Rural Health
News by Topic: Access
May 23, 2024 - Announces the Rural Health Innovation Alliance (RHIA), a partnership between a Wisconsin university, business partners, healthcare providers, and others. RHIA aims to innovate solutions for rural healthcare access and lowering costs through collaboration. Also notes the potential benefit of economic development for the region.
Source: UW-Eau Claire News
May 22, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopting a Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, Order, and Order on Reconsideration that reestablishes the FCC's authority over broadband internet access service (BIAS). Among other things, this rule reinstates the telecommunications service classification of BIAS under Title II of the Communications Act, which will enhance the FCC's ability to safeguard national security, advance public safety, protect consumers, and facilitate broadband deployment. This final rule is effective July 22, 2024, except for amendatory instruction 7, which is delayed indefinitely.
Source: Federal Register
May 22, 2024 - A new cancer treatment clinic has opened in West Virginia. The clinic will serve 10 counties in the region and aims to reduce the travel previously required to access cancer care.
Source: WVNS
May 21, 2024 - Announces a new program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture improving access to nutritious foods for kids during the summer. The program offers a grocery benefit as well as meals served at various community access points. Pick up and delivery meals are available in some rural areas.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
May 21, 2024 - Highlights the first graduating class of a Kansas physician assistant program. The program was started to address access to healthcare issues, noting that rural areas in particular struggle with access to care. Describes the role of a physician assistant and future plans of some of the graduates.
Source: Kansas Reflector
May 21, 2024 - Profiles a new public health clinic on a reservation in Oregon. Discusses the importance of the clinic for increasing tribal sovereignty, offering culturally relevant healthcare, and access to care. Highlights the clinic's funding through a philanthropic organization.
Source: The Daily Yonder
May 20, 2024 - Offers highlights from the Bipartisan Policy Center's 3 day trip to 20 sites in Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota to learn more about rural hospitals, digital health initiatives, and behavioral health services. Discusses rural resilience, collaborations, and use of technology. Notes challenges related to funding, emergency medical services, workforce, and access to care. Includes description of coming reports from the organization.
Source: Bipartisan Policy Center
May 18, 2024 - Announces the TeleRheumatology program, an initiative to address access to specialty care issues for veterans with arthritis through telehealth.
Source: Veterans Administration
CMS: Medicare Program: Alternative Payment Model Updates and the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model
Federal Register
May 17, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) describing a new mandatory Medicare payment model, the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model (IOTA Model). The IOTA Model would test whether performance-based incentive payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) while preserving or enhancing the quality of care and reducing Medicare expenditures. This proposed rule also describes standard provisions for CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) models relating to beneficiary protections, cooperation in model evaluation and monitoring, audits and records retention, rights in data and intellectual property, monitoring and compliance, and more. These standard provisions would apply to any CMMI model whose first performance period begins on or after January 1, 2025, and in whole or in part to any CMMI model whose first performance period began before January 1, 2025. Comments are due by July 16, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 17, 2024 - An analysis by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families showed that Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Utah had fewer children enrolled in Medicaid at the end 2023 than before the pandemic. States with the largest drops in coverage have large rural areas, where clinician shortages, long drives to care, and poorer health outcomes are common.
Source: Stateline