- Eight Hospitals Selected for First Cohort of Rural Hospital Stabilization Program
- Announcing the 2030 Census Disclosure Avoidance Research Program
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
Dental Workforce Numbers Continue to Plague Pennsylvania
The PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) recognizes the dental workforce challenges facing our state and is currently working with private consultants and student interns to do a complete analysis of the extent of these issues, both for licensees and Medicaid providers. Be on the lookout for upcoming webinars throughout the remainder of the year when we will share our findings.
New Statistics Available: 2016–2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
The U.S. Census Bureau released new statistics from the 2016–2020 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Following pandemic-related data collection disruptions, the Census Bureau revised its methodology to reduce nonresponse bias in data collected in 2020. After evaluating the effectiveness of this methodology, the Census Bureau determined the standard, full suite of 2016–2020 ACS 5-year data are fit for public release, government and business uses.
Median Household Income
- The newly released 2016–2020 ACS 5-year data shows that Pennsylvania’s median household income increased to $63,627 when compared to the 2011–2015 ACS 5-year data adjusted for inflation.
- Between the two nonoverlapping periods, median household income increased in 66 of the state’s 67 counties. The largest increase was in Chester County (+$10,205) and the largest decline in Bradford County (-$1,180).
Poverty
- From 2011–2015 to 2016–2020, the overall poverty rate for Pennsylvania decreased from 13.5% to 12.0%.
- From 2011–2015 to 2016–2020, the poverty rate decreased in 59 of the state’s 67 counties, with the largest decrease in Juniata County (-3.8%). The rate increased in 7 counties, with the largest increase in Cameron County (+5.2%). There was no change in Schuylkill County (remained at 13.1%).
The revised methodology improves the 2020 weighted survey responses by comparing characteristics for responding and nonresponding households using administrative, third-party and decennial census data. The resulting 2020 input data were then integrated with the inputs from 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 (processed using standard ACS methodology) to produce the 5-year data products. To learn more about changes to the methodology, view the methodology user note.
It is important to note, the ACS 5-year estimates are not designed to measure rapid change during short periods because the data come from a 5-year period. Although the most recent estimates contain data that include the economic shock from the COVID-19 pandemic, they also contain data collected in the final years (2016–2019) of the longest expansion in the history of U.S. business cycles. These data only reflect a small part of the impact of the pandemic on social, economic and housing measures.
Data users should use caution when comparing 2016–2020 5-year estimates to earlier ACS data. For more information, visit comparison guidance. To learn more about the ACS 5-year period estimates, read Period Estimates in the American Community Survey.
Changes to Race and Hispanic Origin
The findings on race and ethnicity from the 2016–2020 ACS were similar to the 2020 Census results.
- The White population remained the largest race or ethnicity group in the state, however this population declined by 2.6% between 2011–2015 and 2016–2020. The American Indian and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander populations also declined during this period.
- The multiracial (the Two or More Races) population increased by 58.8% between 2011–2015 and 2016–2020.
- The Some Other Race population increased 23.6% between 2011–2015 and 2016–2020 while the Asian population increased 14.4% and the Black or African American population increased 1.2% during this period.
- The Hispanic or Latino population, which includes people of any race, increased by 19.2% between 2011–2015 and 2016–2020.
The 2016–2020 ACS 5-year estimates also reflect planned changes made to the design, processing and coding of the race and Hispanic origin questions.
Beginning in 2020, the Census Bureau implemented changes to the Hispanic origin and race questions based on extensive research and outreach over the past decade. The improvements made to the design, processing and coding of the Hispanic origin and race questions are similar to changes made in the 2020 Census.
The differences in the overall racial distributions relative to 2011–2015 ACS data are largely due to improvements in the design of the two separate questions for Hispanic origin and race data collection and processing as well as some demographic changes.
The Census Bureau is also set to release the ACS 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) and the Variance Replicate Estimates (VRE) on March 31, 2022.
New Release: An Update on Cancer Deaths in the United States
A new report on cancer, An Update on Cancer Deaths in the United States, uses the latest cancer death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center for Health Statistics. In 2020, almost 603,000 people died of cancer in the United States, but cancer death rates have continued to drop. Cancer deaths have dropped 27% over 20 years from 2001 to 2020. In other findings:
- Cancer remained the second leading cause of death, after heart disease in 2020. COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death.
- Lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death, attributing to 23% of all cancer deaths.
- Cancer death rates differed by cancer type, sex, racial and ethnic group, and residence in an urban or rural county.
UPMC Launches First Tele-ED in Pennsylvania at UPMC Kane
From the Bradford (PA) Era
UPMC is leveraging its clinical expertise and innovative technology to launch the first tele-Emergency Department (Tele-ED) in Pennsylvania at UPMC Kane in McKean County.
In line with the Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines announced on March 2 to increase patient access to care through innovative delivery models, UPMC created a first-of-its kind in Pennsylvania rural health care approach that will allow access to excellent emergency medical care at UPMC Kane.
“UPMC is committed to advancing access to quality health care for all our patients, wherever they live and work,” said Donald M. Yealy, M.D., UPMC chief medical officer and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “This new model of care will meet the needs of the community, today and into the future, while using all available resources across our deep and talented workforce.”
UPMC Kane is partnering with UPMC Hamot in Erie to create an emergency medicine collaboration using advanced telemedicine technology. Board certified emergency medicine physicians located at UPMC Hamot, 94 miles away in Erie, partner with on-site, trained advanced practice providers (APPs) at UPMC Kane, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide the best care for all who seek it.
“Bedside care is delivered by physician assistants (PAs) and certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) at UPMC Kane using advanced video, audio and examination technology to connect patients seamlessly and quickly with board-certified emergency medicine physicians at UPMC Hamot,” said Mark Papalia, UPMC Kane president. “Together, the APP and physician diagnose and care for the patient.”
UPMC Kane is an acute care hospital located in a remote, rural community with an average daily inpatient census of five to six hospitalized patients and approximately 6,000 total emergency department visits each year.UPMC Hamot is the advanced tertiary care regional hub for UPMC in northwest Pennsylvania and southwest New York caring for nearly 70,000 patients in the emergency department annually. UPMC Hamot provides high-level specialized care and is a Level II trauma center, the only accredited trauma center in the Erie region.
“Accessibility and long-term sustainability are the driving forces behind UPMC Kane’s innovative model,” said Yealy. “In rural communities across the country, the ratio of physicians to patients is approximately half that of suburban and urban areas. More than 100 rural hospitals closed across the country over the past decade in part because of recruitment challenges. Much of rural America is medically underserved creating the necessity for new models of care to improve access to and quality of health care.”
This innovation for rural health care delivery results from careful planning and training within the UPMC Kane transformation plan to improve rural health care and enhance access, as part of its enrollment in the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model. As a participating hospital of the initiative, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) permitted UPMC Kane to pursue Tele-ED program development and launch in Pennsylvania in advance of the Commonwealth’s March 2 rural health guidelines announcement.
“UPMC Kane has been successfully operating a similar inpatient tele-hospitalist program since May of 2021,” said Papalia. “The program is in partnership with the UPMC Center for Community Hospitalist Medicine. Through this technology innovation, inpatients receive virtual rounds and on-demand consultation access with UPMC’s vast network of physicians and advanced clinical resources.”
Alike to a Tele-ED, the tele-hospitalist program enhances and improves rural health care through a sustainable, vibrant and transformational new model of care. “UPMC remains committed to creating the highest levels of access and quality care for patients in every community we serve,” added Yealy. “This new model of Tele-ED care represents looking ahead by designing sustainable models of health care delivery for the future that also serve our patients’ needs today. We are here to care for our communities and provide even greater access to the excellent care and expertise of UPMC.”
Healthy People 2020 Final Review
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released the Overview of Health Disparities, the final component in the Healthy People 2020 Final Review suite of products. This component displays changes over time in disparities for a subset of measurable objectives by six selected characteristics: sex, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, family income, disability status, and geographic location.
The Overview of Health Disparities is interactive and includes a chart and table that can be filtered by Healthy People 2020 topic area(s) and population characteristic(s).
Tips from Former Smokers® Campaign Launch
2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign from CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. This year, ads will appear on network broadcast television and national cable television, Monday–Friday, from February 28 to March 27. Ads will feature Christine B., who quit smoking after she was diagnosed with oral cancer. CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health has developed an online toolkit that includes images and messages about the campaign. CDC Tobacco Free Twitter and Facebook accounts will also be sharing more about Christine B.’s story throughout the month. Dental professionals can play a critical role in helping their patients quit tobacco use. We encourage you to learn more about the Tips® campaign by accessing the toolkit and engaging with the social posts. Learn more.
Dental professionals can also learn effective strategies on how to talk to patients about tobacco use and referring to QuitLine resources by taking Integrating Nicotine Dependence Treatment with Oral Health: For Dental Professionals (INDTOH). This free, two-part webinar series is hosted by PCOH and presented in partnership with Nicotine Free NWPA and includes 2.5 CEUs.
Mission of Mercy in Pennsylvania (MOM-n-PA) Volunteer Registration Now Open!
MOM-n-PA is an annual two-day free dental clinic for Pennsylvanians who cannot afford dental care. MOM-n-PA provides dental care for the relief of pain to thousands of the most needy, many of whom are from working families who do not have access or cannot afford dental insurance.
This year’s event will be held in York, PA on June 10 and 11, 2022.
No Surprises Act: Consumer Stakeholder Listening Sessions Announced on the Implementation
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continue to host a series of listening sessions to obtain feedback on CMS’ efforts to help ensure robust awareness, outreach, and education for consumers and consumer stakeholders of important new No Surprises Act (NSA) protections. We are pleased to announce that we have added an additional session for June 2, 2022 at 3:00 PM ET.
In this series of listening sessions, we wish to first understand from consumer advocates the role they can play to help educate consumers about the protections in the NSA as well as to receive input from the field about the consumer experience so far. We also want feedback from consumer advocates on the tools, consumer website, guidance, social media, paid media, marketing, word of mouth awareness, and other resources necessary to help educate consumers on their rights and protections under NSA.
The sessions will have a question and answer chat and we will address as many on-topic comments, ideas, and questions as time permits. We will likely not be able to respond to all comments individually, but all those we receive will be used to improve our efforts and help plan future sessions.
During the sessions we will be focusing on consumer outreach, education, and implementation and will not be addressing technical questions specific to NSA provisions or policy, or from a provider’s perspective. We really want your feedback and innovative ideas to help educate consumers and we encourage you to participate.
To learn more about the No Surprises Act, visit: https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
When: 3:00 PM ET on April 7, May 5, and June 2.
If you have already registered for this series, you must re-register to sign up for the June 2nd session.
Who should attend: This series is designed for organizations who advocate for and/or assist healthcare consumers.
RSVP: click here
Registering for the listening sessions will register you for all sessions. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
This meeting is closed to press.
Pennsylvania Provides Resources to Help Women Lead Healthy, Vibrant Lives
Pennsylvania Governor Wolf’s Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) are committed to improving the extent and quality of care for Pennsylvania women and families, especially our most vulnerable through a delicate and crucial period of their lives. Through Medicaid expansion, 3.3 million Pennsylvanians currently receive crucial services.
Expanding Perinatal Services
DHS is working to improve the health and wellness of Pennsylvania mothers — especially those who historically and disproportionately experience health inequity, such as Black Pennsylvanians:
Pregnancy-Related Deaths
- In Pennsylvania, pregnancy-related deaths grew by more than 21 percent between 2013 and 2018.
- About 12 percent of pregnancy-related deaths occur between six weeks and one year postpartum, but almost 60 percent of those are preventable.
- Black women are almost two times more likely than white women to die after giving birth.
Perinatal Mental Health
- Perinatal depression is the most common complication during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
- 1 in 7 women experience depression during or following a pregnancy, but too often it can go undiagnosed.
- A 2018 study published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) reported that just 1 in 5 women report symptoms of depression or anxiety during or after a pregnancy to a health care provider, but follow through for treatment may be even lower, especially for women of color.
The American Rescue Plan Act allows states to implement a new Medicaid state plan option beginning in April 2022 that will expand the Medicaid coverage period for new moms from 60 days to one year after giving birth. This extension will help mothers continue to access physical and behavioral health care necessary to keep themselves healthy and their families on a path to good health and well-being.
Doula Pilot Program for Incarcerated Pregnant Women
DHS — in a partnership with the PA Department of Corrections, Tuttleman Foundation and Genesis Birth Services — established a pilot program at SCI Muncy offering doula services to women who are pregnant while incarcerated. The goal of the program is to support mothers through a difficult and vulnerable period and empower them as they prepare to reenter their communities.
Doulas are trained birthing and postpartum support professionals who work with expecting and new mothers to provide the following services, including:
- Non-clinical physical and emotional support through pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period.
- Work with mothers to help them prepare for childbirth.
- Create a birthing plan and plans for the postpartum recovery and care.
- Support the mother and infant as they navigate nursing and feeding.
- Support the mother through perinatal depression and anxiety.
- Other milestones through pregnancy and postpartum.
The seven women participating in the pilot will receive doula services during their pregnancy, at the birth of their child, and through 365-days post-partum. If a pilot participant reenters her community prior to the end of the post-partum period, the doula service will continue.
The doula providing services at SCI Muncy is also helping to facilitate parenting classes and discussion groups in conjunction with the facility’s on-staff counselors.
Apply for Medical Assistance
Medical Assistance coverage for pregnant women can begin as soon as your doctor or nurse informs you that you are pregnant. You can apply for benefits in any of the following ways:
- You may apply online using COMPASS. You can also use COMPASS to apply for other benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Cash Assistance.
- You can also contact your local county assistance office for an application or you may download an application form (below) to send to your county assistance office. If you need help completing the application form and a friend or relative is unable to help you, trained county assistance office staff members can help you.
Additional Women’s Resources in Pennsylvania
- Governor’s Commission for Women
- Women’s Health Caucus — PA House Representatives
- Women’s Health and Advocacy Committee — PA Senate Democrats
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
- Women On the Bench in Pennsylvania — The Unified Judicial System of PA
- Child Care Works Program — DHS
NRHA Announces Top Rural and Community Hospitals
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) announced the 20 highest-ranked prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals in the country based on an evaluation by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. The hospitals are identified using the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, the most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural PPS hospital performance. These hospitals will be recognized May 12 during NRHA’s Rural Hospital Innovation Summit in Albuquerque, NM.
The determining factors for the top 20 rural and community hospitals are based on eight indices: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge, and financial efficiency. “NRHA is committed to ensuring our members have the best information to manage their hospitals,” says Brock Slabach, NRHA membership services senior vice president. “We’re pleased to recognize the accomplishments of these rural and community hospitals.”
The top 20 rural and community hospitals are:
- Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc County, Two Rivers, WI
- Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD
- Brookings Health System, Brookings, SD
- Castleview Hospital, Price, UT
- Cedar City Hospital, Cedar City, UT
- Garrett Regional Medical Center, Oakland, MD
- Hays Medical Center, Hays, KS
- Jefferson Hospital, Louisville, GA
- Lakes Regional Healthcare, Spirit Lake, IA
- Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center, Jasper, IN
- Mercy Health–Tiffin Hospital, Tiffin, OH
- Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital, Cadillac, MI
- MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, Alpena, MI
- Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Watertown, SD
- Punxsutawney Area Hospital, Punxsutawney, PA
- Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital, Onancock, VA
- Schneck Medical Center, Seymour, IN
- Seymour Hospital, Seymour, TX
- Spencer Hospital, Spencer, IA
- UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, Steamboat Springs, CO
About NRHA
NRHA is a nonprofit organization working to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, and research. NRHA’s membership is made up of diverse individuals and organizations from across the country, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health.
About the Chartis Group
The Chartis Group® (Chartis) provides comprehensive advisory services and analytics to the health care industry. It brings critical thinking and deep industry experience paired with cutting-edge data, analytics, and technology to deliver #NextIntelligence. With an unparalleled depth of expertise in strategic planning, performance excellence, health analytics, informatics and technology, digital and emerging technologies, clinical quality and operations, and strategic communications, Chartis helps leading academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, children’s hospitals, and health care service organizations achieve transformative results and build a healthier world. Chartis has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.chartis.com.