- 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
NRHA Details Rural Health Provisions within COVID-19 Relief Legislation
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) produced a summary of the rural health provisions in COVID-19 relief legislation and highlights NRHA’s priorities for COVID-19 relief for rural health care.
NRHA Outlines New Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Model
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) created a summary of the new REH model and considerations for CMS as the program is implemented. Section 125 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 created the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) model as a new Medicare provider type, effective as of January 1, 2023. NRHA believes the REH model will be an opportunity for vulnerable rural communities to maintain an essential access point for health services. It will be critical for NRHA membership to engage in the REH implementation process, including monitoring CMS’ development of the conditions of participation and calculations of payment methodologies. You can find our blog on the document here. If you have questions or feedback, please reach out to Carrie Cochran-McClain at ccochran@nrharural.org.
Senate Confirms President Biden’s HHS Deputy Secretary Nominee
The Senate voted 61-37 to confirm Andrea Palm to serve as HHS Deputy Secretary, making senior leadership at the department nearly fully confirmed. NRHA is working on issues such as provider relief fund repayment terms, 340B integrity, and more with HHS.
Treasury Launches Details of $350 Billion Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan
The Department of the Treasury released details on usage of the $350 billion Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan. This money sends funds directly to various jurisdictions: states, counties, municipalities, and tribal governments. The funding has substantial flexibilities in use, including: public health expenditures, by – among other uses – funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, mental health and substance misuse treatment and certain public health and safety personnel responding to the crisis. Additionally, the funds can be used to provide premium pay for essential workers and for investment in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. NRHA is hopeful that various localities will use this funding to support their rural health safety net. We recommend rural organizations work with local leaders to understanding how the funding will be used in their communities.
CDC and USDA Team Up for Vaccine Education Effort
The CDC is providing $9.95 million in funding to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to improve vaccine confidence in rural areas. NIFA will work with local partners through the Land Grant University System and its Cooperative Extension System, a nationwide educational network that provides non-formal higher education and learning to farming communities.
HRSA COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund
HRSA will provide claims reimbursement at the national Medicare rate for eligible health care providers administering vaccines to underinsured individuals. This may be particularly helpful in rural communities given higher rates of uninsured and underinsured.
HHS Coordinates New Effort to Vaccinate Migratory/Seasonal Workers in Agriculture
HHS’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and HRSA are working to boost vaccination rates in a workforce often at heightened risk of COVID-19 infection. This effort builds on the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program, a program that directly allocates COVID-19 vaccines to HRSA-supported health centers, some of which directly provide care to this worker population.
HHS/DoD National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network
A joint program of HHS and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is available at no cost to hospitals caring for COVID-19 patients and struggling with access to enough critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other specialized clinical experts. Teams of critical care clinicians are available to deliver virtual care through lightweight telemedicine platforms, such as an app on a mobile device. Hear from participating clinicians and email to learn more and sign up.
Biden Administration Invests $250 Million in Community-Based COVID-19 Workforce
HHS recently announced a new $250 million investment in a community-based workforce that, “Will serve as trusted voices sharing information about vaccines, increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence, and address any barriers to vaccination for individuals living in vulnerable and medically underserved communities.” This investment is a new part of the administration’s strategy to increase vaccine confidence in communities that are traditionally hard to reach, such as those in rural America. NRHA strongly supports this investment and the Biden Administration’s approach. NRHA has explained that rural Americans and other vaccine hesitant populations need to hear messages and receive help from the people they trust in their communities to administration officials and news media. We believe this new investment in a community-based workforce that focuses on increasing vaccine confidence will help increase vaccine uptake in rural communities.
Treating Dental Pain with Opioids Triples Patient Overdose Risk
A recent research study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that overdose risk is nearly three times higher for patients who fill opioid prescriptions after undergoing dental procedures. Also, the risk of overdosing may double for family members of those dental patients. According to the researchers, these findings strengthen the case that opioids should not be prescribed for most dental pain.