- Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration Highlights Investments in Rural America, Invites Public Nominations for Rural Innovators Initiative
- Rural Victims of Intimate-Partner Violence Need More Resources and Support, Study Finds
- A Tribe in Maine Is Using Opioid Settlement Funds on a Sweat Lodge to Treat Addiction
- Fact Sheet: USDA, HHS Announce New Actions to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1
- Call for Experts: Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence
- Bill to Expand Definition of 'Village' Qualifying for Water Funds Passes Alaska House
- Child Care Workers Caught in Middle of Michigan's Broken Child Care System
- Few Options Available for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Big Bend
- In Rural Texas, ERs Are Facing a Growing Mental Health Crisis
- Ways and Means Members Put Forth Solutions to Strengthen Telehealth Access and Improve Health Care for Rural Communities
- Sage Memorial Hospital in Navajo Nation Constructs New Facility to Improve Health Care
- How the State, Tribes and Federal Government Are Working to Curb SD's Syphilis Epidemic
- Rural Children Struggle to Access Hospital Services, Say Researchers
- RPHARM Program Fulfills Need for Rural Pharmacists
- A Pilot Program in Rural Vermont Hopes to Build a Blueprint for Substance Abuse Recovery
HHS and DoD Created the National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network
A joint program of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is available at no cost to hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients. Teams of critical care clinicians – critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialized clinical experts – are available to deliver virtual care through telemedicine platforms, such as an app on a mobile device. Hear from participating clinicians, and email to learn more and sign up.
The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal Opens in January
The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal will be open from January 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023 for Reporting Period 4 (RP4). Providers who received one or more PRF (General or Targeted) and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 must report on their use of funds during RP4. Resources are available to assist providers with completing their reports. For a quick glance at all our reporting-related resources, visit the PRF Reporting Resources Page.
Seeking Draft Recommendation Statement for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force seeks comments on a draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the prevention of HIV infection. Based on its review of the evidence, the Task Force recommends that healthcare professionals prescribe PrEP to people at increased risk for HIV to help prevent HIV infection. The draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review are available for review and public comment from Dec. 13, 2022, to Jan. 17, 2023.
COVID-19 Vaccine Ordering and Testing Supplies
HRSA released their Health Center COVID-19 Holiday Ordering Schedule on Dec. 13. All ordering will be disabled and no deliveries will be made during the weeks of Dec. 18 and Dec. 25. Regular ordering cadence will resume the week of Jan. 1. Additionally, BD Veritor Point-of-Care (POC) products have been exhausted at this time. Other distributors for these test strips can be found on the website Ordering & Reimbursement | BD Veritor™ Plus System.
Clinicians Urged to Consider Measles with Recent Outbreak
Currently, there is an ongoing outbreak of measles in Columbus, Ohio. As of Dec. 12, there were 73 confirmed cases with the growing concern of spreading to neighboring states, including Pennsylvania. Providers are encouraged to consider measles in patients presenting with clinically compatible symptoms. Providers who order testing must obtain samples from the following sites: throat/nasopharyngeal swab, urine, and serum. Timely measles testing is available through the PA Department of Health (DOH) Bureau of Laboratories after consultation with the local or state department of health. Measles is a reportable condition and providers should immediately report suspected cases to local health authorities or DOH. See Dec. 14 PAHAN 676 for more information.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is Accepting Applications
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that provides funds and discounts for families and households struggling to afford internet service. Those living in households where the household income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line are likely eligible but can check their household’s eligibility. Eligible households may receive the assistance of up to $30 a month in discounts for broadband service, and/or a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop, computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider. Click here to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program and learn more.
New Pitt Apprenticeship Program Aims to Address the Dental Assistant Shortage
The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine has been awarded state funding to train dental assistants through a paid 14-month paid apprenticeship, which also covers tuition and exam fees. The new program, which is funded through a PAsmart grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, is partnering with Pittsburgh Public Schools to recruit the first cohort of six students. The program will focus on attracting underrepresented minority students from high schools in Allegheny County, as well as the surrounding counties of Butler, Beaver, Washington, and Westmoreland. The first cohort of students is expected to start in January 2023. Find more information about the apprenticeship and instructions to apply.
Juul Reaches $38.8 Million Settlement with Pennsylvania
Juul, the popular electronic cigarette manufacturer, has agreed to pay $38.8 million to Pennsylvania’s Department of Health as part of a settlement in a lawsuit over its youth marketing practices, brought by the state Attorney General’s office. Read more.
“All of Us” Participants ReceivingPersonalized DNA Results
The National Institutes of Health’s “All of Us” Research Program has begun returning personalized health-related DNA results to more than 155,000 participants, with reports detailing whether participants have an increased risk for specific health conditions and how their bodies might process certain medications. This marks a major milestone for the program, delivering on its promise to share information and return value to participants. “All of Us” aims to partner with at least 1 million people who reflect the diversity of the United States to accelerate medical breakthroughs. About 80% of “All of Us” participants represent communities that have been historically underrepresented in medical research and nearly 50% of “All of Us” participants identify with a racial or ethnic minority group. The program started returning genetic ancestry and trait results to participants in December 2020. So far, the program has offered genetic ancestry and traits results to more than 175,000 participants and continues to return about 6,000 results each month. Learn more.
Legislation Moves to Relax Take-Home Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
The Biden administration is moving to make permanent the pandemic rules that allowed take-home drugs to help fight opioid addiction. The proposed rule from HHS would make it easier for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) to access drugs like methadone for home use and for providers to prescribe them via telehealth for patients with OUD. This change comes amid a broader administration push to address the opioid crisis — and while the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing whether to make a nasal spray for reversing opioid overdoses available without a prescription. “Enabling creative, effective strategies, such as telemedicine, is critical to reducing the number of overdose deaths in our country, particularly in underserved areas, and ending the overdose crisis,” a group of attorneys general from 44 states and the District of Columbia said in a letter last month calling for the extension.