- FCC Waives Certain RHC Program Rules in Response to Hurricane Helene
- National Disaster Recovery Framework Public Comment Period
- USDA Offers Resources, Adds Flexibilities to Disaster Assistance Programs To Help Hurricane Helene-Impacted Farmers, Foresters and Communities
- Field Hospitals Set Up To Treat North Carolina Storm Victims Sit Mostly Empty
- More Restrooms Have Adult-Size Changing Tables To Help People With Disabilities
- VA Establishes Analytics Team to Improve Acute Care for Rural Veterans
- Local Radio Stations Become A Lifeline For Rural Appalachian Communities Cut Off By Hurricane Helene
- NIH Makes Inaugural Awards to Begin Building its CARE for Health™ Primary Care Research Network
- NIH CARE for Health Issues Awards to Inaugural Research Network Hubs
- CMS Announces Resources and Flexibilities to Assist With the Public Health Emergency in the States of Florida, Georgia and North Carolina
- CMS Announces Resources and Flexibilities to Assist With the Public Health Emergency in the States of Florida and Georgia
- UNM's Project Echo Model Shows Improvement in Diabetes Care for Rural New Mexicans
- Biden-Harris Administration Awards More Than $1.5 Billion in State and Tribal Opioid Response Grants to Advance the President's Unity Agenda for the Nation
- Kansas Is Covered in Farms but Isn't Growing Enough Local Produce for School Lunches
- Growing Divide: Rural Men Are Living Shorter, Less Healthy Lives Than Their Urban Counterparts
New Fund Helps PA Abuse Survivors Pay for Counseling Without Involving Police
Pennsylvanians who have experienced sexual assault and never reported it to police can apply for a share of $5 million to pay for counseling.
“What we have seen with the #MeToo movement, what we have seen with all the unfortunate cases that have befallen Pennsylvania — whether it’s the Jerry Sandusky case, the Bill Cosby case, the [Catholic] Archdiocese … and now we’re seeing it also with the Jehovah’s Witnesses — what that’s doing is kind of stirring up all of these old wounds that have never come forward,” said Jennifer Storm, the commonwealth’s victim advocate.
The state has previously established funds available for crime victims seeking counseling, but Storm said abuse survivors needed to have filed reports with police and claims with the state within two years from the time they gained knowledge of the abuse, which isn’t always plausible. She said the state decided to do something to address barriers to treatment when it saw the Roman Catholic Church’s response to abuse claims after the release of a historic grand jury report that outlined widespread clergy sexual abuse in six Pennsylvania archdioceses.
The church created victims’ compensation funds that put money aside for counseling, made free therapy available for survivors, and reimbursed victims if they sought private therapy before the funds were made available.
“You almost had this huge door that opened that enabled you to access funds and counseling that no other survivor in the commonwealth had,” said Storm.
That left other victims wondering: What about me?
The $5 million set aside from the state’s general fund eliminates the requirement to file a police report and has no statute of limitation.
Victims who were abused before their 18th birthday can get up to $10,000 for therapy. If the abuse occurred after turning 18, victims can access up to $5,000 for therapy with a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or licensed social worker by filling out a Sexual Assault Counseling Claim form.
Clergy abuse survivors who received financial help from the church’s compensation funds can also apply for the newly freed state dollars.
Storm said the new funds will provide help to those who have not reported their assaults to law enforcement out of fear of not being believed. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, known as RAINN, 3 out of 4 survivors don’t report their assaults — whether out of fear of retaliation or because they thought there was not enough to report.
“It is not the norm to have an assault and then immediately report it, go to the hospital, go to law enforcement,” said Storm. “That certainly does happen, but what we know is that that’s not the norm. The norm is that there’s usually a delayed disclosure.”
But swift action is what the state’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program — the only state-sponsored financial recourse victims had until this week — requires.
VCAP offers up to $35,000 to victims of any crime — not limited to sexual abuse — and can be used to offset the costs of medical expenses, loss of earnings, and counseling. Up to $10,000 can go to therapy, depending on the victim’s age when the abuse happened.
But access to any of that money requires navigating a sometimes-retraumatizing system.
“In part, law enforcement has been a relatively hostile venue for survivors, and even when it’s supportive, it’s a very complex system to be involved in,” said Carol Tracy, executive director of the Women’s Law Project, which has long partnered with police departments to review how they handle sex crimes.
Victims are often interviewed multiple times by police, and have to go through thorough physical examinations for evidence, which is why that process has resulted in underreporting of such incidents across the country.
Survivor advocates have long argued that the quick action required of victims does not always align with how survivors respond.
As with VCAP funds, the risk of fraud is minimized through a vetting process and giving the funds directly to the treatment provider, Storm said. That medical professional is expected to confirm that the client is receiving help.
“As many of us are trying to work to reform our justice system to be more responsive to survivors of sexual assault, this is something that is an important interim measure to make sure that people do have some opportunity outside of law enforcement to get some public funds to help them,” said Tracy.
Seven people have submitted applications so far.
Connecting Medicaid Enrollees to Employment & Training Programs
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller and Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak joined PCN TV to discuss a new partnership that will connect Medicaid recipients to employment and training programs.
Medicaid Work Supports
The Medicaid Work Supports initiative will identify and connect Medicaid enrollees to resources that can help address barriers to employment and lead to more success in the workforce.
“The Wolf Administration strives to build a Pennsylvania that works for everyone, and that includes making meaningful, sustaining employment accessible to all people, particularly underserved communities that may experience greater barriers to finding and retaining employment,” said Sec. Miller. “We want all people to be able to work, but we cannot do so in a way that is punitive or risks access to the health care people need to be able to get a job. The Medicaid Work Supports initiative will create that connection to employment and training.”
The Medicaid Work Supports initiative will create a more direct and systematic introduction to employment and training resources available to Pennsylvanians. When people are deemed eligible and enroll in a new Medicaid health plan, they will be asked if they are interested in help finding a job, training programs, and opportunities to get a high school diploma or GED. The referral system will help identify this population for the first time and create the opportunity for a meaningful, encouraging partnership between the MCOs, the PA CareerLink® system, and the enrollee to facilitate connections to employment and success in the workforce.
Individuals interested in learning more about these services will receive outreach either through PA CareerLinks®, their selected health plan, or their local county assistance office to provide awareness of and referrals to resources and programs available in their local community.
DHS will work with its partners to monitor whether outreach attempts and connections to employment or training programs are being made through PA CareerLinks® and in partnership with the MCOs. This data will be used to evaluate and identify effectiveness of this referral system, opportunities for new interventions or connections, and emerging best practices as the partners gain more experience with this referral model.
“This partnership between DHS and L&I is a great example of state agencies working together to assist people,” said Sec. Oleksiak. “PA CareerLinks® matches employers with qualified and skilled candidates and helps prepare job seekers to meet local employer’s needs. Providing Medicaid recipients with a connection to the employment and training services PA CareerLinks® provide can be the first step toward individuals obtaining the skills they need to enter, or reenter, the workforce and move toward gainful employment.”
Many MCOs offer employment and education support programs for their Medicaid enrollees and are integrating remediating barriers to employment and addressing social determinants of health like housing, food security, and transportation into these programs.
PA CareerLink® has a customer-centered approach that helps prepare job seekers to meet the needs of the global economy and matches employers with qualified and skilled candidates. PA CareerLink® provides workforce services to more than 783,753 job seekers annually. In addition, over 120,000 employers post more than 212,000 jobs a year with PA CareerLink® and access a range of free services, including customized job training programs and talent matching.
The Medicaid Work Supports initiative builds upon work by DHS and L&I to redesign employment and training programs for Pennsylvanians receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), many of whom are also covered by Medicaid.
Primary Care Visit Frequency Dropping
Adults in the U.S. are visiting primary care doctors less often, according to a new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a trend that is troubling since primary care is there to keep people healthy.
The study, which focused on adults enrolled with a large commercial insurer, found that:
- Between 2008 and 2016, visits to primary care physicians declined by 24.2%, and nearly half of adults didn’t visit one in any given year by the end of the time frame
- Groups with the largest declines were young adults, adults without chronic conditions, and those living in the lowest-income areas
Meanwhile, visits to alternative facilities like urgent care clinics increased by 46.9%
Governors Warn Trump Rule Could Lead to Big Medicaid Cuts
Governors of both major political parties are warning of dire consequences of a regulation proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration that could lead to big cuts in Medicaid, reducing access to health care for low-income Americans. The fiscal accountability rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would tighten federal oversight and approval over complex financing strategies states have long used to help pay for their share of the Medicaid program. Also targeted are certain payments to hospitals that treat many low-income patients. Public comments closed last week amid a chorus of criticism from hospitals, nursing homes, insurers, doctors and advocates for the poor. Trade associations for hospitals, nursing homes and doctors are asking the administration to withdraw the proposal and go back to the drawing board.
CMS Releases Guidance to States on Medicaid Block Grants
On January 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its long-awaited guidance to states, “Healthy Adult Opportunities” (HAO). This initiative allows states to make drastic changes to their Medicaid programs through waivers to implement block grants and per capita caps. NACHC released a statement, submitted a further statement through the Partnership for Medicaid and is working directly with primary care associations (PCAs), like PACHC, to assess the state level impact of the HAO initiative on FQHCs. Of special note in this new guidance are the FQHC-specific provisions allowing states to waive FQHC PPS (and even alternative payment methodologies) and services via a HAO waiver. NACHC and PACHC participated in a call with CMS this week to get further information and express our concerns. We believe there is overwhelming evidence that HAO waivers would essentially lead to a cap on Medicaid spending. Shortly after release by CMS of the HAO guidelines, Pennsylvania Governor Wolf indicated his administration does not intend to seek an HAO waiver.
Deadline for 340B Recertification – Februray 24
Monday, February 24 is the deadline for covered entities to recertify and retain 340B participant status. All 340B covered entities must annually recertify their eligibility to remain in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and continue purchasing covered outpatient drugs at discounted 340B prices. Any covered entity who does not recertify by the deadline will be terminated from the HRSA 340B Program on Wednesday, April 1. Terminated entities will be required to submit a new registration and will not be eligible to participate in the 340B Program until July. To recertify, Authorizing Officials (AOs) and Primary Contacts (PCs) must set up a user account in the HRSA 340B Office of Pharmacy Affairs Information System (340B OPAIS) and then choose “I am a participant.” For questions or assistance, email the 340B call center or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-6:00 pm ET).
Pennsylvania Governor Wolf Administration Announces Partnership to Connect Medicaid Enrollees to Employment and Training Programs
The Medicaid Work Supports initiative will identify and connect Medicaid enrollees to resources that can help address barriers to employment and lead to more success in the workforce. The initiative will create a more direct and systematic introduction to employment and training resources available to Pennsylvanians. When people are deemed eligible and enroll in a new Medicaid health plan, they will be asked if they are interested in help finding a job, training programs, and opportunities to get a high school diploma or GED. The referral system will help identify this population for the first time and create the opportunity for a meaningful, encouraging partnership between the managed care organizations (MCOs), the PA CareerLink® system, and the enrollee to facilitate connections to employment and success in the workforce. Individuals interested in learning more about these services will receive outreach either through PA CareerLinks®, their selected health plan or their local county assistance office to provide awareness of and referrals to resources and programs available in their local community. Learn more.
Pennsylvania Governor Wolf Proposes $36.1B Budget
Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled a $36.1 billion state spending plan on February 4, 2020 that will rely on continued strong economic growth. He proposes no increases in the state’s sales or personal income tax rates. The Wolf administration says the budget plan raises state spending by about four percent. The proposed budget adds an additional $450,000 for the Primary Health Care Practitioner Program to bring the program total to $5 million as was requested by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers, the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians and the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center program.
From the Governor’s Budget Book:
“Investing in our Public Health Workforce, the Primary Health Care Practitioner Program encourages primary care practitioners to practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas throughout Pennsylvania, helping to ensure health care access in underserved communities. An additional $450,000 for the Primary Health Care Practitioner Program will facilitate expanded access to quality, affordable primary health care in areas of need by increasing the volume of health care providers as well as helping to provide them with adequate resources to treat vulnerable populations. This additional investment will help to reduce the clinician shortage in Pennsylvania through a more robust support network that will entice more health care professionals to work in the commonwealth.”
Additional information on the proposed budget can be found here.
2020’s States with the Best & Worst Dental Health – WalletHub Study
With February being National Children’s Dental Health Month and about 15 percent of children aged 2-17 having not seen a dentist in the past year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2020’s States with the Best & Worst Dental Health as well as accompanying videos.
In order to determine which places have the healthiest teeth and gums in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 26 key metrics. The data set ranges from share of adolescents who visited a dentist in the past year to dental treatment costs to share of adults with low life satisfaction due to oral condition.
|
States with the Best Dental Health |
States with the Worst Dental Health |
|
| 1. Wisconsin | 42. Florida | |
| 2. Illinois | 43. Kentucky | |
| 3. Minnesota | 44. Alaska | |
| 4. District of Columbia | 45. Texas | |
| 5. Connecticut | 46. Alabama | |
| 6. North Dakota | 47. Louisiana | |
| 7. Michigan | 48. Montana | |
| 8. Massachusetts | 49. West Virginia | |
| 9. Idaho | 50. Arkansas | |
| 10. Iowa | 51. Mississippi |
Best vs. Worst
- Rhode Island has the lowest share of the population who couldn’t afford more dental visits due to costs, 37.00 percent, which is two times lower than in Georgia, the state with the highest at 74.00 percent.
- Utah has the most dentists per 100,000 residents, 55, which is 3.1 times more than in Louisiana, the state with the fewest at 18.
- The District of Columbia has the highest share of the population receiving fluoridated water, 100.00 percent, which 8.8 times higher than in Hawaii, the state with the lowest at 11.30 percent.
- Minnesota, Hawaii and Illinois have the lowest share of adults with poor or fair oral condition, 22.00 percent, which is 1.8 times lower than in Montana, the state with the highest at 40.00 percent.
To view the full report and your state or the District’s rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-best-worst-dental-health/31498/
Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children & Juvenile Law Center’s Third Transition Age Youth Fact Sheet
Together with the Juvenile Law Center, the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (PPC) are championing policy reforms for older youth in the foster care system and have produced several resources to articulate the needs of this population. This week PPC released their third fact sheet in a series about Transition Age Youth, which seeks to educate policymakers on ensuring foster youth successfully transition to adulthood. In the coming weeks and months, PPC will work with their partners in the legislature to advance legislation to enhance permanency services for these youth. To date, Rep. Karen Boback, Chair of the House Children and Youth Committee, has filed a co-sponsor memo to introduce the legislation that would enact these needed reforms.