HHS Provides a Statement on the Coronavirus Supplemental Request

Posted on by lad3

On February 25, 2020, HHS released the following statement on the coronavirus supplemental request.

“The Administration has been effectively utilizing all available resources to protect the American people from COVID-19. Today, the White House sent a supplemental request to Congress to make $2.5 billion available for COVID-19 response efforts, including an emergency supplemental appropriation of $1.25 billion. HHS will also use the Secretary’s transfer authority to provide needed resources to continue the Department’s robust and multi-layered public health preparedness and response efforts – including public health surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory testing, support for state and local governments and other key partners, advanced research and development of new vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, advanced manufacturing enhancements, and support for the Strategic National Stockpile.”

Read the letter here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Coronavirus-Supplemental-Request-Letter-Final.pdf

Behavioral Health in Rural America: Challenges and Opportunities

Posted on by porhpsu

Behavioral Health In Rural America: Challenges and Opportunities

Principal authors: John Gale, MS; Jaclyn Janis, BSN, RN, MPH; Andrew Coburn, PhD; Hannah Rochford, MPH

Prepared by the RUPRI Health Panel: Keith Mueller, PhD; Andrew Coburn, PhD; Alana Knudson, PhD; Jennifer Lundblad, PhD, MBA; Timothy McBride, PhD

The prevelence mental health and substance use diagnoses and unmet treatment needs are not equally distributed, with rural residence being one factor associated with these differences. Moreover, the rural context has proven challenging for ensuring the availability of and access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery services in rural areas. This paper reviews the prevalence of behavioral health disorders in rural populations, rural access to behavioral health services, promising program and policy strategies targeted to improving rural BH systems, and opportunities for policy and system changes to improve rural BH systems and outcomes.

Click to download a copy: Behavioral Health In Rural America: Challenges and Opportunities – Full document

ARC and NACo Partnership Focuses on Region’s Opioid Crisis

Posted on by porhpsu

In 2017, the death rate for opioid overdoses in Appalachian counties was an astounding 72 percent higher than in non-Appalachian counties. “A good job can change a lot”, said Greg Puckett, Commissioner for Mercer County, West Virginia during a seminar event hosted this week by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and ARC focusing on the opioid crisis in Appalachia. The seminar, which included two panel discussions, focused on effective solutions and  how counties can best look toward the future to strengthen communities for long-term growth. It was a capstone event of on an ongoing partnership between partnership between NACo and ARC offering recommendations, best practices, and case studies to counties to help address the situation.

ARC Releases Year-in-Review Investments Summary, Announces Governor DeWine As States’ Co-Chair for 2020

Posted on by porhpsu

A new fact sheets series is available recapping ARC’s regional and state specific investments showing that ARC invested nearly $177 million into the region, attracting nearly $247 million in matching funds and over $542.5 million in leveraged private investment during fiscal year 2019. These investments are projected to create or retain more than 17,300 jobs and train/educate over 51,000 students and workers. 70 percent of ARC’s FY 2019 investment dollars will benefit distressed counties and areas throughout the region.

 

340B Drug Discount Program: Increased Oversight Needed to Ensure Nongovernmental Hospitals Meet Eligibility Requirements

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Provides an overview of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) review of 258 nongovernmental hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and their contracts with state and local governments. Evaluates the contracts to determine if they meet the eligibility requirement to serve low-income individuals. Outlines weaknesses in the Health Resources and Services Administration’s review of the hospital contracts and offers six recommendations to improve the contract review process.

Challenges in Providing Substance Use Disorder Treatment to Child Welfare Clients in Rural Communities

Posted on by porhpsu

Provides an overview of the unique challenges rural communities face serving parents with substance abuse issues, including provider shortages, limited access to health insurance, transportation and technological barriers, and lack of routine cross-systems collaboration with the child welfare system. Offers strategies to overcome these challenges in rural communities.

Despite Decades of Initiatives, Rural Physicians Grow Scarcer

Posted on by porhpsu

Jan 14, 2020 — Discusses the projected decline in the number of physicians in rural areas, a Montana State University professor attributes the drop to minimal career opportunities for spouses, isolation, and lack of entertainment in rural areas. Describes how policy and recruitment programs have attempted to lure physicians to rural areas, but the need is more prominent as health disparities increase.