Researchers at the Rural and Underserved Health Research Center determined the distribution of family practitioners in rural areas by race/ethnicity and also whether rural minority physicians were more likely to be in underserved rural areas.

Researchers at the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center examined changes in outpatient care as a revenue source for rural hospitals.

Promotional materials for the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline are available in English and Spanish for new mothers needing free, confidential support, and referrals to care.

The Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture released an update to its collection of state- and county-level data on agricultural data as well as population, income, poverty, food security, education, and employment.

  In 2019, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began supporting research on treatment for opioid use disorder in criminal justice settings.  The Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) studies the effectiveness of new medications and other interventions as part of the NIH HEAL Initiative – Helping to End Addiction Long-Term. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks the impact on rural areas: from 1999 to 2019,  the rate of drug overdose deaths in rural counties increased from 4.0 per 100,000 to 19.6.  To show the government’s response and ongoing work, JCOIN created an interactive map of federal and state funding invested in this work nationwide.

Researchers studied more than 100,000 patient visits at a primary care clinic in West Virginia between January 2019 and November 2020.  The sample included 13,013 telemedicine visits to compare patient use and completion rates with in-person visits.

The Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) program uses a networking model to improve outcomes for mothers and infants.  The first grantee cohort, funded in 2019, included networks in Missouri, New Mexico, and Texas that provided prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care to 3,101 rural mothers.  Grantees say that hiring patient navigators emerged as an early success strategy, and each of the networks laid the groundwork for expanded telehealth.  More details about the grantees’ successes and challenges can be found in the full report.

Transgender women are among the priority populations in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy because of the disproportionate impact of HIV they experience. Three recent resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) are focused on HIV prevention and care in transgender communities. Click here to access the documents.

In observance of Asthma Awareness Month, the Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership, a critical part of the Pennsylvania Asthma Control Program, is announcing the publication of a new Asthma Strategic Plan. The plan contains four goals and multiple related objectives to improve the reach, quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of asthma control services and to reduce asthma morbidity, mortality, and disparities. Check out the plan on the Department of Health website. For questions, additional information, or to inquire about getting involved in the Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership, click here.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has information and resources for families seeking formulas during the shortage. These materials are available in multiple languages. The Information for Families during the Formula Shortage website contains a comprehensive list of resources and guidance. The Baby Formula Shortage Social Media Toolkit provides graphics and messaging to direct families in need to the HHS site and offer resources to find infant formula, as well as providing guidance and best practices.