- Weathering the Storm Together: Community Resiliency Hubs Hold the Promise of Local Self-Sufficiency and Supportive Mutual Aid
- Virginia Tech Researchers Bring Rural Families into the Nation's Largest Study of Early Brain and Child Development
- Expanding Access to Cancer Care for Rural Veterans
- VA: Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee, Notice of Meeting
- Scaling Rural Wellness with Clever Collaboration
- Stroudwater Associates Enhances Rural Healthcare Dashboard with New Data to Support State Rural Transformation Grant Applications
- Harvest Season Is Here: Busy Times Call for Increased Focus on Safety and Health
- HHS Dispatches More Than 70 Public Health Service Officers to Strengthen Care in Tribal Communities
- Wisconsin Rural Hospitals Team up to Form Network
- CMS Launches Landmark $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program
- American Heart Association Provides Blood Pressure Kits at Southeast Arkansas Regional Libraries to Support Rural Health
- Broadening Access to Minimally Invasive Surgery Could Narrow Rural-Urban Health Gaps
- Instead of Selling, Some Rural Hospitals Band Together To Survive
- Help Line Gives Pediatricians Crucial Mental Health Information to Help Kids, Families
- Rural Health: A Strategic Opportunity for Governors
Applications Accepted for Behavioral Health Training Institute for Health Officials
As communities across the U.S. grapple with rising mental health and substance use challenges, the role of skilled and collaborative public health leaders is increasingly critical.
The (NatCon) has announced the 11th cohort of the Behavioral Health Training Institute for Health Officials (BHTI), created to support public health officials and behavioral health professionals. The cohort launches in January 2026.
BHTI is presented in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce (Public Health Infrastructure Center). This six-month professional development program will provide up to 20 public health officials and their behavioral health partners with training and technical assistance focused on integrating public health and behavioral health competencies, enhancing leadership skills and building workforce capacity.
BHTI is open to any public health officials of a state, tribal, territorial or local governmental public health agency. Participation is FREE and includes:
- Registration to NatCon (Denver, Apr. 27-29, 2026).
- A specialized two-day, in-person training immediately before NatCon.
- Webinars, workshops and other training and technical assistance opportunities.
- Exclusive, facilitated colleague engagement with fellow public and behavioral health leaders.
- Direct access to subject matter experts.
- Mental Health First Aid training
Applications are due Friday, November. 14, at 11:59 pm. Selected applicants will be notified in December 2025. Questions about the application or this initiative? Contact Jasmine Feng.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Extended All Year in Pennsylvania
In addition to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Prescription Drug Take-Back Days, the Pennsylvania Governor’s administration offers year-round opportunities to dispose of medication through nearly 900 Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, DDAP Prescription Drug Take-Back Program locations, including Pennsylvania agency buildings, local police stations, and pharmacies.
Since the inception of Pennsylvania’s drug take-back program in 2015, more than 1.5 million pounds – or 750 tons – of prescription medication have been destroyed across all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
DDAP partners with additional agencies in Gov. Shapiro’s Administration, including the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), to collect and destroy medications that are dropped off at the agency’s take-back boxes.
Click here to learn more.
Pennsylvania Governor’s Administration Reaffirms Health Insurance Coverage of COVID-19 and Other Vaccines through 2026
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) issued a notice that reaffirms PID’s expectations for insurers to cover the COVID-19 vaccine and other important vaccines during the 2025–26 calendar years. These vaccines should be covered at no cost to consumers, with no extra fees or unnecessary hurdles, and consistent with approved policy language, through at least December 31, 2026.
This notice reinforces Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Executive Order that safeguards Pennsylvanians’ access to vaccines and protects their freedom to make their own healthcare decisions.
What This Means for Pennsylvanians:
- No Cost: COVID-19 vaccines and other recommended vaccines should be covered without copays, deductibles, or other costs, when administered by an in-network provider.
- No Barriers: Insurers should not put up extra steps that make it harder for people to get vaccinated.
- Based on Medical Guidance: Vaccines are to be covered if they follow the recommendations of national medical groups like the CDC, FDA, ACOG, AAP, and AAFP. The State Board of Pharmacy recently approved several trusted medical organizations, including the FDA and major physician groups, to set vaccine guidelines in Pennsylvania. This means pharmacists and other providers can follow these updated guidelines when giving vaccines.
- Encouraged Coordination: This guidance applies to most health insurance plans sold in Pennsylvania, including major medical plans and some limited-coverage plans. However, PID also encourages insurers who handle self-funded employer health plans (plans not directly regulated by the state) to make sure vaccine access stays consistent for their members.
Oral Health and Dementia Course Teaches Strategies to Care for Patients with Cognitive Decline
This self-paced course examines Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD), both of which can complicate the delivery and outcomes of dental care to patients.
Through real-world scenarios and evidence-based strategies, this course equips dental professionals with the tools to recognize and respond to the unique challenges facing individuals with dementia. The course examines how verbal and nonverbal communication techniques can enhance patient cooperation and comfort, as well as how tailored treatment plans can address common oral health issues such as dry mouth, periodontal disease, and oral pain across the stages of cognitive decline.
Updated HPSA Scores Now in Effect
In 2025, a required source data update was made to the Shortage Designation Management System (SDMS), the HRSA tool used to process applications for Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations.
The update has been completed and the recalculated HPSA scores are now published and effective as of September 22, 2025. You may have been notified directly regarding any changes in scores, but if not, you can look up your current HPSA score at HPSA Find.
You will also notice the addition of a Maternal Care Target Area score, which is a sub-score under the Primary Care score. This score can be used by women’s health and maternal care providers applying for loan repayment programs or by National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholars and Students to Service (S2S) participants.
New Report Published on Fostering Early-Career Physician Loyalty and Retention
Most physicians leave their first job within two to three years, and in response, the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR) partnered with Jackson Physician Search and Management Group Management Association to conduct research and answer the question: “How do healthcare organizations retain early-career physicians?”
AAPPR and Jackson Physician Search released their findings in a report that is free to download. Key findings include the importance of connection and collaboration, pre-boarding, and relationships with colleagues in retaining early career physicians.
CATCH Healthy Smiles!
Have you heard of CATCH: Coordinated Approach to Child Health? The Pre-K through 2nd grade program, CATCH Healthy Smiles, improves the oral health of students by teaching and encouraging proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques, tooth-healthy foods and drinks, and regular visits to the dentist.
Youth will learn about oral health through fun activities and characters, and develop skills needed to maintain a healthy smile and well-being. It’s packed with tools like physical activity breaks, bulletin board materials, extension activities for K-2, and more.
Analysis Explores Effectiveness of Pennsylvania’s Mental Health System
Partnering with the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute, Spotlight PA commissioned a first-of-its-kind analysis of mental health spending and services in all 67 counties. The report traces cuts down to the dollar and shows how many fewer people are served today than just a few years ago.
WATCH: How Pennsylvania’s mental health system failed those who needed it most – pennlive.com
As Pennsylvania Limits HIV Support, Some Patients Face Soaring Medical Bills
In a recent memo, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) explained that increases in medical bills for HIV services are the result of an “unprecedented increase in program enrollment” as well as high costs of medication.
DOH warned the state may also reduce the number of drugs covered under the program and other “cost savings” measures “as necessary.”
Pennsylvania Insurance Exchange Open Enrollment Starts Soon!
Without Congressional approval of Pennie’s Enhanced Premium Tax Credit (EPTC), the actual impact of these tax credits expiring is an average increase of 102%, reflecting a doubling of premiums across all current enrollees.
Several considerations and contingency plans were discussed during the recent Pennie Board of Directors meeting, including the possibility of delaying the start of Open Enrollment if Congress were to approve EPTC between October 25 and October 31. This would allow Pennie and the health insurers time to update their systems and calculate more accurate costs. If no Congressional decision is made by October 31, Pennie would open on November 1 as planned without enhanced premium tax credits. Individuals would see sticker shock in the system and on enrollee renewal notices, causing many to abandon the security of health insurance.
Pennie estimates 29 counties in total will experience premium increases more than 100%, with 9 seeing premium increases more than 200% with the highest average premium increases in Juniata County (485% per member) and Fulton County (411% per member).
To help mitigate some of these changes and allow customers more time to make decisions, Pennie has extended the December 15 deadline to December 31 for January 1 coverage to allow consumers adequate time to understand the premium changes coming to the plan they have been renewed into and shop for a different plan if their current plan is now unaffordable Pennie has also extended the 2026 Open Enrollment Period to January 31, 2026, and made the effective coverage date February 1, 2026, for plan selection made on or after January 1, 2026.