- Native Americans Have Shorter Life Spans, and It's Not Just Due to Lack of Health Care
- Promotoras Play Essential Role in Connecting Farmworkers with Health Care in Rural NorCal
- Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings
- Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Rise
- Sunsets, Wildlife and Limited Care: Challenges of Aging in Place in Rural America
- City-Country Mortality Gap Widens amid Persistent Holes in Rural Health Care Access
- Tribal Environmental Impact Network
- Minnesota's Rural Ambulance Providers Look to State Capitol for Their Own Lifeline
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Support the Primary Care Workforce
- Over 3,000 Homes on the Navajo Nation Receive Accurate Addresses for the First Time
- Rural Population Grows for Second Consecutive Year
- Rapides Library Offers Telehealth to a Town Without Doctors
- Rural Infection Preventionists Need Community Support
- New Federal Health IT Strategy Sets Sights on a Heathier, More Innovative, and More Equitable Health Care Experience
- Upcoming Virtual Workshop: Partnering for Success: Building Partnerships for Health Workforce Training and Education
CMS Releases Short Guidance on MAT Drug Coverage
On Oct. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an informal notice to states discussing the statutory requirement in the SUPPORT Act for states to cover MAT services and drugs. In the notice, CMS interprets the SUPPORT Act “to require that, as of Oct. 1, 2020, states must include as part of the new MAT mandatory benefit all forms of drugs and biologicals that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved or licensed for MAT to treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). “CMS also notes that the continuing resolution signed into law this week clarifies that “MAT drugs when used for OUD as described under the mandatory benefit are deemed prescribed drugs, and covered outpatient drugs” and thus eligible for rebates under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. Lastly, CMS intends to issue additional guidance to states on other implementation issues around the mandatory MAT benefit.
Connecticut Attorney General Demands Drug Makers Abandon Unlawful 340B Actions
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong sent letters to Eli Lilly, Astra Zeneca, Merck, Sanofi and Novartis demanding the drug makers immediately abandon unlawful actions imperiling access to affordable prescriptions for low-income patients under the 340B program. Attorney General Tong states that the drug makers actions directly undermine the 340B Drug Pricing Program, obstruct patient access to critical prescription medications, and devastate the financial stability of healthcare centers and hospitals serving vulnerable communities. PACHC is meeting with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General to discuss potential action by their office. Click here to download the letters.
ACA Reduced Catastrophic Expenditures for 2 Million Adults
Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation was associated with 2 million fewer adults with catastrophic expenditures each year, researchers write in JAMA Open Network. Catastrophic medical expenditures are defined as those that force people to spend more than 40% of their income on health costs (out-of-pocket plus premium) after accounting for subsistence items (e.g., food and housing). Nevertheless, each year, 11 million U.S. adults, including 6 million with private insurance, experience catastrophic health expenditures. The numbers are likely to grow during the pandemic, according to the researchers. “Health reform should move beyond expanding insurance coverage alone to address persistently high out-of-pocket spending among the insured.”
CARES Act Provider Relief Fund: New Phase of Provider Relief Fund Opens for Applications
Providers are encouraged to apply for the latest round of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) support. Applications will be considered regardless of whether your organization was previously eligible for, applied for, received, accepted, or rejected prior PRF payments. For this newest phase, funding will be allocated to providers based on assessed financial losses and changes in operating expenses caused by COVID-19. For more information about the Phase 3-General Distribution, please visit the Provider Relief Fund webpage.
Apply here through November 6
Register for the webcast on October 15 at 3 p.m. ET to learn more.
Insulin Cost in U.S. Up to 10 Times Higher
Amid raging debate over the cost of insulin, a new report finds prices in the U.S. were often five to 10 times higher two years ago than in all the other countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental group that was created to stimulate economic progress and world trade. In 2018, the average U.S. price per standard unit across all types of insulin was $98.70, compared with $6.94 in Australia, $12.00 in Canada, $7.52 in the U.K. and $8.81 across all other OECD countries combined, according to the report by the RAND Corp., which conducted the analysis on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Medicaid and CHIP Data Showing Decline in Children’s Care
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced an analysis of Medicaid and CHIP data showing a sharp decline in children’s care, including childhood screenings, mental health, and dental care. Compared to this time last year, the analysis noted a 22% drop in vaccinations, 44% drop in screenings, 44% drop in mental health services and 69% drop in dental visits. In its urgent call to action, CMS highlighted the flexibilities they have provided states, including telehealth and allowing pharmacists to provide vaccinations and called on partners, including health centers, to work together to address this critical public health issue.
Pennsylvania’s New Overtime Law Now in Effect
The PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) new overtime rule became effective when the final, approved regulation was published in the PA Bulletin on Oct. 3, 2020. According to the L&I announcement, the changes mark the first update to the commonwealth’s overtime regulations in more than four decades. The final rule updates the salary threshold to reflect current wages paid to Pennsylvanians working in executive, administrative, and professional occupations. It also ensures that the duties tests for executive, administrative and professional workers more closely align to those in the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) federal overtime regulations. The FLSA regulations update that took effect on Jan. 1, 2020, raised the federal overtime salary threshold to $35,568. While Pennsylvania’s overtime rule aligns more closely with the FLSA, L&I has set the minimum salary threshold at $45,500 and the increase will be phased in three steps:
- $684 per week, $35,568 annually (per federal rule), on Jan. 1, 2020
- $780 per week, $40,560 annually on Oct. 3, 2021
- $875 per week, $45,500 annually on Oct. 3, 2022
Starting in 2023, the salary threshold will adjust automatically every three years. The new rules also allow up to 10 percent of the salary threshold to be satisfied by nondiscretionary bonuses, incentives, and commissions that are paid annually, quarterly or more frequently. Read more.
Nationwide Public Charge Regulation for All Outstanding Green Cards
The Public Charge regulation, finalized last year, makes it highly unlikely that an immigrant will be approved for a Green Card if they have used, or are expected to use, public benefits. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the regulation, leading to a “litigation roller coaster” of conflicting decisions. As of Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, the Public Charge rule IS in effect throughout the country. The Public Charge regulations will be applied to all applications submitted on or after Feb. 24, 2020.
Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health Receives National Award for Excellence
The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH)—a joint partnership between the federal government, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Penn State—has received the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health State Office of Rural Health Award of Excellence.
The award of excellence acknowledges outstanding contributions in the field of rural health, including broad benefits to rural health, innovative programs and activities that have advanced state offices of rural health.
PORH staff was presented the award at a virtual award ceremony on Sept. 30.
This recognition celebrated the long-term achievements of the seven-member staff at PORH. The staff members are well known for their passion and dedication to small rural hospitals and rural health systems across the commonwealth and throughout the country. They collaborate to develop new ways to implement programs and achieve success. In addition, the staff widely shares their expertise in agricultural health and safety, oral health, economic development, policy and global budgeting across the country with fellow state offices of rural health.
“The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health is one of the premier state offices of rural health in the country,” said Katherine Collison, bureau chief, Health Planning & Resources Management, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.
“It is such an honor for the staff to receive this award,” said Lisa Davis, director of PORH and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State. “Our staff is deeply committed to their projects and to rural communities and are so richly deserving this recognition. In 2008, we were presented with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Award of Merit. I’m so proud to work with a such a talented team that has been so richly recognized.
PORH is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation funded under a program administered by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance and networking; partnership development; and assisting in the recruitment and retention of health care providers.
PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, agricultural health and safety, community and economic development, oral health, and other issues impacting the health status of rural residents. PORH is administratively housed in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State.
U.S. Senator Toomey Announces Future Plans
U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) announced that he will not seek another term in the United States Senate and will not run for Governor of Pennsylvania. At a press conference this week at Lehigh Valley Public Media, Senator Toomey said, “I will not be running for re-election in 2022, and I will not be running for governor. I will serve out the remainder of my term, for a little over two years that are left on the current term. And after that, my plan is to go back to the private sector. The reasons I have reached this decision are not political, they’re personal.” You can watch Senator Toomey’s announcement here.