If you know someone headed to nursing school, let them know that the 2022 Nurse Corps Scholarship Program (SP) application cycle is now open. This year up to $2 million will be set aside for career pathways health professionals such as Certified Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides, Medical Assistants, Licensed Practical (Vocational) Nurses, and other entry-level health professionals. Nurse Corps provides financial support to students accepted to or enrolled in a nursing degree program at an accredited school of nursing in the United States. After graduation from nursing school, scholarship recipients serve a minimum two-year commitment at an approved health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses. For this application cycle, the Nurse Corps has reserved special funding in psychiatric mental health, women’s, and obstetrics. Review the Application and Program Guidance (APG) for information on eligibility and requirements. The application cycle closes on May 5.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is moving forward toward a goal of July 1, 2022 transition to 2022 managed care organization (MCO) assignments. The changes are significant in several ways: the current plan assignments have been in place since 2012 because of disputes, court cases, and more; there are more MCOs that will be serving all zones statewide, including some like Geisinger Health Plan and HealthPartners Plan that have previously only served a single zone; and perhaps most importantly, more than 400,000 individuals will either need to choose a new plan or will be auto-assigned to one.

Current enrollees in a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) who want to change health plans, can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage or go back to original Medicare and, if needed, also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan during Open Enrollment. If enrollees switch MAPs or go back to the original Medicare, the news coverage will start the first day of the month after the new plan gets the request for coverage. For those who go back to their original Medicare, enrollees may not be able to buy a Medicare Supplemental Insurance or Medigap Policy.

The Biden Administration has announced a national mental health strategy to strengthen system capacity, connect more people to care, and create a continuum of support—transforming the nation’s health and social services infrastructure to address mental health holistically and equitably. Read HRSA’s response to the strategy. As part of the national strategy, this week the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Office of Minority Health (OMH) announced nearly $35 million in funding opportunities to strengthen and expand community mental health services and suicide prevention programs for America’s children and young adults.