The 2021 poverty guidelines have been published and are effective January 13. Health centers should review and update sliding fee discount scales appropriately.
CMS Rule Change Lets Physicians Prescribe Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder Without Waiver
New federal guidance announced on Jan. 15, 2021, by the Trump administration will allow most physicians to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder without a waiver. The move by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) eliminates the eight-hour “X-waiver” course physicians were required to complete by the Drug Enforcement Agency before prescribing buprenorphine treatment. Physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other approved advanced practice nurses will still need to obtain an X waiver before prescribing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder. For additional information, visit HMA Institute on Addiction at https://hmaioa.com/.
New Waiver Expands the Significant Role of Pharmacists in COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout
In view of the fact that many Pennsylvanians will go to their local pharmacy for vaccination, and to eliminate any confusion or uncertainty regarding qualified pharmacists’ ability to enroll as providers and to order and administer the COVID-19 vaccine, the Department of State requested, and the Governor approved, a temporary suspension of the order/written protocol requirements set forth in 49 Pa. Code § 27.404. Read more.
Modifications Proposed to the HIPAA Privacy Rule
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modify the standards for the Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (Privacy Rule) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH Act). The modifications are intended to address standards that may impede the transition to value-based health care by limiting or discouraging care coordination and case management communications among individuals and covered entities (including hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers, payors, and insurers) or posing other unnecessary burdens.
Biden $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package Update
On January 15, 2021, then President-Elect Biden announced his COVID-19 and stimulus plan, the American Rescue Plan, hoping Congress will take up and pass the legislation. Biden specifically included Community Health Centers, wanting to increase partnerships with health centers and boost their federal funding. In it, Biden calls to “launch a new partnership with Federally Qualified Health Centers nationwide.” Other elements of the plan include:
- Mount a $20 billion national vaccination program in partnership with states, localities, and Tribes. This will include launching community vaccination centers nationwide and deploying mobile vaccination units to hard-to-reach areas. Also, ensure that everyone receives the vaccine for free, regardless of their immigration status.
- Invests $50 billion in a massive expansion of testing, including for purchasing rapid tests, expanding lab capacity, and helping schools and local governments implement regular testing protocols.
- Funding 100,000 public health workers to perform vaccine outreach and contact tracing in the short term, and eventually to transition into community health roles.
- Address shortages of critical supplies, including PPE, by investing $30 billion to provide 100% federal reimbursement for critical emergency response resources to states, local governments, and Tribes, including deployment of the National Guard. Also invest $10 billion to expand domestic manufacturing for pandemic supplies.
- Extend and expand emergency paid leave measures until Sept. 30, 2021.
- Reduce the number of uninsured persons by having Congress subsidize (COBRA) through the end of September and expand and increase Premium Tax Credits for Marketplace plans.
- Expand access to behavioral health services by asking Congress to appropriate $4 billion to HRSA and SAMHSA. (Presumably, some of this would go to FQHCs.)
Pennsylvania Launches Retail Pharmacy Partnership
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that the Department of Health requested the federal government launch the Retail Pharmacy Partnership with two retail partners, TopCo Associates, LLC, and Rite Aid, to expand access to vaccinate healthcare personnel, and eventually other phases of the state’s vaccine plan.
The Daily Yonder’s Covid-19 Dashboard for Rural America
January 22, 2021
The Daily Yonder is monitoring the spread of Covid-19 in rural America with maps, charts, and related reporting from across the nation.
See the state of the pandemic in your county
Hospitals Push Drug Companies to Honor Federal Discount Program
By Liz Carey
Rural medical groups and health advocates are warning drug companies to abide by federal guidelines that require them to provide discounts to some small, rural hospitals.
Read more
Jobs Recovery Plateaus for Rural Counties in November
By Bill Bishop
The country has been scratching its way back to more normal levels of employment after the spring economic shutdown. But the recovery shows signs of stalling in the most recent county employment report.
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Rural Vaccine Access Varies Widely, Sources Say
By Liz Carey and Olivia Weeks
There’s no public data on how much vaccine is making it to each U.S. county. So the story of vaccine distribution in rural America is anecdotal and diverse.
Read more