The University of Vermont (UVM) holds one of three cooperative agreements with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy that form the Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders.

This four-week, fully online, self-paced course equips you to learn more about Contingency Management – an incentive-based approach that uses positive reinforcement to promote healthy behavior change.  The course has a small fee – with discounts for UVM affiliates/partners, and for groups of two or more – and offers a professional certificate in Contingency Management.

Access the course here: UVM Center on Rural Addiction Contingency Management Certificate Course.

On February 23, 2026, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury filed a notice with the Office of the Federal Register extending the public comment period for the Transparency in Coverage (TiC) proposed rule that appeared in the Federal Register on December 23, 2025. Under the notice, the public comment period for the TiC proposed rule that was slated to end on February 23, 2026 is extended until March 2, 2026.

Stakeholders may submit public comments on the TiC proposed rule (90 FR 60432) until March 2, 2026.

The rule can be accessed here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/23/2025-23693/transparency-in-coverage

The notice can be accessed here: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-03798/transparency-in-coverage

SNAP cuts are taking a toll on the thousands of able-bodied Pennsylvanians losing benefits, many of whom do not meet work requirements.

In Pennsylvania, around 144,000 SNAP recipients could see benefits cut this year — an estimated 45,000 in Philadelphia and 12,000 in the collar counties, according to the State Department.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) encouraged residents to review their health insurance benefits, schedule regular checkups, and speak with their health care providers about the need to access comprehensive preventative services. Pennie plans offer these preventive services at no cost when provided by an in-network provider:

• Blood pressure screenings
• Cholesterol screenings
• Diabetes screenings
• Obesity screenings and nutritional counseling
• Tobacco use screening and cessation counseling
• Routine wellness visits and annual checkups
• Counseling for healthy diet and physical activity for adults at risk of heart disease

Pennsylvanians can learn more about health insurance by going to PID’s Health Insurance page.

Under new federal law, stricter rules are for noncitizens who are eligible to receive SNAP went into effect on November 1, 2025.

• If all other eligibility criteria are met, the following groups remain eligible for SNAP:
• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), including:
  • Iraqi and Afghani immigrants who came to the U.S. on Special Immigrant Visas and become lawful permanent residents of the country upon admission to the U.S.
  • Certain Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members who helped the U.S. military by taking part in a military or rescue operation beginning August 5, 1964, and ending May 7, 1975, and their spouses, unmarried dependent children, and unremarried surviving spouses
  • American Indians born in Canada to whom Section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) applies
  • Members of Indian tribes born outside of the U.S. under Section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
• Cuban/Haitian Entrants (CHE)
• Compacts of Free Association (COFA) migrants of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau
• Noncitizen U.S. Nationals (e.g., American Samoans and Swains Islanders)

Noncitizen SNAP recipients who are not members of one of the above groups will continue to receive SNAP until their next renewal date.

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program application is now open through March 12 at 7:30 pm. If you are a nurse actively working in critical shortage facilities or teaching as nurse faculty at an accredited school of nursing, this program is an opportunity to pay off 60% of your nursing education debt in exchange for two years of service. Learn more and apply before the deadline. Have questions on the application? Join HRSA for an Application Assistance Q&A Session on Feb. 25 at 10:30 am.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is now accepting applications for three loan repayment programs. Primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers could receive up to $100,000 to pay off student loans. The NHSC Loan Repayment Program, Substance Use Disorder Workforce Program, and Rural Community Program applications are due Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 pm. Contact Caitlin Wilkinson, Director of the Pennsylvania Primary Care Career Center, with questions.