- Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration Highlights Investments in Rural America, Invites Public Nominations for Rural Innovators Initiative
- Rural Victims of Intimate-Partner Violence Need More Resources and Support, Study Finds
- A Tribe in Maine Is Using Opioid Settlement Funds on a Sweat Lodge to Treat Addiction
- Fact Sheet: USDA, HHS Announce New Actions to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1
- Call for Experts: Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence
- Bill to Expand Definition of 'Village' Qualifying for Water Funds Passes Alaska House
- Child Care Workers Caught in Middle of Michigan's Broken Child Care System
- Few Options Available for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Big Bend
- In Rural Texas, ERs Are Facing a Growing Mental Health Crisis
- Ways and Means Members Put Forth Solutions to Strengthen Telehealth Access and Improve Health Care for Rural Communities
- Sage Memorial Hospital in Navajo Nation Constructs New Facility to Improve Health Care
- How the State, Tribes and Federal Government Are Working to Curb SD's Syphilis Epidemic
- Rural Children Struggle to Access Hospital Services, Say Researchers
- RPHARM Program Fulfills Need for Rural Pharmacists
- A Pilot Program in Rural Vermont Hopes to Build a Blueprint for Substance Abuse Recovery
NIOSH Provides Updates on COVID-19
As part of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) efforts to keep our stakeholders up to date on the CDC and NIOSH COVID-19 response, below is a summary of new information posted this week for workers.
General
- Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
This document helps guide employers to implement engineering, administrative, and work practice controls and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as considerations for doing so. It is intended for planning purposes. Employers and workers should use this guidance to help identify risk levels in workplace settings and to determine any appropriate control measures to implement. Additional guidance may be needed as COVID-19 outbreak conditions change, including as new information about the virus, its transmission, and impacts, becomes available.
Healthcare Worker Resources
- Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel
New criteria for return to work for healthcare personnel (HCP) with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 is now available on the CDC website. This guidance is for occupational health programs and public health officials making decisions about return to work for HCP with confirmed COVID-19, or who have suspected COVID-19 (e.g., developed symptoms of a respiratory infection [e.g., cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fever] but did not get tested for COVID-19). - Clinician Toolkit
CDC’s Prepare to Care for COVID-19 is a resource with practical tools clinicians can use to care for patients with COVID-19. This resource will be regularly updated to help clinicians adapt as the outbreak unfolds. - New NIOSH Science Blog: Proper N95 Respirator Use for Respiratory Protection Preparedness
Healthcare facilities should ensure that healthcare workers who may be called to care for COVID-19 patients are prepared to use respiratory protection, among other personal protective equipment. Healthcare facilities should make sure their healthcare workers are fit tested, if possible, medically evaluated, and receive ongoing training in proper use. This resource has reminders and illustrations about proper respiratory use.
To stay up to date on the response please visit the COVID-19 webpage or sign up for the COVID-19 newsletter
COVID-19 Multiple Sclerosis Resources Provided
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is focused on the needs of people living with MS and that the health and safety of them and their families are their first priority as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic together. To protect the well-being of our communities, the society will not gather for in-person events, programs or advocacy activities through May 17. Instead, they are reimagining how to ensure everyone in the MS movement feels connected, supported and informed. They want everyone to reach out to the people they know in the MS movement – no matter where they are. And they are here to provide the tools and support needed to raise awareness and funds. they know that times of uncertainty can isolate us from each other. By connecting, we strengthen each other. The society has gathered information and resources below to keep you up to date on COVID-19 and what you can do. Stay tuned to the Coronavirus Resource Page for the latest updates and information.
Free Mental Health Resources Available in Spanish
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers basic information on mental health disorders and related topics for patients, their families, healthcare professionals and the public. Higher quantities of materials are available for free now and can be ordered here. Be sure to do this as soon as possible if you are interested as we do not know the number of supplies that are being offered.
Addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support with the COVID-19
A new resource developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Group for Mental Health and Psychosocial Supports in Emergency Situations helps in providing guidance to individuals struggling with their mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak. Addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support with the COVID-19 focuses on topics such as: older adults coping with stress, supporting people working with the COVID-19 directly, activities for adults and children who are being quarantined and much more.
Assessing the Effectiveness of CHWs
Over the years, there have been many studies on the effectiveness of the community health worker (CHW) in improving health outcomes. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the National Association of Community Health Workers recently published a summary of the research from the past 50 years. It focused on assessing effectiveness in improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs and bridging the gap in health disparities.
New Federal Data Rules Aim to Give Patients Control of Their Health Records
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released groundbreaking rules that will let patients download their electronic health records and other health care data onto their smartphones. “Patients should have control of their records, period. Now that’s becoming a reality,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. “These rules are the start of a new chapter in how patients experience American health care.” Officials said the rules likely will give patients a greater say in health care decisions and put an end to a long-standing practice in which some doctors and hospitals resist handing complete medical files over to patients upon demand.
The ONC final rule:
- Establishes new rules to prevent “information blocking” practices (e.g., anti-competitive behaviors) by healthcare providers, developers of certified health IT, health information exchanges and health information networks.
- Requires electronic health records to provide standardized, core data elements through the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) such as clinical notes, allergies and medications, to help improve the flow of electronic health information and ensure that the information can be effectively understood when it is received.
- Establishes secure, standards-based application programming interface (API) requirements to support a patient’s access and control of their electronic health information.
The CMS Interoperability and Patient Access final rule:
- Requires health plans in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP and through the federal Exchanges to share claims data electronically with patients effective Jan. 1, 2021.
- Requires that patients must be able to access their medical records on a smartphone at no cost and share those records as they choose.
- Requires insurers to advise patients of their network of health providers through an app effective Jan. 1, 2021.
- Establishes a new Condition of Participation (CoP) for all Medicare and Medicaid participating hospitals, requiring them to send electronic notifications to another healthcare facility or community provider or practitioner when a patient is admitted, discharged or transferred.
- Requires states to send enrollee data daily beginning April 1, 2022 for beneficiaries enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, improving the coordination of care for this population.
Many of the provisions are set to take effect in 2022. While some are applauding the new rules, others have raised concerns about privacy as technology companies, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon, open up new markets for providing medical records through mobile apps.
IRRC to Consider New Regulation for Child Abuse Reporting for Dentists
On Thursday, March 19 the Independent Regulatory Review Committee (IRRC) will consider a final regulation, as required by the Child Protective Services Law, to implement the mandatory reporting requirements for practitioners regulated by the State Board of Dentistry. As “mandated reporters,” board regulated practitioners will be required to complete mandatory training in child abuse recognition and reporting.
Public Charge Rule FAQs Updated
The National Health Center Immigration Workgroup has updated its FAQs on the Public Charge rule effective March 1. The updated FAQs now include information about the rule’s Feb. 24, 2020 effective date and the factors beyond the use of public benefits that immigration officers will consider when deciding whether or not to approve an application for a Green Card. These resources and more are available on NACHC’s Caring for Immigrant Patients webpage.
New Toolkit: Social Determinants of Health In Rural Communities.
This toolkit from the Rural Health Information Hub was produced in collaboration with the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis. It compiles evidence-based and promising models to help rural communities implement programs that address social determinants of health.
Rural Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019
The Rural Health Information Hub has created a guide to help you learn about activities underway to address COVID-19. Check it out here.