The American Dental Association released a new clinical practice guideline on caries restoration. The new guideline includes sixteen recommendations for treating moderate or advanced caries lesions in primary and permanent teeth without a history of endodontic treatment. The guidance associated conservative approaches to removing carious tissue with a lower risk of adverse effects.
CMS Release a New School-based Services Technical Assistance Center
As a follow-up to the May 2023 release of the School-Based Services (SBS) Comprehensive Guide to Medicaid Services and Administrative Claiming, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the SBS Technical Assistance (TA) Center. This TA Center will support State Medicaid agencies, local education agencies, and school-based entities seeking to expand their capacity for providing Medicaid school-based physical and behavioral health services, and it will assist these entities in obtaining payment for Medicaid SBS. Schools can play an important role in bridging equity gaps among students in low-income and rural communities where access to health care services may be more limited.
CMS Proposes Policy Updates for End Stage Renal Disease
On June 26, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule under the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System for dialysis services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2024. This includes facility-level adjustments for ESRD facilities that have a low patient volume, for facilities in rural areas, and for the wage index. In addition, CMS is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting comments regarding potential changes to the Low-Volume Payment Adjustment (LVPA) methodology and the possible creation of a new payment adjustment that accounts for isolation, rurality, and other geographic factors to inform future rulemaking. Comments are due by August 25, 2023.
Commonwealth Fund on State Health System Performance
Learn why Massachusetts, Hawaii, and New Hampshire top the health policy nonprofit’s ranking based on 58 measures of access, quality, disparities, and outcomes among other factors. While there’s scant mention of health care in rural areas, many of the emerging crises at the center of the report – namely, avoidable deaths from preventable and treatable causes – are known to have higher incidence in these areas.
USDA Economic Research Service on Rural Access to Primary Care
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) update their chart showing the number of physicians per capita in rural counties.
The Built Environment and Social and Emotional Support Among Rural Older Adults
Previous studies on social infrastructure in the built environment – specifically, the physical places that facilitate social interaction and social tie formation – relied heavily on urban settings or samples with limited diversity. For this study, researchers examine whether social infrastructure is associated with well-being for older adults in rural areas and whether this relationship varies across race and ethnicity.
ACL Proposes Update to Older Americans Act Programs
The federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) is seeking input on proposed updates to the regulations for its Older Americans Act programs. The proposed rule is the first substantial update in 35 years, addressing new issues that have emerged and clarifying a number of requirements for programs, such as ACL’s state and tribal caregiver support programs. Last year, the FORHP-supported Rural Health Research Gateway evaluated 50 State Plans on Aging, including common and innovative approaches for serving older adults. Respond by August 15, 2023.
The GAO Release a Report on Critical Access Hospitals and Behavioral Health Care
The federal agency that examines the effectiveness of government programs turns attention to the way that Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) provide behavioral health services in rural communities. CAH administrators who were interviewed for the report expressed mixed views on how Medicare payment policies affect their ability to provide services in various care settings that are not paid solely based on cost.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Released a Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Anxiety Disorders in Adults
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a final recommendation statement on screening for anxiety disorders in adults. The task force determined that screening can help identify anxiety disorders in adults younger than 65, including those who are pregnant and postpartum. More research is needed to recommend for or against screening for anxiety disorders in adults older than 65. View the recommendation, the evidence on which it is based, and a summary for clinicians. In addition, the task force has also released a final recommendation statement on a related topic, screening for depression and suicide risk in adults.
The American Cancer Society Colorectal Cancer Screening Interventions Project Has Launched
American Cancer Society (ACS) is recruiting health centers with colorectal cancer screening rates less than 40% (consideration for those less than 60% will be given) for the 2023-2024 Screening Interventions Project. This project leverages quality improvement (QI) strategies and resources to support public health agencies, healthcare providers, and screening advocates across the nation to promote and deliver cancer screening appropriately, safely, and equitably. Quality improvement projects are based on previous structured intervention projects done through shared learning. Healthcare systems will have the opportunity to engage with national partners to share best practices, challenges, and celebrations. ACS staff will provide strategy, materials, training and technical assistance, data and measurement tools, and the latest research to maximize project outcomes. Depending on availability, funding may be available to support health centers participating in this project. Please join PACHC and ACS for a project preview on July 18, from 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm, registration is available. If you are unable to attend and would like to learn more, contact: Kacie Jankoski.