- 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: Fiscal Year 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
- 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
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
Important Child Welfare Updates in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has provided several important child welfare system updates. While the state was planning to implement the Family First Prevention Services Act provisions on October 1, a request was made to the Administration for Children and Families for a formal delay due to impacts of COVID-19 and budgetary concerns. The department was granted this request, which will change the implementation date to July 1, 2021. This change aligns with the state fiscal year and will assist the state and counties to adequately plan for policy and procedural changes. Read the official press release from DHS.
DHS also has provided important data on the impacts of COVID-19 on the child welfare system. Specifically, Childline, the state reporting system of child abuse and neglect, has seen a 50% decrease in calls. This is not indicative of a reduction in child abuse, rather, it reflects a decrease in interactions between children and mandated reporters. Because mandated reporters (such as school personnel and medical staff) are having limited access with children and youth, there is less direct recognition of abusive situations to report.
We encourage anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect to call ChildLine toll-free at 1-800-932-0313. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive reports of suspected child abuse.
Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children and other advocates have been seeking data on positive COVID-19 cases for those involved with the child welfare system. As of May 7, positive cases of COVID-19 include:
- 34 youth and 153 staff in 55 Pa. Code 3800 facilities
- Three youth served in family foster or kinship care
- Eight foster or kinship care providers
Report: Rural Roads Face $211 Billion Backlog in Repairs and Improvements
By Liz Carey
According to the research, the poor condition of rural roads not only causes more accidents but can negatively affect local economies and efforts to bounce back from the coronavirus-caused economic slump, leaving farmers and others at a disadvantage.
Rural Libraries Face Dramatic Choices as Some States Begin to Reopen
By Tracy Staley
Rural libraries often provide much-needed services like internet access to their communities. During the coronavirus epidemic, they find creative ways to continue with their mission, but with states pushing for reopening, some find themselves in a tough spot.
The 25 Rural Counties with Highest Infection Rates
By Tim Marema and Bill Bishop
Meatpacking plants, prisons, and nursing homes are associated with high Covid-19 infection rates in the hardest-hit counties.
Recent Study Highlights Importance of Emergency Department in Readmissions
Emergency departments may play a surprising role in the reduction of readmission rates following the implementation of Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, according to a recent analysis.
Charleen Hsuan, assistant professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, led a study that examined what happens to discharged patients when they returned to a hospital’s emergency department. The results were recently published in JAMA Network Open.
For their research, the authors used a retrospective analysis examining hospital data from three states: California, Florida and New York.
The researchers found the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) was associated with a reduction in the probability of readmission for recently discharged patients presenting to the emergency department, even for conditions for which admission is usually indicated, including congestive heart failure.
The analysis also showed that almost all patients with unplanned readmissions come through the emergency department.
Especially during times such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to reduce the number of unnecessary patients in the hospital. “Medicare’s HRRP aims to do this by reducing unnecessary readmissions for patients hospitalized with key conditions,” said Hsuan. “Our study found that the emergency department is an important gatekeeper for readmission decisions.”
The study was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translation Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the Population Research Institute at Penn State.
In addition to Hsuan, other authors of the paper include Brendan Carr, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Renee Y. Hsia, University of California, San Francisco; and Geoffrey J. Hoffman, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor.
Penn State Extension Offers Interactive Map to Aid Broadband Providers
An interactive map unveiled recently by Penn State Extension — and created in consultation with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission — will help internet service providers as they prepare to bid on projects to expand broadband services to unserved regions in Pennsylvania.
“One of the great realizations to many policymakers, to educators and to retailers during the COVID-19 outbreak is the inability of Pennsylvanians in rural areas to access high-speed broadband,” said Brent Hales, director of Penn State Extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
“People told to telecommute are unable to do so due to lack of critical infrastructure,” Hales said. “Students cannot complete necessary lessons online. Businesses are challenged to serve customers because of limited access. We are committed to working with legislators and providers to find solutions to ensure the future economic and community vitality of the commonwealth.”
One solution to help the roughly 800,000 Pennsylvanians without broadband internet access is to assist the companies that can provide that service, noted Harry Crissy, extension educator in business and community vitality.
Crissy explained that the Federal Communications Commission, through its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, has allocated $20.4 billion for projects that expand broadband in unserved rural areas. Internet providers are invited to bid on projects at “reverse auctions,” the first of which is set for Oct. 22.
To help these companies better estimate their project costs and the infrastructure needed, Penn State Extension and the PUC created an interactive map that breaks the commonwealth into “census blocks,” the smallest group division designated by the U.S. Census Bureau. At this level, the map displays the name of the service provider and the level of service provided.
These geographic pockets, which can range from a handful of homes to several city blocks, are underserved by FCC standards. Auction preference is weighted toward blocks with service of less than 25 megabits per second.
The map, which features measuring tools to help providers make estimates, also includes reserve prices at the census block group level and the number of eligible sites within the block group. In addition, users can find details on existing structures, transmission lines, substations, tower data and legislator information.
“The PUC has been committed to addressing broadband availability and affordability for all consumers in Pennsylvania as far back as 1993 under laws enacted by the General Assembly as well as federal law,” said Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille of the PUC. “This extension map should help the public to focus on, and learn more about, the details about the broadband challenges facing Pennsylvania.”
Expanding high-speed internet services will enhance the quality of life for all citizens, Crissy contends. “A critical step in accomplishing this is to put tools in the hands of those who can make it happen. We believe this map is one of those tools.”
The map is available at https://extension.psu.edu/pennsylvania-broadband-map-app. For additional information, contact Crissy at 814-802-1024.
Also instrumental in the project were Joseph Witmer, advisor and legal counsel to Brown Dutrieuille; James Ladlee, Penn State Extension assistant director for energy, business and community vitality programs; Tom Beresnyak, extension client relationship manager; Tonya Lamo, extension educator; and Sascha Meinrath, the Palmer Chair in Telecommunications in Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.
CMS NEWS ALERT May 19, 2020
As part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts taken in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), following is a summary of recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) actions. To keep up with the important Task Force work being done in response to COVID-19, click here www.coronavirus.gov. For information specific to CMS, please visit the CMS News Room and Current Emergencies Website. CMS updates these resources on an ongoing basis throughout the day; the information below is current as of May 19, 2020 at 4:00 pm ET.
Trump Administration Issues Guidance to Ensure States Have a Plan in Place to Safely Reopen Nursing Homes
CMS announced new guidance for state and local officials to ensure the safe reopening of nursing homes across the country. The guidance released today is part of President Trump’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. It details critical steps nursing homes and communities should take prior to relaxing restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including rigorous infection prevention and control, adequate testing, and surveillance. The recommendations allow states to make sure nursing homes are continuing to take the appropriate and necessary steps to ensure resident safety and are opening their doors when the time is right.
CMS Releases Additional Waivers for Hospitals and Ground Ambulance Organizations
CMS continues to release waivers for the healthcare community that provide the flexibilities needed to take care of patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). CMS recently provided additional blanket waivers for the duration of the PHE that:
- Modify existing physical environment waivers to allow for increased flexibilities for surge capacity and patient quarantine at hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and critical access hospitals as a result of COVID-19; and
- Modify the data collection period and data reporting period for ground ambulance organizations.
Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers
Medicare Payment for COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests
Earlier this year, CMS took action to ensure America’s patients, health care facilities, and clinical laboratories were prepared to respond to COVID-19. To help increase testing, CMS developed two codes that laboratories can use to bill for certain COVID-19 lab tests, including serology tests. CMS has updated its guidance to include payment details for additional CPT codes created by the American Medical Association. There is no cost-sharing for Medicare patients.
CMS Gives States Additional Flexibility to Address Coronavirus Pandemic
CMS has approved over 200 requests for state relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including recent approvals for Alaska, Iowa, Hawaii, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and Virginia. These approvals help to ensure that states have the tools they need to combat COVID-19. This is done through a wide variety of waivers, amendments, and Medicaid state plan flexibilities, including support for programs that care for the elderly and people with disabilities. CMS also developed a toolkit to expedite the application and review of each request and has approved these requests in record time. These approved flexibilities support President Trump’s commitment to a COVID-19 response that is locally executed, state managed, and federally supported.
1915(c) Waiver Appendix K Amendments
Medicaid State Plan Amendments
Deadline to Register to Vote in Pennsylvania’s Primary Election Approaches
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar today reminded all eligible Pennsylvanians to register to vote by the May 18 deadline so they can participate in the June 2 primary election.
Boockvar encouraged voters to use the state’s Online Voter Registration (OVR) website whether they are registering for the first time or updating an existing registration with a change of name, address or party affiliation.
Individuals wishing to register to vote in the June 2 primary must be:
- A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the primary.
- A resident of Pennsylvania and of the election district in which the individual plans to register and vote for at least 30 days before the primary.
- At least 18 years of age on or before the date of the primary.
The deadline to register to vote was extended by 15 days thanks to historic bipartisan legislation signed into law last October by Governor Wolf. In addition to more time to register to vote, Pennsylvania voters will benefit from other major election reforms that will go into effect with the June primary. Voters will be able to:
- Vote by mail-in ballot without having to provide a reason. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is May 26.
- Return their mail-in or absentee ballot by mail or at their county election office until 8 p.m. on election day.
- Ask to be placed on a permanent mail-in voter list.
In addition, more secure and accessible voting systems will be in use in all 67 counties. The new systems produce a paper record that voters can verify before casting their ballot.
Polling places will be open in all counties, including those designated in the red phase of the COVID-19 emergency, although some polling places may be consolidated. Voters should check with their county election office or visit the department’s polling place tracker to verify their voting location.
Pennsylvania Governor’s Administration to Distribute $255,000 in ‘Farm to Food Banks’ Funding, Redirect Agricultural Surplus to Address Food Insecurity
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced that Pennsylvania has been awarded $255,373, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Food Bank Program, which the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will distribute to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to reimburse farmers for costs associated with harvesting, packing, processing, and distributing donated agricultural surplus.
Farm to Food Bank is a product of the 2018 federal Farm Bill – based on legislation introduced by Senator Bob Casey and championed by Congressman Glenn Thompson – and was modeled after the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS), which was enacted into law in 2010 and first funded by Governor Tom Wolf in 2015. Pennsylvania’s funds are equitably distributed through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, a Feeding Pennsylvania member, and their 13 subcontractors to procure surplus agricultural products from Pennsylvania farmers and food processors, he department’s $1.5 million Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System serves as a match for the federal Farm to Food Bank Program.
States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions – Updated WalletHub Study
With most states partially reopened after closing down non-essential businesses earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released updated rankings for the States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions, as well as accompanying videos.
To identify which states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 11 key metrics. Our data set ranges from whether child-care programs and restaurants have reopened to the presence or absence of a “shelter-in-place” order. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
|
States with the Fewest Restrictions |
States with the Most Restrictions |
| 1. South Dakota | T-41. Connecticut / Michigan |
| 2. Wisconsin | T-41. New York |
| 3. Idaho | T-44. New Mexico |
| 4. Missouri | T-44. Washington |
| 5. Utah | 46. Hawaii |
| 6. Wyoming | 47. Vermont |
| 7. Montana | 48. Massachusetts |
| 8. Arizona | 49. District of Columbia |
| 9. North Dakota | 50. Rhode Island |
| 10. Iowa | 51. Illinois |
Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Monday, May 18, 2020.
Biggest Changes in Rank from the Previous Report
- Wisconsin moved from 34 to 2, up 32 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state has lifted all restrictions on large gatherings, had closed but fully re-opened restaurants and bars, has child care programs open and has fully reopened all non-essential businesses.
- Arizona moved from 32 to 8, up 24 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state has lifted all restrictions on large gatherings and has lifted all stay-at-home mandatory restrictions.
- Georgia moved from 11 to 28, down 17 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state requires wearing a face mask in public and that the state still has its legislative sessions postponed.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-fewest-coronavirus-restrictions/73818/