The latest report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) addresses the effects of hospital closures on residents in rural areas. Among other objectives, the report examines how closures affected the number of health care providers, and the distance residents traveled for health care services.

Looking Ahead to Black History Month:  Racial Disparities in Educational Attainment

According to the 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, a greater percentage Black/African American Pennsylvanians* did not finish high school or college than white Pennsylvanians* and the general population of Pennsylvania.

Approximately 12.1% of Black/African American Pennsylvanians attained less than a high school diploma (or equivalent) compared to only 7.5 percent of white Pennsylvanians.

Black/African American Pennsylvanians were also more likely to attend college without attaining a degree (20.9%) than white Pennsylvanians (15.3%). Of those who attended college, 42.4% of Black/African American Pennsylvanians did not attain a degree compared to 26.6% of white Pennsylvanians.

A lower percentage of Black/African American Pennsylvanians also attained Bachelor’s or advanced degrees than their white counterparts and the general population of Pennsylvania.

Only 12.9% of Black/African American Pennsylvanians achieved a Bachelor’s degree compared to 20.4% of white Pennsylvanians. Similarly, nearly double the percentage of white Pennsylvanians (13.1%) attained an advanced degree when compared to Black/African American Pennsylvanians (7.3%).

Click here to access the report.

The American Heart Association has released their 19th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates states and the federal government on the proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies necessary to save lives. This year’s report focuses on the importance of ending tobacco use amid the pandemic, as smoking is a risk factor for the most severe illness from COVID‑19 symptoms. The report also discusses the actions the new Biden Administration and states need to take to prevent and reduce tobacco use.

Key Findings

• With 1 in 5 teens vaping, our children are becoming the next generation addicted to tobacco. This is largely driven by flavored e-cigarettes. It’s imperative our states and the federal government pass policies to prevent youth from starting to use tobacco and to help everyone quit.
• As a result of decades of targeting by Big Tobacco, many Americans, including Black people, LGBTQ people and persons with lower income are disproportionately harmed by tobacco-related death and disease.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has placed increased attention on lung health. Since smoking increases the risk of the most severe impacts of COVID-19, preventing and reducing tobacco use is more critical than ever.

See how your state is doing.

Changes in Employment During the COVID-19 Recession
See new research that focuses on recent changes in employment by residents’ education, race, ethnicity, and gender in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The research finds that overall, the employment rate fell by roughly 8 percentage points between May 2019–October 2019 and the same period in 2020, from 76.5 percent to 68.4 percent.

New Tool Allows Users to Explore Opportunities for Occupational Mobility
See the Occupational Mobility Explorer, which allows users to examine opportunities for workers to transfer their skills from one occupation to a similar — but higher-paying — occupation in the same labor market. The tool brings to life the data behind our recent report, Exploring a Skills-Based Approach to Occupational Mobility.

More on Transitions to Better-Paying Occupations
Read our new research that identifies pathways for COVID-19 displaced workers employed in the hardest-hit occupations in the Philadelphia metro area to translate their existing skills into higher-paying occupations, some of which were more resilient to the pandemic.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a final recommendation statement on interventions for tobacco smoking cessation in adults, including pregnant persons. The Task Force recommends clinicians ask about tobacco use and connect people to proven, safe methods to help them quit. The evidence is unclear whether e-cigarettes help adults quit smoking. More research is needed on the benefits and harms of using medications to help pregnant people quit. To view the recommendation, the evidence on which it is based, and a summary for clinicians, please click here. The final recommendation statement can also be found in the Jan. 19, 2021 online issue of JAMA.

West Chester University is undertaking a research study on access to maternity and obstetric services in rural Pennsylvania. They are looking for participation from anyone who can shed light on maternity care workforce issues in rural Pennsylvania. Take the survey here. Responses are requested by Jan. 29, 2021. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is funding this study.

A new Health Affairs study estimates that drops in patient volume at primary care practices last spring led to average revenue losses of nearly $68,000 per physician. In a recent feature, the Commonwealth Fund featured results of a conversation with leaders of primary care and other ambulatory care practices to learn how they were coping with operating losses and other disruptions from the pandemic while continuing to serve patients.

According to a recent CDC-issued Health Alert Network, drug overdose deaths are at the highest number ever recorded in a 12-month period. Approximately 81,230 drug overdose deaths occurred in the U.S. in the 12 months ending May 2020, with the largest spike after the COVID-19 public health emergency (March-May 2020). Drug overdose deaths were rising before March, but the findings suggest they accelerated during COVID-19, the agency said. Read more.