strategies being applied in communities across the country to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake. To help rural communities apply these strategies, the addendum includes rural considerations and examples for the 12 strategies based on successes in the field and input from health departments and rural health organizations.
State and local health departments, community- and faith-based organizations, and local nonprofits are encouraged to try a combination of these strategies to increase vaccination rates. Please share widely! Questions may be directed to ruralhealth@cdc.gov.