The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) created this new web page with information on upcoming RCORP funding opportunities, current grant recipients, and the program’s impact to date. RCORP currently includes grants for planning, implementation, and medication-assisted treatment expansion for rural communities and consortia, as well as cooperative agreements for technical assistance, evaluation, and three Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders. As a reminder, RCORP-MAT Expansion and RCORP-Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders are currently accepting applications through June 10.
Report Released on Preventive Health Service Use Among Rural Women
This study from the Maine Rural Health Research Center examined receipt of preventive health services (cholesterol check, fasting blood sugar test, mammogram, pap smear, and vaccination for the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV) by rural and urban women over the age of 18. Findings indicate that rural women were less likely than their urban peers to receive preventive health services. The report can be accessed at https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/alerts/279.
Reports Released on Trends and Geographic Variation of Hospitals at Risk of Financial Distress
This week, the Rural Health Research Gateway released three policy briefs with the most up-to-date data on factors contributing to rural hospital closures. The producer of these briefs, the North Carolina Rural Health Research Center, keeps track of rural hospital closures and counts 104 since January 2010. The reports can be accessed at https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/alerts/281.
USDA Economic Research Service Releases Atlas of Rural and Small Town America
The rural atlas, maintained and updated each year by the Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, features an interactive map with county-level data. The report provides statistics on three broad categories of socioeconomic factors: demographics, including migration and immigration, education, and characteristics of veteran population; jobs, with employment trends, industrial composition, and household income; and county classifications that include the rural-urban continuum, economic dependence, persistent poverty, and other characteristics.
HHS Secretary Azar Releases Statement on Measles Outbreaks
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Alex Azar issued a statement this week about the outbreak of measles, now diagnosed in more than 700 cases across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed outbreaks in 22 states. Symptoms of measles generally appear about seven to 14 days after a person is infected and typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash of flat, red spots. Available data do not indicate that rural areas are more or less affected, but the CDC’s national surveys that monitor vaccination coverage have identified that unvaccinated children are more likely to be uninsured, live below the poverty level, and live in rural areas. Many may not know about the CDC’s Vaccines for Children Program that serves children up to age 18 who are uninsured or underinsured, or who receive care through Federally Qualified Health Centers or Rural Health Clinics. Adults who are unsure of their measles vaccination status should consider getting the updated Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Pennsylvania Substance Use Disorder Loan Repayment Program Practitioner Application Announced
May 1, 2019
Applications are invited to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Pennsylvania Substance Use Disorder Loan Repayment Practitioner Program, in accordance with RFA # 67-86.
All questions regarding this RFA must be directed in writing by e-mail to RA-DHSUDLRP@pa.gov, no later than May 12, 2019. All questions must include the specific section of the RFA about which the potential applicant is questioning. Answers to all questions will be posted at https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Health-Planning/Pages/SUD-LRP.aspx on or before May 17, 2019.
Please submit an application via the on-line Pennsylvania Substance Use Disorder Loan Repayment Program Practitioner Application found at the following website: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/HealthPlanning/Pages/SUD-LRP.aspx, beginning Wednesday, May 1, 2019. Completed applications must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 3, 2019.
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED REGARDLESS OF THE REASON.
It is expected that the evaluation of applications and the selection of grantees will be completed within six weeks of the submission due date.
USDA Releases Report on Rural Broadband and Benefits of Next Generation Precision Agriculture
Reliable, High-Speed Broadband e-Connectivity is Essential to Enhanced Agricultural Production
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2019 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today unveiled a groundbreaking report, A Case for Rural Broadband: Insights on Rural Broadband Infrastructure and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies (PDF, 2.5 MB). The report finds that deployment of both broadband e-Connectivity and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technology on farms and ranches throughout the U.S. could result in at least $47 billion in national economic benefits every year.
“Broadband and Next Generation Precision Agriculture are critical components for creating vital access to world-class resources, tools and opportunity for America’s farmers, ranchers, foresters and producers,” Secretary Perdue said. “Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is committed to doing our part to clear the way for nationwide broadband connectivity that will allow the next generation of precision agriculture technologies to thrive and expand.”
Download A Case for Rural Broadband: Insights on Rural Broadband Infrastructure and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies (PDF, 2.5 MB). To see how Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies can work on farm and ranching operations, view the Connected Technologies infographic (PDF, 910 KB).
The report also finds that if broadband infrastructure and digital technologies at scale were available at a level that meets estimated producer demand, the U.S. economy could realize benefits equivalent to nearly 18 percent of total agriculture production. Of that 18 percent, more than one-third is dependent on broadband e-Connectivity, equivalent to at least $18 billion in annual economic benefits that only high-speed, reliable internet can provide.
For many years, USDA and the American agriculture industry have been actively researching the feasibility, usage and potential upside of Next Generation Precision Agriculture technologies. Until now though, the interdependency of these technologies and broadband e-Connectivity has not been evaluated. The report released today explores this symbiotic relationship and quantifies the potential economic benefit of broadband buildout and the complementary adoption of connected agriculture technologies. Going forward, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be engaged in multiple facets of infrastructure and technology deployment, including financing rural capital investments and supporting producers who are exploring which Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies are best suited to improve their operations and serve their customers.
In April 2017, President Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. The Report identified Achieving e-Connectivity in Rural America as a cornerstone recommendation. The Administration has been executing this priority call to action through the American Broadband Initiative (ABI) (PDF, 647 KB), which reflects rural broadband build-out as one of President Trump’s directives to the Federal government. A Case for Rural Broadband: Insights on Rural Broadband Infrastructure and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies (PDF, 2.5 MB) opens the next chapter in the USDA’s response to this call to action.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
Information Released on the 2020 U.S. Census Impact on Services
The 2020 Census is closer than you think. The United States Census Bureau has released a public facing flyer detailing what the census is and why it is essential that everyone is counted, especially for services. Many large federal programs distribute funds based on population. Consider sharing the flyer in public places to encourage census participation.
Pennsylvania Oral Health Surveillance Plan Announced
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Oral Health Program is excited to announce the publication of the 2019-2024 Pennsylvania Oral Health Surveillance Plan. The Oral Health Surveillance Plan provides a consistent source of reliable and valid information for use in the monitoring of oral health status and trends of the state and for developing, implementing, and evaluating programs to improve the oral health of Pennsylvanians.
Congressional Budget Office Releases Report on Single-Payer Health Care System
Key Design Components and Considerations for Establishing a Single-Payer Health Care System
Congressional interest in substantially increasing the number of people who have health insurance has grown in recent years. Some Members of Congress have proposed establishing a single-payer health care system to achieve universal health insurance coverage. In this report, CBO describes the primary features of single-payer systems, as well as some of the key considerations for designing such a system in the United Stat
es.
Establishing a single-payer system would be a major undertaking that would involve substantial changes in the sources and extent of coverage, provider payment rates, and financing methods of health care in the United States. This report does not address all of the issues that the complex task of designing, implementing, and transitioning to a single-payer system would entail, nor does it analyze the budgetary effects of any specific bill or proposal.