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Rural Health
News by Topic: Policy

May 31, 2024 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will hold a public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (ACIMM) on June 26-27, 2024. Agenda items are being finalized but may include an update on the federal Healthy Start program; Committee discussions on the workgroup topics of rural healthcare access, social drivers of health, and women's health before/between pregnancies; federal updates; and possible recommendations to achieve optimal maternal health and overall birth outcomes for underserved populations, including Black/African-American families. The webinar link and log-in information will be available at the ACIMM website before the meeting. Requests for public comment should be sent via email to SACIM@hrsa.gov.
Source: Federal Register
May 30, 2024 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is extending the deadline for nominations for membership on the Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD). The ACD consists of up to 15 experts knowledgeable in areas pertinent to the CDC mission, including public health, global health, health disparities, biomedical research, and other fields as applicable. Nominations are now due by July 8, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 30, 2024 - Discusses Wisconsin law permitting children as young as 12 to operate agricultural equipment on public roads. Outlines concerns from researchers regarding child cognitive development and increasing traffic accidents involving agricultural equipment.
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
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 from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announcing a joint Tribal consultation session between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ACF Office of Early Childhood Development (ECD), Office of Head Start (OHS), and Office of Child Care (OCC) and the leadership of Tribal governments operating Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting; Tribal Child Care and Development Fund; and Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The Tribal consultation session will be held on July 9-10, 2024, in Fort McDowell, Arizona. The purpose of this consultation session is to discuss ways to better meet the needs of Tribal children and their families and issues affecting the delivery of early childhood services in their geographic locations. Registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
May 29, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the reinstatement of an information collection request titled "Skilled Nursing Facility and Skilled Nursing Facility Complex Cost Report." The information collected will be used to determine the cost weights for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) market basket, conduct payment adequacy analyses, and determine reasonable costs. Comments are due by June 28, 2024.
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 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposing revisions to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME program) regulations to update, simplify, or streamline requirements; better align the program with other federal housing programs; and implement recent amendments to the HOME statute. This rule also includes minor revisions to the regulations for the Community Development Block Grant and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Programs consistent with the implementation of proposed changes to the HOME program. Comments are due by July 29, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 28, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will hold virtual listening sessions to obtain feedback from stakeholders and other interested parties about the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program. The purpose of the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program grant program is to encourage and improve telemedicine services and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. Listening sessions will be held on June 11, 2024, and June 18, 2024, from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern each day. Registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants
May 24, 2024 - Call for papers related to rural health disparities and public health for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's journal Preventing Chronic Disease. Manuscripts may cover topics such as social determinants of health, environment, policy, community initiatives, and more. An inquiry including an abstract is due July 19, 2024. Inquiries accepted must submit a final manuscript by January 24, 2025.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention