- 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
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
- CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
- Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
- Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation: Request for Input
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule
- Rural America Faces Growing Shortage of Eye Surgeons
- NRHA Continues Partnership to Advance Rural Oral Health
- Comments Requested on Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit Draft
- Q&A: What Are the Challenges and Opportunities of Small-Town Philanthropy?
Licensing Tools for Health Professionals
The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has created the following web-based tools for certain health professions:
- Online Resource for Licensure of Health Professionals. As telehealth usage increased during the pandemic, FORHP funded new work with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards to reduce the burden of multi-state licensure. The site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing in each state for psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists assistants and social workers.
Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth. ProviderBridge.org was created by the Federation of State Medical Boards through the CARES Act and the FORHP-supported Licensure Portability Grant Program. The site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing by state as well as a provider portal to connect volunteer health care professionals to state agencies and health care entities.
COVID-19 Increases Long-term Heart Risks
A large-scale scientific study of U.S. veterans found that coronavirus patients were at “substantial” risk of heart disease one year after their illness, increasing the odds of clots, arrhythmias, heart failure and related conditions. Read more.
COVID-19 Can Destroy Placenta and Lead to Stillbirths
New research bolsters evidence from small case reports and confirms that placenta damage rather than an infection of the fetus is the likely cause of many COVID-19-related stillbirths. Researchers in 12 countries, including the U.S., analyzed placental and autopsy tissue from stillbirths and newborns who died shortly after birth. The cases all involved unvaccinated women who had COVID-19 during their pregnancy. Researchers found that placentas were infected and extensively destroyed. Read more.
The Science is Clear: Racism is a Public Health Threat
On February 7, Health Affairs published a special issue highlighting the impact of structural racism on America’s health and healthcare—featuring new research on racial health disparities and the policies to address structural racism. Understanding and addressing the impact of racism, particularly structural racism, on health is essential to building equity in health. Read the full special issue.
Contract Pharmacy Restrictions Implemented
This week, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that it is implementing contract pharmacy restrictions under 340B. Fortunately, (and despite the somewhat confusing wording in the announcement) all FQHCs and other Federal “grantees” are exempted from these rules. GSK marks the 14th drug maker to implement 340B contract pharmacy restrictions and the 10th to explicitly exempt Federal “grantees” (which includes both FQHC grantees and look-alikes). Notably, GSK has informed hospitals that they can avoid the contract pharmacy restrictions if they provide data about their 340B drugs to the 340BESP website.
Share Lifeline with Qualified Patients
Lifeline is a federal government program that offers a monthly discount on phone, internet, or bundled package bills to qualified low-income people, which can give them the tools to access services like telehealth. Customers living on Tribal lands can receive an additional benefit.
Special Enrollment Period
In 2021, the Pennie Board of Directors approved a Low-Income Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and dependents with household incomes that do not exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Levels in accordance with the 2022 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters. These monthly SEPs are available for both new and current enrollees. New enrollees can enroll in a plan in any metal level now. Soon, Pennie will announce current enrollees can move to a silver-level plan. This SEP is available while subsidies under the American Rescue Plan remain in effect.
Insurance Commissioner Leaves Pennsylvania
Jessica Altman, Pennsylvania’s Insurance Commissioner, was named as new CEO of Covered California the state’s health insurance marketplace for ACA coverage. She serves as the Insurance Commissioner and chair of the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange (Pennie) Authority Board of Directors. She also holds a leadership position with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and is chair of the Health Insurance and Managed Care Committee. Mike Humphreys, Chief of Staff at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, will fill Jessica’s position on the Pennie Board. Pennsylvania is the 5th largest insurance market in the nation.
Get Connected Through Lifeline
Get Connected Through Lifeline is a Federal program which offers a monthly discount on phone, internet, or bundled package bills to qualified low-income people, that can give them the tools to access services like telehealth. Customers living on Tribal lands can receive an additional benefit: https://www.lifelinesupport.org/tribal-benefit/
Diabetes Standards of Care
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently released its much-anticipated annual Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. Based upon the latest scientific diabetes research and clinical trials, Standards of Care is the gold-standard for professionals in the medical field and includes vital new and updated practice guidelines to care for people with diabetes and prediabetes. Read the full ADA press release and access additional guidelines and tools for health care professionals on their professional website, DiabetesPro.