- 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
- 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
- States Help Child Care Centers Expand in Bid To Create More Slots, Lower Prices
Approaching the End of Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period runs from Jan. 1 through March 31. During this period each year, consumers can switch from their Medicare Advantage Plan (excluding Medical Savings Accounts, cost plans, and PACE) to another Medicare Advantage Plan, or to Original Medicare with or without a Part D plan. They can only use this enrollment period if they have a Medicare Advantage Plan. If consumers signed up for Part A and/or Part B because of an exceptional situation, they’ll have two months to join a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or a Medicare drug plan (Part D). The coverage will start the first day of the month after the plan receives the request to join.
Pennsylvania’s Health Department Offers Training with CE Credits to Tackle Overdose Epidemic
The Shapiro Administration recently added new tools to help health care providers and public safety professionals across the commonwealth battle the overdose and opioid crisis. The PA Department of Health launched new training opportunities to help prevent unintentional drug overdoses. These online courses are offered at no cost and include continuing education credits for healthcare providers that may also meet various licensing requirements. You can find these trainings, resources and more information on DOH’s website for healthcare providers and public safety professionals. Learn more.
Pennsylvania Among Nine States Chosen to Improve Health Equity in Medicaid
The PA Department of Human Services will join select fellow Medicaid agencies from across the country seeking to address member health-related social needs in a new initiative. The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) announced selection of nine states to join the Medicaid Health-Related Social Needs Implementation Learning Series. This peer learning series will assist the selected states — California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin — in developing, implementing, or refining health-related social need (HRSN) initiatives for Medicaid populations. The focus of the 12-month learning series will be on practical, on-the-ground implementation efforts that promote health equity and are informed by community member perspectives. Lessons learned will be shared broadly with stakeholders across the country.
Disability Advocacy Network Releases Local Master Plan for Aging
A report from the nonprofit Diversability Advocacy Network summarizes findings from a needs assessment for older adults and people with disabilities. Each of these counties, located in central California, has a significant portion that is rural, a poverty rate above 17 percent, and a demographic mix that includes Tribal, Asian, Hispanic, and Black communities.
American Farm Bureau Presents Farm State of Mind Campaign
The American Farm Bureau created a national resource directory with on-demand training, research, helpful tips, and opioid-related information for farm and ranch families. According to the National Rural Health Association, farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.
Telehealth in Action: Digital Navigators Connect Patients to Care
Digital navigators teach people how to use telehealth and technology. Learn about how one of the HRSA-funded Telehealth Resource Centers created a class for digital navigators to help connect patients to care.
Information Session Offered on CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule
Tuesday, March 26 at 1:00 pm Eastern
In January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule to enhance access to health information and streamline prior authorization processes for medical items and services. CMS’s Office of Burden Reduction & Health Informatics is hosting an online session to educate patients, providers, and administrative, health IT, and government affairs professionals about the provisions in final rule and how it builds on current CMS interoperability policies. Questions can be submitted beforehand via the registration form. If you register and receive a message that the event is full, you will receive an email after the event with a link to both a recording and transcript of the presentation. The use of various electronic exchange methods among hospitals and physicians has increased in recent years, but use among small and rural hospitals is lower than that of other hospitals. Please reach out to CMSInteroperability@cms.hhs.gov with questions.
Report to Congress from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Evaluating FFS Payments
A report to Congress from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) evaluates Medicare’s fee-for-service payments to providers, the Medicare Advantage and the Part D Prescription Drug Program, special needs plans for beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and the new Rural Emergency Hospital provider designation.
Commission Reports to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP
Also known as MACPAC, the non-partisan Medicaid and CHIP Payment Advisory Commission conducts analysis and makes recommendations to Congress about policies affecting Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In the first of two reports required for 2024, MACPAC focuses on ways to increase Medicaid beneficiaries’ participation in policymaking, how to make the denials and appeals process in Medicaid Managed Care more transparent, and provides analysis of allotments to states for Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospitals.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Postpartum Abuse Screening Among Rural US Residents who Gave Birth 2016-2020
The University of Minnesota describes rates of self-reported intimate partner violence among rural residents before or during pregnancy, and the frequency by which different racial or ethnic groups are not screened for abuse after giving birth. Uses 2016-2020 data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a population-based surveillance survey. Features statistics with breakdowns by race or ethnicity.