- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
- CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
- Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
- Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation: Request for Input
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule
- Rural America Faces Growing Shortage of Eye Surgeons
- NRHA Continues Partnership to Advance Rural Oral Health
- Comments Requested on Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit Draft
- Q&A: What Are the Challenges and Opportunities of Small-Town Philanthropy?
Wrapping Up Human Trafficking Awareness Month with Resources
Human trafficking can happen anywhere and to anyone. Sometimes it takes place at the hands of someone the victim knows.
In Pennsylvania, state agencies and organizations are working together to put an end to human trafficking within the state and nationally.
Human Trafficking is the most rapidly growing organized crime in the world. In 2016, 40 million people were victims of human trafficking. The National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 10,949 cases called in in 2018.In Pennsylvania, The Hotline receive 630 contacts regarding human trafficking in 2018, with 275 cases reported. These numbers are not indicative of the full scope of victims, since not all cases are identified or reported.
What is Human Trafficking?
Adults and children can be trafficked or enslaved and forced to sell their bodies for sex. People are also trafficked or enslaved for labor exploitation, for example to work on a farm or factory or in a house as a servant, maid, or nanny and receive little to no money for their work 10-16 hours every day of the week. The crime of human trafficking must involve the use of force, fraud, or coercion.
PennDOT Response
PennDOT is one of the first transportation agencies in the country to train employees to recognize the signs of a potential trafficking situation and how to report it to the authorities. To date, PennDOT has trained 564 driver license and welcome center employees, as well as almost 15,000 transit agency employees in human trafficking awareness. In 2018, PennDOT took the USDOT pledge to “Put the Brakes on Human Trafficking” and became a member of the National Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative.
Visit PennDOT’s human trafficking landing page for more information on the initiative and helpful links.
Get the Facts & Spot the Signs
Polaris provides resources for human trafficking prevention and tracks data that can be used for targeted systems-level strategies to disrupt and prevent human trafficking. They provide myths, facts, and statistics to help better explain what human trafficking is and dispel common misconceptions.
Keep Kids Safe provides additional information on human trafficking in Pennsylvania, as well as how to spot the signs of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Report It
If you witness or are a victim of human trafficking, get in touch with the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Call 888-373-7888, or text “BeFree” to 233733.
The Pennsylvania Office of Victim Services provides help for victims of human trafficking who need to find local service programs, financial assistance, or visa assistance.
Download and print human trafficking awareness posters from the Pennsylvania State Police
Poster Size Version (17×11)
Letter Size Version (8.5×11)
2021 Proposed Payment Notice Posted and Letter to Issuers Posted
On January 31, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the proposed annual Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Rule for 2021, also known as the Proposed 2021 Payment Notice. This proposed rule would update regulatory and financial standards applied to issuers and Exchanges, as well as set parameters for the risk adjustment program. Similar to Payment Notices issued in prior years, the Proposed 2021 Payment Notice contains a number of other provisions that support the Trump Administration’s ongoing commitment to lowering premiums, protecting taxpayer dollars and strengthening the health insurance markets to deliver more competition and choice for consumers.
In conjunction with the proposed rule issued today, we are also issuing several guidance documents. Links to those documents are below.
To view the proposed rule, click here: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/current or the direct link at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/06/2020-02021/benefit-and-payment-parameters-notice-requirement-for-non-federal-governmental-plans
To view the proposed Key Dates for Calendar Year 2020 for QHP Certification, Rate Review, and Risk Adjustment, click here https://www.cms.gov/files/document/proposed-key-dates-tables-cy2020.pdf
To view the Draft ICD-10 Crosswalk for Potential Updates to HHS-HCC Risk Adjustment Model for the 2021 Benefit Year, click here https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/index.html#Premium-Stabilization-Programs
To view the proposed 2021 Letter to Issuers, click here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2021-draft-letter-issuers-clearance-version-final-13120.pdf
To view the request from Alabama to decrease the volume of transfers for Risk Adjustment, click here
Innovation is Widespread in Rural Areas, Not Just Cities
Conventional measures of innovation suggest that only big cities foster new ideas, but a more comprehensive measure developed at Penn State shows that innovation is widespread even in rural places not typically thought of as innovative. This “hidden” innovation brings economic benefits to businesses and communities, according to researchers, whose findings will help decision makers think in new ways about innovation and how they can support it. Full story
CLOUD (Curated Library about Opioid Use for Decision-makers) Partnership Activities
In a partnership that includes the National Governor’s Association and the Milbank Memorial Fund, the Center for Evidence-based Policy at Oregon Health & Science University created this searchable library of resources on opioids and the opioid crisis. A search on rural resources includes promising practices for medication-assisted treatment in primary care and a spotlight on Project ECHO, the initiative that connects addiction medicine experts with clinicians in remote areas. The information can be accessed here.
Reach Out PA New Online Feedback Form Seeks Public Input on Mental Health Resource Needs
On January 23, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf today introduced an online form<https://www.governor.pa.gov/reach-out-pa-feedback-form/> for Pennsylvanians to provide feedback on mental health barriers, services and how the state can better support people’s mental health needs. The creation of the form is on the heels of the governor’s Jan. 2 announcement of Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters<https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/pennsylvania-launches-reach-out-pa-your-mental-health-matters/> initiative to reduce stigma and increase access to mental health and well-being services and supports.
“Having a way for all voices to be heard is critical to our goal of increasing access to mental health services, breaking down barriers, and detailing the ways we can meet the mental health needs of all,” Gov. Wolf said. “I encourage every Pennsylvanian to reach out via this online form to let us know their thoughts and suggestions.”
Of note is the first message on the form, which advises site visitors, “If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or text PA to 741741.”
“It’s critical that people in crisis have a way to get immediate help, which is why we included the suicide prevention lifeline first,” Gov. Wolf said. “Our form is intended for feedback and suggestions for the commonwealth as we move forward with breaking down barriers, improving services and reducing mental health stigmas.”
The commonwealth will not share any identifying information without permission of those who submit information. Comments and suggestions will be compiled and reviewed to determine next steps in program and service development or redesign, as well to convey pertinent information to state agencies involved in the initiative. Forms may be submitted anonymously.
“You can help improve the state of mental health in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Wolf said. “Completing this form and sharing your thoughts and ideas is another step in the right direction to make mental health a priority for all.”
The online form<https://www.governor.pa.gov/reach-out-pa-feedback-form/> is available now.
HRSA Solicits Nominations for Membership To Serve on the Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking nominations of candidates for consideration to serve on the Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality (ACIM). Written nominations must be received on or before February 24, 2020. Click here for more information.
How One Veteran Rallied His Rural Pennsylvania Community Behind an Important Cause
Read how the McKean County, Pennsylvania Department of Veteran Services in rural Pennsylvania has implemented a “collective impact” model designed to help veterans with federal benefits, employment, and medical care. The department collaborates with state and county representatives, advocates, and even the local airport to ensure veterans have access to necessary services. Access the article here.
HRSA Requests Information Collection Activities on Substance Use Disorder Evaluation
The Health Resources and Services Administration is seeking public comment on the information collection request, Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Evaluation. The evaluation purpose is to see if five programs aimed at increasing the access to the number of clinicians treating SUD have met their stated goals. Click here to access the information.
Census Bureau: Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request
The Census Bureau is seeking public comment on a new information collection called the Management and Organizational Practices Survey—Hospitals (MOPS-HP). The survey will be used to collect data on management practices from chief nursing officers (CNOs) at general medical and surgical hospitals in an effort to identify factors affecting clinical and financial performance. Comments on the survey are due by March 27, 2020. The information to submit comments can be accessed here.
CDC: Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seeking public comment on the National Hospital Ambulatory Medicare Care Survey (NHAMCS), which is used to collect information on healthcare facilities and visits for ambulatory care services in non-federal, short stay hospitals. Comments are due by March 30, 2020. The proposed rules can be accessed here.