Devon Trolley, Executive Director of Pennie , Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace – and Chairman of the Pennie Board, Michael Humphreys, issued a letter to Pennsylvania’s representatives in Congress strongly urging them to act now to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that dramatically reduce the cost of health coverage through Pennie for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. Click here to learn more.

Earlier this year, the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) launched the National Center for Workforce Development & Training. To help ensure that the ACU National Center remains at the forefront of workforce transformation, they are now inviting representatives from health centers, primary care associations, external partners, and clinical and non-clinical professionals to serve on a new Advisory Council to provide critical guidance to shape ongoing initiatives. Sharing their expertise on workforce issues and fostering collaboration across healthcare sectors, the Council will ensure that ACU’s National Center drives impactful change to champion equitable solutions and support the development of a resilient, skilled, and diverse healthcare workforce to enhance care for medically underserved communities nationwide. Learn more about expectations and complete a brief form to be considered.

The Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is offering an opportunity for high school students to learn about a variety of healthcare careers through their SEARCH Academy. This is a free program comprised of three virtual sessions on Wednesday evenings starting in Oct. and students can attend one, two, or all three sessions. Visit AHEC’s website for more information and to access the application. This is a great program to promote to any high school students you know and your local community to strengthen the workforce pipeline for the future.

The University of Pittsburgh invites Community Health Centers to become clinical sites for their second cohort of dental assistant trainees starting Jan. 27, 2025. Upon completion of the clinical training period, trainees in this program will have the skills and knowledge to become successful dental assistants who you may hire to grow their careers in your office. Visit their website for more information and complete the Clinical Site Form to be connected with a trainee. Reach out to the Dental Assisting Program Office with any questions or request a copy of the clinical site informational packet from Caitlin Wilkinson, Co-Director of the Pennsylvania Primary Care Career Center.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a revised Medicare Learning Network (MLN) chronic care management services booklet. Changes include new codes describing chronic pain management and treatment and information about principal illness navigation services and community health integration services.

Lyme disease is a bacterial tickborne disease that is treated with a short course of antibiotics. Most patients with Lyme disease recover fully after treatment, but about 5 to 10 percent can have prolonged symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and difficulty thinking, as a result of their infection. Some patients are concerned that their long-term symptoms may be due to Lyme disease and may take potentially harmful treatments, such as extended courses of antibiotics. The American Medical Association (AMA), in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has developed a new toolkit to help clinicians provide better care for patients with prolonged, non-specific symptoms and concerns about Lyme disease. On Thursday, the CDC hosted a CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call, during which presenters shared a brief overview of Lyme disease, provided a diagnostic and management framework for patients with prolonged symptoms and concerns about Lyme disease, and reviewed new clinical tools and resources to help support these patients.

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) published updated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination. They recommend the 2024-25 vaccine for anyone ages 6 months and older. See the full announcement in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). ACIP also recently updated their flu vaccine recommendations. See the full announcement in CDC’s recent MMWR.

The federal agency that oversees the 340B program formally warned Johnson & Johnson (J&J) that it must “cease implementation of its rebate proposal immediately and to inform HRSA no later than September 30, 2024, in order to provide adequate notice to covered entities.” Click here to access the letter HHS sent to J&J. In addition, a bipartisan group of six Representatives began circulating for signatures a letter to HHS urging the agency to stop J&J’s rebate model.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee considered sixteen bills on September 18, including the bipartisan Telehealth Modernization Act (H.R. 7623). This NACHC-endorsed bill includes:

·    a two-year extension of existing Medicare telehealth coverage flexibilities involving health center patients and providers’ locations and audio-only access, and

·    a fix in the disparity in payment between in-person and telehealth medical visits, which would increase telehealth visits by about $100.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2024-03, directing his Administration to create Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive Housing Action Plan to address the state’s housing shortage, address homelessness, and expand affordable housing options – ensuring Pennsylvanians have access to safe, affordable housing and attracting more people to live here in the Commonwealth. The Executive Order tasks the Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) with leading the plan’s development, working alongside various stakeholders to identify housing needs and devise a strategic response. The Housing Action Plan will guide efforts to expand affordable housing and provide support to the unhoused. It will also ensure a coordinated, multi-agency approach involving state, local, and federal partners, as well as private organizations. Click here to learn more.