- 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
- 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
- Rural Telehealth Sees More Policy Wins, but Only Short-Term
- States Help Child Care Centers Expand in Bid To Create More Slots, Lower Prices
Veteran Affairs Announces Dental Care Proposal
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it has submitted to Congress a waiver request and pilot program under Section 152 of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (MISSION Act) to improve access to dental care for veterans. Read more here.
The United States Prosperity Index 2019
This resource assesses the economic, institutional, and social aspects of prosperity across the United States over the past decade. It features state-by-state breakdown of prosperity increases and decreases, and it examines 11 pillars of prosperity, made up of 48 different elements, measured by over 200 state-level indicators. It includes rural broadband access information for some states. Learn more here.
Rural Emergency Medical Services Integration
This resource outlines tools and strategies for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to use when integrating with other healthcare providers. It discusses approaches to the integration of medical direction, medical protocols, quality reviews, training and continuing education, and operations, among other topics. Read more here.
R3 Report: National Patient Safety Goal for Suicide Prevention
This resource establishes safety goals and practices for suicide prevention in Joint Commission-accredited hospitals. This 2019 update highlights specific requirements for accredited Critical Access Hospitals. Read more here.
Performance Management/Program Evaluation Guide: Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program
This resource offers guidance to state Flex program coordinators to incorporate performance management and evaluation into Flex program operations as required by the Flex Program Cooperative Agreement. It supports the state’s capacity for assessing program activities, making improvements, and establishing if activities are effective. It also defines key terms and concepts, discusses reporting requirements, demonstrates a performance year work plan, covers data collection, and provides examples of goals and measures to be included in the evaluation plan. Read more here.
Partial Psychiatric Hospitalization Program Availability in Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Hospitals Nationally
This resource describes the purpose of partial psychiatric hospitalization programs (PPHPs), and compares 2016 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey of Hospitals data on the availability and the characteristics of PPHPs among non-metropolitan and metropolitan hospitals in the U.S. Read more here.
Medicare Advantage 2020 Spotlight
This resource is an overview of Medicare Advantage plans available in 2020 and changes since 2019. It features statistics including the number of plans available from 2010-2020 and percent of Medicare beneficiaries having access to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), local Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and regional PPOs, with breakdowns by metro and nonmetro counties, and a county-level map showing numbers of plans available in 2020. Read more here.
The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on the Aging Services Network and the Older Adults They Serve
This report highlights the results of a survey of National Council on Aging (NCOA) grantees and partners on the effect of the opioid epidemic on older adults. It details the percentage of respondents from rural areas and offers recommendations and resources to address the epidemic among the aging population. Read more here.
Geographic disparities associated with travel to medical care and attendance in programs to prevent/manage chronic illness among middle-aged and older adults in Texas
This report examines the relationship of rural and urban middle-aged and older adults with one or more chronic conditions who travel long distances to receive medical care, and their utilization of programs focused on prevention and chronic disease management. Participants from 9 counties in central Texas responded to health assessment surveys regarding their number of doctor’s visits within the previous year, distance to receive medical care, residential status, and other personal characteristics. Read more here.
Demand for Broadband in Rural Areas: Implications for Universal Access
This resource reports on the characteristics of demand for fixed broadband among households and small businesses in rural areas and how they affect private sector infrastructure investments. It discusses the role of schools and libraries as providers of broadband service and training to rural residents, and how broadband-enabled services, such as telemedicine, may encourage rural households and small businesses to adopt the technology. It also highlights federal programs and policies that may increase or impede broadband demand, and offers options for the U.S. Congress to consider as it addresses rural broadband demand. Read more here.