- Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
- Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation: Request for Input
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule
- Rural America Faces Growing Shortage of Eye Surgeons
- NRHA Continues Partnership to Advance Rural Oral Health
- Comments Requested on Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit Draft
- Q&A: What Are the Challenges and Opportunities of Small-Town Philanthropy?
- HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, Joined by Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Announces New Funding, Policy Action, and Report to Mark Landmark Year of HRSA's Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $60 Million Investment for Adding Early Morning, Night, and Weekend Hours at Community Health Centers
- Volunteer Opportunity for HUD's Office of Housing Counseling Tribe and TDHE Certification Exam
- Who Needs Dry January More: Rural or Urban Drinkers?
- Rural Families Have 'Critical' Need for More Hospice, Respite Care
- Rural Telehealth Sees More Policy Wins, but Only Short-Term
- States Help Child Care Centers Expand in Bid To Create More Slots, Lower Prices
The Changing Geography of the Opioid Crisis
This article discusses the opioid epidemic in the U.S. and analyzes how death from opioid overdoses has changed geographically over the past few decades. It includes data on opioid overdose mortality rates by county and rurality and describes the differences in type of substances in rural areas versus urban areas. Read more here.
The Hidden Crisis in Rural America
This short documentary covers the lack of access to mental health services in rural counties and addresses how rural Americans with a serious mental illness are more likely to encounter police and live without treatment. Watch it here.
Farmers’ Despair Pushes States to Act
Several states consider ways to boost mental health services for rural and agricultural populations and address the rising suicide rates among farmers. This article discusses the different state approaches, such as increasing the number of mental health specialists in rural areas, expanding telehealth, and creating programs that offer counseling vouchers and workshops. Read more here.
Analysis: Disparities in Rural Child Mortality Rates Persist Despite Improvements
While child mortality rates in the U.S. have decreased, researchers find the improvements were not equal among minorities in rural areas. This article includes data outlining the disparities and emphasizes the importance of continuing research to further improve child mortality rates. Read more here.
VA, Walmart open telehealth locations to serve Veterans in rural areas
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced its partnership with Walmart to provide healthcare to veterans in five rural communities. Patients will be able to meet with a VA provider in a private room via video technology. Services may include primary care, nutrition, mental health, and social work. Read more here.
Rural health care CEOs are thriving in transformative times
This article features successful CEOs in rural healthcare that are combating the challenges faced by rural hospitals. It identifies how collaborations with other facilities, expanding telehealth, and concentrating on the workforce help to maintain the wellbeing of the hospital and the community it serves. Read the article here.
Primary Care Visit Frequency Dropping
Adults in the U.S. are visiting primary care doctors less often, according to a new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a trend that is troubling since primary care is there to keep people healthy.
The study, which focused on adults enrolled with a large commercial insurer, found that:
- Between 2008 and 2016, visits to primary care physicians declined by 24.2%, and nearly half of adults didn’t visit one in any given year by the end of the time frame
- Groups with the largest declines were young adults, adults without chronic conditions, and those living in the lowest-income areas
Meanwhile, visits to alternative facilities like urgent care clinics increased by 46.9%
Governors Warn Trump Rule Could Lead to Big Medicaid Cuts
Governors of both major political parties are warning of dire consequences of a regulation proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration that could lead to big cuts in Medicaid, reducing access to health care for low-income Americans. The fiscal accountability rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would tighten federal oversight and approval over complex financing strategies states have long used to help pay for their share of the Medicaid program. Also targeted are certain payments to hospitals that treat many low-income patients. Public comments closed last week amid a chorus of criticism from hospitals, nursing homes, insurers, doctors and advocates for the poor. Trade associations for hospitals, nursing homes and doctors are asking the administration to withdraw the proposal and go back to the drawing board.
CMS Releases Guidance to States on Medicaid Block Grants
On January 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its long-awaited guidance to states, “Healthy Adult Opportunities” (HAO). This initiative allows states to make drastic changes to their Medicaid programs through waivers to implement block grants and per capita caps. NACHC released a statement, submitted a further statement through the Partnership for Medicaid and is working directly with primary care associations (PCAs), like PACHC, to assess the state level impact of the HAO initiative on FQHCs. Of special note in this new guidance are the FQHC-specific provisions allowing states to waive FQHC PPS (and even alternative payment methodologies) and services via a HAO waiver. NACHC and PACHC participated in a call with CMS this week to get further information and express our concerns. We believe there is overwhelming evidence that HAO waivers would essentially lead to a cap on Medicaid spending. Shortly after release by CMS of the HAO guidelines, Pennsylvania Governor Wolf indicated his administration does not intend to seek an HAO waiver.
Deadline for 340B Recertification – Februray 24
Monday, February 24 is the deadline for covered entities to recertify and retain 340B participant status. All 340B covered entities must annually recertify their eligibility to remain in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and continue purchasing covered outpatient drugs at discounted 340B prices. Any covered entity who does not recertify by the deadline will be terminated from the HRSA 340B Program on Wednesday, April 1. Terminated entities will be required to submit a new registration and will not be eligible to participate in the 340B Program until July. To recertify, Authorizing Officials (AOs) and Primary Contacts (PCs) must set up a user account in the HRSA 340B Office of Pharmacy Affairs Information System (340B OPAIS) and then choose “I am a participant.” For questions or assistance, email the 340B call center or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-6:00 pm ET).