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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Behavioral health

May 31, 2024 - Features a harm reduction program serving residents of Alaska's rural Kenai Peninsula. Explores strategies for making services, including syringe exchange and opioid-overdose treatment distribution, accessible to remote populations.
Source: Alaska Public Media, PBS, NPR
May 30, 2024 - Notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcing its intent to implement Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022, which prohibits the collection of copayments for the first three mental health care outpatient visits of a Veteran in a calendar year for which the Veteran would otherwise be required to pay a copayment. The copayment exemption for the first three outpatient mental health care visits includes appointments completed in VA clinics as well as those conducted by community care providers. The implementation of the copayment exemption will be applicable upon the publication of modifications to the VA regulations to comply with this law.
Source: Federal Register
May 29, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposing to require wireless carriers to implement one or more georouting solutions for calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to ensure that calls are routed based on the geographic location for the origin of the call, rather than the area code and exchange associated with a wireless phone. The FCC also seeks comment on a variety of issues related to the implementation of a georouting solution for wireless calls, non-wireless calls, and text messages to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Comments are due by June 28, 2024. Reply comments are due by July 29, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 29, 2024 - Features the perspective of a psychologist on the factors contributing to mental health issues among farmers. Discusses barriers to care, best practices for providers, and essential resources for support.
Source: Sanford Health
May 28, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeking comments on a proposed information collection titled "Needle Exchange Utilization Survey (NEXUS)." The purpose of NEXUS is to develop a surveillance system to monitor drug use, prevention behaviors, and the infectious disease consequences of drug use in select urban and non-urban areas of the U.S. impacted by the opioid crisis. Comments are due by July 29, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 28, 2024 - Covers the launch of a harm reduction vending machine serving residents of Delaware County, Oklahoma. Discusses concerns from some local residents and efforts by providers to address misconceptions around addiction.
Source: Public Radio Tulsa
May 23, 2024 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders Coordinating Committee (ISUDCC) on June 10, 2024, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The ISUDCC agenda will focus on the ISUDCC's recommendations to HHS on how the Federal Government can further integrate and coordinate harm reduction approaches and strategies across the continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery policies, programs, and practices. Agenda items will also include presentations on the recently released harm reduction framework, the Naloxone Saturation Academies, and SAMHSA's Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit. Information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the SAMHSA website.
Source: Federal Register
May 22, 2024 - The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is seeking scientific information submissions to inform its review on Management of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Youth. Includes background information and key questions related to the review. The full research protocol is available for review on the AHRQ website. Submissions are due by June 21, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 20, 2024 - Discusses the mental health wellness for Georgia healthcare workers following a new law ensuring privacy for healthcare workers participating in an employer-provider wellness program. Notes that maintaining the healthcare workforce is vital for rural communities.
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting, PBS, NPR
May 17, 2024 - Announces a new research site in Montana for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The site will include research on access to healthcare and high suicide rates for rural veterans.
Source: Daily Montanan