Authors: Michelle Mills, Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Rural Health Center; Kevin J. Bennett, Professor, University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia  

A defining theme in early 2025 has been reducing federal government expenditures, with the health care sector not being spared from the discussions.  The withdrawal or reduction of federal support for Medicaid will have potentially devastating impacts on access to essential healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable rural populations such as the elderly, low-income families, and those with chronic conditions. Thus, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), along with multiple partners both at the federal and state levels have been advocating for maintaining the federal support for Medicaid.

In rural communities, more people receive and rely on Medicaid coverage than their urban counterparts, due to lower incomes, greater percentage of older adults, higher cost of private insurance, and fewer private coverage options.  Nearly 40% of children living in rural communities are covered by Medicaid and CHIP, while almost 20% of non- elderly adults are covered.ⁱ Cuts to these populations covered under Medicaid and CHIP would be devastating for rural families. Costs of care for our most vulnerable rural residents would rise to unsustainable levels.

If Medicaid funding is reduced, then it will result in higher rates of uninsurance across the US, with a higher impact in our most vulnerable rural areas.  These are parents, children, and working adults who would no longer be able to obtain needed health care due to it being unaffordable.  These are our neighbors, many of whom have chronic diseases that have to be regularly managed. Without coverage, many would go without care and end up in the emergency room or inpatient facility, resulting in uncompensated care that they will not be able to pay.

Ultimately, reductions in Medicaid funding will force rural facilities to shut their doors and rural residents to lose access to necessary care. NRHA calls on Congress to act as a unified, bipartisan voice to protect Medicaid funding that is vital to the health and economic sustainability of rural communities across the nation. 

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The PBDA held two webinars providing an overview of the Digital Connectivity Technology (DCTP) Program. These webinars also included presentations from Round One successful applicants, who offered insight to their projects and answered questions from webinar attendees. You can now view the recording of one of those webinars and the presentation utilized during the webinar, on the PBDA’s program page.

As a reminder, the applications for the DCTP will close at 11:59 PM, on Friday May 30, 2025. Additional resources to include updated FAQs can be found on the program page.

Any questions regarding the program, please do not hesitate to contact the PBDA.

The ASERT Collaborative (Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training) is a statewide partnership that provides streamlined access to information for Pennsylvanians living with and impacted by autism. In partnership with UPMC for You Dental Care Managers, ASERT developed a resource for parents and caregivers to help children with autism prepare for dental visits. The content covers learning to tolerate tooth brushing, establishing dental hygiene routines, and getting ready for dental visits. There are also social stories for getting teeth cleaned, getting x-rays, and getting a cavity filled. Printed resources are also available upon request.

Click here to view the resources.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule on March 10, 2025. The proposed rule outlined several provisions with the goal to address waste, fraud, and abuse centered around enrollments considered to be improper, and asserts that current eligibility and enrollment rules have led to adverse selection. The proposed rule directly mentions that several policies would decrease enrollment and thus reduce federal costs.

After a bipartisan, unanimous vote in the PA General Assembly in 2019, Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Exchange, was created. Pennie’s comments to the proposed rule focused on all the ways provisions as well as highlighted three major points: Pennie’s enrollment trends were expected, Pennie’s system already deters unauthorized enrollment by brokers, and that Pennsylvania’s insurance market is stable and robust. Specific proposed provisions of additional concern are limiting open enrollment to 45 days, requiring a $5 premium payment for those current enrollees who are reenrolled in a plan with a $0 net premium, and amending the premium adjustment percentage methodology and de minimis range for plans subject to actuarial value requirements. These particular proposals would significantly raise the costs to purchase and use coverage. Pennie’s current open enrollment period is from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. For the 2025 Open Enrollment Period, 496,661 Pennsylvanians enrolled in coverage with roughly 36,000 new enrollments between Dec.16 and Jan. 15 of the total new enrollments. View the 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule (CMS-9884-P) in its entirety.

This is a fascinating look at the cutting-edge artificial intelligence that is transforming the dental landscape, with innovation expert Shawn Kanungo. This Dental Soundbite from ADA gives the latest AI-driven tools and technologies that can revolutionize efficiency and outcomes in dental practices.

A federal effort has been proposed to eliminate the recommendation and use of fluoride in community water systems. The AAPD and over 250 organizations have signed a coalition letter to Congress and the Administration, strongly reaffirming the safety of community water fluoridation and its importance in ensuring oral health across the US. Read the coalition letter here.

Recognizing the critical role health care teams play in preventing overdose, the Department of Health (DOH) launched the Comprehensive Approaches to Pain Management, Opioid Prescribing, and Substance Use Care education modules to assist providers and care teams. DOH offers live and online education sessions at no cost to participants. Participants are eligible to receive continuing education credits and certain modules may meet additional Pennsylvania licensing and relicensing requirements.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) conducted a statewide, voluntary survey of mobile units between July and August 2024. Results indicate the majority of mobile units deployed were launched in the last seven years, and many operate less than five days per week. Preventive care was the service most often provided by mobile units. Lastly, the funding that most often supported mobile units was federal, philanthropy, and state funding.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: All providers must revalidate the Medical Assistance (MA) enrollment of each service location every five years. Providers should log into PROMISe to check the revalidation dates of each service location and submit revalidation applications at least 60 days prior to the revalidation dates. Use this link for enrollment revalidation applications.