Rural Health
News by Topic: Access
Dec 16, 2024 - Highlights a hospital in rural South Carolina using telehealth and new technology to offer specialized care to local residents after 2 nearby hospitals closed.
Source: SCETV
Dec 15, 2024 - Explores the impacts of behavioral health provider shortages on rural communities in the northwest. Notes that immigrants may face additional challenges finding care due to language barriers and some providers not accepting Medicaid. Describes strategies to increase access to behavioral health providers, including telehealth, increased reimbursement for services, and workforce programs.
Source: Northwest News Network
Dec 13, 2024 - Announces a major update to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Mapping Broadband Health in America platform. Notes that the tool can be used to analyze data at the intersection of broadband connectivity and a range of public health challenges, now including maternal morbidity and mortality.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
Dec 13, 2024 - Highlights a free mobile clinic in rural Arizona making routine healthcare more accessible to farmworkers in the area. Discusses effective outreach methods including collaborations with the farm supervisors and using promotoras.
Source: Arizona Luminaria
Dec 12, 2024 - Describes the impacts of a shortage of maternal healthcare in Nebraska as described to the Nebraska Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee. Discusses effective policies and programs for workforce recruitment and retention and better healthcare access including student loan repayment programs, adjusted reimbursement rates, and remote surgeries.
Source: KETV
Dec 12, 2024 - Discusses the use of virtual healthcare by a rural, South Dakota-based healthcare system to address rural health issues including workforce shortages and easier access to healthcare. Highlights the facility that the system uses to test innovative methods of care.
Source: Health Leaders Media
Dec 10, 2024 - Notice of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising the Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), Medicaid, Medicare cost plan, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) regulations to implement changes related to Star Ratings, marketing and communications, agent/broker compensation, health equity, drug coverage, dual eligible special needs plans (D-SNPs), utilization management, network adequacy, and other programmatic areas, including the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. This proposed rule also includes proposals to codify existing subregulatory guidance in the Part C and Part D programs. Comments are due by January 27, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 10, 2024 - Discusses the digital divide in Kansas counties due to slow internet connections and access to digital devices. Highlights policy efforts to close the divide and infrastructure challenges found in rural communities.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Dec 10, 2024 - Reports on a new Nevada language-access law that exempts smaller counties and discusses the impacts on rural residents that speak a language other than English. Highlights the growing diversification of rural areas as well as the challenges with offering services and information in languages other than English for small jurisdictions with limited resources. Discusses the importance of language-access for topics related to public health and voting for health-related issues.
Source: KFF Health News, Daily Yonder
Dec 9, 2024 - Provides overview of resources available through the Rural Mental Health Resources Hub, created by Mental Health America (MHA). Describes resources including a free mental health screening, educational overviews, and information for communities looking to better serve residents with mental health conditions. Discusses rural disparities in access to mental health treatment and efforts by MHA's South Carolina chapter to expand access through a mobile mental health clinic program.
Source: The Daily Yonder