HRSA’s fiscal year (FY) 2021 fact sheets and fact sheet maps are now available. Along with this release, Data by Geography, Find Grants, and Data Explorer now have the ratified FY 2021 HRSA-awarded grants data. As part of this project, the Office of Information Technology collaborated with all bureaus and offices to define the narratives and produce summary reports of the grant award totals for each FY at the national, regional, state, county, and congressional district levels.

On July 19, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the use of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine for adult patients (ages 18 and older) for primary series vaccination. See the CDC statement. This recommendation is in line with the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization of the vaccine for this age group. A limited supply of Novavax is available for Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program participants. Ordering through PA-SIIS opened on Monday, July 25. Health centers can submit a one-time order of one package (100 doses) per health center site. See these CDC resources for more information:

·     Novavax COVID-19 Vaccination Operational Planning Guide

·     Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the U.S.

·     Novavax COVID-19, Adjuvanted Vaccine: Overview and Safety | CDC Novavax HCP Fact Sheet 07132022 (fda.gov)

For more information, please contact Erin Babe, PACHC Public Health Program Specialist.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an analysis on a proposal to permanently extend the enhanced ACA Marketplace Place Health Insurance subsidies which are set to expire at the end of this year. The CBO also found that if the subsidies became permanent, it would balloon federal spending by $247.9 billion. Extending these enhanced subsidies on the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges would also lead to 4.8 million new sign-ups a year and slight declines in non-group coverage. Senate Democrats are working to pass a two-year extension to the subsidy enhancement passed originally by the American Rescue Plan Act for coverage years 2021 and 2022. The increased subsidies helped ensure some low-income customers had low or no premiums for coverage.

With changes to the participating Pennsylvania Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCO) in each Physical HealthChoices zones, changes to Dental Coverage will begin September 1 for some plans. Each MCO uses a separate administrator for dental services. When patients or consumers are choosing MCO plans, it is important to see if their chosen provider accepts the participating dental plan under Avesis, Skygen, or United Concordia. See the coverage map on the fact sheet. 

Filed by a group of employers and individuals who object to providing certain preventive care or don’t want to pay for preventive care they feel isn’t necessary; Kelley v. Becerra argues that the ACA’s requirement for insurers and health plans is unconstitutional. If it succeeds, millions of Americans could lose access to all preventive care guaranteed by the ACA or be forced to pay out of pocket for these vital services. These vital screens include but are not limited to check-ups, screenings for blood pressure, colorectal cancer, cholesterol, type 2 diabetes for adults, STDs, lead, and autism screening. Want more, see this article from the Commonwealth Fund.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury, the PA Homeowner Association Fund helps homeowners experiencing financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing funds to prevent displacement, mortgage delinquencies, foreclosures and loss of utilities or home energy services. Registering for the program is the first step in the process to obtain assistance. The Consolidated Appropriations ACT of 2021 provides funds for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and is administered through the PA Department of Human Services (DHS). Applications are now being accepted through the DHS COMPASS portal.

The U.S. House passed HR 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2021, which is sponsored by Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI). The bill continues Medicare telehealth provisions for two years after the Public Health Emergency (PHE) expires. This bill would temporarily help health centers by allowing them to receive payment for telehealth medical and behavioral health services. Seniors, residents in rural areas, and communities with limited broadband access will benefit from the legislation. They will be able to continue to receive telehealth services, including audio-only visits. The U.S. Senate is not expected to review this bill before their August recess.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf sued the state legislature over a package of proposed constitutional amendments, including one that would say the state constitution does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding of abortions. The lawsuit file in the state Supreme Court argues that the proposed abortion amendment would violate privacy protections. The suit also claims that bundling the abortion amendment together with four others in a bill that passed the General Assembly earlier this month runs afoul of a constitutional rule against passing legislation that addresses multiple, unrelated topics. The other four amendments would require voter ID, have gubernatorial candidates choose their own running mates, empower legislators to cancel regulations without facing a governor’s veto and establish election audits. Although the House and Senate voted on them as a package, mostly along partisan lines, voters would consider the questions individually.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s Administration announced the expansion of Acting Secretary of Health and Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson’s naloxone standing order to combat the rise of overdoses in Pennsylvania. The standing order now includes ZIMHI, a 5 milligram (mg) intra-muscular injection device that comes as a single-dose pre-filled syringe or a carton containing two cases of the pre-filled syringes. Residents can present a copy of the standing order at their local pharmacy to obtain life-saving naloxone. The medication is also available free for personal use through a statewide mail-based naloxone program in partnership with Prevention Point Pittsburgh and NEXT Distro. The Department of Health recently revised Pennsylvania’s naloxone training video and resources available through Train PA to include updated overdose death statistics and information on administering naloxone. To watch the training or see the available resources, you must create an account through Train PA.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that, during 2015-2019, excessive alcohol use led to more than 380 deaths per day.  Get more fast facts on this page, along with community strategies and a new online self-assessment tool.