Following the recent release of the Health Technology Ecosystem Request for Information (RFI), CMS hosted a successful listening session bringing together stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem to discuss leveraging digital health innovations for enhanced patient care and system efficiencies.

We’re excited to announce our commitment to several key initiatives including:

• Building a dynamic, interoperable national provider directory;
• Bringing modern identity verification processes to Medicare.gov to streamline credentials across the healthcare system;
• Expanding functionality of CMS’ Blue Button 2.0 patient access application programming interface (API);
• Transitioning CMS’s Data at the Point of Care pilot to general availability; and
• Enhancing CMS’ participation in trusted data exchange.

These efforts and the RFI reflect CMS’ broader modernization agenda to accelerate digital health innovation, strengthen data security, enhance program integrity, and drive operational efficiencies across Medicare, Medicaid, and federal marketplaces. CMS is encouraging all interested parties to submit their comments on the RFI by June 16, 2025.

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) would like to inform you of an important update regarding the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.  This information is provided in light of the June 6, 2025, BEAD Program Restructuring Policy Notice (Policy Notice) issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

As a result of the Policy Notice, PBDA defers all Round One BEAD applications and will establish a new BEAD Round Two – the federally required “Benefit of the Bargain” Round. All applications submitted to PBDA during Round One will be reevaluated and rescored in accordance with the Policy Notice, and applicants will have the opportunity to submit revised or supplemental application materials. PBDA encourages all potential applicants to review the Policy Notice. We also strongly encourage new applicants to participate in this required BEAD Round Two, which PBDA anticipates will be the final application round for the BEAD Program.  The Policy Notice affords states 90 days to comply with the Policy Notice and to submit a Final Proposal that reflects the results of BEAD Round Two.

Given the Policy Notice, PBDA anticipates all Round Two applications, both new and as revised/supplemented, will be evaluated using an updated scoring system, which will be posted on the PBDA BEAD Program Page. Additional guidance and resources, including revised BEAD Guidelines, will be shared via the PBDA’s email list and on PBDA’s BEAD Program Page.

For questions or support throughout the application process, please contact us at ra-dcpbda_bead@pa.gov.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to expand broadband access across the Commonwealth.

CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz stated this week that his agency is exploring IT solutions to support states in implementing Medicaid work requirements. Specifically, CMS is aiming to create an IT infrastructure that will pull a hodgepodge of data related to work requirements and eligibility in a “central place.”

CMS aims to release the minimum requirements for the ambitious system “within a year.” Dr. Oz also noted that CMS’ IT modernization effort is receiving help from the DOGE, and its acting administrator, Amy Gleason. Patient advocates pointed out that the House-passed reconciliation bill would give states barely 18 months to implement work requirements, so CMS’ new IT system could not possibly be ready by then.

Daniel Tsai, former CMS Medicaid Director under Pres. Biden, stated: “Those systems do not work…. They’ve led to people not being to navigate through that, and they’ve led to immense amounts of costs from any of the IT vendors that have tried to build this app. So, I think any realistic state or person on the ground or IT vendor thinking about this will understand that it is impossible — not only under the timelines — but in any sort of way that does not lead to incredible challenges of people navigating the system.”

The Medicaid consulting firm Sellers-Dorsey has published a free “playbook” to assist states, health plans, and other stakeholders in operationalizing the new requirements. The document “offers a high-level framework to guide states, health plans, and solution partners to design, implement, and evaluate” work requirements, and offers “key considerations, emerging best practices, and lessons learned” from officials who have worked on these types of programs in the past.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) announced insurers are taking steps to expand coverage for medications used to treat postpartum depression and related maternal mental health conditions. Health insurers in the individual and small group insurance markets will cover an FDA-approved fast-acting postpartum medication for plan year 2026. Gov Shapiro’s proposed 2025-2026 Budget includes $5 million to fund maternal health initiatives and is working to implement universal depression screenings for all Pennsylvania mothers during and after pregnancy.

Devon Trolley, Pennie’s Executive Director, provided a deep dive into the impact of the reconciliation bill for the public on Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Marketplace. For the 2025 Enrollment Period, Pennie enrolled nearly 500,000 people. The Reconciliation Bill passed by the House and under consideration in the Senate includes significant impacts to Pennsylvanians and could result in 270,000 people losing coverage. The bill increases costs and imposes unnecessary barriers. The Reconciliation Bill does not extend the current Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which thousands rely on to lower costs. Without Congressional action, costs will go up by 82% and double the cost for most enrollees.

Some barriers to enrollment include pre-enrollment verification for enrollees who have already been verified using trusted resources like the IRS and state data sources, prohibiting auto-enrollment and removing conditional eligibility for enrollees, such as newborns, without documentation at the time of enrollment thus requiring full cost premium payment without the benefit of tax credits.

Listen to a recording of the briefing. For more data, check out Pennie’s webpage on Cost and Affordability.

The new HPSA score requirements for the National Health Service Corps’ 2026 scholars have been published. As typically seen in the past, the minimum scores for the class of 2026 (scholars whose training end dates between Oct. 1, 2025 and Sept. 30, 2026) have increased, in some cases dramatically.

HRSA’s Pediatric Specialty loan repayment program is now accepting applications. Eligible clinicians who provide pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent behavioral health care, including substance use disorder prevention and treatment, can apply for up to $100,000 to pay off student loans in exchange for three years of full-time service at an approved facility. The application deadline is July 17 at 7:30 pm.

The Serious Mental Illness Training and Technical Assistance Center is now accepting requests for free technical assistance and clinical consultation to improve the effectiveness of treatment, recovery services, and supports for people with serious mental illness and first episode psychosis. It only takes three minutes to submit a request for these confidential services. Request technical assistance support today!

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has updated the public standing order for naloxone based on recent data and stakeholder feedback. The standing order for first responders will also be updated shortly to match the public one. Updated instructions for the use of naloxone are also available.