- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
- CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
- 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
- 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?
Advancing Population Health in Rural Places: Key Lessons and Policy Opportunities
This paper from the RUPRI Health Panel reviews Medicare and Medicaid demonstration projects, determining critical questions and opportunities for future policy.
Online Resource for Licensure of Health Professionals
Created by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, the site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing in each state for psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists assistants, and social workers.
Mobilizing Health Care Workforce via Telehealth
ProviderBridge.org was created by the Federation of State Medical Boards through the CARES Act and the FORHP-supported Licensure Portability Program. The site provides up-to-date information on emergency regulation and licensing by state as well as a provider portal to connect volunteer health care professionals to state agencies and health care entities.
SAMHSA Training and Technical Assistance Related to COVID-19
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created this list of resources, tools, and trainings for behavioral health and recovery providers.
Rural Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019
The Rural Health Information Hub has a compendium of rural-specific activities and guidelines, including Rural Healthcare Surge Readiness, a tool with resources for responding to a local surge in cases. New: Rural Innovations in COVID-19 Vaccination.
ATTC Network COVID-19 Resources for Addictions Treatment
The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network was established in 1993 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The online catalog of COVID-related resources includes regularly-updated guidance and trainings for professionals in the field.
NIH: Methamphetamine Overdose Deaths Rise Sharply Nationwide
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that, from 2011-2018, deaths more than quadrupled among non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaska Natives from 4.5 to 20.9 per 100,000 people. The U.S. average for people aged 25 – 54 increased from 1.3 to 7.3 per 100,000 people during that time period.
GAO on Federal Response to the Pandemic
The January report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) provides an overview of actions taken and offers 13 additional recommendations that include improving the medical supply chain through the Strategic National Stockpile, and better service to older adults in rural areas through the Older Americans Act.
Pennsylvania Governor Delivers 2021 Budget Address
On February 3, 2021, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf outlined his budget plan to remove barriers and cut taxes for working class families in Pennsylvania while investing billions of dollars into Pennsylvania schools and workforce development initiatives. The governor’s plan would make Pennsylvania’s tax structure more fair and equitable, cutting taxes for working class families while still making historic investments in public education through the fair funding formula.
“We will defeat COVID, but we can’t yet say when it will be safe for life to return to normal – and it’s hard to know what ‘normal’ will even look like. But I refuse to tell any young family in Pennsylvania that they just happen to be starting out at the wrong time – that, with everything going on, 2021 just isn’t going to be the year we get around to lifting the barriers that stand between them and the future they hope to provide for their children,” Gov. Wolf said. “I think it’s more important than ever that we act boldly and courageously to remove those barriers once and for all. So, today, I’m proposing a budget designed to do exactly that.”
The governor is asking Pennsylvanians to join him in urging the General Assembly to focus on these priorities as the 2021-22 state budget negotiations begin.
“We can have a great public school for every child in every neighborhood in Pennsylvania, good job opportunities for everyone who wants them, and an economy strong enough to provide for everyone. It is possible to pursue a legislative agenda for this commonwealth that is good for families, good for businesses, and good for the economy,” Gov. Wolf said. “Most of all, I think your family’s future is important enough that we ought to just have this argument right now instead of putting it off until next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. Let’s make Pennsylvania an even better place to live, work, and dream big dreams for your kids.”
Governor Wolf’s budget plan builds on his recently unveiled 2021 agenda.
- Cutting Taxes for Pennsylvania Working Class Families and Making the Tax System More Fair and Equitable
- Reaffirm Our Commitment to Build the Strongest Education System in the Country
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- Put all Basic Education Funding through the Fair Funding Formula
- Stabilizing Child Care and Ensuring Equal Access for Families
- Increase Special Education, Head Start and PreK Funding
- Introduce Accountability into the EITC and OSTC
- Nellie Bly College Tuition Program
- Attract and Retain the Best Teachers for Our Children
- Comprehensive Charter School Law Reform
- Applying the Special Education Formula to All Charter Schools: Establishing a Statewide Cyber Charter Tuition Rate
- Improving the Redirection Process
- Get Pennsylvania Back on Track After the Pandemic
- Inject Billions into a Reformed Workforce Development System
- Invest in Public Infrastructure, Including School Buildings
- Increase the Minimum Wage to $12/hour, with a path to $15/hour
- Build on Bipartisan Progress
- Reform the Criminal Justice System
- Reduce the Corporate Net Income Tax and Close the Delaware Loophole
- Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
- Change Harrisburg by Demanding Accountability
- Reintroduce the Governor’s Government Reform Plan
- Curb Special Interest Influence
- Build on Election Reform
Watch the Governor’s address at pacast.com/.
For more information:
NEW Customizable Communications Toolkit Released
Templates to educate patients, build trust and confidence in the rural hospital and clinic and communicate services
The Customizable Communications Toolkit supports rural hospitals and clinics in developing internal and external communication materials.
Each topic includes customizable templates such as educational flyers/posters, newspaper scripts, radio scripts, talking points for leaders and staff, materials that can be printed, website graphics, landing page content, social media graphics/posts, digital displays, infographics, and digital videos.