During 1990, Congress established Mental Illness Awareness Week. The first week in October marks a time for mental health advocates to collectively educate the public about mental illness and fight the stigma attached to this illness. The week also includes National Depression Screening Day, dedicated to raising awareness and screening people for depression and related mood and anxiety disorders.

October is Health Literacy Month and an excellent opportunity to focus on the importance of patient and family literacy toward achieving better patient outcomes and providing a more positive patient experience.

After months of legislative attention and policy negotiation, Congress passed new legislation to address the opioid epidemic.

A new study exploring the characteristics of Medicare patients receiving care in hospital outpatient departments reinforces concerns that new payment proposals—which would significantly cut hospital payments—could threaten access to care for the most vulnerable patients and communities.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a new resource to offer Medicare beneficiaries and their families easier access to more information about their plan and coverage.

Last week, Pennsylvania secured $55.9 million federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant implementation the state’s response to the opioid epidemic. This funding complements two $26.5 million grants that have been received during the past two years from SAMHSA as part of the 21st Century CURES Act. With the new SAMHSA grant, Pennsylvania has received a total of $108 million in federal funding to fight the opioid epidemic.

At the federal level, the U.S. House cleared a pair of Senate bills aimed at making it easier for patients to get the lowest price on prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump. At the state level, the Senate Insurance Committee unanimously approved a bill that would do the same, sending the bill to the Senate for consideration.

Earlier this week, the House Professional Licensure Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 780 (Vogel, R-Beaver), telemedicine legislation. The bill now moves to the House for consideration. Please email your lawmaker today and ask that they support Senate Bill 780.

Yesterday, Senate Bill 1237, which would establish the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center (RHRC) Authority and the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Fund, was passed unanimously by the Senate’s Health & Human Services Committee.

News Release: Andy Carter, president and CEO of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), released the following statement after the Pennsylvania House Professional Licensure Committee today voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 780, which would define telemedicine, provide consumer protections for it, and expand insurance coverage for telemedicine services.

During 1990, Congress established Mental Illness Awareness Week. The first week in October marks a time for mental health advocates to collectively educate the public about mental illness and fight the stigma attached to this illness. The week also includes National Depression Screening Day, dedicated to raising awareness and screening people for depression and related mood and anxiety disorders.

October is Health Literacy Month and an excellent opportunity to focus on the importance of patient and family literacy toward achieving better patient outcomes and providing a more positive patient experience.

After months of legislative attention and policy negotiation, Congress passed new legislation to address the opioid epidemic.

A new study exploring the characteristics of Medicare patients receiving care in hospital outpatient departments reinforces concerns that new payment proposals—which would significantly cut hospital payments—could threaten access to care for the most vulnerable patients and communities.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a new resource to offer Medicare beneficiaries and their families easier access to more information about their plan and coverage.

Last week, Pennsylvania secured $55.9 million federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant implementation the state’s response to the opioid epidemic. This funding complements two $26.5 million grants that have been received during the past two years from SAMHSA as part of the 21st Century CURES Act. With the new SAMHSA grant, Pennsylvania has received a total of $108 million in federal funding to fight the opioid epidemic.

At the federal level, the U.S. House cleared a pair of Senate bills aimed at making it easier for patients to get the lowest price on prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump. At the state level, the Senate Insurance Committee unanimously approved a bill that would do the same, sending the bill to the Senate for consideration.

Earlier this week, the House Professional Licensure Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 780 (Vogel, R-Beaver), telemedicine legislation. The bill now moves to the House for consideration. Please email your lawmaker today and ask that they support Senate Bill 780.

Yesterday, Senate Bill 1237, which would establish the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center (RHRC) Authority and the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Fund, was passed unanimously by the Senate’s Health & Human Services Committee.

News Release: Andy Carter, president and CEO of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), released the following statement after the Pennsylvania House Professional Licensure Committee today voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 780, which would define telemedicine, provide consumer protections for it, and expand insurance coverage for telemedicine services.