Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

On Navajo Nation, a Push to Electrify More Homes on the Vast Reservation

Oct 27, 2024 - Describes lack of access to running water and electricity in some parts of the Navajo Nation, and the impacts on health and other aspects of life. Details federally-funded efforts to extend power lines and improve connectivity, which have faced challenges related to the rugged landscape and the large size of the Navajo Nation.

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CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes for Medicare Advantage Organizations, Medicaid Managed Care Plans, State Medicaid Agencies, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies and CHIP Managed Care Entities, Issuers of Qualified Health Plans on the Federally- Facilitated Exchanges, Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Eligible Clinicians, and Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program; Correcting Amendment Federal Register

Oct 25, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical corrections to the February 8, 2024, final rule. This correcting amendment is effective October 25, 2024.

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FNS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Participant Characteristics and Program Operations Study Federal Register

Oct 25, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) seeking comments on a new information collection request related to the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). Information collection will be used to provide current, nationally representative information on FDPIR participants and local program operations across the nation. The information collection will also provide FNS with a better understanding of the reasons for the decline in FDPIR participation and how to streamline and target food and nutrition education efforts, funding, and policy changes. Comments are due by December 24, 2024.

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HHS: Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF); Corrections Federal Register

Oct 25, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) making technical corrections to the March 1, 2024, final rule. This notice is effective October 25, 2024.

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RHS: Updates to the Off-Farm Labor Housing (Off-FLH), Loan and Grant Rates and Terms; Clarification of Grant Agreement Terms Federal Register

Oct 25, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Rural Housing Service (RHS) amending the current regulation for the Off-Farm Labor Housing (Off-FLH) program to clarify the grant agreement term and adopt the period of performance as required by Federal award information requirements. This rule is effective October 25, 2024.

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USCIS: Notice of Approval of New Credentialing Organization for Healthcare Workers for Certain Immigration Purposes Federal Register

Oct 25, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announcing the approval of International Education Evaluations, LLC, as a new credentialing organization for individuals seeking to enter the United States for the primary purpose of working as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed vocational nurses.

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BIA: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood Federal Register

Oct 24, 2024 - Notice from the Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Request for Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood." The information collected is used to certify that an individual's degree of Indian or Alaska Native blood under the laws authorizing BIA to administer program services to American Indians. Comments are due by November 25, 2024.

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Pratt Is the Latest Kansas Town Facing Nitrate Pollution. One-Quarter of Its Water Supply Is Off

Oct 24, 2024 - Highlights challenges faced by a rural Kansas community in their efforts to address nitrate contamination in drinking water. Notes that agricultural practices and sandy soil have led to dangerous increases in nitrate levels over recent decades. Describes efforts to obtain funding for a new water treatment center and to increase testing of private wells.

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Census Bureau: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; American Community Survey Methods Panel Tests Federal Register

Oct 23, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Census Bureau seeking comments on American Community Survey (ACS) Methods Panel tests related to self-response. ACS Methods Panel is a research program at the Census Bureau designed to address and respond to survey issues and needs of the ACS. From 2025 to 2028, the ACS Methods Panel may test ACS and decennial census methods for reducing survey cost, addressing respondent burden, and improving survey response, data quality, and survey efficiencies for housing units and group quarters. Comments are due by December 23, 2024.

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Census Bureau: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; National Survey of Children's Health Federal Register

Oct 23, 2024 - The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking comments on proposed revisions to the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). NSCH is designed to collect data on the physical and emotional health of children age 18 and younger, including information related to access to healthcare, family interactions, and school and after-school experiences, among other things. Comments are due by December 23, 2024.

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