- 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
Take the Telehealth Technology Survey Today
Every two years, the HRSA-funded National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center (TTAC) asks a variety of questions about the types of technologies, roles, and future plans of organizations and individuals using telehealth technology. TTAC uses this data to 1) identify technologies of interest for future evaluations, toolkits, video series, and other resources; 2) understand trends that are affecting the telehealth landscape regionally and nationwide; and 3) o determine how TTAC can better engage with its stakeholders. The survey takes less than 10 minutes and closes today, Thursday, March 31st.
One Stop Online for COVID Prevention and Treatment in Every County
The new website, COVID.gov, asks visitors to enter their county and then provides nearby locations for masks and respirators, vaccines and boosters, and all testing and treatment options. The site also maps out clinics and pharmacies with a test-to-treat option, where one can get tested and, if positive, immediately receive anti-viral pills. According to the White House, there are now more than 2,000 test-to-treat locations; the new website, announced yesterday, makes it easier to find them.
Save the Date for the 2022 PA Data User Conference!
The PA State Data Center is excited to host our annual PA Data User Conference on May 12, 2022. The 2022 PA Data User Conference will again provide virtual presentations from U.S. Census Bureau experts on a variety of recent and upcoming Census programs and data releases. More details will be shared as the conference approaches.
To register, visit https://pasdc-conference.eventbrite.com.
PA Facts 2022 Brochure Available
The 2022 Pennsylvania Facts brochure is now available. Did you know that 93.7 percent of all Pennsylvanians had health insurance in 2020? Or that the median gross rent for PA was $979?
To read more, visit https://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/Data/PA-Stats.
HIV Self-Testing Program Starts– Get the Word Out!
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Expanded HIV Testing Initiative (PEHTI) and the HIV Prevention and Care Project (HPCP), has introduced the HIV Self Testing Program (HST) for individuals who reside in Pennsylvania (excluding Philadelphia County). The goal of this program is to help individuals get tested who would not otherwise go to a doctor or testing clinic. Tests are available from the website. Individuals must read the information on the website and answer a few questions in order to receive an FDA-approved OraQuick home HIV test kit mailed to their provided address. Support for clients who request and administer the HIV self-test is available through OraQuick and HPCP, as noted on the website. Any individual with a Pennsylvania address can get a test. Those who reside in Philadelphia County should visit PhillyKeepOnLoving to order the HIV self-test kit and get additional information about testing from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Click here to email if you have any questions.
Pennsylvania Immunization Program Newsletter Launches
The very first issue of the Pennsylvania Immunization Program newsletter has been released. The Division of Immunizations will use this platform to communicate important updates, best practices, and significant changes related to the various programs within the Division of Immunizations, such as Vaccines for Children (VFC), Adolescent and Adult Immunizations Programs, the COVID-19 Vaccine Program, and the Pennsylvania Immunization Information System (PA SIIS) Registry. Health centers that are in the above programs should have received an email with this newsletter as it will take the place of information being sent out directly by each vaccine program. This newsletter will replace other vaccine communication from the PA Department of Health all and will be distributed every other month via listserv. If you did not receive the email from DOH with the newsletter and are participating in one or more of the above vaccine programs, email a request to be added to the distribution list to RA-PAVFC@pa.gov or RA-DHCOVIDVAX@pa.gov.
In Need of COVID-19 Tests?
HRSA continues to have an abundant supply of COVID-19 testing supplies—both at-home self-tests and point-of-care tests—available for all HRSA-supported health centers through the HRSA COVID-19 Testing Supply Program. HRSA encourages providers to consider two important factors as you place orders: the cyclical nature of COVID-19 surges and your existing/potential community partners. Get information on how to enroll here.
$10 Million in New Funding is Approved to Support High-Speed Broadband Infrastructure in Unserved Areas of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Governor Wolf’s administration announced the approval of $10 million for 19 projects through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) for nongovernmental entities to deploy middle-mile and last-mile high-speed broadband infrastructure to unserved areas in Pennsylvania through the Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Program (UHSB). Click here to learn more about the approved projects. More information about the UHSB program and the Commonwealth Financing Authority can be found on the Department of Community and Economic Development website.
A Study Finds COVID-19 Increases Diabetes Risk
A new study suggests COVID-19 patients are up to 40% more likely to be newly diagnosed with diabetes up to one year after recovering from infection. Read more.
A Study Concludes COVID-19 Death Rate Highly Underestimated
COVID-19 deaths have been underestimated. Lancet just published the most comprehensive meta study to date, looking at excess deaths from 2020 and 2021, in 74 countries, compared to 11 years of historical data. The conclusion: Total deaths because of COVID-19 were 18.2 million – more than three times the official reported death toll of six million.
Drug Overdose Deaths Hit a New Grim Milestone
Annual U.S. drug overdose deaths hit yet another record high according to provisional CDC data released last week. Nearly 106,000 people died in the U.S. in the 12 months ending October 2021, a majority involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.