WellSpan Health has received accreditation for addressing health equity by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). WellSpan is the first in the state and one of three nationally to receive the Health Equity Accreditation. NCQA awards accreditation to organizations that are leaders in addressing health equity, analyzing clinical performance and consumer experience through a comprehensive framework, according to WellSpan.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced more than $80 million in awards to rural communities in 39 states to support key strategies to respond to the overdose risk from fentanyl and other opioids. These awards help advance President Biden’s commitment to beat the opioid epidemic as part of his Unity Agenda for the nation.
HRSA funding will support interventions such as distributing the lifesaving overdose reversal drug naloxone to prevent overdose; creating and expanding treatment sites in rural areas to provide medications to treat opioid use disorder; expanding access to behavioral health care for young people in rural communities; and, caring for infants in rural areas who are at-risk for opioid exposure or experiencing symptoms related to opioid exposure.
“Far too many rural families have faced the devastation of overdose, and these deaths are felt deeply across rural communities – where often everyone knows someone lost too soon,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “At the Health Resources and Services Administration, we know that funding based on population size or other broad-based rubrics can miss the vital treatment and response needs of rural communities. That’s why the investments we are announcing today are targeted to rural communities and tailored to the unique challenges of helping rural health care leaders expand access to treatment and build recovery pathways to prevent overdose.”
More than 100,000 people die each year from overdose. Individuals who call rural communities home and who are experiencing opioid use disorder – including from fentanyl, heroin or other opioids – can face challenges in accessing treatment and recovery services. Geographic isolation and transportation barriers can make finding treatment particularly challenging and limited mental health and substance use disorder health care providers in the community can further complicate access. The stigmatization of substance use disorder and its treatments are additional barriers to access. HRSA’s funding is targeted to helping communities address these critical needs and expand access to services.
The announcement includes the following investments:
To view the full list of awardees, see https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/opioid-response/fy2023-rcorp-awards-overview.
To learn more about the RCORP program, visit the RCORP Webpage.
See other HRSA news & announcements.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is asking for help to prevent children and families from losing Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage as a result of the end of the Federal Public Health Emergency.
Ways Your Organization Can Help
Visit CMS’s website for more resources.
USDA Rural Development has completed its 2020 decennial United States census review for all areas under its jurisdiction to identify areas that no longer qualify as rural for USDA Rural Housing programs. Based on the review of the areas within the state of Pennsylvania, using 2020 US census data, and rural area guidance located in Handbook HB-1-3550, Chapter 5, the rural eligibility designation has changed for the following areas:
Areas whose rural eligibility designations is changing from ineligible to eligible (these areas now qualify as rural for USDA Housing Programs):
Areas whose rural eligibility designations is changing from eligible to ineligible (these areas no longer qualify as rural for USDA Housing Programs):
Changes become effective October 1, 2023.
The updated rural area map can now be viewed on our eligibility website. Users will need to click on the program, for example: “Single Family Housing Direct”, and then click on “Proposed Eligibility Areas” from the menu options.
For a full list of changes, additional details, or questions about specific changes, please contact the Harrisburg State Office, Rural Development Housing Program Staff at 717-237-2186.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides a guide that considers risk factors, strengths, and common disaster reactions unique to rural communities.
The Rural Health Research Gateway examines the behavioral health workforce supply, including the distribution of counselors, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.
As pandemic-era protections for Medicaid coverage end, the Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid Services created materials and resources to help people with Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) take steps to renew their health coverage or find other coverage options. Education and early education professionals can use this toolkit to reach parents and families about what is happening right now with Medicaid and CHIP, and community groups are encouraged to use this slide deck and talking points for outreach.
FORHP funded the National Academy for State Health Policy to learn from states who expressed early interest in the REH provider type and national experts and develop a guide. This guide allows states to follow their own regulatory processes in drafting and enacting legislation and covers various decision points to consider should they decide to move forward to allow the REH designation. The REH provider type is designed to address concerns that some rural hospitals would not be able to sustain operations and could be at risk of complete closure. So far, approximately 20 states have REH licensure or regulations in place so this guide can help the remaining states that are considering adding REH licensure or regulations.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a final recommendation statement on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent the acquisition of HIV. Healthcare professionals should prescribe PrEP to people at increased risk for HIV. The Task Force has also developed a clinical discussion guide as part of its Let’s Talk About It series to support conversations between clinicians and their patients about whether PrEP may be right for them. To view the recommendation, the evidence on which it is based, a summary for clinicians, and the clinical discussion guide, please go here.
As Mpox cases continue to rise across the commonwealth, the PA Department of Health (DOH) is asking for help in spreading awareness about the Mpox vaccine and the protection it can provide against severe symptoms and infection. Less than 30% of those most at-risk for transmission of Mpox are vaccinated against the virus. Increased vaccination coverage can provide protection against severe symptoms and infection as well as mitigate the potential for a resurgence in Mpox cases. DOH is encouraging any provider office that has not yet done so to please feel free to share the Mpox Vaccine Locator to help individuals find the prevention services that best suit their needs. If you offer the mpox vaccine or provide HIV/STD prevention services, but are not listed on the locators, please submit your information to https://npin.cdc.gov/organization/submit.
