Among the key findings from the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis: a higher percentage of clusters of high mortality rates were in noncore and micropolitan counties; these clusters had the highest average nursing home bed density and the highest average proportion of Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions.
GAO Calls for Health Information Technology Advisory Committee Advisory Nominations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) expects to appoint two or three new members for its Health Information Technology Advisory Committee. The appointments will be effective January 1, 2024, and serve a three-year term. Submit by July 31, 2023.
The Impact of COVID-19 Funding on Profitability of Critical Access Hospitals
Using data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) researchers report on the challenges faced by CMS-designated Critical Access Hospitals during the federal Public Health Emergency, and the impact of special funding on their financial performance. The report is the work of the Flex Monitoring Team, a consortium of researchers from the Universities of Minnesota, North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Southern Maine, funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to evaluate the impact of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (the Flex Program).
Obstetric Volume and Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Low-Risk and Higher-Risk Patients Giving Birth at Rural and Urban US Hospitals
In this cross-sectional study of more than 11 million births in urban counties and 519, 953 births in rural counties, researchers identify hospital factors associated with severe maternal morbidity.
Research is Characterizing Social Insecurity in a Rural North Carolina Emergency Department
From May-June 2018, researchers collected 312 survey responses from patients at a rural emergency department and identified three key determinants of social insecurity: 1) access to transportation, 2) food insecurity, and 3) exposure to violence. Findings show significant differences among the three major racial/ethnicity groups represented – Native Americans (34.3 percent), Blacks (33.7 percent), and Whites (27.6 percent).
CDC Release Data About Overdose Deaths Related to Xylazine on the Rise
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data showing a significant increase – 276 percent in 21 jurisdictions from 2019 to 2022 – in overdose deaths involving Xylazine, a nonopioid sedative that’s been detected in illicitly manufactured fentanyl drug products. Because of inconsistent testing, the numbers are likely underestimated; in 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration reported 23 percent of seized fentanyl powder and 7 percent of seized fentanyl pills contained xylazine.
FEMA: Here’s How You Can Prepare for Extreme Heat
With global climate watchers reporting Tuesday, July 4 as the hottest on record, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is striving for widespread awareness and preparation for more intense temperatures. The first step is knowing who is most vulnerable in each community. In rural areas, manual laborers are the most visible but older adults – especially those with medical conditions – who live alone are at increased risk and may go unnoticed. One important tip is to build a support network, check on neighbors, and create a plan for emergencies like a power outage. See the Funding section below for a new grant opportunity from FEMA.
New Resource Released on Integrating Behavioral Health and Oral Health
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) released a new resource, “NNOHA User’s Guide for Integration of Behavioral Health and Oral Health.” The resource provides guidance on how to implement a behavioral health and oral health integration program. The guide includes a description of NNOHA’s systems-based framework for behavioral health integration, promising practices from community health centers, and workflow examples. There is also a readiness assessment to help community health centers determine their level of preparedness to implement a behavioral health integration program.
Updated Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool Launched
The American Academy of Pediatrics has streamlined their “Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool.” The tool is now accompanied by an intake form to collect pertinent patient information from parents/caregivers. An updated self-management goal sheet supports shared decision-making on preventing cavities and maintaining healthy teeth at home. The tool is available in both English and Spanish.
New Dental Clinical Practice Guidelines Released
The American Dental Association released a new clinical practice guideline on caries restoration. The new guideline includes sixteen recommendations for treating moderate or advanced caries lesions in primary and permanent teeth without a history of endodontic treatment. The guidance associated conservative approaches to removing carious tissue with a lower risk of adverse effects.