- RPHARM Program Fulfills Need for Rural Pharmacists
- Farmers Don't Do Mental Health
- A Pilot Program in Rural Vermont Hopes to Build a Blueprint for Substance Abuse Recovery
- Rural Telehealth Extension Reintroduced in Congress
- Students From Across the State Emphasized the Need for Mental Health Resources in Rural Alaska During a Conference
- The South Was the Center of Rural Population Growth Last Year
- How HHS SUD Confidentiality Regulations Will Impact Rural Providers
- VA Announces Expansion of "Close to Me" Cancer Program as Part of the Cancer Moonshot, Bringing Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Closer to Thousands of Veterans
- Navajo Psychiatrist Bridges Gaps Between Native American Culture and Behavioral Health Care
- 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
- Rural Communities Face Primary Care Physician Shortage
- Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeed
- Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don't Meet Them.
- Miles for Milk: How Student-Run Grocery Store Reshaped Rural Community's Food Access
Biden Administration Tells Governors PHE to Extend through 2021
The Biden Administration sent a letter to the nation’s Governors signaling its intent to renew the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) throughout 2021. Further, the letter indicates that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide states with 60 days’ notice prior to terminating the PHE or allowing it to expire. Statute requires the PHE to be renewed every 90 days.
Regulation Implementing EO on Insulin and Epinephrine Delayed
HRSA published a notice in the Federal Register officially delaying the effective date for new regulation implementing President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) on FQHC 340B prices for insulin and EpiPens. The effective date has been delayed by 60 days-–the maximum time allowed under the White House order–until March 22. Per the notice, this delay will “give Department officials the opportunity for further review and consideration of new regulations.” There have been some media coverage and social media posts mischaracterizing the regulation as well as the impact of its delay. For talking points if your health center is contacted or if you want to respond to misrepresentations, contact Eric Kiehl, PACHC Director of Policy & Partnership.
Commentary: Vaccines, Networks and the Importance of Trust
By Eyal Kedar
“The message of this essay is simple. It is a call for awareness and for larger and more concerted action. It is a call to eliminate a longstanding double standard in American medicine.”
Read more
‘Childcare Gap’ Greater in Rural Areas, Study Finds
By Olivia Weeks
For rural families, there is a 35% gap between childcare supply and potential need, compared to a 29% gap in urban areas.
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‘The Happiness and Joy Has Been Sucked Out of Me’: Wisconsin Dairy Farmers Face Mental Health Crisis
By Jack Kelly, Wisconsin Watch
Many Wisconsin milk producers are overwhelmed, dogged by financial worries, a crushing workload, labor shortages and bad weather.
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CDC Vaccine Locator
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information about local health departments, along with questions and answers for health care workers and consumers about the COVID-19 vaccination.
Extended Grace Period for IHS Facilities
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the grace period previously granted to Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, and facilities operated by Tribes and Tribal organizations, to claim Medicaid reimbursement for services provided outside of the “four walls” of the facility to October 31, 2021. This bulletin also explains the steps Tribal facilities and states will need to take before the extended grace period expires in order to continue to be reimbursed for services provided outside the four walls of the facility after October 31st.
Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2022 Finalized
This final rule updates the requirements for benefits and payments for issuers offering individual market Qualified Health Plans on the Federal Health Insurance Exchange in 2022. It clarifies that the network adequacy standards regulation does not apply to Qualified Health Plans that do not use provider networks and adds a new direct enrollment option for federally-facilitated Exchanges and State Exchanges.
Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan 2022 Rate Announcement
CMS has finalized the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans payment methodologies for CY 2022, including updates to the risk adjustment methodology and star rating system. Read more here.
Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Technical Changes Part II
In this rule, CMS is finalizing remaining proposals from the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug Plans final rule published June 2020, including those related to Special Needs Plans, Part D Coverage Gap Discount Program, opioid misuse and abuse, and the PACE program. Some provisions are effective in March and others will take effect in 2022.