The National Nurse-Led Care Consortium (NNCC) and Pennsylvania Action Coalition are recruiting nursing students and hosting sites for the AmeriCorps Public Health Nursing Fellowship. The fellowship will provide community-based primary care and public health clinical experiences serving vulnerable communities. NNCC is seeking partnerships with organizations across Pennsylvania for placement of nursing students who will support Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screening and navigation of services. Nursing students will screen new and current patients for SDOH, support patient navigation of services, and conduct vital signs screening and documentation, with the potential to support vaccination efforts. If you are interested in hosting students, contact Christine Simon.

The Nationwide transition to 988 is set to launch on July 16. 988 is the number to reach the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This transition is an important step to strengthening and transforming the crisis care continuum in the U.S. To help communicate about 988, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has added downloadable print files for wallet cards, magnets, and posters to its 988 Partner Toolkit. The toolkit already includes logo and brand guidelines, key messages, frequently asked questions, fact sheets (English and Spanish), radio PSA scripts (English and Spanish), and more. SAMHSA is also working to make the print materials available for ordering from the SAMHSA store and will be adding social media shareable by mid-July about the basics of 988.

The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal is open for Reporting Period 3. Providers who received one or more PRF payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, during the third Payment Received Period must report on their use of funds no later than 11:59 pm on Friday, September 30. More information and resources can be found on HRSA’s PRF Reporting webpage.

A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court changes federal protections for reproductive healthcare services to a decision made at the state level. To help patients and providers better understand quickly changing policies, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a new site explaining access to care for those with and without insurance coverage. The section related to lack of health insurance links to HRSA’s Find a Health Center tool. The Biden administration also moved to assure women that sensitive information—including medical records related to abortion and data collected by health and period tracking apps—could be shielded from law enforcement after the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. HHS issued new guidance last week telling healthcare providers they are not required to—and often legally prohibited from—disclosing private healthcare information related to abortion and other sexual and reproductive health care. For instance, the guidance document says, a hospital employee who suspected a patient of having an abortion in a state where it is illegal couldn’t report that to law-enforcement personnel unless state law specifically required such reporting.

The new P-EBT (Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer) portal released by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) allows parents to check their child’s eligibility for benefits based on information schools have submitted for the 2021-2022 school year. School children who receive free or reduced-price meals are potentially eligible. The P-EBT program will help families cover the cost of breakfasts and lunches their children would have been eligible to receive for free or at a reduced price through the National School Lunch Program. Through the portal, families can request replacement cards and check the status of benefits. Eligible students will receive distributions in stages. The benefit amount for each eligible student for each stage will vary based on the individual student’s circumstances. The maximum daily rate for P-EBT during the 2021-22 school year is $7.10. To get answers to questions on the program, consumers can access the Online P-EBT Frequently Asked Questions DHS P-EBT Guide, submit a DHS P-EBT Inquiry Form, enroll in P-EBT Parent Portal or call the P-EBT Hotline at 484-363-2137.

With the Public Health Emergency (PHE) eventually ending, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) wants to ensure trusted partners, organizations and providers receive the latest information about the unwinding process and its implications for you and the people you serve. In response, DHS launched an email newsletter called the DHS Helper. This newsletter will send regular communications on the status of the PHE and how to help individuals stay covered after the requirement to keep Medical Assistance coverage ends. Sign up here. The form will generate an email to the email address given. Confirm the address by walking through the prompts in the email.

Legislation authored by state Rep. Jeff Wheeland (R-Lycoming) that would help improve access to home health care services by making permanent two regulations waived during the COVID-19 pandemic was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf on June 30. Prior to the pandemic, non-physician practitioners were unable to order or oversee orders for home health care services. Additionally, registered nurses were not able to perform remote visits to patients in need of home health care services. Due to great need, those regulations were waived during the pandemic. Wheeland’s House Bill 2401, now Act 30 of 2022, makes these exceptions permanent, so healthcare services are more accessible to those individuals who cannot leave their homes to obtain care or treatment.

  The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is seeking experienced current members and alumni for its program that helps prepare NHSC Scholarship Program and NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program participants for their service at NHSC-approved sites.

The U.S. is getting close to the July 16 transition to 988 – the easy-to-remember number to reach the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has added downloadable print files for wallet cards, magnets, and posters to its 988 Partner Toolkit, along with key messages, frequently asked questions, fact sheets (English and Spanish), radio PSA scripts (English and Spanish), and more. To strengthen and expand the existing network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers across the country, the Lifeline suicide & crisis network is looking to bring on new volunteers and paid employees to receive training to answer calls, chats, and texts from people in crisis.  Since 1999, suicide rates in rural areas have been consistently higher than those in metropolitan areas.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) has released a Health Alert Network Advisory regarding harmful algal blooms (HABs) throughout Pennsylvania’s water bodies during the warmer months. Exposure to HABs can cause sickness in animals and humans so you need to follow waterbody advisories or closures, stay out of water that is discolored, smells bad, or that has the presence of a visible foam, algal mats, or a paint-like appearance. Healthcare providers should assess for possible HAB exposures when caring for patients’ symptoms following recreational water activities. Report potential HAB exposures or illnesses. Report a suspected HAB or for additional information contact the PA DOH.