- Ways and Means Members Put Forth Solutions to Strengthen Telehealth Access and Improve Health Care for Rural Communities
- In Rural Texas, ERs Are Facing a Growing Mental Health Crisis
- 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
- Farmers Don't Do Mental Health
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces Critical More Than $1.5 Billion State and Tribal Opioid Response Funding Opportunities
- Outlining the Intersection between Health Care and Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
- USDA Rural Development Seeks Input to Improve Access to Grants and Help More Communities Thrive
- Rural Telehealth Extension Reintroduced in Congress
- The South Was the Center of Rural Population Growth Last Year
- Students From Across the State Emphasized the Need for Mental Health Resources in Rural Alaska During a Conference
- How HHS SUD Confidentiality Regulations Will Impact Rural Providers
New Resource Published: How Health Professionals Can Work With Head Start
This handout series offers tips on what dentists, dental hygienists, and medical professionals can do to improve the oral health needs of children and pregnant women and people enrolled in Head Start programs. It highlights the importance of oral health for school readiness and describes the oral health services offered by Head Start programs.
Updated Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives for Rural Providers Released
The Rural Health Value team is pleased to announce the release of an updated version of the Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives for Rural Providers. The catalog summarizes rural-relevant, value-based programs currently or recently implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), primarily by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and its Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Its purpose is to help rural leaders and communities identify HHS value-based programs appropriate for rural participation.
Related resources on the Rural Health Value website:
- RHV’s “Get Ahead of AHEAD in rural!” webinar recording & handout. This webinar discussed the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) model. The webinar was designed to help rural health leaders (including state agencies such as Medicaid and public health) interested in the AHEAD model identify opportunities and next steps. Find the CMS website for AHEAD here States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model | CMS
- 2023 Uniform Data Set (UDS) Measure Crosswalk to Other Quality Reporting Programs This crosswalk highlights alignment between Uniform Data Set (UDS) measures and other quality reporting programs. Intended to help health centers identify which UDS measures are being utilized by other programs such as CMS Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and the CMS Quality Payment Program (QPP).
Medicare Shared Savings Program: Rule Changes and Implications for Rural Health Care Organizations
This summary is of changes made to the Medicare Shared Savings Program taking effect in 2023 and 2024. This Rural Health Value analysis outlines how the changes may reduce barriers to participation for potential or reentering ACOs that operate in rural contexts.
CDC Million Hearts® 2024 Hypertension Control Challenge is Now Open!
Did you know… rural Americans are at greater risk for premature death from five leading causes, including heart disease?
Call for Applications: Million Hearts® 2024 Hypertension Control Challenge
Million Hearts® is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes within 5 years. It focuses on implementing a small set of evidence-based priorities and targets that can improve cardiovascular health for all.
If you’re a rural healthcare professional, or represent a rural practice or health system with hypertension control rates of 80% or better, please consider applying for the “Challenge.” Moreover, colleagues with the Million Hearts program would welcome an opportunity to spotlight the success of a 2024 Hypertension Control Champion serving a rural community, as would we!
The Million Hearts® 2024 Hypertension Control Challenge recognizes and celebrates health care professionals, practices, and health systems that have achieved exceptional hypertension control rates of at least 80%. Practices and clinicians in the U.S. and its territories are eligible for possible recognition as a Champion. The submission deadline is April 5, 2024.