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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Population health

Jan 15, 2025 - Announces a new grant to combat the opioid epidemic in rural Georgia by training, supporting, and compensating 50 rural pharmacists in dispensing naloxone in addition to community education regarding local resources. Describes increases in overdose deaths and the use of fentanyl in Georgia.
Source: UGA Today
Jan 15, 2025 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) correcting the January 8, 2025, notice requesting nominations of candidates to serve as primary and alternate delegates for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity Tribal Advisory Committee (CIIHE TAC). Nomination letters are encouraged by February 18, 2025, but will continue to accept nominations until all primary and alternate delegate positions are filled. Nominees will be notified of the delegate selection status in March 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 15, 2025 - Notice of final rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) terminating its rulemaking on occupational exposure to COVID-19 in healthcare setting. This rule explains that OSHA has concluded that the most effective and efficient use of agency resources to protect healthcare workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19, as well as a host of other infectious diseases, is to focus its resources on the completion of an Infectious Diseases rulemaking for healthcare rather than a disease-specific standard. The termination of the rulemaking is effective January 15, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 15, 2025 - The Washington American Indian Health Commission has requested the state consider a federal waiver for Medicaid coverage of traditional Indigenous healing practices following waivers successfully obtained by 4 other states in 2024. Discusses health disparities in Native communities and the funding benefits tribal health clinics would get from the waiver.
Source: Native News Online
Jan 10, 2025 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) updating the organizational structure for the Office of Minority Health (OMH). The name of the Division of Information and Education has been changed to the Division of Strategic Communication and Community Engagement (DCE).
Source: Federal Register
Jan 8, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) is accepting nominations of candidates to serve as primary and alternate delegates for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity Tribal Advisory Committee (CIIHE TAC). CIIHE TAC delegates must be elected tribal officials from a federally recognized tribe acting in their official capacity or individuals designated by an elected tribal official. There are vacancies for all IHS areas, except the Navajo and Tucson Areas. Nomination letters are encouraged by January 17, 2024, but will continue to accept nominations until all primary and alternate delegate positions are filled.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 7, 2025 - Describes a program connecting nurses in training with patients through free screenings in rural and other underserved communities across Indiana, offering the students hands-on practice and increasing access to healthcare for rural residents. Highlights other health outreach activities through Indiana University including eye exams, oral healthcare, fitness assessments, and more. Notes the efforts by the university to address healthcare workforce shortages in the state.
Source: News at IU
Jan 5, 2025 - Provides an overview of new research led by the University of Washington that found higher rates of menopause symptoms among rural women compared to their urban counterparts. Discusses possible contributing factors including lifestyle differences and long travel times to access care. Features the perspective of a rural nurse practitioner on changing attitudes and increased interest among her patients in menopause care.
Source: The Spokesman-Review
Jan 3, 2025 - Describes a new state-funded work group within Colorado's Behavioral Health Administration that will offer guidance on agricultural and rural behavioral health. Highlights mental health outcome disparities for farmers and ranchers and farming-related stressors contributing to those disparities.
Source: The Colorado Sun
Jan 3, 2025 - Notice of proposed rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposing changes to its medical regulations to exempt Whole Health well-being services from the copayment requirements for inpatient hospital care and outpatient medical care. Comments are due by March 4, 2025.
Source: Federal Register