The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) believes that protecting Pennsylvania’s children from abuse and neglect is a shared responsibility. Protecting children from abuse and neglect unites lawmakers, community partners, the child protective services system, citizens, and families to provide a safe environment for children throughout the commonwealth.

In partnership with counties, schools, and community organizations, the department is promoting evidence-based programs that give parents the skills and supports, both formal and informal, that they need to ensure that their children grow up in safe and loving homes. By working together and relying on natural supports like family members and neighbors, we can improve outcomes for families and protect our children.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and we all need to do our part to make sure that children are safe and cared for during this stressful time.

With more Pennsylvanians getting vaccinated everyday, we are headed towards the light at the end of the tunnel. However, continued social distancing can leave some children and families isolated and this can increase the risk of child abuse and neglect. Be watchful and aware of the children in your community. If you have concerns that a child is not safe or being cared for, take action – it could save a child’s life.

For more information on critical components impacting child protection, visit www.KeepKidsSafe.pa.gov. To learn more about the #ProtectPAKids campaign, visit www.pablueribbonchampion.org.

The National Clinician Consultation Center (NCCC) offers free, confidential point-of-care tele-consultation to any U.S. based clinicians seeking guidance on substance use evaluation and management, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS prevention and management. For 30 years, the NCCC has established itself nationally as a consultation and educational resource that helps clinicians of all experience levels and practice settings.

Through its six tele-consultation lines, the NCCC aims to be an easily accessible “one-stop shop” in supporting the delivery of care that is evidence-informed, person-centered, and promotes health equity:

• The Substance Use Warmline (855-300-3595) offers guidance on substance use evaluation, management, overdose prevention strategies, and treatment of co-morbid conditions, including chronic pain and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
• The HIV/AIDS Warmline (800-933-3413) provides decision support on questions about HIV antiretroviral medications, drug resistance, testing, and HIV/HCV co-infection.
• The Perinatal HIV/AIDS Hotline (888-448-8765) addresses topics regarding the care of HIV‐positive pregnant people and their infants.
• The Hepatitis C Warmline (844-437-4636) offers advice on screening, staging, monitoring, and treatment for hepatitis C.
• The PrEPline (855-448-7737) provides guidance on the initiation and management of pre-exposure prophylaxis as an HIV prevention option.
• The PEPline (888-448-4911) offers advice on bloodborne pathogen exposure evaluation and management, including occupational and non-occupational exposures to HIV, hepatitis B and

All lines are staffed by a multidisciplinary team of expert primary care and specialist-trained physicians, advanced practice nurses, and specialty clinical pharmacists with over 500 years of collective professional experience across these fields. The NCCC has received consultation requests from clinicians of varied backgrounds and experience levels, including nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and primary care as well as specialty physicians.  The NCCC has assisted providers in rural and urban locations across the U.S.  Callers rate NCCC consultations very highly on usefulness and quality, and also note the NCCC’s value and role in helping to achieve positive patient outcomes. NCCC consultants are available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time (with the exception of the Perinatal HIV Hotline which is available 24/7).  

To learn more or to submit a question securely through the NCCC website, please visit nccc.ucsf.edu.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U1OHA30039 (AIDS Education and Training Centers National Clinician Consultation Center) in partnership with the HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) and the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) awarded to the University of California, San Francisco.

Changing the definition of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) can have important financial implications for many Pennsylvania municipalities in terms of federal reimbursements for health care, funding for housing, and investments in transportation. Those are just a few of the important implications that were discussed during a virtual public hearing held by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania Board of Directors, chaired by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23), on redefining MSAs.

“The proposed changes to defining MSAs by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has the potential to impact 10 counties in Pennsylvania,” said Sen. Yaw, “and the change may have potentially significant impacts for rural Pennsylvania.”

According to Anthony Pipa, senior fellow of Global Economy and Development at Brookings, while OMB clearly says that the MSA standards are to be used for statistical purposes only, and that “nonmetro” is not meant to define “rural,” there are many federal programs and policies that rely on the definition when determining funding, and financial incentives. And Pennsylvania would have the most people impacted of any state, with almost 1.2 million people living in counties that would be reclassified from metro to nonmetro.

“Federal programs often use the MSA standards to set eligibility requirements, allocation formulas, scoring criteria, and several other dimensions of program administration,” Mr. Pipa said. “It’s important to recognize and emphasize that the impact of the proposed change on these programs has not been fully analyzed, nor is it well-understood. Previous federal attempts to evaluate the implications of changes to the MSA for program administration are woefully incomplete.”

Ronald Grutza, senior director of Regulatory Affairs and assistant director of Government Affairs with the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, said one funding implication is the Community Development Block Grant. “We are concerned that some boroughs may lose this direct funding because of OMB’s change,” he said, adding that the change could have a ripple effect in communities, especially among lower income populations.

Kim E. Wheeler, executive director of SEDA-Council of Governments, said the redefinition may affect the status of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and result in a redesignation to Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs). “The SEDA-COG MPO and eight other MPOs in the Commonwealth stand to lose engagement and investment in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation planning and programming process as well as the critical funding that supports that process.”

According to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), preliminary analysis shows that there could be 24 Pennsylvania hospitals impacted by the definition change, of which 17 could see a negative impact. The total Pennsylvania impact is estimated to be an annual loss of $43 million in Medicare reimbursement to hospitals.  (Based on hospitals in core-based statistical areas that have a population between 49,999 and 99,999, and are currently flagged to go from urban to rural if OMB changes the definition – using the 2010 census).

“It’s clear that OMB needs to put the break on this definition change, as it has the potential to have a significant impact on rural Pennsylvania,” Sen. Yaw said. “To implement these changes now, without first considering all of the potential ramifications, would be shortsighted.”

For more information on the hearing, visit https://www.rural.palegislature.us/publications_redefining_metropolitan_areas.html and listen to the briefing here: HEARING VIDEO

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The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency that serves as a resource for rural policy within the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The Center works with the legislature, educators, state and federal executive branch agencies, and national, statewide, regional, and local organizations to maximize resources and strategies that can better serve Pennsylvania’s nearly 3.4 million rural residents

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra announced that more than half a million consumers have already signed up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov as a result of the Biden Administration’s Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The SEP, along with the additional financial assistance afforded by the American Rescue Plan (ARP), offers the opportunity for individuals and families to take advantage of significantly reduced premiums, increased savings, and quality, affordable health coverage through the Marketplaces using the Federal Platform.

“Access to quality, affordable health care is essential – especially as we tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Since the beginning of this Special Enrollment Period’s availability on HealthCare.gov, more than 500,000 Americans have already signed up for coverage on HealthCare.gov. Now, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, health care coverage is more affordable and millions of Americans are seeing their premiums reduced. At HHS, we are going to build on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and work tirelessly to ensure Americans have the chance to sign up for quality, affordable health care coverage that meets their needs.”

To read the HHS press release, visit: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/04/07/hhs-secretary-becerra-announces-more-than-500000-americans-have-enrolled-in-marketplace-coverage.html.

To read the CMS report, visit: www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2021-marketplace-special-enrollment-period-report-0.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health is launching a new survey to help Pennsylvania’s Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Program understand the new and existing maternal and child health issues that individuals experience or see in the community. They also hope to hear others’ perspectives on which strategies are most important for advancing the state’s Title V priorities. Individual input is critical and is needed to inform the maternal and child health services provided in Pennsylvania.

Click here to take the survey.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is accepting applications for Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program grants to help provide educational and medical services in rural areas.

The DLT program helps fund distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas to increase access to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable. USDA plans to make $44.5 million available in fiscal year 2021. Of this amount, $10.2 million is intended for projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services in rural areas.

Eligible applicants include most state and local governmental entities, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses.

Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov no later than June 4, 2021. For additional information, please visit the DLT webpage.

What are Community Health Services?

The world of healthcare is complicated and ever-changing. Community Health Work is a personalized service to help guide you through these otherwise confusing activities, connecting you with the providers and services you can depend on to stay healthy.

Your Community Health Worker will listen and work with you as a team to create goals that address the problems you are facing.

Community Health Workers offer personal guidance on all aspects of the healthcare system. Whether you would like help finding homecare services, scheduling appointments or better understanding your benefits and program eligibility, a friendly partner is available to help.

Who is eligible?

Any child between the ages of 0-21 who lives in a rural region of Pennsylvania and meets the 300% income poverty level is eligible.

Are participants required to pay for services?

No. Funding for Community Health Services has been made available through the Community to Home Program and there is no fee to participate.

You could receive…

• Individualized goal planning with supportive coaching.
• Health education & personal guidance about steps towards prevention and early detection.
• Explanations of Insurance Coverage including Medicaid and Medicare.
• Connections to community resources including mental health services, education, housing, utility assistance, meals and transportation.
• Electronic or telephonic appointment reminders.
• Support at medical appointments.

Discuss these and other needs with your Community Health Worker today!

How can I get connected?

Call toll-free 1-800-616-3718 to contact CareStar to make a direct referral by telephone, OR complete and submit a referral form to Fax: 724-734-5761 or email: CommunitytoHome@carestar.com

A CareStar Community Health Worker will contact you when your referral is processed and will schedule a meeting at the time and location of your choice to get your services started.