- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
Medicaid and Pennie Increase, CHIP Declines in Pennsylvania
Enrollment statewide for Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program has increased by 300,076 people since February 2020 for a total enrollment of 3,131,639 people in Nov. 2020. This represents a 10.6 percent increase. Enrollment in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) peaked in May 2020 and has steadily decreased as children enrolled in Medical Assistance has increased. With enrollment in 2021 Pennie coverage increasing by 1.8 percent over 2020, more consumers are gaining the security of health insurance through state programs, including programs administered by the Department of Human Services.
Federal Retail Pharmacy Vaccination Program Set to Launch
President Biden announced his comprehensive National Strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The President announced that starting next week, the first phase of the federal pharmacy program will launch and select pharmacies nationwide will start offering vaccinations for their communities. These new steps will help meet the President’s goal of administering 100 million shots in 100 days and expand access to vaccines to more Americans in the coming weeks.
- Expanding Vaccine Supply: The Biden Administration will increase overall weekly vaccine supply to states, Tribes, and territories to 10.5 million doses nationwide beginning this week, a 22% increase since taking office on January 20.
- Launching First Phase of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination: Starting on February 11, those eligible for the vaccine will have the opportunity to be vaccinated at select pharmacies across the country through this program, a public-private partnership with 21 national pharmacy partners and networks of independent pharmacies representing more than 40,000 pharmacy locations nationwide. As the first phase of this program launches, select retail pharmacies nationwide will receive limited vaccine supply to vaccinate priority groups at no cost. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked with states to select initial pharmacy partners based on several factors including their ability to reach some of the populations most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19. More information is available at cdc.gov/covid19.
- Increasing Reimbursements to States: President Biden already directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fully reimburse states for the cost of National Guard Personnel and emergency costs, will also retroactively reimburse states fully for FEMA-eligible services and is requesting $350 billion from Congress in American Rescue Plan.
Pennsylvania Revises Map of COVID-19 Vaccine Locations
Pennsylvania’s initial map of places that may have COVID-19 vaccine was fraught with challenges. The state Department of Health’s map used green dots to indicate which health care providers had it in stock and red dots to indicate that vaccine was on its way to that location. As of Tuesday afternoon, the map contains only blue dots, which indicate providers that are part of the program to distribute COVID-19 vaccine. Click here to access the Vaccine Provider Map. Note – Philadelphia County is a separate vaccine jurisdiction and has their own information about vaccine distribution.
‘It’s on us’: Health care’s unique position in the response to human trafficking
Health care providers have a valuable role to play in the identification of human trafficking victims and the provision of their physical and psychological care. Read the article here.
Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches, and Communities
USDA offers an updated guide for building sustainable farms, ranches, and communities for producers, researchers, nonprofits, and landowners to easily find programs to help them achieve their goals.
Overview of Broadband Funding Opportunities in the COVID-19 Relief Act
The National Law Review provides this summary on broadband and telehealth funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act which establishes or re-appropriates a number of significant broadband-related support programs.
States Begin to Incorporate Children into their COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plans
In a new blog post, the National Academy for State Health Policy describes how states are beginning to incorporate children in their COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans in preparation for when a vaccine is authorized for children under age 16.
The blog post was produced as part of HRSA’s cooperative agreement with National Organizations of State and Local Officials.
HRSA Announces Loan Programs for Health Professions Schools
Colleges and universities: Take advantage of HRSA’s School-Based Loan Programs. These four programs give schools funding to offer low, fixed-rate loans to students pursuing a wide range of health care careers. Applications accepted until Thursday, February 25, 11:59 p.m. EST.
For more information, visit: HRSA School-Based Loans.
Meet HRSA’s Acting Administrator
While we await the appointment of the next HRSA Administrator it is my honor to serve as the Acting HRSA Administrator. HRSA’s mission is to improve health outcomes and address health disparities through access to quality services, a skilled health workforce, and innovative, high-value programs. I want to thank you for your partnership in providing care and services to the nation’s underserved communities and vulnerable populations.
For those of you who do not know my background prior to taking on this role and serving as HRSA’s Deputy Administrator, I have held several positions across the agency. I started in 2007 working in what is now the Bureau of Health Workforce as the Deputy Associate Administrator. I was the Senior Health Advisor to the HRSA Administrator from 2013-2015, before serving as HRSA’s Deputy Administrator. Most recently, along with many of my colleagues from across HRSA, I helped stand up the now $178 billion Provider Relief Fund.
Thank you for your dedication and for all you are doing as we work together to achieve health equity and improve public health for all Americans.
Thank you,
Diana Espinosa
Acting HRSA Administrator
A Customizable Communications Toolkit for Rural Hospitals and Clinics
The National Rural Health Resource Center provides templates that include educational fliers and posters, newspaper and radio scripts, website graphics, and talking points for leaders to reach internal and external audiences.