- 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
Pennsylvania’s Administration Encourages Pennsylvanians to Make Immunization Part of Back-to-School Planning
The Pennsylvania Department of Education, Health, Human Services, and Insurance are reminding families to ensure their children’s immunizations are up to date as part of back-to-school preparations. Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as chicken pox, meningitis, measles, whooping cough, and others are still seen across the commonwealth. Keeping children up to date on vaccinations is the best way to keep them healthy and reduce unnecessary absences from school. Staying up to date with immunizations provides the best protection against disease and is essential to individual and population health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines. Whether children are homeschooled or attend a public, private, charter, or religious school, state laws require they stay up to date for certain vaccinations based on their age, as recommended by the CDC. Additional information on immunizations can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.
The National Health Center Week Beings!
President Biden released a proclamation recognizing National Health Center Week, highlighting the work of health centers, and reiterating his commitment to working with Congress to double the size of the program. “Health centers are central to many of my administration’s priorities,” President Joe Biden said last week when proclaiming August 7-13 as National Health Center Week. “From reducing the cancer death rate by ensuring equitable access to cancer screenings and preventive care to helping Americans live healthier lives through new digital health technologies—we will ensure that health centers are equipped for the future of health care.” Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf also issued a proclamation recognizing National Health Center Week and the tremendous value of health centers. Based on 2021 UDS data, for the first time, health centers across the nation crossed the 30 million thresholds in the number of unique patients served—a 40% increase over the past decade! To honor NHCW, celebrate the difference you are making in the communities you serve, and increase awareness, health centers across the state and nation celebrated their patients, staff, and impact with wonderful community events.
Community-based Care in Rural Pennsylvania: Solutions to Access
On July 27, 2022, the Pennsylvania Rural Health Association held a webinar on access to care solutions in rural Pennsylvania through high-quality, community-based support, as part of its Special Topics in Rural Health 2022 Webinar Series hosted by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-PA 65th District) and Sen. Michele Brooks (R-PA 50th District). Eric Kiehl, Director of Policy and Partnership at the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers; Laura Spadaro, Vice President of Primary Care and Public Health Policy at The Wright Center; and Sara Rupp, Marketing Director at Primary Health Network, gave an excellent presentation on person-centered care provided by Federally Qualified Health Centers in rural areas of the state.
See below for the links to the presentation and recording.
Presentation: Community-Based Care in Rural Pennsylvania
Recording: Community-based Care in Rural Pennsylvania
Oral Health In Rural Pennsylvania: Why Is It Such a Problem?
On August 3, the Pennsylvania Rural Health Association held a webinar on oral health in rural Pennsylvania as part of its Special Topics in Rural Health 2022 Webinar Series hosted by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-PA 65th District) and Sen. Michele Brooks (R-PA 50th District). Helen Hawkey, Executive Director of the PA Coalition for Oral Health, gave an in-depth overview of oral health access and workforce in rural Pennsylvania and provided compelling statistics and maps to illustrate the disparities in oral health in rural areas of the state.
See below for links to the presentation and the recording.
Presentation: Oral Health in Rural Pennsylvania. 8.3.22
Recording: Oral Health In Rural Pennsylvania
Find a Financial Stability Workbook Here!
The Georgia Health Policy Center includes consideration for and examples of rural health systems that have collaborated to develop sustainable financing.
Medicare Inpatient Hospital Payment Rules Begins October 1!
The final Medicare Inpatient Hospital Payment Rules for the fiscal year 2023 will be effective October 1, 2022. This rule, published on August 1, 2022, establishes Medicare fee-for-service payment rates and policies for inpatient hospitals and long-term care hospitals. New policies include increased flexibilities for rural hospitals to participate in residency training through rural track programs and steps to advance health equity and maternal health outcomes.
Rural Advisory Committee Publishes Policy Recommendations to HHS Secretary
The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services recently published a policy brief on behavioral health and primary care integration in rural health facilities. Using the experiences of providers in rural counties of Arizona, the Committee made ten recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary. The brief centers on reducing rates of mental illness and suicide in rural communities by making policy recommendations related to access, workforce recruitment and retention, broadband, and reimbursement. To learn more about the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, please visit HRSA.gov.
Monkeypox Has Been Declared a Public Health Emergency
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services made the declaration last week to focus federal resources on a growing public health threat. As of Wednesday, August 10, there were 9,492 confirmed cases in the United States. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the clinical characteristics of monkeypox cases and will give ongoing guidance through Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity.
AmeriCorps Grants Will Focus on Evidence-Based Interventions
Nonprofit organizations, tribes, and local governments are eligible for the next round of grants from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for community service and volunteerism. The funding for 2023 will prioritize evidence-based interventions proven to work in communities with concentrated poverty and/or historically underrepresented and underserved individuals. The programs present a unique opportunity for organizations that work in rural to help support public and community health and create potential career pathways while also addressing longstanding workforce capacity challenges. The deadline to apply for federal grants is January 4, 2023. Single-state applicant deadlines to State Commissions may be significantly earlier.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) is Recruiting Patients for Long COVID-19 Study
NIH is recruiting participants for a study titled RECOVER researching Long COVID-19 or Post-Acute Sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). They are looking for participants in adult, pediatric, and pregnant cohorts. Study participants can be in the acute or post-acute (>4 weeks prior) phase of COVID-19. Interested patients can enroll here. The study website also has a library of past PASC seminars available to clinicians. The next seminar of the series is on Tuesday, Aug. 9 from 12:00 – 1:30 pm and is titled “Clinical Spectrum of PASC: Focus on Mental Health.” To register for the webinar, click here.