During National Foster Care Month, Fostering Youth Transitions Report Released 

Posted on by lad3

May is National Foster Care Month, where we should take an opportunity to honor those in out-of-home placement and the individuals who support them. In 2021, 20,490 children and youth were placed in the foster care system—many who were unable to safely remain in the homes of their parents or caregivers and others who could’ve stayed in their home communities with community-based services.

We recognize and thank the kinship caregivers and foster parents who have stepped up to care for them. We acknowledge biological parents and caregivers working tirelessly to mitigate the risk and safety concerns that lead to placement. We also thank the caseworkers, providers and advocates on the front lines daily, ensuring that foster children grow, thrive and achieve permanency.

To further highlight the child welfare system in May, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released Fostering Youth Transitions 2023: State and National Data to Drive Foster Care Advocacy. Transition age youth are foster children ages 14 and older who are in or exiting the system to adulthood. This population has poorer outcomes compared to their peers in the general population. The report notes that although the number of teenagers and young adults in foster care has decreased by 45% nationally over the past 15 years, systems are falling short of delivering services to those who are in care.

Read PPC’s press release on the report noting Pennsylvania-specific data and policy recommendations.

Axios PA interviewed PPC Policy Director Rachael Miller about the report.

PA Broadband Authority Requests Feedback on Grant Guidlines

Posted on by lad3

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority will release grant program guidelines and open its application period for a $45 million Pennsylvania Multi-Purpose Community Facility Program (Program), a competitive grant program that is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Capital Projects Fund. The Program will target capital assets to include, but not limited to, community anchor institutions such as schools, libraries, recreation centers, community health centers, and other non-profit organization buildings owned or operated by units of local government.

As the Authority finalizes program guidelines, it is requesting feedback on a few items where U.S. Treasury has provided flexibility: match requirements, maximum award amount, and the minimum number of applications that should be awarded. The public comment period for the Pennsylvania Multi-Purpose Community Facility Program is now open. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to provide feedback to help inform the creation of the guidelines.

Please submit feedback by Wednesday, May 24.

Telehealth Providers Cheer DEA Move to Temporarily Extend Virtual Prescribing Flexibilities

Posted on by lad3

From Fierce Healthcare

Facing major backlash to its proposed rules released in February, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is looking to buy some time to reconsider whether it should enforce stricter limits around the prescribing of controlled substances via telehealth.

The Biden administration said at the time that the new rule seeks to provide safeguards to prevent online over-prescribing of controlled medications. Teleprescribing has been touted as a robust tool for bringing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) to rural areas in the ongoing treatment of the opioid epidemic.

The agency received a record 38,000 comments on its proposed telemedicine rules, according to a statement from DEA Administrator Anne Milgram issued Wednesday.

“We take those comments seriously and are considering them carefully. We recognize the importance of telemedicine in providing Americans with access to needed medications, and we have decided to extend the current flexibilities while we work to find a way forward to give Americans that access with appropriate safeguards,” Milgram said.

The DEA filed a draft temporary rule with the Office of Management and Budget titled “Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications.”

Milgram said further details about the rule will become public after its full publication in the Federal Register.

The DEA issued proposed rules three months ago that would reinstate strict limitations on the virtual prescribing of controlled substances and would roll back telehealth flexibilities extended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed rules would once again require patients to be evaluated in person by a doctor to receive prescriptions for some controlled substances (PDF) including stimulants like Adderall and opioids such as oxycodone and buprenorphine used to treat opioid use disorder.

Provider groups, telehealth advocates and patients submitted comments largely panning the proposal, arguing that it would create barriers to care.

Read more.

Pennsylvania Health Law Project Releases Impact Report

Posted on by lad3

The Pennsylvania Health Law Project is excited to share our latest Impact Report highlighting the achievements of our staff over the first few months of 2023. Without the support our donors, wey would not have been able to accomplish what we did last quarter.

This year marks our 30th anniversary of incorporation as a nonprofit, and we started the year off with a bang! During the first quarter of 2023, PHLP staff provided free legal services to nearly 400 clients and provided over 5,000 hours of legal assistance to Pennsylvanians from across the state.

In the Report, read about our case work and the clients we serve, client spotlights, responses from our client satisfaction surveys, honors and awards our staff received, and policy highlights showcasing our work from the last quarter.

We are so proud of the work we do here at PHLP, and we can’t wait for you to take a look at what we accomplished so far this year. We look forward to coming together to mark our 30th anniversary with our colleagues, friends, and supporters. Stay tuned for exciting updates about our anniversary celebrations later this year.

Read the report!

Show Your Appreciation to Pennsylvania Water Operators!

Posted on by lad3

When was the last time you thanked the water operators in your community for delivering safe water to your home? Tap water is something that many take for granted and we don’t often think of who was involved in making that happen. Regardless of the fluoridation status of your water system, water operators do an essential job of providing you and your family with safe drinking water.

PCOH is encouraging groups to thank water systems for delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, restaurants, and businesses.

The “Water Operator Thank You Campaign” would be an ideal activity for community groups such as boards, homeowner associations, rotary clubs, church and youth groups, scouts, 4-H chapters, parent-teacher associations, sports teams, health clubs, and recreational leagues. If you are interested in participating, PCOH will provide you with blank thank you notes, envelopes, and a prepaid envelope to return your notes back to us. From there, we will address your note and send it on to your water system. Thank you for taking the time to show your appreciation for our PA water operators!

Click here for more information.
Click here to request thank you campaign materials.

New Brief Released: Pediatric Oral Health in Rural America

Posted on by lad3

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Research and Policy Center published a new brief, “Hidden Crisis: Pediatric Oral Health in Rural America.” The brief brings to light some of the challenges faced by children and families accessing dental care. It proposes actions that hold promise for improving the oral health of America’s rural children, recognizing that the most effective approaches will be structured around the unique assets and needs of each community and involve many
stakeholders working together.

Click here to read the brief.

New Affordable Connectivity Program Application Landing Page Launched at GetInternet.gov

Posted on by lad3

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is announcing a new Affordable Connectivity Program landing page at GetInternet.gov. The transition of GetInternet.gov to the new landing page occurred on the evening of May 3.  AffordableConnectivity.gov will continue to exist as a resource for consumers and digital navigators and contain more detailed information about the Affordable Connectivity Program.

The FCC continues its efforts to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program by providing grants to community partners, providing additional support for navigators who help eligible consumers enroll, and developing paid and earned media strategies to increase public awareness.

The FCC chose to utilize GetInternet.gov as the URL for consumer information and advertising about the Affordable Connectivity Program because it is simple and memorable, communicates what the program is about, serves as a call to action for eligible consumers, and links consumers directly to the application.  The information previously available at GetInternet.gov will continue to be available by accessing whitehouse.gov/getinternet.

 Questions?

Further questions regarding today’s announcement can be directed to Jamile Kadre at Jamile.Kadre@fcc.gov.

For general Affordable Connectivity Program questions, please contact ACPinfo@fcc.gov.

Timeline of End Dates for Key Health-Related Flexibilities Provided Through COVID-19 Emergency Declarations, Legislation, and Administrative Actions

Posted on by lad3

In response to the unprecedented nature of COVID-19, the federal government declared numerous types of emergencies, Congress enacted several pieces of legislation, and various executive actions were taken and waivers issued, which, collectively, established time-limited flexibilities and provisions designed to protect individuals and the health system during the pandemic. The effective end dates of many, though not all, of these flexibilities and provisions are tied to the public health emergency (PHE) declaration made pursuant to Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, first declared in January of 2020.  Others are linked to the public health emergency declaration made under Section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act; the declaration made under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act; and emergency and major disaster declarations made under the Stafford Act. In some cases, subsequent legislation has either delinked provisions from these declarations or otherwise changed their duration.

The Biden Administration recently announced that it will end the PHE on May 11, 2023 and FEMA has announced that the emergency incident period under the Stafford Act will also end on that date. Other related emergency declarations or provisions have already ended or are ending soon. The following table (Table 1) provides a timeline identifying key health-related flexibilities and provisions specified by these various measures, the specific measure that determines their end date, and their end date (an end date for the Section 564 declaration has not yet been announced).

In addition to the end of the flexibilities detailed in Table 1 below, there are also expectations that the federal supply of COVID-19 vaccines could be depleted or need to be replaced by an updated booster dose sometime this year and, similarly, the federal supply of COVID-19 treatments will also be depleted. At a result, COVID-19 vaccines and treatments are transitioning to the commercial market. Importantly, this change is not tied to the end of the public health emergency.

Click here to see the list of deadlines in the referenced table.

CMS Partner Resources on the End of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Condition

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In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily waived certain Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements and conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The easing of these requirements was referred to as the ‘Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Condition,’ and it helped prevent people with Medicaid and CHIP from losing their health coverage during the pandemic.

The Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Condition ended on March 31, 2023, and states are now returning to regular operations, including restarting full Medicaid and CHIP eligibility renewals and terminations of coverage for individuals who are no longer eligible. Some states began terminating Medicaid enrollment for individuals no longer eligible as of April 1, 2023. On February 24, 2023, CMS posted the anticipated state timelines for initiating unwinding-related renewals on the Unwinding and Returning to Regular Operations after COVID-19 webpage.

NEW MEDICAID AND CHIP RESOURCES FOR PARTNERS

CMS has developed a variety of tools and materials for partners to help ensure that people enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP know what steps to complete regardless of where they are in the Medicaid and CHIP renewal process. All of these resources can be found on the recently updated Medicaid.gov/Unwinding webpage. These resources will help CMS partners educate Medicaid and CHIP enrollees on steps they need to take and when.

  • Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility Renewals Communications Toolkit: The Unwinding Communications Toolkit has been updated with new materials for Phase II, including social media posts and graphics, a drop-in article, a Partner Tip Sheet, and factsheets on different coverage options.
  • Unwinding Toolkit Supporting Materials: This zip folder contains downloadable versions of the materials featured in the Toolkit, including social media graphics, flyers, postcards, the Tip Sheet, and more.
  • Medicaid and CHIP Renewals Webpage: A webpage designed for people enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP to help them prepare to renew their coverage. The page includes an interactive map with each state Medicaid office’s website and other contact information.
  • Unwinding Speaking Request Form: Submit a request to have someone from HHS or CMS speak about Medicaid Unwinding at an upcoming event.

The complete Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility Renewals Communications Toolkit is available in Spanish, and select materials are available in five additional languages, which include:

All flyers, cards, and other handouts in the Medicaid Unwinding Toolkit Supporting Materials zip folder are available in Spanish. Select materials have also been translated to Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. These materials include:

  • Phase I Medicaid Unwinding Non-fillable Flyer
  • Phase II Medicaid Unwinding Factsheet
  • Phase II Post Card

The information on the Medicaid and CHIP Renewals page is also now available in Spanish.

UPDATES TO HEALTHCARE.GOV (MARKETPLACE INSURANCE)

The HealthCare.gov homepage was recently updated to highlight information for those who may be losing Medicaid or CHIP. Consumers can find information about health insurance coverage options and see if they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Information has also been added to CuidadoDeSalud.gov.

UPCOMING PARTNER WEBINARS

HHS and CMS continue to host a series of monthly webinars on Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Enrollment Unwinding to educate partners. Topics covered during the webinar vary each month. Webinars take place the fourth Wednesday of each month from 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET. Register for upcoming webinars here.

Recordings, transcripts, and slides from past webinars can be found on the CMS National Stakeholder Calls webpage