On August 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture notified states that pandemic electronic benefit transfer (P-EBT) benefits could be issued to schools that are not providing meal service due to the closure of the school for at least five days as long as benefits were issued by Sept. 30. P-EBT helps ensure that children can eat. Pennsylvania submitted its plan to the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service for approval on Aug. 28 and last week learned the plan was denied. The PA Department of Human Services (DHS) would like to continue P-EBT for the entire 2021 school year, but cannot do so without Congressional reauthorization, as the program sunsets on Sept. 30. DHS is urging Congress to reauthorize P-EBT for the entire 2020-21 school year and to clearly state how benefits should be issued for hybrid and remote learning environments.
House Authorizes Study on Medical Student Choice in Primary Care
The House of Representatives unanimously passed HR 626, which directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on efforts within medical schools to promote student choice in primary care, to include primary care experience in the curriculum and accurately monitoring and reporting graduate retention in primary care. The resolution requires that the commission seek input and information from PACHC for the report. The commission must issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly within one year of the adoption of the resolution.
UDS Training Save the Dates
The 2020 UDS Training will be held virtually on the mornings of Dec.3, Dec. 8, and Dec. 10 (specific time is TBD). Please mark your calendars for all dates as this will be held in a three-part series including dedicated time for Q&A. Attendees will:
- Gain an understanding of UDS reporting requirements including the patient profile, clinical services and quality of care indicators, operational and financial tables, and other required UDS reporting forms.
- Learn about the new measures and requirements included in 2020 reporting.
- Learn tips for success including strategies for submission.
More information and registration will open at a later date. For questions, please contact Amanda Tekely.
Radically Rural: Art as an Amplifier for Community Connection
By Caroline Tremblay
Artists and art collectives help small towns with creative problem-solving during the pandemic.
Read more
CMS Community Health Access and Rural Transformation Model (CHART)
CMS will make as many as 15 awards of up to $5 million each for a seven-year project. This new model aims to change the way the federal government pays for health care in rural areas through Transformation Plans that coordinate care across communities defined as rural by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP). Letters of Intent for the Community Transformation Track of the CHART Model are due by January 28, 2022 and applications will be due February 16, 2022.
CMS Coronavirus Stakeholder Calls
CMS hosts recurring online sessions to share information related to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the health care community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.
CDC COVID-19 Updates
CDC provides daily updates and guidance, including a section specific to rural health care, and a Toolkit for Tribal Communities. New every week: MMWR Weekly COVID-19 Briefing is now a podcast series with the latest scientific information published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Register Today for NRHA’s RHC and CAH Virtual Conferences
Join for NRHA’s Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital Conferences, the association’s fastest-growing events for a reason, hosted virtually for the first time. Take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities designed for clinic and hospital professionals and board members serving rural America. If you register for both events, you can save $100 on your total registration cost. A draft agenda for both conferences can be found here.
NRHA’s September Grassroots Call
Your voices and perspectives are incredibly valuable. Each month, the NRHA team hosts a Grassroots Call to deliver an update of what is moving on Capitol Hill and learn more from NRHA grassroots advocates. This call also enables NRHA to supply in-depth explanations behind their advocacy efforts and how you can help. Their goal is to empower NRHA members with the information they need to advocate on behalf of NRHA legislative/regulatory priorities. The September Grassroots Advocacy Call will be held on Wednesday, September 30th at 2PM EST. NRHA looks forward to hearing from you! Register in advance for this meeting, and you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
NRHA Appropriations & COVID-19 Relief Package Updates
Unfortunately, efforts to pass an additional COVID-19 relief package have stalled on Capitol Hill. While there are rumors that a bill could still come together, they are largely just that: rumors. NRHA is continuing to advocate that Capitol Hill include a list of rural health care priorities in any potential COVID-19 relief package, but the prospects remain bleak. Instead, Capitol Hill’s attention has shifted to the September 30th federal funding cliff. NRHA expects a clean continuing resolution (CR) to be passed in the coming weeks, but the CR’s end date is still up for debate. Republicans are in favor of setting the CR end date in mid-December, while Democrats are hoping for a CR that extends well into the new year, likely February. NRHA will continue to keep our members apprised of any new appropriations legislation, which will likely come together in the next few days.