Dr. Val Arkoosh

Federal Medicaid changes required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Pennsylvania is preparing recipients for the changes to come while also updating its own reporting system for the joint federal and state health insurance program.

Federal Medicaid changes go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Pennsylvania is preparing its recipients for the changes to come while also updating its own reporting system for the joint federal and state health insurance program.

Pa. Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh announced a new clinical training partnership between Clarks Summit State Hospital and Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s College of Osteopathic Medicine to train future physicians and address the need for health professionals in rural areas.

Pennsylvania received $193 million this year from the Rural Health Transformation Program, which will inject $50 billion over five years to the states. But the state’s rural health leaders worry that the money won’t be enough to fill the financial gaps rural health systems already face and the ones to come with Medicaid changes slated to start in 2027.

Pennsylvania health-focused agencies are working to address maternal health care across the state. Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh sat with health care providers, local elected officials and a patient at the Scranton Primary Health Care Center to learn from their experiences.