- Biden-Harris Administration Releases National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and First-Ever Federal Action Plan
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Increase Access to Quality Care, and Support to Families and Care Workers
- Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don't Meet Them.
- Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeed
- Rural Communities Face Primary Care Physician Shortage
- Miles for Milk: How Student-Run Grocery Store Reshaped Rural Community's Food Access
- Native Americans Have Shorter Life Spans, and It's Not Just Due to Lack of Health Care
- Promotoras Play Essential Role in Connecting Farmworkers with Health Care in Rural NorCal
- Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings
- Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Rise
- Sunsets, Wildlife and Limited Care: Challenges of Aging in Place in Rural America
- City-Country Mortality Gap Widens amid Persistent Holes in Rural Health Care Access
- Tribal Environmental Impact Network
- Minnesota's Rural Ambulance Providers Look to State Capitol for Their Own Lifeline
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Support the Primary Care Workforce
Higher Electronic Health Record (EHR) Functionality Lowers Urban Hospital Costs But Rural Impacts Are Minimal
Researchers at the Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health present their findings here.
3RNET Recruiting for Retention Academy – October 4
The National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNET) designed this learning opportunity for recruiters, medical directors, and others seeking to employ health professionals in underserved areas. A series of live webinars lasting up to 90 minutes each will take place between October 5 and December 14. Attendees will get access to national experts on rural/underserved recruiting and retention. Find more information here.
HRSA Reorganization
This week, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced a reorganization of its bureaus and offices to accommodate changing needs in the agency’s mission to improve health care for people who are geographically isolated and/or medically underserved. Among the changes, the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth has moved from its longtime home in the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to become an operational focal point for telehealth across all of HRSA’s programs. Find more information here.
Provider Relief Fund Information Moves to HRSA Website
Information on the Provider Relief Fund program, which gives financial support to providers who have seen lost revenues and increased expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic, previously hosted on the HHS website is now available on the HRSA website. Users who visit hhs.gov/providerrelief (previous URL) will be automatically re-directed to the new site. All archived content will remain available to the public. For updates about the PRF and other HRSA programs, please subscribe to the HRSA eNews.
Interactive Map Shows Results of 2020 Census
The map allows users to zoom in and find population data for each county in the country. State profiles give more detail on demographic changes between 2010 and 2020. Other infographics and visualizations show information topics such as population change by county, food assistance eligibility, and more detailed breakdown of race and ethnicity. Population counts from the U.S. Census are used to allocate federal funding, provide data for policymaking, plan economic development, and provide data for research, among countless other needs for quality of life.
CDC on Mental Health/Substance Abuse Among Adults with Disabilities During the Pandemic
Using Internet surveys, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that adults with disabilities experienced greater incidents of anxiety or depression, new or increased substance use, and suicidal ideation than did adults without disabilities. The report includes data for rural locations and recommends that clinicians consider screening all patients for issues related to the pandemic.
HHS: What Works and What Doesn’t in COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) provides an overview of lessons learned from vaccine programs and gives several examples of federal and state programs that could serve as models for new strategies.
NRHA Rural Health Advocacy Campaign: Urge Congress to Invest in Rural Health
Congress has begun negotiating fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations bills, and the National Rural Health Association is advocating for investments in rural health. Now, more than ever before, it is crucial that Congress support programs that seek to address the severe health care crises in rural America. Rural health care providers, who were struggling to keep their doors open prior to COVID-19, have been hit hard by the pandemic. While current spending for rural health programs is relatively small, it plays a critical role in solidifying the fragile health care infrastructure in rural communities. We encourage you to participate in our advocacy campaign to urge your Members of Congress to invest in rural health via FY 2022 appropriations.
House Passes Traditional Infrastructure Package
The House passed a $760 billion surface transportation infrastructure package. The measure is not expected to be brought up in the Senate, but it adds pressure to the continuing bipartisan talks. Last week, the group of 22 bipartisan Senators brokered a deal on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package. Text has yet to be released on the compromise, but NRHA continues to advocate for rural providers to be represented in the package.
House Appropriations Committee Passes Ag Appropriations Bill
The House Appropriations Committee held a full committee markup on the chamber’s fiscal year (FY) 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The Committee has scheduled the subcommittee and full committee markups of their Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for July 12 and July 15, respectively.