The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a final recommendation statement on statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults. The Task Force recommends people ages 40 to 75 at high risk for CVD take a statin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. People ages 40 to 75 who are at increased risk, but not at high risk, should decide with their healthcare professional whether to take a statin. More research is needed on whether people 76 or older should start taking a statin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. To view the recommendation, the evidence on which it is based, and a summary for clinicians, please go here.

Providers should consider testing any patient who presents with a rash or lesions consistent with monkeypox. Several commercial laboratories offer monkeypox testing, and healthcare providers should primarily use these laboratories for monkeypox testing. To ensure timely access to testing, providers do not have to call the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) or their local health department prior to sending specimens to commercial labs. Testing will also continue to be available through the PA DOH Bureau of Laboratories (BOL) with approval from the PADOH or a local health department. On Aug. 9, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that allows for an intradermal or subcutaneous vaccination with JYNNEOS for people 18 years old and older and allows for subcutaneous vaccination with JYNNEOS for patients under 18 years old. CDC has provided a video demonstrating intradermal injections. JYNNEOS is available in Pennsylvania to those who have been exposed to monkeypox and those who may be more likely to get monkeypox. CDC has issued guidance on assessing the risk of healthcare workers after they have cared for an identified monkeypox case and recommendations for post-exposure prophylaxis. If you have any questions, please call PA DOH at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) or your local health department. Click here for the full update.

The Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division recently released guidance on how various federal laws require making telehealth accessible to people with disabilities and limited English proficient persons.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has released a report on telebehavioral health during the COVID-19 pandemic and innovations in mental and substance use treatment. Read the full report here. NACHC and National Council work jointly on the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net initiative to advance the integration of primary care and behavioral in states across the country.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center (MAR-PHTC) invites participation in a survey that will help them provide desired training in a preferred format. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center (MAR-PHTC) is a partnership among schools of public health, academic institutions, and public health agencies and organizations. It works to strengthen the capabilities of the public health workforce to support the delivery of high-quality public health services throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. This survey should take no more than 15 minutes and helps MAR-PHTC fulfill its funding requirements. Take the Survey no later than Sept. 8, 2022. Please email marphtc@pitt.edu with any questions.

Primary care doctors need 26.7 hours per day in order to follow national recommended guidelines for preventive care, chronic disease care, and acute care and still see an average number of patients, according to a new simulation study. Read more.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a pair of informational bulletins to inform states about their larger efforts to strengthen access to comprehensive health care for children on Medicaid. They are as follows:

• Leveraging Medicaid, CHIP, and Other Federal Programs in the Delivery of Behavioral Health Services for Children and Youth
• Information on School-Based Services in Medicaid: Funding, Documentation and Expanding Services

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) issued Informational Bulletin 02-22 to clarify Act 33 of 2022 – Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Records. Act 33, signed into law on July 7, 2022, makes Pennsylvania’s SUD confidentiality requirements consistent with federal law. Federally-assisted programs for the diagnosis, referral, or treatment of SUD are now covered by the federal regulations at 42 CFR Part 2. Under Act 33, federal confidentiality provisions apply to those programs and disclosures shall be made as permitted by federal law. Act 33 prohibits DDAP from issuing or enforcing a regulation that restricts the disclosure of information permitted by Act 33.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) reports some consumers may be receiving phishing scam texts with claims of approval for $1,000 in benefits requiring recipients to click on a link. DHS does not send messages from 1-833-648-1964 asking for details about benefits, requests for personal information, or links to unofficial sites. DHS issued a warning to consumers that if they receive unsolicited or random calls or text messages, it is most likely a scam. As a reminder, consumers should not respond and delete the message, so they do not get caught in identity theft.

Continuing its work to address and prevent one of the fastest-growing forms of elder abuse, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging announced the formation of a dedicated investigative unit to support Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in probing complex financial exploitation cases and obtaining justice for older Pennsylvanians. The Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) is a four-person unit consisting of an analyst/supervisor, two analysts, and an attorney to assist the aging network for the next two years. Click here to learn more.