- 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
- Rural RPM Program Is a Lifeline for Pregnant Women
- Safe and Stable Housing Is a Foundation of Successful Recovery
- 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
- Limited Continuing-Care Options in Rural Virginia Create Challenges for an Aging Population
USDA Announces Contract Awards for the Farmers To Families Food Box Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the purchase of $1.2 billion of boxed agricultural products as part of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program (CFAP), Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The list of contracts can be found on USDA’s website, and we have requested that USDA provide a list of PA companies – we will be sure to share with you as soon as we get the full list, but congratulations in advance to all PA farms and processors who were awarded funds.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Launches Emergency Assistance Program to Help Low-Income Families Amidst COVID-19
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller announced an Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) to help low-income families who lost wages experiencing financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families who qualify will be eligible for a one-time payment to assist them in meeting basic needs and help them secure more stable financial footing in the future.
The program will use existing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to provide support to low-income families who qualify. The program will be open to families with a child under the age of 18 or a woman who is currently pregnant. In order to qualify, families must have at least one person in the household who was employed as of March 11, 2020 and experienced an hour or wage reduction of at least 50 percent for two weeks or more or lost employment entirely due to the public health crisis.
Families must meet income limits of 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and have no more than $1,000 in a savings or checking account.
Qualifying families will be issued a one-time grant equal to two months of TANF benefits. The average monthly TANF grant for a family of three is $403, so a qualifying family of three would receive a one-time grant of $806 through the program. Information on monthly grants by household size and county is available online here. Funds will be issued through an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.
Pennsylvanians can apply for Medicaid, the EAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other public assistance programs at any time through DHS’ online COMPASS application at www.compass.state.pa.us. Those who prefer to submit paper applications can mail documents to their local County Assistance Office (CAO) or leave documents in a CAO’s secure drop box, if available. CAOs are still closed to the public, but mail and drop boxes are being monitored so applications can be processed.
Potentially Avoidable Inter-facility Transfer from Veterans Health Administration Emergency Departments: A Cohort Study
This research presents a study on potentially avoidable inter-facility transfers within Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. It details patient characteristics, such as rurality of residence and age, as well as transfer location characteristics, such as number of beds and median length of stay, among other factors. Read more here.
Older Americans Act: Nutrition Services Program
This report provides an overview of the Nutrition Services Program authorized under the Older Americans Act. It describes the administration of the Nutrition Services Program, its funding, service delivery, program participation, and program evaluation. It includes brief rural references throughout. Read more here.
Factors Associated With Perceived Job Preparedness Among RNs: Results From a National Survey
This research examines perceived job preparedness by practice location, gender, and professional characteristics among practicing registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice nurses who completed a web-based national survey. The particular focus was on the probability their nursing education adequately prepared them for job. Read more here.
Extreme Poverty Counties Found Solely in Rural Areas in 2018
This article examines high and extreme poverty areas by rural and urban county designation. It includes a map showing rural high poverty and extreme poverty counties and urban high poverty counties. It discusses the geographic concentration of extreme poverty in regions with above-average populations of racial minorities, highlighting 6 counties in South Dakota with a large Native American population and 4 counties in Mississippi with historically high poverty rates among African Americans. Read more here.
A Best Practices Approach to Treating Maternal Hemorrhage
This report provides an overview of how Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Texas, developed and implemented protocols to improve maternal hemorrhage outcomes. It discusses the impact and lessons learned from implementing the protocols as well, as future maternal health improvement goals at the medical center. Read more here.
Antibiotic Resistance: Additional Federal Actions Needed to Better Determine Magnitude and Reduce Impact
This report explores four challenges that federal agencies face in addressing antibiotic resistance. It provides eight recommendations for federal agencies to strengthen their efforts to combat antibiotic resistance. It includes references to antibiotic stewardship guidance and programs for Critical Access Hospitals throughout. Read more here. Find the full report here.
Selected Health Provisions in Title III of the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136)
This report provides an overview of the healthcare-related provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on sections of the law addressing medical supply shortages, testing and preventative services, and support for the healthcare workforce. It discusses provisions related to telehealth services and rural healthcare systems. Read more here.
Rural Broadband in the Time of COVID-19
This April 16, 2020 webinar recording highlights the state of rural broadband and its capacity to handle the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses remote work, distance learning, telehealth, the CARES Act, and the pandemic in Indian Country. The webinar is presented in two parts. Find Part 1 here. Find Part 2 here.