- 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
- States Help Child Care Centers Expand in Bid To Create More Slots, Lower Prices
- Rural Telehealth Sees More Policy Wins, but Only Short-Term
- Healing a Dark Past: The Long Road To Reopening Hospitals in the Rural South
- Study: Obstetrics Units in Rural Communities Declining
- Q&A: Angela Gonzales (Hopi), on New Indigenous Health Research Dashboard
- Not All Expectant Moms Can Reach a Doctor's Office. This Kentucky Clinic Travels to Them.
Medicaid Option for Community-Based Mobile Crisis Intervention Services Takes Effect
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reminded states that Medicaid agencies have the option to implement qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention services in their state plans. The option took effect on April 1, 2022, as per the American Rescue Plan (ARP). CMS also awarded planning grants to 20 state Medicaid agencies, including Pennsylvania, for the purpose of implementing the option. CMS guidance states that programs must include health centers as part of the intervention services teams.
Pennie System Enhancements and Changes in Pennsylvania Start in April
Changes made to the Pennsylvania Assister Dashboard and Pennie Customer Application will ease enrollment. Additional information, including screens to review enrollment details, customer enrollment history, coverage period by member, and premium history are available to review to assist with answering questions and removing the need to contact the Pennie Call Center. Income eligibility thresholds have been updated with 2022 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) data for Medicaid and CHIP eligibility as of April 1, 2022. Pennie continues to use 2021 FPL tables for the 2022 plan year eligibility.
HHS Extends Public Health Emergency for 90 Days to July 15
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has extended the public health emergency (PHE) by 90 days to July 15, 2022. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has said it will give states 60-days’ notice before the end of the PHE.
Pharmacists in PA Push to Retain Right to Vaccinate Kids
Pennsylvania pharmacists visited the state Capitol this week to push state lawmakers to allow them to continue providing a range of vaccinations to children, something they have been doing since early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.
The Sliding Fee Scale Guide for CAHs and RHCs is Found Here
In this guide, the HRSA-supported National Rural Health Resource Center presents an overview of how to develop a Sliding Fee Scale Discount Program for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). It also provides information on how sliding fee scale discount programs relate to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r) compliance and participation in the National Health Service Corps.
Comments Requested on Updates to Medicare Policies and Rates for Skilled Nursing Facilities
A new proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would update prospective payment rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNF) for the fiscal year 2023. To maintain the accuracy, increase the predictability and mitigate instability and significant negative impacts to providers resulting from any future changes to the wage index, CMS is proposing to apply a permanent five percent cap on any decrease to a provider’s wage index from its wage index in the prior year, regardless of the circumstances causing the decline. CMS also proposes requirements for the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program and Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing, including a proposal to adopt influenza vaccination coverage among health care personnel. This proposed rule also requests information from the public on revising the requirements for long-term care facilities to establish mandatory minimum staffing levels.
Predictors of Hospital Choice Among Rural Patients Seeking Elective Surgery: A Scoping Review
Hospital choice for surgery affects both patient outcomes and hospital viability; a greater understanding of rural patients’ surgical care-seeking behavior could enhance rural health and rural hospital financial stability. Conducted by the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, this brief identifies literature describing determinants of hospital choice among rural patients seeking elective surgery.
Earth Day Brings Federal Focus to Climate Change
Over three days next week, the newly formed federal Office of Climate Change and Health Equity will host experts speaking about the impact that climate change has on health and well-being. Each hour-long event will take place at noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 19-21. See the link to learn details about speakers and the topics that will be covered, and contact GoGreen@hhs.gov with questions.
The Persistence of Poverty in Rural America
The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a national nonprofit focused on improving conditions in the poorest rural places. In this policy brief, HAC identifies 377 persistent poverty counties in the United States – those classified by the Census Bureau as having poverty rates of 20 percent or more for three consecutive decades. Approximately 81 percent of these counties are outside of metropolitan areas.
The Successful Federal Efforts to Address SDOH
Social determinants of health (SDOH) include factors such as housing, food and nutrition, transportation, social mobility, and environmental conditions as having a significant impact on health outcomes. In this series of policy briefs, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services describes the Department’s strategic approach to SDOH and provides successful examples of current federal programs.