Pennsylvania Projects Receive $1.5 million

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $272 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for 270,000 people living in rural communities across 37 states and Puerto Rico.

“As people in many parts of the nation battle drought and fires brought on by climate change, there has never been a more urgent need for this assistance,” Vilsack said. “When we invest in rural infrastructure, we build opportunity and prosperity for people in rural communities. These investments support the local economy by making rural communities attractive, economically viable and safe places to live and work, therefore helping to create and save jobs by attracting and retaining employers and workers. Investing in rural water infrastructure is one of the many things the Biden-Harris Administration is doing to help the nation build back better during the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

USDA is financing 114 projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. These investments will help improve rural infrastructure for 270,000 people and businesses.

In Pennsylvania, two projects are receiving funding:

• The Borough of Smethport Authority (BOSA) in McKean County is receiving a $1.2 million loan to replace and/or upgrade water distribution, sewer collection, conveyance lines and fire hydrants. These lines are more than 50 years old and need to be replaced due to high unaccounted water loss. This project will also allow for full fire emergency response, which is lacking in the area. The BOSA currently owns and operates the public water and wastewater system within Smethport Borough with users located in the borough and Keating Township.
• The Neshannock Creek Watershed Joint Municipal Authority in Mercer County is receiving a $219,000 loan and $96,000 grant to install a mechanical bar screen at the Thompson Road pump station. The pump station requires continuous inspection and cleaning to remove debris buildup on the stationary bar screen and trash basket. Additionally, debris that is not being captured in the screening chamber, is entering the wet well and being pumped to the treatment plant resulting in excess debris in the aeration tanks. An open type shelter will be built as well to provide cover and protection for the equipment and control panel at the site.

Background:

The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage. The program serves people and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.

In addition, USDA announced investments today in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.

To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, contact a USDA Rural Development state office.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

The HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) continues to accept applications for payment from Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) employing buprenorphine-waivered providers under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) Waiver Training Payment Program.

The program gives RHCs the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment for each eligible employed provider who attained a DATA 2000 waiver on or after January 1, 2019.  Approximately $1.5 million in program funding remains available for RHCs and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

HRSA is collaborating with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to process these applications.

For more information, the program provides a video and FAQs.

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2022 Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to help people with Medicare compare plans ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment, which kicks off on October 15. Plans are rated on a one-to-five scale, with one star representing poor performance and five stars representing excellent performance. Star Ratings are released annually and reflect the experiences of people enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. The Star Ratings system supports CMS’s efforts to empower people to make health care decisions that are best for them.

“The Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings are important tools in the toolbox for beneficiaries to use as they consider Medicare coverage options,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “CMS’s annual ratings deliver meaningful information about the quality of each plan to help people with Medicare make informed health care decisions.”

Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2021, and ends December 7, 2021. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can compare coverage options like Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and choose health and drug plans for 2022. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan costs and covered benefits can change from year to year, so Medicare beneficiaries should look at their coverage choices and decide on the options that best meet their health needs. They can visit Medicare.gov (https://www.medicare.gov/), call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact their State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

For more information on the 2022 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings, including a fact sheet, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/PerformanceData, and download the “2022 Star Ratings Data” zip file in the downloads section.

The National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) Rural Hospital CNO Certification Program has completed its first cohort, starting in April 2021.  The pilot cohort consisted of the following NRHA CNO-certified participants:

• Andrea Hagist – Mahaska Health, Oskaloosa, Iowa
• Carrie Owens – Lincoln Health, Hugo, Colo.
• Jeremy Cannon – Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, Kalkaska, Mich.
• Jyme Kinnard – Ochiltree General Hospital, Perryton, Texas
• Katie Peterson – Pender Community Hospital, Pender, Neb.
• Leslie Hackett – Covenant Hospital Plainview, Plainview, Texas
• Lori Forneris – Nursetribe, Holstein, Iowa
• Maegen Garner – Seminole Hospital District, Seminole, Texas
• Megan Heath – Gordon Memorial Hospital, Gordon, Neb.
• Nicole Thorell – Lexington Regional Health Center, Lexington, Neb.
• Roxanne Stelle – Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln, Ill.
• Shawn Nethery – Ward Memorial Hospital, Monahans, Texas
• Steve Olson – Carthage Area Hospital, Carthage, N.Y.
• SuLynn Mester – Childress Regional Medical Center, Childress, Texas
• Mandy Graves – Lynn County Hospital District, Tahoka, Texas
• Clay Jordan – Tri Valley Health System, Cambridge, Neb.
• Kim Combs – Titusville Area Hospital, Titusville, Penn.
• Kim Cicon – Penn Highlands Healthcare, DuBois, Penn.
• Christina Peterson – Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics, Clarion, Iowa
• Lakin Lyon – Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, Kan.
• Judy Geiger – Columbia Memorial Hospital, Astoria, Ore.
• Jennifer Janssen – Cuero Regional Hospital, Cuero, Texas
• Miranda Adams – Cuero Regional Hospital, Cuero, Texas
• Kate Schaefer – Childress Regional Medical Center, Childress, Texas
• Marlene Elliot – Coulee Medical Center, Grand Coulee, Wash.
• Rachel Sem – Sakakewea Medical Center, Hazen, N.D.
• Candy Detchon – Mayer’s Memorial Hospital District, Fall River Mills, Calif.

About NRHA’s Rural Hospital CNO Certification Program

Leadership makes the difference. Today’s rural hospitals and clinics have tremendous challenges and uncertainty and are closing at an unprecedented rate. One out of three rural hospitals have been identified as “at risk.” According to Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), “Leadership is the biggest predicter of rural hospital success.” The NRHA Rural Hospital CNO Certification Program was developed by successful rural hospital CNOs for rural hospital CNOs with the intent of assisting current rural hospital CNOs strengthen their leadership skills to help lead their hospital to success. An individual with this certification will immediately be recognized as someone qualified to be a nurse leader in a rural hospital with excellence.

To see our pilot CNO Cohort’s Graduation Ceremony, click here!
For more information about available programs, click here.

Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veteran services, and childcare and family services. If you are a dental or other service provider, please consider taking five minutes to enroll on the PA 211 website to be listed as a service provider in the statewide community database.

Click here to enroll.
Click here to check your eligibility.