Democratic candidate Heather Boyd easily won the special election to fill a House seat vacancy in Delaware County, allowing Democrats to retain their one-seat majority in the chamber. Boyd received almost 60% of the votes cast. Republicans held onto the seat in the 108th Legislative District as Michael Stender defeated Democrat Trevor Finn. That election was needed because former state Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-Northumberland, won a special election earlier this year to succeed former state Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia. And more special elections are likely on the horizon as Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks, won an election for district judge and Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny, won the Democratic nomination to be Allegheny County executive.

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced more than $6 million in grant funding for organizations to establish or expand substance use disorder (SUD) services, community outreach, and education to underrepresented communities struggling with the opioid overdose crisis. In 2020, overdose death rates increased 39% for Black Pennsylvanians compared to 2019. In 2021, Black Pennsylvanians died from an overdose at a rate that was nearly two times higher than White Pennsylvanians. Those eligible for this funding included organizations that provide services, outreach, and/or education to communities of color that promote access to harm reduction services, low-barrier SUD and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), recovery and peer supports, and/or offender reentry supports.

Pennsylvania is now accepting applications for students eligible to benefit from the Kids’ Chance Scholarship Fund – a program aimed at providing financial assistance for children growing up in situations that may make it particularly difficult for them to make the transition from high school to college. The original concept for the scholarship had been to target children whose parents are incarcerated. The scholarship program was broadened by lawmakers to include children of incarcerated parents as well as other children living in difficult situations. The grant program will fund scholarships and support services for young people who are living and learning in regions of the commonwealth that have statistically higher high school dropout rates, incarceration rates, or high crime rates as identified by the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Learn more by visiting the Kids Chance of PA website.

A letter (PDF) issued by SAMHSA and the FDA emphasizes that counseling and other services should not be prerequisites for a patient to receive medications for opioid use disorder. Practitioners must work collaboratively with patients, meeting them where they are, to create supportive and tailored treatment plans.

PsychU Mental Health System Guidebooks is a comprehensive resource for understanding each state’s mental health system. The guidebooks provide a detailed overview of the state agencies responsible for managing mental health, as well as information on Medicaid coverage, healthcare reform initiatives, and the largest health plans and accountable care organizations in each state. Registration to access the guides is free.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to receive reports of new cases of mpox, indicating ongoing community transmission in the United States. On May 15, the CDC released a Health Alert Network (HAN) noting that a cluster of 12 mpox cases was identified in Chicago between April 17 and May 5, 2023. Travel history for nine cases was available and four individuals recently traveled to New York City, New Orleans, and Mexico. The CDC expects new breakthrough cases to occur and warns that spring and summer 2023 could lead to a resurgence of mpox as people gather for festivals and other events. On May 17, the PA Department of Health (DOH) released PA HAN 695 with additional information for providers on when to consider testing for mpox as well as treatment and vaccination information. For more information on clinical evaluation, treatment, vaccination, or testing, please refer to the HAN or reach out to Erin Babe, PACHC Public Health Program Specialist.

  On May 26, HRSA will follow a federal upgrade to security measures for online systems requiring a login for external users.  The new multi-factor login procedure will affect those who access HRSA’s Electronic Handbook (EHB) system, including grantees, grant applicants, service providers, and consultants. To avoid issues with upcoming application and reporting deadlines, it is important to set up the new login procedure ahead of the change on May 26.

 The NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis finds that lengths of stay for rural inpatients in areas with no access to buprenorphine-waivered physicians were more than nine times higher than for urban patients.