The latest Report to Congress from the non-partisan Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) shows that the number of rural Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMBs) who also receive full Medicaid benefits stayed relatively the same between 2010 and 2021, while the number living in urban areas increased.  These “QMB plus” enrollees receive assistance from Medicaid with their Medicare premiums and cost sharing plus full Medicaid benefits through eligibility pathways, such as Supplemental Security Income benefits and the aged, blind, and disabled pathway for individuals who are low income and age 65 or older or who have a qualifying disability.  This growing disparity between urban and rural enrollment may indicate that there are opportunities for future outreach to enroll more eligible rural enrollees in this assistance program.  This report also provides recommendations to Congress to increase transparency in Medicaid and CHIP financing, tools that states can use to optimize state Medicaid agency contracts, and improvements to demographic data collection in Medicaid.

 – Deadline Extended.  Each program director of active HRSA grants has received an invitation to take our new and improved Grantee Satisfaction Survey.  With the highest possible response rate through June 24, we can pinpoint crucial areas for action.   For general questions about the survey, contact HRSAGranteeSurvey@hrsa.gov

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) compiles Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) with background information on federal programs, including those that may be available to support facilities during an emergency or natural disaster.  There are many references to rural throughout, describing facility types, payment models, and rural-specific funding.

Responding to recent cyber attacks in the health care sector, the White House outlined a number of actions to mitigate further disruption to providers and patients.  The factsheet notes rural providers such as Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Emergency Hospitals are particularly vulnerable and details commitments from leading technology companies to provide free and low-cost resources for rural hospitals across the country.

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, located in HRSA, awarded approximately $3 million to 30 awardees through the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program to support organizations in their efforts to develop integrated health networks to conduct planning activities over the course of one year, with the goal of expanding access and improving quality of care in the rural communities they serve.  The project period is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) released updated data on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). In addition, they updated the number of additional dental health practitioners needed to support the HPSAs. The number of HPSAs has grown nationwide since February. The updated data are available on the HPSA dashboard.

Click here for more information and to view the dashboard.