The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the order requiring persons to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States was rescinded on June 12, 2022. This means that air passengers will not need to get tested and show the COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 prior to boarding a flight to the U.S.

On June 10, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) issued MA Bulletin 08-20-68 Addition to Medical Assistance Program Fee Schedule for Administration of Ready-to-Use SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. The bulletin informs Medical Assistance (MA) providers that DHS added Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 0051A, 0052A, 0053A, and 0054A to the MA Program Fee Schedule for the administration of the ready-to-use novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine manufactured by Pfizer, Inc. The language in this MAB was revised to clarify that FQHCs and RHCs may not bill for the COVID-19 vaccine they receive at no cost; however, they may bill for the administration of the vaccine they receive at no cost.

The purpose of Bulletin Notification 08-22-13 Teledentistry Guidelines and Dental Fee Schedule is to notify dentists, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) that the Department of Human Services (DHS) will pay for teledentistry, effective with dates of service on and after May 2, 2022, as well as to announce that procedure codes for counseling services have been added to the MA Program Fee Schedule. The Bulletin replaces Provider Quick Tip # 237, “Teledentistry Guidelines Related to COVID-19 for Dentists, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics” for teledentistry services rendered on and after March 1, 2020. DHS, following a clinical review, is also adding procedure codes D1310 (Nutritional Counseling for Control of Dental Disease) and D1330 (Oral Hygiene Instructions) to the MA Program Dental Fee Schedule.

In another move aimed at confronting the growing shortage of nurses, Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday signed into law legislation that improves nursing license requirements to support trained individuals who want to enter the nursing profession in Pennsylvania. Under previous law, graduates of nursing programs from other countries could take the test to become licensed in Pennsylvania only if they had obtained a nursing license in their home country. House Bill 889, now Act 22, updates the Professional Nursing Law to permit international students who’ve completed nursing or dietetic-nutrition programs in other countries to take the licensing exams in Pennsylvania even if they are not fully licensed in the country where they completed their studies.

The Telehealth Partner Toolkit empowers HRSA partners to share important resources that patients and providers can find on Telehealth.HHS.gov. Use the digital toolkit’s customizable newsletter articles, social media, and tip sheets to spread the word about how telehealth helps keep providers and patients connected and provides health care flexibility for patients and families.

The national nonprofit Housing Assistance Council has a map that shows the level of risk by county in this comprehensive guide to readiness, response, and recovery in rural areas.

The Government Accountability Office is requesting nominations for the committee that makes recommendations on physician payment models to the Department of Health and Human Services. Deadline July 11. 

This week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued guidance stating that audio-only telemedicine appointments comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA, as long as providers take measures to protect patient privacy.  HHS’s Office of Civil Rights says that this is an important tool for reaching people in rural areas with limited internet access, and/or those who are unable to use video.

In April, the federal AmeriCorps joined with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to announce a new and ongoing investment in recruitment and training for careers in public health at the local level.  In its first year, the new initiative is expected to recruit 3,000 members who will learn from the expertise and best practices of existing CDC, AmeriCorps, and other public health programs.  Applications are being accepted for organizations in each state; many are directing efforts to rural areas that have been underserved.

Read about a Rural Health Roundtable and site visit made by state lawmakers to the Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers’ Tallulah Health Center in Robbinsville, North Carolina. The visit focused on the integration of primary care and behavioral health services and the use of telehealth to expand service access.