- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
This Rural Hospital Closed Amid COVID. Now It’s Back on Its Feet
From Becker’s Financial Management
Williamson (W.Va.) Memorial Hospital exemplifies a rare success story in today’s challenging healthcare environment.
As the only hospital in Mingo County, it provides healthcare services in a rural area and, as CEO Tim Hatfield puts it, “is seen as a beacon on the hill of hope for our community and region.”
It closed in April 2020 but reopened June 25 under the management of the Williamson Health and Wellness Center.
In conversation with Becker’s, Mr. Hatfield detailed the hospital’s reopening journey and shared future plans for services.
He noted that the June opening of the 76-bed facility has been years in the making, and it began with Williamson Health and Wellness Center CEO C. Donovan “Dino” Beckett, DO, who worked with the board to purchase the hospital.
“The vision was to have an integrated healthcare system,” Mr. Hatfield said.
“In our clinics we have today we have medicine, occupational health, behavioral health, dentistry and optometry. We have a mobile unit that we just received not that long ago, that’s on the road taking care of folks. We have an integration into the school systems with telehealth here in Mingo County, W.Va. So, the only piece that was missing from having a fully integrated healthcare system was the hospital.”
So, the Williamson Health and Wellness Center board and Dr. Beckett led a push to purchase the hospital out of bankruptcy, at a cost of about $3 million.
“The intent was to actually turn the hospital around under new leadership and ownership in less than 30 days and be back open again,” Mr. Hatfield said.
But the pandemic and needed facility repairs got in the way of those plans. The hospital opened in 1988, and around the beginning of the pandemic, all the sewage pipes in the building collapsed.
“The whole first floor had to be dug up — eight feet deep, four feet wide. So what was going to be a 30-day closure and reopening didn’t happen,” Mr. Hatfield said.
“Now you’re in the middle of COVID, so you can’t find folks that want to work, are afraid to work, and you can’t get equipment or supplies in. At the same time, the Williamson Health and Wellness Center took out a couple of personal loans to reinvest close to $16 million, with a little help from the state of Kentucky and some help from [Washington] D.C., to reinvest in the hospital. They completely gutted out the patient rooms and redid them. They remodeled the entire first floor, which consists of the doctor’s office that handles family medicine, as well as a podiatrist, X-ray, lab, RT and the cafeteria. Everything was completely redone over the last four-plus years.”
In January, Mr. Hatfield took the helm, and the hospital successfully applied with CMS to enroll in Medicare and Medicaid. In June, Williamson Memorial opened up for inpatient care. The hospital underwent a survey by the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification and was recommended to CMS for accreditation following this survey. Williamson Memorial received its Medicare billing number on Sept. 28. Shortly thereafter, it received its Medicaid billing number.
“I found out we had just completed our state survey and our licensure survey, and it was all very positive, it was very emotional. I had an opportunity with our directors — we have a safety meeting every morning. I’m very transparent. I’m like, ‘Look, we just finished our survey. Let me tell you what the results were,'” he said.
“And I teared up because, not me, but as a team — the administrative team here, the board and Dr. Beckett — has invested so much time, so much energy, and so many resources from a financial standpoint. Seeing a hospital open becomes a little overwhelming when you think, ‘Wow, we were able to accomplish that.'”
Mr. Hatfield acknowledged that getting to that point — essentially a four-year process — was not always easy and required laying groundwork.
“It was already in place and the infrastructure was there,” he said. “It was just about taking the hospital to the next level.”
Early in the reopening process, there was an area called the “war room.” Members of the C-suite met weekly in a conference room, with three copies of big post-it sheets around the room.
“Each week, we’d color-code what still needed to be done, what was taken care of, and who was responsible for it,” Mr. Hatfield said. “Thirty days before June 25, we were down to one sheet on the wall, and that was a clear sign we were accomplishing what we needed.”
Today, the hospital has a clinic on site for medicine as well as podiatry, which is tied to Williamson Health and Wellness Center, a federally qualified health center. Williamson Memorial admits patients and provides respiratory, inpatient and outpatient care, along with radiology and lab services.
To date, the hospital has initially employed 52 healthcare professionals with an estimated annual payroll of more than $2.4 million. Of the 52 workers, about 65% worked at the hospital before it faced closure in 2020.
This “is great because, when the hospital closed, they had to leave the area for jobs — some 45 minutes to two hours away,” Mr. Hatfield said. “Now they get to come back home and take care of patients here.”
Mr. Hatfield said the hospital also recently hired an emergency room physician director, who will begin in the role Nov. 1, with an anticipated ER opening date in January.
“The last phase of the process is that we have applied — we’ve actually submitted our plans to the state of West Virginia for review — on our OR suite,” he added. “We have a $3 million OR project that will consist of two OR suites and a scoping room, along with a federal recovery room and beds. From start to finish, that will complete the last piece we’re trying to get in place.”
He also sees the potential of the hospital being a catalyst to turn around some of the migration of jobs away from the county.
“For years, mining was the main source of income for most individuals in this community, and there aren’t that many coal mines left,” he said. “So it’s not just about the hope of creating good jobs and patient access.”
“The bigger vision is that we become a stimulus to create more thought processes, to create more jobs that can come alongside healthcare and education. At the same time, we want to see a movement of people who really want to move into rural Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky. We’re on the border of Kentucky, so they can understand the quality of life, the culture, and the safety of building relationships.”
Pennsylvania Health Department Offers Implicit Bias Training for Health Care Professionals
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Office of Health Equity is hosting virtual implicit bias trainings for all healthcare professionals in Pennsylvania. There are multiple dates and times available to reach all groups. The focus of this free workshop is to familiarize health care professionals to a framework for understanding how the experience of implicit biases and microaggressions impact health care experiences and outcomes for patients. Key strategies for recognizing and responding to implicit bias and microaggressions will be shared. Registration is available.
Register for HRSA Patient-Centered Medical Home Health Equity Symposium
Registration is now open for this annual symposium, which the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) hosts in partnership with The Joint Commission. Join your peers and experts to hear about and discuss best practices and lessons learned in health equity, quality improvement, and accreditation and recognition. Visit the event to learn more and register for the Tuesday, July 16, and Wednesday, July 17, 12:00 – 4:00 pm symposium.
New Medicare Behavioral Health Providers: Incorporating MHCs and MFTs Into Your RHC
– Thursday, May 9 at 1:00 pm Eastern. The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) will host the free, FORHP-supported webinar with information on incorporating Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (MHCs) into Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Medicare coverage of Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors in RHCs began January 1, 2024. This webinar will feature representatives from the National Board for Certified Counselors and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, who will provide information to ensure RHCs are equipped to consider expanding behavioral health services. Additional time for Q&A will be provided. Advanced registration is required.
SUN Smiles Program Receives Rural Health Program of the Year Award
Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania (FHCCP) and the organization’s Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Tapestry of Health SUN Smiles program received the Rural Health Program of the Year award, presented by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH). The award was presented by Lisa Davis, director and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, on Nov. 17 at a ceremony at the WIC Tapestry of Health clinic in Shamokin Dam, PA.
The Rural Health Program of the Year Award recognizes an exemplary health program that addresses an identified need in a rural community utilizing unique, creative, and innovative approaches to do so.
The award was presented during 2022 Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, Nov. 14-18. The week encompasses Nov. 17, which is National Rural Health Day, established in 2011 by the National Organization of the State Offices of Rural Health. Both events celebrate “The Power of Rural” by honoring rural American residents, health care providers, and communities.
The nomination, submitted by Karen McCraw, vice president of advocacy and development at Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania (FHCCP) in Camp Hill, PA, lauded SUN Smiles for developing a comprehensive program that formed partnerships between FHCCP, Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Snyder-Union Community Action Agency, and the Susquehanna River Valley Dental Health Clinic. The program was created to improve oral health outcomes for economically marginalized clients of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC clients in Snyder, Union, and Northumberland counties.
The goals of SUN Smiles are to reduce the proportion of adults and children with untreated tooth decay; increase the proportion of children, adolescents, and adults who use the oral health care system; increase the proportion of people with dental insurance; and reduce the proportion of persons who are unable to obtain or delay obtaining necessary dental care. The program also aims to reduce the proportion of children ages one to five who report dental problems, reduce oral health disparities among low-income rural clients, and give every adult and child in WIC the chance to have a healthy smile. All pregnant and postpartum women and children who are clients of WIC are routinely screened for dental needs and referred to Community Health Workers (CHW), as needed, for assistance with Medicaid enrollment, appointment scheduling, transportation, payment for services, and more.
In the first 11 months of the program, SUN Smiles screened 2,028 WIC clients and referred 700 clients to CHWs and 400 clients to dental care; 154 program clients received dental services at FHCCP’s partner dental provider site. In addition to care navigation, oral health education and fluoride varnish days at WIC offices are key elements of the program.
PORH was formed in 1991 as a joint partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Penn State. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking, and partnership development.
PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health, and agricultural health and safety. PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park.
Each year, PORH presents awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, visit porh.psu.edu.
East Lycoming Ambulance Association Receives Rural Health Program of the Year Award
The East Lycoming Ambulance Association (ELAA), Hughesville, PA, received the Rural Health Program of the Year award, presented by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH). The award was presented by Lisa Davis, director of PORH and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, on Nov. 17 at the ELAA headquarters in Hughesville.
The Rural Health Program of the Year Award recognizes an exemplary health program that addresses an identified need in a rural community by utilizing unique, creative, and innovative approaches to do so.
The award was presented during 2022 Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, Nov. 14-18. The week encompasses Nov. 17, which is National Rural Health Day, established in 2011 by the National Organization of the State Offices of Rural Health. Both events celebrate “The Power of Rural” by honoring rural American residents, health care providers, and communities.
The nomination, submitted by Joshua Dorman, ambulance captain at the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department, Hughesville, PA, recognized the 20-year cooperative effort between four volunteer fire departments, Hughesville Volunteer Fire Company, Muncy Area Volunteer Fire Company, Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Company, and Muncy Township Volunteer Fire Company. The association is completely self-funded by these fire companies which underwrite Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) wages and provide the necessary equipment and facility to provide emergency services in rural Pennsylvania.
The fire companies staff a Basic Life Support ambulance seven days a week which is responsible for covering 911 emergency medical calls and vehicle accidents for 10 municipalities in rural Pennsylvania. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this collaboration has been critical for the area due to the significant increase in emergency calls. Without these companies providing these essential services, many of those calls would go unanswered.
PORH was formed in 1991 as a joint partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Penn State. The office is one of 50 s
tate offices of rural health in the nation and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking, and partnership development.
PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health, and agricultural health and safety. PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park.
Each year, PORH presents awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, visit porh.psu.edu.
Leader at Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers, Norma Nocilla, Receives Community Rural Health Leader of the Year Award
Norma Nocilla, director of clinical operations and quality at Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers (WMCHC), Honesdale, PA, received the 2022 Community Rural Health Leader of the Year Award, presented by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH). The award was presented by Lisa Davis, director of PORH and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State during an award ceremony on Nov. 17, 2022, at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, PA.
The Community Rural Health Leader of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding leader who organized, led, developed or expanded an exemplary multi-dimensional rural community health program or initiative and who has demonstrated leadership to a rural community health program.
The award was presented during 2022 Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, Nov. 14-18. The week encompasses Nov. 17, which is National Rural Health Day, established in 2011 by the National Organization of the State Offices of Rural Health. Both events celebrate “The Power of Rural” by honoring rural American residents, health care providers, and communities.
The nomination, submitted by Kyle Davis, outreach and enrollment coordinator at WMCHC, recognized Nocilla for her extensive background in health care leadership, quality, and performance improvement. Nocilla has held various roles that provided her not only with insight into the needs of her community, but state and national issues as well. Nocilla maintained oversight of the clinical integration of four large practice groups across eight sites and 17 providers, earning primary care medical home certification of all sites, which places patients at the center of care and builds meaningful relationships between patients and clinical care teams. She shows concern and recognition for her colleagues and acknowledges the influential role they play in helping WMCHC provide exceptional services to the counties and organizations served by the health center.
Davis stated, “Ms. Nocilla has demonstrated a high level of dedication to bringing high-quality care to our communities. This dedication has been apparent in the achievements outlined above as well as her influence in creating a culture that recognizes and rewards employees for positive patient outcomes while placing an emphasis on learning and designing systems that respond to employees in a fair and just manner.”
PORH was formed in 1991 as a joint partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Penn State. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking, and partnership development.
PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health, and agricultural health and safety. PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park.
Each year, PORH presents awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, visit porh.psu.edu.
Agriculture Advocate Denny Hutchison Receives State Rural Health Leader of the Year Award
Denny Hutchison, membership chair and past president of the Somerset County Farm Bureau, and member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) Agricultural Promotion Committee, from Somerset County, PA, received the Rural Health Leader of the Year award, presented by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH). The award was presented by Lisa Davis, director of PORH and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, during a ceremony on Nov. 15, 2022 at the annual PFB meeting, at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, PA.
The Rural Health Leader of the Year award recognizes an outstanding leader from Pennsylvania for their work and support of rural health initiatives that address an identified need in their district or across the state.
The award was presented during 2022 Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, Nov. 14-18. The week encompasses Nov. 17, which is National Rural Health Day, established in 2011 by the National Organization of the State Offices of Rural Health. Both events celebrate “The Power of Rural” by honoring rural American residents, health care providers, and communities.
Nominations were submitted by Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding; Pastor Nila Cogan of Somerset County; Pennsylvania Rural Development Council Executive Director Mark Critz; James Wyler, from Ambulatory and Community Behavioral Health Network Services at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital; and Andrea Brown from UPMC. The nominators recognized Hutchison’s superb community outreach and statewide call for support of mental health needs in local agricultural communities.
Hutchison was lauded for his assistance in developing a crisis line and underwriting training that focuses on learning about the stressors in the agricultural community, recognizing and helping someone in crisis, and developing mechanisms to mitigate the stress. During COVID-19, Hutchison raised awareness in the farming community in Somerset County, discussing rural stress and the mental burden on farmers and their families. He reached out to veterinarians, feed and equipment dealers, and others who interact with farmers to alert them to warning signs of stress and depression. He is currently working with the PFB to raise awareness and make treatment more accessible for Pennsylvania’s farmers.
Hutchison also serves as treasurer, and executive board member of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, as a board member of the United Way of Laurel Highlands, and is a member of the Paint Township Planning Committee. He worked for 37 years as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Hutchison is married to his wife, Lori, and enjoys time with his two daughters and two granddaughters.
PORH was formed in 1991 as a joint partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Penn State. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking, and partnership development.
PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health, and agricultural health and safety. PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park.
Each year, PORH presents awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, visit porh.psu.edu.
Pennsylvania Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. Receives Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award
Pennsylvania Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. received the Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award, presented by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH). The award was presented by Lisa Davis, director of PORH and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State, during a ceremony on Nov. 15, 2022, at the Main Capitol Building in Harrisburg, PA.
The Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding legislator from Pennsylvania for their work and support of rural health initiatives that address an identified need in their district or across the state.
The award was presented during 2022 Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, Nov. 14-18. The week encompasses Nov. 17, which is National Rural Health Day, established in 2011 by the National Organization of the State Offices of Rural Health. Both events celebrate “The Power of Rural” by honoring rural American residents, health care providers, and communities.
The nomination, submitted by Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, recognized Vogel for recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of the agricultural community and bringing statewide and community attention to this important issue. As a fourth-generation farmer, Vogel is abundantly aware of the significance of this issue and the missed cries for help. He continues to discuss, share helpful resources, and advocate for the farming community. Vogel also is a compelling advocate of telemedicine for agricultural and rural communities. He sponsored legislation that has defined telemedicine and provided opportunities for rural areas to receive specialized care, including mental health services, without traveling outside the community.
PORH was formed in 1991 as a joint partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Penn State. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking, and partnership development.
PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health, and agricultural health and safety. PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park.
Each year, PORH presents awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, visit porh.psu.edu.
Glenn Sterner, Ph.D., of Penn State Abington, Receives Rural Health Hero of the Year Award
Glenn Sterner, Ph.D., assistant professor criminal justice at Penn State Abington, received the Rural Health Hero of the Year Award, presented by the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH). The award was presented by Lisa Davis, director of PORH and outreach associate professor of health policy and administration at Penn State on Nov. 14, 2022 during a ceremony at Penn State Abington in Abington, PA.
The award was presented during 2022 Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, Nov. 14-18. The week encompasses Nov. 17, which is National Rural Health Day, established in 2011 by the National Organization of the State Offices of Rural Health. Both events celebrate “The Power of Rural” by honoring rural American residents, health care providers, and communities.
The Rural Health Hero of the Year award recognizes an outstanding leader who demonstrates a personal and professional commitment to the rural health needs of their community, works with relevant organizations to develop or expand a program that addresses an identified need, and goes above and beyond the call of duty.
The nomination, submitted by Danielle Rhubart, Ph.D. assistant professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State University Park, lauded Sterner for his leadership and coordination between organizations across the state. In addition to being a champion and advocate for rural communities, his work on substance use, human trafficking, and various health conditions have had meaningful impacts on rural residents of Pennsylvania. He uses an innovative approach to address multiple issues, secure funding, and has worked in partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies to deploy resources. Sterner is an influential advocate in multiple areas and consistently demonstrates his recognition of rural health issues across Pennsylvania.
In his current work, he is evaluating the impact of opioid settlement funding in Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on long-term stakeholder engagement for maximizing the impact of opioid settlement funding in Pennsylvania’s communities. He founded the non-profit organization “Regional Interdisciplinary Collaborative Working to Address Human Trafficking.” He also serves on an interdisciplinary team to increase access to prevention programming in rural counties through the Penn State PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) program, emphasizing connections between prevention and supply reduction initiatives in communities. Sterner developed the Story Powered Initiative to address stigma in communities for conditions that are discriminated against, including substance use, human trafficking, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
PORH was formed in 1991 as a joint partnership between the federal government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Penn State. The office is one of 50 state offices of rural health in the nation and is charged with being a source of coordination, technical assistance, networking, and partnership development.
PORH provides expertise in the areas of rural health, population health, quality improvement, oral health, and agricultural health and safety. PORH is administratively located in the Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State University Park.
Each year, PORH presents awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, visit porh.psu.edu.