The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee, which deals with health policy, held a hearing on shortages in the healthcare labor force on Feb. 16. Committee members discussed potential solutions for widespread workforce shortages affecting the healthcare industry after hearing witness testimony from medical schools and colleges. Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) is a member of the HELP Committee.

The FY24 President’s budget will be released on March 9. Traditionally, once the budget is released, the appropriations season begins. NACHC will analyze the President’s FY24 budget proposal and utilize it in the legislative push to increase health center funding.

On February 15, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) held the first meeting of its 340B Workgroup. The workgroup has representatives from Community Health Centers, managed care organizations, associations representing covered entities, and others. The workgroup is scheduled to meet almost weekly through February and March and is tasked with helping DHS identify a process to acknowledge contract pharmacies and accurately and effectively identify and exclude 340B drug claims to allow 340B covered entities and the patients they serve to continue to receive the benefits of 340B savings.

The newly updated resource from the team at Rural Health Value contains one-page summaries of rural-relevant, value-based programs currently or recently implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services, primarily by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and its Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. The Rural Health Value team is funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

  The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) dives deep into a general misunderstanding about rural demographics, and the way that impacts policy, investments, and outcomes for rural areas.

 This is a recording of a one-hour webinar that took place on Monday, February 13.  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Rural Residency Planning and Development Technical Assistance (RRPD-TA) Center provided an overview of the application process for the second round of 200 Medicare residency slots available to eligible hospitals, including rural hospitals, interested in expanding residency training. Applications for Fiscal Year 2024 must be submitted through the Medicare Electronic Application Request Information (MEARIS™) by March 31, 2023. For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions and the application submission process guide.

The Rural Health Innovation Program at Berkley Public Health will offer 100 fully-paid scholarships to eligible online students seeking a Master’s in Public Health to support leadership development for rural public health leaders.  The program, with backing from the Barr-Campbell Foundation, was announced at the recent National Rural Health Association Policy Institute and will also cover other expenses such as books, fees, and travel expenses.  Within that cohort, the program will also support 10 scholars with an interest in activating change to focus on rural policy efforts. Apply by August 13, 2023!

This resource from an agency that provides analysis and advice to the U.S. Congress gives an overview of dual-eligible beneficiaries who receive benefits from both Medicare and Medicaid. Data from the calendar year 2020 depicts beneficiary demographics, eligibility pathways, utilization and spending patterns, and more. A table on page 35 includes a breakdown of beneficiaries based on urban or rural residence.