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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Feb 14, 2025 - Pre-publication notice from the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) delaying the January 17, 2025, final rules titled "Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter" and "Continuity of Care via Telemedicine for Veterans Affairs Patients" in accordance with the January 20, 2025, presidential memorandum titled "Regulatory Freeze Pending Review." These final rules will now be effective March 21, 2025. Comments regarding the delayed effective date are due by February 28, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 11, 2025 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) delaying the effective date of the December 13, 2024, final rule in accordance with the January 20, 2025, presidential memorandum titled "Regulatory Freeze Pending Review." The final rule is now effective April 14, 2025, and the compliance date is also delayed until April 14, 2028.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 31, 2025 - Executive Order from the Office of the President revoking Executive Order 14076 and Executive Order 14079 and ending the use of federal funding for elective abortions.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 22, 2025 - Highlights recent research studies on obstetric service access in rural communities nationally and in Minnesota. Discusses distance to care, reasons for closures, and projected shortages of obstetric and gynecology physicians.
Source: MinnPost
Jan 22, 2025 - Summarizes recent research finding that rural areas have a shortage of ophthalmic surgeons despite a higher need for ophthalmic surgery for rural residents. Discusses trends in access to eye surgeons and specialists between 2012 and 2022 and regional access disparities.
Source: HealthDay News
Jan 21, 2025 - Request for comments on a draft of the Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit. The document offers guidance and resources to plan, implement, and maintain mobile crisis teams supporting mental health and substance use-related behavioral health crises and includes rural-specific considerations. Comments are accepted through March 21, 2025.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Jan 21, 2025 - Announces a new Rural Oral Health Seminar Toolkit and a renewed partnership between the National Rural Health Association and CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Includes a call for submissions for the 2025 Compendium of Oral Health Best Practices, a resources that will showcase programs and initiatives focused on rural oral health quality and access. Submissions are due March 31, 2025.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Jan 17, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authorizing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare practitioners acting within the scope of their VA employment to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine to a VA patient with whom they have not conducted an in-person medical evaluation. VA practitioners can prescribe controlled substances to VA patients if another VA practitioner has previously conducted an in-person medical evaluation of the VA patient at any time, subject to certain conditions. This final rule is effective February 18, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 17, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) amending their regulations to increase access to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorders (OUD) through a telemedicine encounter. This rule expands the circumstances under which individual providers are authorized to prescribe buprenorphine for OUD via telemedicine, including an audio-only telemedicine encounter. This final rule is effective February 18, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 17, 2025 - Notice of proposed rulemaking from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposing regulatory changes aimed at expanding patient access to controlled substance medications via telemedicine while mitigating the risks of diversion associated with such expansion. Proposed changes would establish a Special Registration framework and authorize three types of Special Registration that would allow more comprehensive prescribing, including prescribing of Schedule II and narcotic and non-narcotic controlled substances in limited circumstances, by properly registered physicians and mid-level practitioners and dispensing by online telemedicine platforms that constitute covered online telemedicine platforms. Comments are due by March 18, 2025.
Source: Federal Register