- 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?
Congress Breaks for Recess, but Momentum Moves Toward Passage of Additional COVID-19 Relief
Following the acquittal of former President Donald Trump Saturday, the House and Senate returned to their home Districts and States for the scheduled President’s Day recess. However, last week, House Committees began markup of the next COVID-19 relief package. Passed out of Committee were instructions to the House Budget Committee to begin drafting the final text of the COVID-19 relief package. The Senate is expected to move on the final package the following week.
Biden Administration Purchases Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Doses
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) announced they have purchased an additional 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from both Pfizer and Moderna. Consistent with President Biden’s goal of 100 million shots in 100 days, the United States government has now placed enough orders to have a total of 600 million doses ready for distribution. NRHA is excited by the progress being made in distributing vaccines as quickly as possible but continues to urge the new Administration to be mindful of the challenges rural providers and patients are facing. Because of this, NRHA has asked the Administration to provide additional resources to rural areas to help quickly distribute the vaccine.
Midwestern Public Health Rural Health Podcast Series
In more than 40 episodes ranging from 15 minutes to an hour in length, the Midwestern Public Health Training Center looks at challenges and success stories that include mental health, leadership, tackling equity, and the impact of COVID-19. Since last month the series has had a rural health focus, with episodes celebrating arts and culture, rural food systems, and the reality of working in a rural hospital during the pandemic. Find more information here.
NGA: Supporting a Trained Direct Care Workforce During and After the Pandemic
The National Governor’s Association (NGA) reports on waivers issued by states and by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to address staffing challenges during the public health emergency. The NGA explains these, including temporary adjustments to training requirements, and presents strategies for retaining this workforce when the waivers expire.
Report: Emergency Medical Services Personnel (EMS) as Vaccinators
The National Association of State EMS Officials reports on state-level policy that allows paramedics and other first-responders to administer vaccines.
CDC: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pandemic-Related Stress
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that Hispanic adults reported a higher prevalence of symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Estimates of self-reported suicidal thoughts/ideation among Hispanic persons (22.9%) were four times those among non-Hispanic Black (Black) persons (5.2%) and White persons (5.3%) and approximately twice those of multiracial and non-Hispanic persons of other races/ethnicities (8.9%).
Extended Public Comment Period for FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to seek public comment on the metrics that should be used to evaluate applications for Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program and how the FCC should treat applications filed during initial funding rounds. In January, the FCC announced an additional $250 million for the program that was established in April 2020 and set a deadline of January 19 for comments. That deadline has been lifted and the FCC will continue to accept comments at any time.
CDC National Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine – February 22-24
Beginning Monday, February 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will hold a virtual event over three days to promote the most effective strategies for building confidence and increasing access to the vaccine nationwide. Community health stakeholders including pharmacies, labor associations, faith-based organizations, and academic institutions are encouraged to attend and hear from leaders at every level of government and across sectors.
11 Things to Know about Expansion of Retail Giants into Telehealth
From making telemedicine more consumer friendly to increasing access to care during the pandemic, retail giants including Amazon, Walmart and Walgreens are ramping up their virtual care initiatives and innovating the healthcare delivery system. Read more about Walmart, Amazon, Sam’s Club, CVS and Walgreens’ telehealth expansions over the past year.
Study Finds 40% of U.S. COVID-19 Deaths Could Have Been Prevented
A new study by the Lancet Commission on Public Policy and Health in the Trump Era concludes that about 40 percent of the nation’s coronavirus deaths could have been prevented if the average death rate in the U.S. matched other industrialized nations. While the report faulted former President Trump’s “inept and insufficient” response to COVID-19, it said the roots of the nation’s poor health outcomes are much deeper. Read more.