- Request for Information (RFI): Evolving the Network of the National Library of Medicine
- Dental Therapists, Who Can Fill Cavities and Check Teeth, Get the OK in More States
- Colorectal Cancer Is Rising among Younger Adults. Some States Want to Boost Awareness.
- 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
- Safe and Stable Housing Is a Foundation of Successful Recovery
- Rural RPM Program Is a Lifeline for Pregnant Women
- 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
Over $700 Million is Going to Connect Rural Areas to High-Speed Internet
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced awards made in 19 states under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grantees and loan recipients of USDA’s ReConnect Program must serve a rural area that lacks access to service at speeds of 100 megabits per second, and must also commit to building infrastructure that can deliver service at that speed to every location in the area. Additionally, to ensure that rural households that need internet service can afford it, all awardees will be required to participate in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP offers a discount of up to $30 per month towards internet service to qualifying low-income households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal Lands.
FORHP Makes Awards for the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program
The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy awarded $2 million to 20 awardees for this one-year, community-driven program designed to assist in the planning and development of an integrated healthcare network at the local level. By emphasizing the role of networks, the program creates a platform for both rural and urban medical care providers, social service providers, and community organizations to coalesce key elements of a healthcare delivery system for the purpose of improving local capacity and coordination of care in rural communities. Administered by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) at HRSA, the Network Planning program is an opportunity for healthcare providers to implement new and innovative approaches to care that may in turn serve as a model for other rural communities. The incoming cohort of Network Planning grantees have projects that focus on care coordination, health information technology/data analytics, behavioral health (including mental health and substance use disorder), health equity, and telehealth. Visit the Rural Health Information Hub online to learn more about successful program models and evidence-based toolkits that have come from the work of FORHP-funded projects.
Watch a Brief Video on Demographics and Housing Data from the 2020 Census
A brief video from the U.S. Census Bureau gives a step-by-step demonstration of how to find this data for urban and rural areas.
There Has Been Withdrawal of Health Care Staff Vaccination Requirements
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that withdraws the regulations on COVID-19 healthcare staff vaccination requirements issued in a November 2021 interim final rule. COVID-19 vaccination policies and procedures for healthcare staff will no longer be required under Medicare Conditions of Participation and Conditions for Coverage, effective August 4, 2023.
CMS Seeks Nominations for Air Ambulance Committee
The No Surprises Act required the Secretary of HHS and the Secretary of Transportation to form an advisory committee for the purpose of reviewing options to establish standards for quality, patient safety, and clinical capability in air ambulances. CMS is seeking nominations now through June 28 from each of the following groups: state insurance regulators; health care providers; health insurers offering coverage plans for groups and individuals; patient advocacy groups; and accrediting bodies with experience in quality measures. Nominations for health care providers should include physicians and other clinicians, as well as health care operations professionals experienced with air ambulance services and/or experience in addressing the challenges associated with transport in rural areas.
Apply by June 28.
Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Rural Training in Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowships
This study from the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center describes the characteristics of rurally oriented family medicine obstetrical (OB) fellowships and the challenges these programs face in providing OB training.
Providing High Quality Obstetric Care to American Indian/Alaska Native People in Rural Kotzebue, Alaska
For American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) birthing people, the risk of pregnancy-related death is two to three times higher than that of white birthing people. In Alaska, the disparity is even greater; Alaska Native birthing people have the highest rates of pregnancy-associated mortality, at over five times higher than white birthing people. This case study from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center examines the strengths and challenges for a hospital-based Tribal maternity unit located in Northwestern Alaska.
Event Recording: Watch the Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care in Rural America
On May 31, the Bipartisan Policy Center convened a panel of experts (including FORHP’s leadership) to discuss findings in their newly-released report, Achieving Behavioral Health Care Integration in Rural America.
Research in this section is provided by the HRSA/FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway. Sign up to receive alerts when new publications become available.
Psychological distress is more common in some occupations; Read About a thirty-seven year panel study
Researchers found that occupations with a high risk of mental health problems are those with workers who: 1) have high physical or psychological job demands yet little control over work processes; 2) limited support at work; 3) limited ability to use their skills or discretion in how they do so; 4) low or inconsistent income; or 5) low occupational prestige. It’s estimated that about 19 million Americans have a major depressive episode in a given year and that mental health disorders cost employers nearly $200 billion in 2018. See the Funding section below for a new federal program aimed at improving job quality in specific sectors of the economy.
The Clinician Job Search Tool Gets an Upgrade
HRSA’s Health Workforce Connector, a free tool for connecting clinicians to job and training opportunities, is now easier to use. New features simplify job searches by discipline and program, and an expanded display for Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) helps clinicians looking for qualifying positions. The most recent quarterly report on HPSAs (pdf) shows that of all designated shortage areas, two-thirds are primary medical HPSAs in rural areas.