- Eight Hospitals Selected for First Cohort of Rural Hospital Stabilization Program
- Announcing the 2030 Census Disclosure Avoidance Research Program
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
Pennsylvania FQHC Network Unveils ‘Buddy Bench’ Initiative
From the Record-Argus
In collaboration with Buhl Park, Primary Health Network (PHN), based in Sharon, PA, recognizes that loneliness and isolation can profoundly affect individuals’ mental and emotional well-being and have answered with a call of action by implementing a new initiative, the Buddy Bench, which debuted at Buhl Park Friday.
The first of the Buddy Benches, facing Lake Julia at Buhl Park, was dedicated by Dr. George Garrow, CEO of the Primary
Health Network, and Tom Roskos, executive director of Buhl Park, with the idea that connections, even something as simple as sitting with someone, shows compassion and empathy, something Garrow believes is instrumental in today’s world.
“Our mission at Primary Health Network has always been to support the health of the community in every sense of the word, and this initiative is a testament to that commitment,” he said.
In introducing the concept of the PHN Buddy Bench project, Garrow said it is “a simple, yet powerful idea aimed at addressing the challenges of loneliness and isolation that many in our community face,” one of the many community initiatives under the auspices of PHN.
“Loneliness can be a heavy burden, often affecting one’s mental and emotional well-being that are not always physically visible, but deeply felt,” Garrow said. “This Buddy Bench is more than just a place to sit, it is a symbol of our collective effort to create spaces where people can connect and support one another.
“We are fostering an environment where everyone feels that they belong and that they are valued,” Garrow said. “I am reminded of the timeless wisdom of Mr. Fred Rogers, a beloved figure who deeply understood the power of human connection.”
In citing Rogers’ quote, “The greatest gift you can ever give is your honest and true self,” Garrow said Rogers’ sentiment reflects the PHN mission “that every person deserves to be seen, heard and valued. I encourage you to reach out to those around you, offer a kind word or simply be present,” as small gestures could provide a big impact.
As a way to make conversation starters, Communication Rock Gardens that include simple ice breaker questions were situated in front of the bench, that way if someone does see the bench is occupied, they can join the person or people on it and engage in easy conversation.
“Buhl Park is a gem in our community, where nearly a million people visit each year,” Roskos said, “and the opportunity for folks to get away, sit on a bench and start a conversation with somebody they may or may not know, to help combat this issue” of the feelings of loneliness and isolation is stepping in the right direction.
Roskos praised Garrow and PHN for their work, saying they are “a symbol for thoughtfulness and caring” in communities around the region.
While it is the first of the Buddy Benches, Primary Health has said this is not going to be an isolated outreach, instead, plans to expand to other communities served by PHN.
Another community outreach PHN is working on a literacy project, adding Little Free Libraries to communities where they offer clinical services.
Additional information about Primary Health Network, the Primary Health Network Charitable Foundation and its initiatives, visit primary-health.net.
CDC Oral Health Leadership Announced
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Oral Health (DOH) announced Gina Thornton-Evans, DDS, MPH has been selected to serve as Director of the Division of Oral Health in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP).
HRSA Adds New Oral Health Resources
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has added two new oral health resources to their website as part of the “A Healthy Mouth for Every Body” campaign. The new resources highlight the role of oral health during pregnancy and the relationship between oral health and nutrition.
Pennsylvania AHEC SEARCH Academy for High School Students Accepting Applications
Do you have any high school students in your life? Pennsylvania AHEC Students Exploring and Researching Careers in Health (SEARCH) Academy is accepting applications for 2024. This free virtual program gives students the chance to learn about a variety of careers from health professionals across PA. Students may attend one or all three sessions, which will take place on Wednesday evenings starting in October. The oral health professionals session will be November 6th.
Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Negotiated Prices Announced for IPAY 2026 Rollout
CMS has published the negotiated maximum fair prices (MFP) for the first drugs selected for negotiation for 2026. CMS reached agreement for new, lower prices for all 10 drugs selected for negotiations, which will be effective on January 1, 2026.
The following materials are available to support outreach:
- An updated IPAY 2026 fact sheet (email version below, also posted to the newsroom and published as a PDF)
- A plain language infographic about the program and the 10 price discounts
- A social media toolkit that can used to amplify this announcement: https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/social-media-toolkit-negotiated-prices.zip
CDC Publishes Collaborative Study on Alzheimer’s Disease, Related Dementia Diagnoses Among American Indian and Alaska Native Adults
The CDC recently released a collaborative study with the Indian Health Service (IHS), and the Alzheimer’s Association providing the first estimates of dementia among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations who receive health care services through IHS. This study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
The study found 14% of IHS patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) were early-onset cases (below age 65). However, globally, only 9% of dementia patients have early onset of the disease.
Because the study is limited to AI/AN adults who used IHS health care, the findings cannot be generalized to the entire AI/AN population. The researchers note the rates of Alzheimer’s disease may be underestimated due to AI/AN individuals with private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, or another health plan are not reflected in the IHS data unless they received care at an IHS facility.
This study provides baseline data to help IHS, CDC, and other public health and tribal partners in addressing ADRD in AI/AN communities. The findings emphasize the need to implement ADRD risk reduction strategies, to screen and diagnose ADRD in younger populations, and to enhance clinical and community-based services to support AI/AN adults living with dementia and their caregivers.
As part of the National Healthy Brain Initiative (NHBI), CDC offers a Road Map tailored for AI/AN communities as they develop a broad response to ADRD. The Road Map is accompanied by a suite of resources to support AI/AN communities such as a planning guide, a dissemination guide, infographics, flyers and more.
New Brief Published: Changes in Rural Pharmacy Presence 2023
Fred Ullrich, BA; and Keith Mueller, PhD
This data brief continues the RUPRI Center’s series of reports exploring the availability of retail pharmacy services in rural areas of the U.S. It provides information on rural communities that have kept, lost, or gained a retail pharmacy between 2018 and 2023.
Read the full report here.
Additional products:
- Update on Rural Independently Owned Pharmacy Closures in the United States, 2003-2021
- Rural and Urban Pharmacy Presence – Pharmacy Deserts
For more information, contact
Keith J. Mueller, PhD; keith-mueller@uiowa.edu
Director, RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
University of Iowa College of Public Health
Pennsylvania Action Coalition (PA-AC) Brand Refresh: Introducing the Pennsylvania Nursing Workforce Coalition
We are excited to announce that as outcome of the thorough strategic planning process that we engaged in over the past several months, we have a new 5-year strategic plan and we will be refreshing our brand as the Pennsylvania Nursing Workforce Coalition (PA-NWC)!
A few notes about this change:
- We are calling this a “brand refresh” and not a “rebrand” because we want to be clear that the components of our structure are not changing. This includes the PA-NWC’s functioning as a program of the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium (NNCC), and our Advisory Board structure as a coalition with organizations as members and individual representatives.
- We look forward to strengthening our position as Pennsylvania’s Nursing Workforce Center. The PA-AC has “housed” Pennsylvania’s Nursing Workforce Center since 2016 when we became a part of the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers. The “brand refresh” is just making this work more front and center.
- The PA-NWC will continue its strong relationship with the Future of Nursing reports and the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action. Our feedback expressed that one of our core strengths was our anchor in the national framework of the Future of Nursing’s goals and that our participants continue to feel connected to and inspired by its principles. Many other nursing workforce centers across the country are simultaneously their state’s Action Coalition and workforce center.
Learn more about our new strategic plan and the process that we followed at the link below! Stay tuned for additional materials and communications as well. We are excited to work with you in our new chapter as the PA-NWC
Federal Administration Seeks Input Into National Plan on Aging
The federal Administration for Community Level (ACL) is leading the charge to develop a National Plan on Aging and is seeking input from individuals and organizations who serve people of all ages, individuals who are caregivers, grandfamilies, and others. Please share this with your partners and encourage them to review the plan and submit comments at the National Plan on Aging Community Engagement Collaborative by September 15.
More information:
- Background and main page detailing the: Strategic Framework | ACL Administration for Community Living
- The StrategicFramework-NationalPlanOnAging-2024.pdf (acl.gov) document.
- Fact sheet (two-pager) on the Interagency Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities ICC_FactSheet2024_508.pdf (acl.gov)
$3,600 In Spend, $600K In Savings at Pennsylvania’s WellSpan
WellSpan Health, a York, Pa.-based system with nine hospitals and more than 250 care locations, saved seven patients $600,000 in healthcare costs by allocating an extra $3,600.
The organization’s mission is to be the safest place for patients to receive care and for employees to work, according to Michael Seim, MD, chief quality officer at WellSpan. One facet of that mission is improving life expectancies and removing disparities for its 900,000 annual patients.
Within seven miles on one road in southeast Pennsylvania lies a 20-plus year difference in life expectancy, Dr. Seim told Becker’s. WellSpan works on numerous health equity programs — one of which recently won an American Hospital Association award — with many projects focused on health screening efforts.
One of these was a $3,600 salary expense for interpreters to contact Spanish-speaking patients who have delayed screenings. After successfully connecting with about half of the targeted population, WellSpan employees found seven new breast cancer cases.
“If you look at what the cost would be for delayed presentation — if they would advance one stage further [without being screened] — we calculated it would cost about $600,000,” Dr. Seim said.
That return on investment is more than a 20-fold increase.
The projected savings depend on each case, including whether patients have insurance or what type of insurance they have, he said.
Through targeted interventions, WellSpan has screened an additional 23,000 patients for breast and colorectal cancer in the last 18 months. The outcome was about 375 patients helped and 4,000 years of life added.
“Whether they’re in a value-based program or not, [with] the importance of screening and early detection, you can make a total financial argument that it’s a good place for health systems to invest,” Dr. Seim said. “And, it’s the right thing to do.”