- 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
Pennsylvania Human Services Agency Initiates Human Services Helpers Program
The 
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is launching Human Services Helpers, a Substack that will cover updates on DHS programs, news from the agency, and how organizations and partners can help their communities. (If you’re not familiar with Substack, check out this article.)
As DHS implements changes required by the federal government under HR1, Human Services Helpers will share resources and tips to help Pennsylvanians affected by these changes understand what is happening and what they must do to keep their benefits. News on the federal government shutdown and its impact on programs like SNAP and LIHEAP will also be shared through this platform.
Sign up for updates and be a helper for PA!
Bipartisan Nurse Education Bill Advances Through Pennsylvania Committee
The Pennsylvania Senate Institutional Sustainability & Innovation Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 998.
Senator Maria Collett’s bipartisan legislation with Senator Rosemary Brown tackles Pennsylvania’s nursing workforce shortage by increasing nurse education capacity at accredited nursing schools in the commonwealth.
American Dental Association Provides Medicaid Financial Sustainability Toolkit
The American Dental Association (ADA) is dedicated to making improvements to Medicaid access and prepared this toolkit to support dentists who participate in Medicaid.
This document offers policy-grounded guidance and operational strategies to help practices deliver high-quality care while maintaining financial viability. It aligns with ADA advocacy priorities to reduce administrative burdens, improve reimbursement rates, and enhance program design so that participation is financially and professionally suitable for all dentists and beneficial for all beneficiaries.
White House Clarifies H-1B Proclamation
The White House confirmed that the $100,000 fee associated with H-1B visa petitions applies only to new applicants outside the U.S.
Employers are not required to pay the fee for individuals already residing in the U.S. who have previously issued and valid H-1B visas or those submitted before September 21.
Read more about the clarification.
SNAP Workforce Requirements Begin January 1 2026
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Work Requirements went into effect on September 1. Work requirements require that many adults now need to work 20 hours per week to keep their benefits. These rules do not apply to thse who meet an exemption.
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS) has created a digital toolkit to help consumers and advocates understand the new rules.
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.