Representatives Dr. John Joyce (PA-13) and Scott Peters (CA-50) introduced the bipartisan SECURE 340B Act, the first-ever comprehensive, bipartisan proposal to modernize the 340B Drug Pricing Program since its creation in 1992.

This bill is also cosponsored by Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), and Nanette Barragán (D-CA). “Since its establishment, the 340B program has served as a critical lifeline for low-income patients to access lifesaving medications,” said Congressman John Joyce, M.D.

The SECURE 340B Act address gaps in the 340B program, such as duplicate discounts, the SECURE 340B Act pauses manufacturer rebate models for four years while a new patient definition is created and standards for contract pharmacies, data sharing, and transparency take effect. It establishes a clear, statutory definition of “patient” based on previous federal guidance. And the bill directs the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to use an independent, conflict-free clearinghouse to securely manage prescription-level data, verify claims, and protect privacy. It also strengthens HRSA’s authority and provides the transparency and federal guardrails the program has lacked for more than three decades.

Read the full bill.

Attention community-based organizations needing volunteers and Pennsylvanians looking for volunteer opportunities: PA Navigate can help!

PA Navigate is a website that connects Pennsylvanians with social services in their communities. Pennsylvanians can find help with food, utilities, financial assistance, childcare, transportation, and more by visiting panavigate.org and entering their zip code to find services in their area. Due to changes in federal law, some SNAP recipients must now meet work and community engagement requirements – which can include volunteering – to continue receiving SNAP benefits.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) encourages community-based organizations to list their volunteer opportunities on PA Navigate to help fill critical needs and help fellow Pennsylvanians keep food on their tables.

For Community-Based Organizations.

If a community-based organization would like to list volunteer opportunities on PA Navigate, email panavigate@thecaap.org. A Community Engagement Manager will assist with adding volunteer opportunities to the platform and ensuring programs are listed and tagged accurately so individuals can easily find the organization’s volunteer offerings. For additional resources or questions, visit www.panavigatehelp.org or email panavigate@thecaap.org.

For Volunteers.

Here’s how to find volunteer opportunities on PA Navigate:

1. Go to panavigate@thecaap.org, enter your ZIP code, and search for “volunteer.”
2. A list of local programs offering volunteer opportunities appears.
3. Contact the organization to learn more and get connected to volunteer opportunities.
4. The organization completes the Community Service Verification Form to track volunteer hours.

The Childhood Begins at Home campaign released new fact sheets showing the number of young children and their families receiving publicly funded, evidence-based home visiting services statewide and in each county.

Home visiting plays a vital role in helping Pennsylvania families thrive. Evidence-based programs that support pregnant women and families with young children are making a meaningful impact by strengthening parent-child relationships, improving maternal and child health, and promoting school readiness and long-term stability.

Despite these benefits, the proposed 2026–27 state budget holds funding steady at $48.4 million (in the Community Based Family Center line and Nurse-Family Partnership line in the Department of Human Services budget) for the fourth consecutive year, even as program costs rise. Current services reach just 17,335 families or about 3% of those who could benefit, leaving significant unmet need across the state.

Home visiting works: decades of research show it can reduce child maltreatment, improve health outcomes, and support economic stability. As Pennsylvania looks ahead, increased investments will be critical to expanding access, strengthening the workforce, and ensuring more families receive the support they need during the earliest and most important years of a child’s life.

Learn more about the impact of home visiting and the eight evidence-based home visiting models in Childhood Begins at Home.

A federal judge halted part of an administration rule that would have limited student loan access for graduate students pursuing degrees in nursing, physical therapy, public health, and other fields.

Source: Washington Post

Duquesne University invites you to join them in shaping the next generation of healthcare providers.

Sign up today to host an MSN or Nurse Practitioner student for the 2026-2027 academic year. Current needs for the fall semester (August 31 – December 9) include family practice, women’s health, pediatrics, and outpatient therapy and medication management.

Sign up to host a student today. Contact Leigh Anne Rethage, Clinical Coordinator at Duquesne University, with questions or to learn more about their Preceptor Perks Package.

House Expected to Release Bipartisan, Comprehensive 340B Reform Bill

A bipartisan group of four members of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee – including Joyce (R-PA), Reps. Peters (D-CA), Bilirakis (R-FL), and Auchincloss (D-MA) – are expected to release a comprehensive 340B reform soon. The bill is comprehensive and has significant wins for health centers and patients. The good parts of this bipartisan bill are that it would delay any rebate model for four years and provide unlimited contract pharmacy. There are concerns about the bill’s restrictions on referrals, data sharing requirements, and some unvetted language scattered throughout the bill that would be difficult to operationalize or is inconsistent with other provisions in the bill. The lawmakers seem willing to continue working with covered entities on those concerns.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced that the state will join a multi-state legal action against President Donald Trump “for trying to rip away Medicaid from Pennsylvanians who need it most.”

“Donald Trump, Dr. (Mehmet) Oz and RFK Jr. are hellbent on trying to push aside people who rely on Medicaid to get the care they need,” said Shapiro. “But here in Pennsylvania, we’re going to keep standing up to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), have spearheaded efforts to rein in Medicaid spending under the direction of Trump.

Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star