- Colorectal Cancer Is Rising among Younger Adults. Some States Want to Boost Awareness.
- Rural Hospitals Built During Baby Boom Now Face Baby Bust
- Food Stamps Go Further in Rural Areas — Until You Add Transportation Costs
- CMS Announces Resources and Flexibilities to Assist with the Public Health Emergency in the State of Texas
- CMS Proposes New Payments for Digital Health Under CY2025 PFS Draft Rule
- Improving Public Health by Strengthening Community Infrastructure
- Biden Harris Administration Proposes Policies to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Advance Health Equity, and Support Underserved Communities
- Nearly Half of U.S. Counties Don't Have a Single Cardiologist
- Randolph County, Ill. Turns Unused Part of Nursing Home Into State-Of-The-Art Behavioral Health Center
- Safe and Stable Housing Is a Foundation of Successful Recovery
- Rural RPM Program Is a Lifeline for Pregnant Women
- Expert: Rural Hospitals Are Particularly Vulnerable to Increasing Cyberattacks Targeting Healthcare Facilities
- Biden-Harris Administration Invests Over $200 Million to Help Primary Care Doctors, Nurses, and Other Health Care Providers Improve Care for Older Adults
- AJPH Call for Papers Special Section on Intersections of Public Health And Primary Care
- NIH HEAL Initiative Turns Attention to Pragmatic Trials in Rural Communities
Amid the Coronavirus Lockdown, Manhattan’s Art World Looks at Rural America
From The Daily Yonder:
Two of New York’s most famous art galleries found plenty of virtual space to exhibit photography and art reflecting on rural parts of America and the world. Both shows have digital exhibits that allow visitors a virtual stroll through some of the materials. Read more here.
Coronavirus Relief Package Includes Funding for Rural Transportation
From The Daily Yonder:
CARES Act funding will go to airports, ports, transit services, and other transportation programs. Nevada and Missouri set aside some funds for rural transit. Read more here.
ADA Offers PPE Guidance As States Consider Reopening
The American Dental Association (ADA) has released interim guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) for states considering reopening dental practices. The interim guidance focuses on the PPE recommended in order to practice during this pandemic and minimize the risk of virus transmission.
Analysis: Rural America’s Lower Census Response May Be Due to Covid-19
From The Daily Yonder:
The pandemic caused the Census Bureau to cancel its plans to hand-deliver announcements to households that are hard to reach by U.S. mail. That probably explains some of rural America’s low response rates to the Census so far. Read more here.
Impact of COVID-19 on Dental Practices
The Health Policy Institute (HPI) is conducting a bi-weekly survey of dental providers across the country to gauge the impact of COVID-19 on dental practices. According to the April 6th survey, 29.4% of PA dental practices are closed and not seeing emergency patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, 57.2% of PA dental offices are not able to pay their staff at all during this time. A recording of “How is COVID-19 Impacting the Dental Care Sector” is available at the link below and discusses the data.
Click here for the webinar recording.
Click here for more information.
Click here for Pennsylvania-specific information.
Coronavirus Infection Rate Remains Low in Rural Areas Compared to Largest Cities
From The Daily Yonder:
The rural infection rate is about a fifth of that of major metropolitan areas. But cases are climbing at a slightly higher rate in rural counties. Read more here.
Listen: Pandemic Stresses Already Fragile Rural Health Care Systems
Kaiser Health News (KHN) Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber joined WAMU’s “1A” show with guest host Sasha-Ann Simons to talk about the unique challenges rural health care providers face amid the coronavirus pandemic — even before their communities get overrun with a surge of COVID-19 cases.
Weber has reported on how the suspension of elective surgery and other procedures amid the pandemic has threatened the financial survival of the country’s rural hospitals — and how hospital executives don’t feel the first round of federal bailout relief money was enough. She also has written about the front-line fight at a rural Louisiana hospital that forecasts what the pandemic will look like when it hits the rest of rural America.
Listen to the story here.
COVID-19 Outreach and Enrollment News
From the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC)
Income and Eligibility for Health Insurance
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) signed into law on March 27 provided for payments of up to $1200 for every adult and $500 per dependent child. This Stimulus payment does not count as income for Medicaid/CHIP or APTC determinations. It should also not be reported on any application for assistance.
Regular Unemployment is always counted as income. The extension of unemployment of up to 39 weeks and the expansion unemployment to new populations is counted as income. The additional $600/week supplemental unemployment benefit ends July 31, 2020. This benefit does not count toward Medicaid/CHIP but DOES COUNT toward income for Marketplace Coverage and APTC eligibility.
While the Federal government has not issued a special enrollment period or opened the marketplace due to the Pandemic, consumers who have lost coverage may qualify for a special enrollment period. Special Enrollment Period Reference Guide
For more information, visits PACHC’s COVID-19 page.
Emergency SNAP Benefit Distribution to Begin Today, Local Feeding Programs Available in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will begin an emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit issuance today in line with the federal government’s interpretation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Payments include a supplemental increase for both March and April and will continue to be issued for current SNAP households through April 29. DHS is also advising Pennsylvanians in need of food assistance of local supports that can help meet essential needs during the public health crisis
DHS received approval from the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to issue emergency payments that will allow DHS to increase a household’s currently monthly payment up to the maximum benefit amount for each household size. DHS had requested authorization to issue an additional benefit equal to a household’s monthly payment to all SNAP households and was denied.
Individuals and families in need of assistance should contact their local food bank through Feeding PA or Hunger-Free PA to find a food pantry or other distribution site in their community. The United Way of Pennsylvania and the 211 program can also connect people and families to local resources that can help during the public health crisis.
COVID-19 Related RHC Resources Added!
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health has updated it’s Rural Health Clinic program page to house important information and resources for Rural Health Clinics during this time. This page will be updated regularly.