Community health centers (CHCs) face substantial obstacles to participation in value-based payment models, in which payers reward performance on health outcomes. Further, these models rarely measure and reward efforts toward population health equity, a central CHC goal and outcome. In this Issue Brief, PennLDI recommends ways to promote and enhance CHC participation in value-based payment, and strategies to align these efforts with health equity goals. Penn LDI bases these recommendations on a series of focus groups and conversations with frontline CHC leaders, payers, and payment policy experts.

Given the significant uptake in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment during the pandemic (25 percent), the state has still made a net gain in terms of overall public health care coverage, and many of those de-enrolled were able to transition to the wider insurance marketplace. However, Pennsylvania’s failure to cement these gains in coverage still raises concerns, as evidence suggests many individuals across the country were kicked off their health care because of administrative errors, insufficient information on the disenrollment process, and other procedural issues. Source: Newsweek

Pennie and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue collaborate to connect uninsured tax filers to coverage through Pennie. Path to Pennie allows customers to enroll outside of Open Enrollment in health insurance coverage. When uninsured tax filers complete their Pennsylvania state income tax return, they can fill out Tax Form REV-1882 – Health Insurance Coverage Information Request. The PA Department of Revenue will send the information provided on the form to Pennie to create an account. Pennie will then send a notice with three important pieces of information: an access code to open the newly created Pennie account; an estimate of financial assistance the consumer is likely to receive; and a 60-day Special Enrollment Period to apply, shop and enroll in coverage.

All Pennie customers will receive a 1095-A in the mail or in their secure Pennie Account inbox and must file a federal tax return. Customers who have a health insurance plan through Pennie and are using Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) will have to “reconcile” when they file their federal taxes. The reconciliation process will compare the amount of premium tax credit the customer used in advance during the previous plan year and the amount of premium tax credit the customer qualified for based on the customer’s final income for the year. The difference between the two figures may affect the customer’s refund or tax owed when the customer files their taxes. When filing taxes, customers must complete the IRS Tax Form 8962 and provide the 1095-A as proof.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Programs help repay part of school loan debt in exchange for service in a medically underserved area. Did you know Community Health Centers are automatically approved sites for these programs? The 2025 application will be opening soon, and interested clinicians can now access the Application and Program Guidance documents for the Nurse Corps, NHSC, Substance Use Disorder, and Rural Community loan repayment programs. Share this information with your clinicians and clinician candidates!

A Provider’s Pathway to Supporting Patients with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a self-paced, e-learning curriculum addressing issues at the intersection of SUD, stigma, the social determinants of health, and clinical practice. Participating providers will take away strategies to create a safe, non-stigmatizing environment for people with SUD and receive up to six hours of free CEU’s.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) issued a Health Advisory to report Serious Adverse Events After Ceftriaxone Administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local health departments, is investigating reports of serious adverse events, including deaths, following receipt of injectable ceftriaxone. To date, events have not been associated with a single product manufacturer or lot, and a definitive causal link to ceftriaxone has not been established. DOH is requesting reports of serious adverse events following the administration of ceftriaxone to assist with the ongoing investigation. If you have any questions, or to report cases, please call your local health department or contact DOH at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3528).

Members of Congress are back in Washington, D.C. after a week-long recess. The House passed a budget resolution to set the stage for negotiations before the upcoming March 14 funding deadline. That leaves only 17 days until federal funding expires for programs like Community Health Centers, Teaching Health Centers, and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). The next opportunity for in-district advocacy is during the Congressional recess scheduled for March 17-21. Seeing the positive impact of rural health providers first-hand is the best way to invite your members of Congress to become champions for the 32.5 million patients you serve.

The Senate voted last Friday to adopt its budget resolution. The vote was mostly along party lines, 52-48, except for Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who voted against. While the House is expected to vote on its own budget resolution this week, the resolutions differ significantly. Both chambers must agree on a single version of the reconciliation bills to proceed.

The U.S. House passed Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) budget bill Tuesday. It is the critical first step for passing the massive fiscal agenda that Johnson and Pres. Trump have championed — though there are still more hurdles to clear. The vote was 217-215, with just one Republican — Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) — voting no and Democrats unified in opposition. Earlier Tuesday, Trump appeared to walk back his endorsement of the House budget by saying he is also considering the narrower version the Senate advanced last week. Johnson will also have to continue contending with right-wing hardliners in his conference, just a handful of whom can tank any party-line vote. Source: Axios