Status Check VI: Pennsylvania Rural Health
Website Editor • March 21, 2023
The revised edition of PRHA's flagship publication, Status Check VI provides an update on Pennsylvania rural health care. The document raises awareness on the issues impacting the delivery of health care services in rural areas of the state, including rural emergency services, the rural elderly, migrant farm worker health needs, oral health issues, telehealth services, behavioral health, and more. The document is tailored to inform discussions among those who can make a difference in the health of, and health care for, rural residents. Status Check VI is a collaborative effort by representatives from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock University, and The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health.
Pennsylvania Releases 2025–2030 Rural Health Plan to Guide Equitable, Community-Driven Rural Improvements Across the Commonwealth Patton, PA - The Pennsylvania Rural Health Association (PRHA) has released the 2025–2030 Pennsylvania Rural Health Plan , a comprehensive roadmap to improve the health and well-being of rural residents across the state. This is the first stand-alone rural health plan in Pennsylvania since 2000. Developed with input from rural community leaders, health professionals, academic institutions, and policymakers, the Plan identifies key priorities and action steps to address the unique health challenges and opportunities in Pennsylvania’s 48 rural counties. It places a strong focus on access to care, behavioral health, oral health, maternal health, workforce development, broadband connectivity, and health equity. “The Pennsylvania Rural Health Association is proud to launch this vital plan,” said Debra Youngfelt, PRHA President. “We encourage health systems, local leaders, advocates, and community members to use the Plan as a tool to shape a healthier future for our rural neighbors.” The Plan builds on the momentum of previous rural health efforts and aligns with state and national public health priorities. It includes measurable objectives and strategies that stakeholders across sectors can use to guide planning, partnerships, and investment in rural Pennsylvania. “This Plan is both a vision and a call to action,” said Lisa Davis, Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, who led the development of the plan. “It reflects the voices of rural Pennsylvanians and is designed to support collaborative, locally driven solutions that build stronger, healthier communities.” A series of rural community-based town hall meetings are planned for Fall 2025 to unveil the plan and solicit feedback. Those will be announced as they are coordinated. Access the 2025–2030 Pennsylvania Rural Health Plan on the PRHA website at www.paruralhealth.org/ . For more information, contact PRHA at paruralhealthassociation@gmail.com or 814-799-0850 The Pennsylvania Rural Health Association is dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of Pennsylvania's rural citizens and communities. Our diverse constituency is composed of individual and organizational members interested in providing leadership on rural health issues. Through the combined efforts of individuals, organizations, professionals, and community leaders, the Association is a collective voice for rural health issues and a conduit for information and resources.
Helen Hawkey, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health , received the 2025 M. Dean Perkins Distinguished Service Award presented by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) at the 2025 National Oral Health Conference last week. Helen was presented the award by Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health board member, Kelly Braun, Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health. The Distinguished Service Award is for a member, associate member, non-member, or organization who has made a significant contribution to ASTDD programs, initiatives, or dental public health. PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) serves as the dynamic leading voice to improve oral health across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PCOH promotes oral workforce development, advocates for community water fluoridation, and advances and advocates for oral health policy and infrastructure across all systems. By bringing together a diverse group of leaders from across the state from schools of public health, philanthropic organizations, businesses, dental organizations, health insurance firms, advocacy organizations, state agencies, and other champions, PCOH has built a powerful coalition of more than 1,000 individual and organizational stakeholders.
What Are FQHCs and Why Do They Matter? Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are community-based outpatient clinics that provide comprehensive primary care services to individuals regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay³. Established under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, FQHCs are designed to improve access to care in medically underserved areas and among vulnerable populations. In addition to primary and preventive care, FQHCs offer enabling services such as interpretation, transportation, and case management to address social and logistical barriers to care. While the terms Community Health Center (CHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centre (FQHC) are often used interchangeably in literature, a CHC is a nonprofit clinic serving underserved areas, and most CHCs are FQHCs, but not all are; however, FQHC is a community health center that meets federal requirements to receive special funding and reimbursement. To qualify as an FQHC, an organization must meet stringent federal requirements regarding service scope, quality standards, governance, and accessibility. A key feature is the requirement to operate under a governing board where a majority of members are patients; ensuring the center remains responsive to community needs. FQHCs receive federal grant funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and benefit from enhanced reimbursement under Medicaid and Medicare through the Prospective Payment System (PPS). This financial model is crucial to sustaining care delivery in high-need and low-resource communities.
Are you a health professions student in Pennsylvania with an interest in providing care to the rural and underserved members of our state? If your answer is YES , the PA AHEC Scholars program is right for you.If accepted, you will become part of a national program funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. The program creates regional, interprofessional teams that will discover ways to provide patient-centered and population-focused healthcare as they learn about and experience team-based care, social determinants of health, cultural competencies, behavioral health integration, practice transformation and various current and emerging health issues. The Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (PA AHEC) invites Pennsylvania health professions students interested in providing care in rural and underserved communities to apply for the PA AHEC Scholars Program. For complete information and the application please go to: https://www.paahecscholars.org
Board of Directors Debra Youngfelt, BS, MCHES®, President Executive Director Northeast PA Area Health Education Center 164 Scranton Carbondale Highway Archbald, PA 18403 Telephone: (610) 379-2001 Email: dyoungfelt@nepa-ahec.org Joseph Robare, DrPH, MS, RDN Associate Professor and MPH Program Director Department of Public Health and Social Work Slippery Rock University 110 Dinger Building 1 Morrow Way Slippery Rock, PA 16057 Telephone: (724) 738-2943 Email: joseph.robare@sru.edu Sharon Adams, RN, BA, Treasurer Executive Director Southcentral Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center 2056 Plank Road P.O. Box 509 Carrolltown, PA 15722 Telephone: (814) 344-2222 Email: sadams@scpa-ahec.org Jamie Hammond, MS, MPAS, PA-C, Secretary Assistant Professor Department of Physician Assistant Studies University of Pittsburgh 243 Murdoch Building 3420 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 Telephone: (412) 383-0654 Email: jlh300@pitt.edu Helen Hawkey, RDH Executive Director PA Coalition for Oral Health P.O. Box 242 Delmont, PA 15626 Email: helen@paoralhealth.org Lisa Davis, MHA Director and Outreach Associate Professor of Health Policy and Administration Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health 118 Keller Building University Park, PA 16802 Telephone: (814) 863-8214 Email: lad3@psu.edu Ronald Mezick, Jr., PA-C Pennsylvania Society of Physicians Assistants P.O. Box 128 Greensburg, PA 15601 Telephone: (724) 836-6411 Email: rbmezick@aol.com Diane Spokus, M.Ed., PhD, MCHES® Teaching Professor of Health Policy and Administration, and Associate Director of Undergraduate Professional Development Department of Health Policy and Administration The Pennsylvania State University 501K Ford Building University Park, PA 16802 Telephone: (814) 865-0716 Email: dms201@psu.edu Kathy Wonderly, RN, MS.Ed. Consultant, Performance Improvement Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania 500 Commonwealth Drive Warrendale, PA 15086 Telephone: (814) 787-8456 Email: wonderlk@hcwp.org Jayne Klenner, PhD Associate Professor of Computer and Information Systems Department of Public Health and Social Work King's College 133 N. River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 Telephone: (570) 208-5900 ext. 5452 Email: jayneklenner@kings.edu Hope Wormuth, MHL Fund Development & Community Relations Specialist VNA Hospice & Home Health of Lackawanna County 301 Delaware Avenue Olyphant, PA 18447 Telephone: (570) 383-5180 Email: hwormuth@vnahospice.org Justin Beupre, Ed.D., MHA, LAT, ATC Assistant Professor Graduate Healthcare Administration Program McGowan School of Business King's College 133 N. River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 Email: justinbeaupre@kings.edu Daniel P. Champigny, MPAS, PA-C Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Medicine Frostburg State University 24 North Walnut Street Hagerstown, MD 21740 Email: dpchampigny@frostburg.edu Jennifer Whittaker Research Scientist PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Email: whittakerj@chop.edu Student Board Members Tori Baker, Student Representative MPH Environmental & Occupational Health Concentration Graduate Student Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Email: veb1001@sru.edu Katherine Noss Research Coodinator Penn State College of Medicine Hershey, PA Email: knoss2@pennstatehealth.psu.edu