- 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
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
New Data Finds Number of Uninsured Children Increasing Nationwide at Alarming Rate
An estimated 128,000 Pennsylvania children were uninsured last year, the 8th highest number of uninsured children in the nation, according to a new report released by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Pennsylvania’s progress on covering kids has slipped, while nationwide, an estimated 726,000 more children are without health coverage since our country achieved an historic low number of uninsured children. Much of the coverage gains of the Affordable Care Act for children have now been eliminated.
Georgetown University Center for Children and Families Executive Director Joan Alker notes, “For decades, children’s health coverage had been a national success story that we could point to with pride, but the data shows the trend is now going in the wrong direction. What’s worse, the number of children losing coverage accelerated from 2018 to 2019 during a time when unemployment was very low. The situation is likely worse today.”
PPC is taking a closer look at this new data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and other child health measures as we prepare to release our annual State of Children’s Health Care report this fall.
Policy Solutions for Family Preservation and Kinship Care
In collaboration with their partners, Juvenile Law Center, Community Legal Services, and Temple Legal Aid, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children is proud to showcase concrete policy solutions to improve the rates of family preservation and kinship care as outlined in a recent blog post, Making Pennsylvania a National Leader in Family Preservation.
In addition, Generations United released its annual State of Grandfamilies in America Report, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the new challenges experienced by kin raising children, and provides some state and federal policy solutions to best support kin informally and formally caregiving.
New Research: Using the Workplace to Intervene in Opioid Use Disorder
As the country continues to face the opioid crisis, how can employers join the effort to address this issue? Researchers at the Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace suggest in a recent study that changes to the work environment can help reduce opioid use and opioid use disorder (OUD) among workers.
Published in the American Journal for Public Health, the study identified two broad pathways through which work can result in opioid use: 1) work-related pain and discomfort or 2) other work-related stressors. Work-related pain and discomfort can result from a work accident or long-term, repetitive movements. Other work-related stressors include anxiety and depression from unmanageable work demands or job insecurity.
Federal Register Notice on Elastomeric Half Mask Respirators Extended
NIOSH and the Strategic National Stockpile posted an extension to the federal register notice (FRN), A National Elastomeric Half Mask Respirator (EHMR) Strategy for Use in Healthcare Settings During an Infectious Disease Outbreak/Pandemic. Through this FRN, NIOSH seeks input about the national distribution plan for EHMRs. NIOSH also looks to identify potential organizations interested in receiving EHMRs with the commitment to provide a user report. EHMRs are reusable respirators that may be worn in a healthcare setting, supplementing the supply of disposable respirators available to healthcare workers. The updated deadline for comments is on December 14. To learn more about how your organization can participate in this effort, please join us for a webinar on November 18th from 1:00-2:00pm (ET). NIOSH will provide an overview of EHMRs, a summary of the FRN, expectations of potential participants, next steps, and answer any questions you may have. Registration for the webinar is here.
New Video on Collecting Industry and Occupation Data Now Available
NIOSH has released a video to help researchers and public health practitioners collect text descriptions of industry and occupation information when completing surveys, infectious disease case reports, and other health-related data. The video addresses the importance of collecting these data in public health datasets. It also discusses best practices for collecting such data. Watch the video and learn more about industry and occupation data on our website.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month Highlights Opportunities for Research and Prevention
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time to emphasize better community awareness of this mostly preventable disease that remains a major cause of illness and death. In 2017, data showed 221,121 new cases and 145,849 deaths from lung cancer in the United States. This was the greatest number of deaths caused by any type of cancer.
Lung cancer does not have to take such a massive toll. In 1912, it was described as “one of the rarest forms of cancer.”
Unfortunately, the subsequent widespread adoption of smoking led to an epidemic of lung cancer [1]. CDC notes that even now, 9 out of 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking cigarettes.
Restaurants in Pennsylvania Can Safely Increase Indoor Capacity to 50 Percent with Self-Certification
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding reminded Pennsylvania restaurant, bar and club owners that they may increase indoor capacity from 25 percent to 50 percent through self-certification, which will increase consumer confidence but will not lead to additional inspections or penalties.
“Contrary to what business owners may have heard, the self-certification process will not create any negative impacts, lead to increased inspections, or pose threats or penalties,” said Sec. Davin. “Rather, this process is a win-win for both restaurants and consumers, as it will inspire consumer confidence and lead to increased patronage and sales.”
As of November 2, nearly 8,300 restaurants—or approximately 32 percent of all restaurants—have self-certified. The self-certification process is still open for restaurants that wish to self-certify. There is no cost to self-certification.
Restaurants can access the online self-certification form on PA.GOV/COVID. Self-certification enables restaurants, private social clubs and food service businesses that serve dine-in, sit down food in a regular, non-event capacity to increase indoor occupancy to 50 percent while adhering to mitigation efforts that will keep employees and customers safe.
The occurrence of regularly scheduled or complaint-based inspections from enforcement agencies will not be affected by certification status. In fact, certifying proves that a business is committed to protecting employees and providing patrons a safe dining experience.
“We encourage all Pennsylvania restaurants to take advantage of this opportunity to both increase capacity and improve visibility of your business,” said Sec. Redding. “Now more than ever, Pennsylvanians want to make educated dining decisions to keep their families safe. Self-certification gives restaurant owners a tool to reassure customers that they are working to keep them, and the staff who serve them, safe.”
The Wolf Administration has released Frequently Asked Questions as a reference for restaurant owners and the public, along with updated restaurant guidance.
Business owners with additional questions about the self-certification program can contact covidselfcert@pa.gov.
Are You Eligible for Assistance Through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2?
Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) began on Sept. 21, 2020 and will continue through Dec. 11, 2020. CFAP 2 provides eligible producers with direct financial assistance due to market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.
Many more commodities are eligible for CFAP 2 than CFAP 1. Our new, easy-to-use CFAP 2 Eligible Commodities Finder makes finding payment rates specific to your operation simple.
Try it out here.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Announces PA Farm Show Fall Food Fest
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced that Pennsylvanians can get their PA Farm Show food fix at an outdoor Fall Food Fest in November. The fest will take place at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center from November 13-15, 2020.
“While our traditional Pennsylvania Farm Show in January has transitioned to virtual with public health and safety in mind, we know that everyone’s been wondering how they’ll get their favorite Farm Show foods,” said Redding. “The answer is the Fall Food Fest!
“We’re excited to welcome some of your Farm Show fan favorites to the fest – including milkshakes, fried mushrooms, French fries, pulled pork and more – along with some loyal food truck vendors,” added Redding. “We hope Pennsylvanians will come out to support, and taste, Pennsylvania agriculture.”
The Fall Food Fest will take place in the North Lot of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center from Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 15. Vendors will be open from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
While the fest will not include the full offering of the traditional Farm Show food court, many fan favorites will be available from the following vendors:
- PA Dairymen’s Association (Saturday & Sunday only)
- PA Livestock Association
- PA Mushroom Farmers
- PA Potato Growers
- Snyder’s Concessions
- Rachel’s Soft Pretzels (Friday only)
- Forrests Feeds Co.
- German Roasted Nuts
- Uglies Acres
- Hillbilly Jerky
- Whispering Brooke Cheese Haus
- Chocolate Moonshine
- Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association
A full menu of product offerings is available online.
“We’re thrilled to see a new event at the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center,” said Visit Hershey & Harrisburg President & CEO Mary Smith. “The facility and its hardworking staff are a crucial component of the region’s local economy and tourism success. We applaud the extraordinary efforts made to safely host the Fall Food Fest in our destination.”
Parking is free for this outdoor event, where food and beverages will be available for purchase to grab-and-go only. Onsite seating will not be available. Masks are required onsite and patrons are asked to be respectful of six-foot social distance while waiting in vendor lines.
The virtual 2021 Pennsylvania Farm Show is scheduled to take place from Saturday, January 9-Saturday, January 16, 2021. Virtual events will be focused on education and awareness for both the general public and the agriculture industry.
In Pennsylvania, COVID-19 is Now a Rural, Urban, and Suburban Problem
The coronavirus first entered Pennsylvania with a vengeance in the Philadelphia region. Much of the rest of the state was spared as hospitalizations and deaths mounted here and farther north.
During the summer, the virus concentrated on Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania, said Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s secretary of health.
Now, maps of infections show a new pattern. “It’s everywhere,” Levine said. Just as the virus has taken off in Midwestern and Western states that had previously seen little infection, it is spreading in Pennsylvania’s rural counties, along with smaller cities and the big metropolitan areas. Only a few sparsely populated counties have still seen little of the virus, she said.
Some of the places with the highest incidence rates — cases per 100,000 in population — are counties that usually don’t make much news: Huntingdon, Bradford, Montour, and Lackawanna. Some smaller Southeastern Pennsylvania counties — Lebanon, Schuylkill, and Berks — also have rates well above the state average. Philadelphia and Delaware Counties are also above the state average incidence rate, while nearby Bucks, Chester and Montgomery are below it.