- 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 this 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 Launches New Legislative Tracker
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is tracking rural health bills in Congress, and their new legislative tracker enables you to view the rural health bills the association is monitoring, supporting, and opposing. Bills are searchable and categorized by topic area, and by clicking on a bill, you can find its summary, review cosponsors, and stay up to date on Congressional actions. To recommend bills for the legislative tracker, contact NRHA’s government affairs team at dc@nrharural.org.
NRHA Releases New Toolkit to Help Rural Stakeholders Increase Rural Vaccine Confidence and Uptake
Vaccinating rural communities to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic is no simple task and the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) understands the unique issues and viewpoints you face as a rural health stakeholder leading the way. Although many resources are currently available, we know materials focused for rural audiences will be most effective in reaching our communities. Because of this, NRHA has curated tools to assist you immediately and allow you to easily distribute and co-brand by adding your organization’s logo. Our resource library includes conversation starters and public service announcements developed in partnership with the COVID Collaborative, Health Action Alliance, and the Ad Council that can help rural employers, small business owners and public sector employers share vaccine facts and improve vaccination access for employees and families.
New Bill Introduced to Address OMB MSA Proposals
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) has introduced legislation, the Metropolitan Areas Protection and Standardization (MAPS) Act of 2021 (S. 1941) to address require additional information and public comment in the event of proposals by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to alter metropolitan area data standards. This bill was introduced in response to OMB’s recent proposal to raise the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) population threshold from 50,000 to 100,000, which could impact how various counties, especially those in rural areas, receive federal resources and funding. Notably, OMB proposed the change without understanding or estimating the impact it would have on federal programs, and this legislation calls for transparency on how federal programs currently rely on MSAs.
NHSC New Site Application Extended
Apply now to be approved as a new National Health Service Corps (NHSC) site. This year, NHSC-approved sites with an inactive site may also apply to recertify their approved status during the open cycle. Your site may be eligible if you provide outpatient, ambulatory, and primary health care services (medical, dental, and behavioral health) to populations residing in high-need urban, tribal, and rural areas. Additional eligible site types include facilities providing general substance use disorder (SUD) Treatment, a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program or an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). The application due date is Thursday, July 1, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Chartis Releases Rural Hospital Vaccine Hesitancy Survey Results
The Chartis Center for Rural Health released the results of the survey they conducted on vaccine hesitancy among rural hospital staff. Their survey found that 30% of the 160 rural hospital executives who responded said less than half of their employees had been vaccinated — even though health care workers had been eligible for months. Only about a third said that 70% or more of their staff were vaccinated. Additionally, the survey asked participants what the reasons were for those opting to not receive the vaccine, and Matter of Personal Opinion and Lack of Trust in Vaccines were the top two reasons. NRHA knows that health care personnel in rural communities tend to be leaders and examples for their patients, and we are communicating that message to Congress and the administration.
House E&C Committee Holds Hearing on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
The White House has announced a goal of having a 70 percent vaccination rate among American adults by the Fourth of July holiday. To help achieve this goal, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on vaccine hesitancy, discussing in detail the hesitancy facing rural communities. NRHA applauds the White House for this vaccination goal and is pleased to see Congress examining the reasons some communities have struggled to receive the vaccine in high numbers. We are committed to continuing working with both the Administration and Congress to ensure the vaccination rate continues to grow.
House L-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Hearing on CDC FY 2022 Budget Request
The House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee held a hearing on the FY 2022 budget request for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During the hearing, Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) asked CDC Director Rochelle Walensky about what the agency is doing to increase rural vaccine access and uptake. Dr. Walensky responded by acknowledging the agencies efforts to increase grassroots education efforts, funding for community health workers, and telehealth utilization.
Infrastructure Conversations on Capitol Hill Stall
The Biden administration initially chose Memorial Day as the target date to decide which route to take on infrastructure: bipartisan or through reconciliation (the process to pass legislation in the Senate by 50 votes). On Thursday, a group of Senate Republicans announced a counterplan for $928 billion in infrastructure spending, much lower than the president’s $2.2 trillion plan. It is unclear which route the administration and Congress will take. NRHA continues to talk with offices on both sides of the aisle about the needs of rural providers. Key issues include the need for capital for rural hospitals, 100 percent broadband connectivity in rural areas, and the need for additional investment in the health workforce.
FDA Approves Storage of Pfizer Vaccine for Up to One Month
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its guidance for health care providers administering the vaccine and allows for undiluted, thawed Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine vials to be stored in refrigeration for up to one month. The previous time span was up to five days.