- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
- CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
- Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
- Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation: Request for Input
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule
- Rural America Faces Growing Shortage of Eye Surgeons
- NRHA Continues Partnership to Advance Rural Oral Health
- Comments Requested on Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit Draft
- Q&A: What Are the Challenges and Opportunities of Small-Town Philanthropy?
400,000+ Patients Will Be Impacted by New HealthChoices Physical Health Zone Assignments
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is moving forward toward a goal of July 1, 2022 transition to 2022 managed care organization (MCO) assignments. The changes are significant in several ways: the current plan assignments have been in place since 2012 because of disputes, court cases, and more; there are more MCOs that will be serving all zones statewide, including some like Geisinger Health Plan and HealthPartners Plan that have previously only served a single zone; and perhaps most importantly, more than 400,000 individuals will either need to choose a new plan or will be auto-assigned to one.
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Ends March 31
Current enrollees in a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) who want to change health plans, can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage or go back to original Medicare and, if needed, also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan during Open Enrollment. If enrollees switch MAPs or go back to the original Medicare, the news coverage will start the first day of the month after the new plan gets the request for coverage. For those who go back to their original Medicare, enrollees may not be able to buy a Medicare Supplemental Insurance or Medigap Policy.
The National Strategy to Address Mental Health Crisis is Announced
The Biden Administration has announced a national mental health strategy to strengthen system capacity, connect more people to care, and create a continuum of support—transforming the nation’s health and social services infrastructure to address mental health holistically and equitably. Read HRSA’s response to the strategy. As part of the national strategy, this week the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Office of Minority Health (OMH) announced nearly $35 million in funding opportunities to strengthen and expand community mental health services and suicide prevention programs for America’s children and young adults.
State Medicaid Director Set to Speak on Transforming Care Delivery
Experts from New York and Pennsylvania will come together to address how we can advance care delivery to support reentry and collaborate to transform Medicaid, in an event co-hosted by City & State PA and Unite Us. The session will look at achieving social care coordination at scale, examine the challenges around social care capacity and resources, and discuss the impact of social care data in improving health outcomes. Sally Kozak, MHA, RN, Deputy Secretary, State Medicaid Director, and Deputy Secretary, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is among those presenting. Learn more and register for the March 29, 1:00 – 3:00 pm webinar. There is no fee to register.
Public Transportation’s Role in Rural Health Care Access
Co-Director of the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, Carol Wright Kenderdine, talks about ways in which COVID-19 has spurred innovation in rural transportation. The interview is the second episode of a new podcast, Exploring Rural Health.
Suicide Rates Decline, But Remain High for Certain Groups
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data showing suicide rates were inversely related to county urbanization level, with the most rural (noncore) counties experiencing the highest rate (20.6 per 100,000). Overall, there was a three percent decline in the suicide rate in 2020, a downward trend that started in 2019. While the rate is 13.9 per 100,000 in the general U.S. population, disparities persist. The rates were highest among persons who were non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (23.9 per 100,000), followed by non-Hispanic White (16.9 per 100,000).
New Data Published on Rural-Urban Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last year that, in the first four months of the vaccine’s availability, coverage for adults overall was lower in rural than in urban counties. New data released last week show that the rural-urban gap in COVID-19 vaccination coverage has more than doubled since April 2021.
The United States Department of Agriculture is Seeking Applications for Technical Assistance Grants to Support Rural Community Facilities
WASHINGTON, Mar. 14, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today announced that the Department is accepting applications to help rural communities expand their capacity to access financial resources to support the construction or upgrade of essential community facilities.
The funding is being made available under the Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant program. The grants allow eligible public bodies as well as private and nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training to help grantees identify and plan for community facility needs in their area.
Once these needs are pinpointed, the grantee can seek additional public and private financial resources.
USDA is offering priority points to projects that advance key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, advance equity, and combat climate change. These extra points will increase the likelihood of funding for projects seeking to address these critical challenges in rural America.
Electronic applications will be accepted via Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on May 23, 2022
Any paper applications must be postmarked, mailed, shipped, or sent overnight by 4:00 p.m. local time on May 26. 2022.
For additional information, see page 14238 of the Mar. 14, 2022, Federal Register.
How to Treat Dental Patients Who Use Marijuana
An article in Dr. BiCuspid shares information from a recent presenter at the Chicago Dental Society’s midwinter meeting who presented on how to treat dental patients who use marijuana. Smoking or ingesting marijuana can wreak havoc on the oral cavity, exacerbating gum disease and causing dry mouth, and can be life-threatening when mixed with some anesthetics. Read more.
The 2022 Medication Adherence Practice Module from Quality Insights is Released
Quality Insights has released its 2022 Medication Adherence Practice Module. This newly updated resource is designed to assist in promoting and improving your quality improvement efforts, specifically related to medication management and adherence across patient populations living with high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, prediabetes, and diabetes. Updates include Medication Adherence Office Protocol, enhanced care team and patient communication resources, and tips for assessing health literacy, cultural competency, and potential language barriers. Download the 2022 Medication Adherence Practice Module and Workflow Modification Guide as well as a brief module overview recording.