Employer registration for the 2023 3RNET (National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network) Academy is now open.  The six-session Academy is free to Pennsylvania-based health centers, rural health clinics, rural hospitals, and other safety net facilities thanks to the sponsorship of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers.

When you register and/or complete the program, you receive:

• Access to six live 90 minute webinars featuring national experts on rural/underserved retention
• Password protected portal to gain access to the webinar recordings, session materials, & more
• Ability to ask questions to other Academy attendees and 3RNET members via the Academy listserv
• A certificate of completion

Go to this custom page for Pennsylvania to find more information and to register. You will find the promo code to insert while checking out after registering.

For more information contact Judd Mellinger-Blouch.

During the week of September  4, 2023, CMS will launch a new version of CMS.gov. The new version of the site will feature an updated information architecture and streamlined navigation, as well as a refreshed home page. We worked with stakeholders throughout the development of these website improvements and this input is reflected in the new website navigation.

Here are some important things to keep in mind with regards to the new version of CMS.gov:

• Once the new site goes live, if you are still seeing the old site, please try refreshing the page, closing and re-opening your browser window, or opening a different browser.
• Redirects
  • All pages will automatically redirect to the new URLs
  • All redirects will remain in place indefinitely
  • For anyone who has pages or files bookmarked, those links will continue to work properly
  • All links from existing materials such as documents and press releases will continue to work properly
  • All links from external websites will continue to work properly
  • All links from search engines such as Google will continue to work properly
• Marketplace.cms.gov and Innovation.cms.gov
  • These two domains will be migrated into the www.cms.gov website and retired as standalone websites
  • All of the content from these domains has been migrated into the new information architecture on CMS.gov
  • All of the above information about redirects applies to these two sites as well
  • Once the new version of CMS.gov launches, you can navigate to Innovation Center content by going to cms.gov/innovation, and you can navigate to Marketplace content by going to cms.gov/marketplace
  • It will take a day or two for the Innovation and Marketplace content to be indexed by our site search

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) released a new Z code infographic entitled: Improving the Collection of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Data with ICD-10-CM Z Codes (2023). This resource aims to assist providers with understanding and using Z codes to improve the quality and collection of health equity data. Using social determinants of health, Z codes can enhance quality improvement activities, track factors that influence people’s health, and provide further insight into existing health inequities.

Z codes are a set of ICD-10-CM codes used to report social, economic, and environmental determinants known to affect health and health-related outcomes. Nine broad categories of Z codes represent various hazardous socioeconomic, and environmental conditions. Z codes can be used in any health setting and by any provider as a tool for identifying a range of issues related to education and literacy, employment, housing, ability to obtain adequate amounts of food or safe drinking water, and occupational exposure to toxic agents, dust, or radiation.

Looking for more information about Z codes? Review the journey map: Using SDOH Z Codes Can Enhance Your Quality Improvement Initiatives, which provides step-by-step instructions for healthcare professionals on how to use Z codes.

For more CMS OMH health equity-focused resources, visit: go.cms.gov/omh.

Resources

• Check out the Z code infographic: Improving the Collection of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Data with ICD-10-CM Z Codes (2023).
• Review the journey map: Using SDOH Z Codes Can Enhance Your Quality Improvement Initiatives.
• Read this Data Highlight from CMS OMH on Z code usage.
• Visit the CDC website for more information on Z codes and other health equity initiatives. Use the CDC National Center for Health Statistics ICD-10-CM Browser tool to search for all the current Z codes.
• Join the public process for SDOH code development and approval through the ICD-10-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee.

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Health Systems Bureau (HSB) developed a set of English and Spanish language materials on living organ donation. It includes web content, donor and recipient fact sheets, videos, and an infographic.

We designed these materials to raise awareness. They describe the benefits, risks, and considerations that come with living organ donation.

Organ donation professionals, people working in public outreach, and people interested in living donation can use these materials to learn more and educate others.

What is living donation?

A living donation takes place when a person who is alive donates part of their liver,  kidney, or certain other organs and tissues. Doctors transplant their organ into someone who needs it.

Is living donation safe?

Living donation is typically safe for the donor. A donor’s hospital stay is between two and five days after donation. They resume normal activities within a few weeks. Most living donors go on to live active, healthy lives and can see the positive impact of their donation.

Why is living donation important?

About 6,500 living donation transplants take place each year, but more than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant. More than 95% of people on the National Transplant Waiting List need a kidney or part of a liver. These are organs living people can donate. Unlike deceased organ donors, living organ donors can choose who to donate their organs to. This shortens recipients’ wait time for a transplant.

How can I learn more and help others?

Download and share these living organ donation outreach materials today.

What does HSB do?

HSB manages the nation’s Organ Donation and Transplantation program. This program works to extend and enhance the lives of people with end-stage organ failure.  An organ transplant is the most appropriate treatment for these people.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced more than $80 million in awards to rural communities in 39 states to support key strategies to respond to the overdose risk from fentanyl and other opioids. These awards help advance President Biden’s commitment to beat the opioid epidemic as part of his Unity Agenda for the nation.

HRSA funding will support interventions such as distributing the lifesaving overdose reversal drug naloxone to prevent overdose; creating and expanding treatment sites in rural areas to provide medications to treat opioid use disorder; expanding access to behavioral health care for young people in rural communities; and, caring for infants in rural areas who are at-risk for opioid exposure or experiencing symptoms related to opioid exposure.

“Far too many rural families have faced the devastation of overdose, and these deaths are felt deeply across rural communities – where often everyone knows someone lost too soon,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “At the Health Resources and Services Administration, we know that funding based on population size or other broad-based rubrics can miss the vital treatment and response needs of rural communities. That’s why the investments we are announcing today are targeted to rural communities and tailored to the unique challenges of helping rural health care leaders expand access to treatment and build recovery pathways to prevent overdose.”

More than 100,000 people die each year from overdose. Individuals who call rural communities home and who are experiencing opioid use disorder – including from fentanyl, heroin or other opioids – can face challenges in accessing treatment and recovery services. Geographic isolation and transportation barriers can make finding treatment particularly challenging and limited mental health and substance use disorder health care providers in the community can further complicate access. The stigmatization of substance use disorder and its treatments are additional barriers to access. HRSA’s funding is targeted to helping communities address these critical needs and expand access to services.

The announcement includes the following investments:

• Expanding Access to Medication to Treat Opioid Use Disorder: $24 million will support 26 awards to rural communities to establish treatment sites for individuals to access medications to treat opioid use disorder. The use of medication to manage opioid use disorder is the standard of care, but not always readily available.
• Supporting Rural Communities in Preventing and Responding to Overdoses: $14 million will support 47 awards to help rural communities respond to their specific and immediate needs, including the distribution of life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications.
• Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Young People: Nearly $9 million will support 9 awards to focus on building, strengthening and expanding mental health and substance use disorder services for young people in rural communities to expand treatment and help prevent overdose.
• Preventing and Addressing Neonatal Exposure: Nearly $20 million will support 41 awards to develop and implement interventions in rural communities to prevent, treat and care for opioid exposed infants by focusing on systems of care, family supports, and social determinants of health.
• Investing in and Disseminating Best Practices: $10 million will support three Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders to disseminate treatment and prevention best practices to help inform rural communities’ response strategies, and $5 million will support evaluation of this overall initiative.

To view the full list of awardees, see https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/opioid-response/fy2023-rcorp-awards-overview.

To learn more about the RCORP program, visit the RCORP Webpage.

Additional resources

• White House Fact Sheet: On Int’l Overdose Awareness Day, the Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces More Than $450 Million in New Funding to Support President Biden’s Unity Agenda Efforts to Beat the Overdose Epidemic and Save Lives
• Statement from Secretary Becerra on International Overdose Awareness Day

See other HRSA news & announcements.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is asking for help to prevent children and families from losing Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage as a result of the end of the Federal Public Health Emergency.

Ways Your Organization Can Help 

• Partner with your State Medicaid agency to spread the word about renewals. You can find contact information on your State Medicaid agencies here.
• Use CMS’s Communications Toolkit, available in multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
• Promote social media content and graphics pulled from CMS’s toolkit on your social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
• Share HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s video (in English and Spanish) on Medicaid renewals across your social media channels.

Visit CMS’s website for more resources.

USDA Rural Development has completed its 2020 decennial United States census review for all areas under its jurisdiction to identify areas that no longer qualify as rural for USDA Rural Housing programs.  Based on the review of the areas within the state of Pennsylvania, using 2020 US census data, and rural area guidance located in Handbook HB-1-3550, Chapter 5, the rural eligibility designation has changed for the following areas:

Areas whose rural eligibility designations is changing from ineligible to eligible (these areas now qualify as rural for USDA Housing Programs):

• Williamsport, Lycoming County, – Minor line adjustments in the area above Grampian Hills to make this area eligible.

Areas whose rural eligibility designations is changing from eligible to ineligible (these areas no longer qualify as rural for USDA Housing Programs):

• Bethlehem, Northampton and Leigh Counties – Expansion of the ineligible areas around the Allentown City limits to include all annexed areas since 1990 with a population of over 35,000.
• Weigelstown, York County, –Expansion of the ineligible areas around the city limits to include all annexed areas since 1990
• Franklin Park, Allegheny County Expansion of the ineligible areas around the Pittsburgh City limits to include all annexed areas since 1990
• Monroeville, Allegheny County Expansion of the ineligible areas around the Pittsburg City limits to include all annexed areas since 1990

Changes become effective October 1, 2023. 

The updated rural area map can now be viewed on our eligibility website.  Users will need to click on the program, for example: “Single Family Housing Direct”, and then click on “Proposed Eligibility Areas” from the menu options.

For a full list of changes, additional details, or questions about specific changes, please contact the Harrisburg State Office, Rural Development Housing Program Staff at 717-237-2186.

Census Bureau Highlight: Household Pulse Survey

The U.S. Census Bureau, in collaboration with multiple federal agencies, is in a unique position to produce data on the social and economic effects of coronavirus on American households. The Household Pulse Survey was designed to deploy quickly and efficiently, collecting data to measure household experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. It has evolved to include content on other emergent social and economic issues facing households. Data will be disseminated in near real-time to inform federal and state action. You can access the most recent Household Pulse Survey data tables here.

Census Bureau Updates

Census Bureau Releases Schedule for Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Statistics and American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates

• On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance statistics from the Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) will be released.
• On Thursday September 14, 2023, 2022 ACS 1-year estimates will be released, which will include statistics on numerous demographic, social, economic and housing characteristics
• Click here for more details and to view the complete release schedule.

Census Bureau to Establish 2030 Census Advisory Committee

The Census Bureau invites the public to nominate panel members representing stakeholder organizations, groups, interests and viewpoints to the 2030 Census Advisory Committee. This opportunity is another way the Census Bureau is engaging with diverse voices as it prepares for the next decennial census and seeks external perspectives on its plans to address census undercounts, communicate with different communities and collect census information in an easy and efficient way. Click here to learn more.

Census Bureau Releases 2022 Census of Governments: Organization Data

The U.S. Census Bureau released the official count of state and local governments. Data are presented by characteristics such as government type, state, population size groups, and function. The data also provide detailed characteristics of school systems, that include independent school districts and dependent school systems. You can learn more about the Census of Governments in this recent podcast and access the data here.

The Pennsylvania Primary Care Career Center at the Pennsylvania Association for Community Health Centers has set the dates for its fall career events. Registration information will be available soon.

Fall Frontline Career Events will take place at three Harrisburg Area Community College campuses from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The cost is $50 per event.  Contact Gillian Brooks for more information.

Dates and locations are:

• September 18, Lancaster
• October 23, Gettysburg
• November 6, York

Career Networking Events are targeted at physicians, dentists, and other providers. They will run from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The cost is $100 for one event, $175 for two events, and $75 for any additional events. Contact Al Williams for more information.

Dates and locations are:

• October 18, Hershey
• November 1, Erie
• November 2, Pittsburgh
• November 9, Scranton