- 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
Research: Food Insecurity Is Worse for Rural Residents During the Pandemic
By Liz Carey
Before the pandemic, more than 2.3 million households in rural communities faced food insecurity. Researchers found it’s getting worse.
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New Plan to Treat Opioid Use Disorder Could Help Rural Communities Combat Addiction
By Liz Carey
Research at the University of Kentucky gives hope for a holistic approach to treating addiction in rural areas, merging intravenous drug infections treatments with mental health and social services support.
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Using Accountable Care Programs to Improve the Delivery of Behavioral Health Care
This report from the National Academy for State Health Policy examines how Colorado, Minnesota, and Rhode Island are using accountable care programs to improve the delivery of behavioral health services. It was developed through HRSA’s cooperative agreement with the National Organizations of State and Local Officials.
States Turn to Telehealth During the Pandemic
Since March, 36 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have enacted more than 79 bills changing telehealth policies, either permanently or temporarily, during the pandemic. This article published by the National Conference of State Legislatures discusses the details of that legislation. The article was funded through HRSA’s cooperative agreement with the National Organizations of State and Local Officials.
The Importance of a Comprehensive Approach to Improving Maternal Health
Through HRSA’s cooperative agreement with National Organizations of State and Local Officials, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials posted a video interview with New Jersey’s Deputy Commissioner for Public Health Services and the Executive Director of the New Jersey Maternal Care Quality Collaborative. The interview explores the Nurture New Jersey initiative that aims to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity by 50% over five years and to eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.
HRSA launches #TelehealthTuesday campaign
HRSA has kicked off the #TelehealthTuesday social media campaign to spotlight Telehealth.HHS.gov as the trusted place for telehealth information for patients and providers. Every Tuesday, join HRSA and follow #TelehealthTuesday on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn as they highlight tips, best practices, and other resources to ensure telehealth success. Telehealth is convenient and easy, and an important tool, especially during the COVID-19 public health emergency. On Telehealth.HHS.gov providers can find everything they need to know about telehealth, including policy and reimbursement updates, “how to” information, and implementation resources. Patients can get tips and information about the types of services they can receive via telehealth and what to expect from a telehealth appointment.
Learn more at telehealth.hhs.gov.
National Rural Health Day is November 19
Join HRSA as they celebrate National Rural Health Day on Thursday, November 19. HRSA Administrator Tom Engels will kick off the day with opening remarks at 10 a.m. ET, followed by a welcome from Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, Jeff Colyer.
Also featured will be a presentation by HRSA’s rural grantees discussing their resiliency and innovation during the COVID-19 public health emergency. HRSA will host a variety of events throughout the week which are open to the public.
View the agenda showcasing information and resources from across HRSA and HHS.
CDC Foundation COVID-19 Communications Toolkit
The non-profit supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this collection of resources that help local public health agencies communicate about the pandemic.
CMS Finalizes CY2021 Payment Rules for Home Health
On November 4, CMS finalized Medicare payment policy updates for home health providers that are effective January 1, 2021. The rule includes an overall payment rate increase of $410 million that rural areas will experience as 1.5 percent greater than last year. Other policy updates are related to rural add-on payments, remote patient monitoring, and the home infusion therapy benefit. CMS finalized using the September 14, 2018 OMB Bulletin for delineations for Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs), so several counties changed status as to whether they are rural or urban. CMS included a transition period to mitigate any potential decreases in payments.
Final Rule on Price Transparency for Private Insurance
In this final rule, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury are requiring individual and group health insurers, by 2023, to offer online tools for consumers to estimate how much they will have to pay out-of-pocket for health care items and services before receiving care. The rule also requires that by 2022 insurers publically display their negotiated rates for in-network providers; their historical payments to out-of-network providers; and their in-network negotiated rates and historical net prices for prescription drugs.