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Rural Health
News by Topic: Service delivery models

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
Jan 17, 2025 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on an information collection titled "Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Jurisdictional Survey Instrument for the Title V MCH Block Grant Program, OMB No. 0906-0042—Revision." The MCH Jurisdictional Survey is designed to produce data on the physical and emotional health of mothers and children under 18 years of age in the following eight jurisdictions—American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, Puerto Rico, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Proposed revisions include further updates to survey questions to align with new Federal data standards, including updated guidance from OMB on collecting information on race and ethnicity. Comments are due by February 18, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jan 17, 2025 - Interviews a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh nursing student about her experience with telehealth education as part of the nursing school curriculum. The goal of the program is to train the workforce and in turn increase access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities.
Source: UW Oshkosh Today
Jan 15, 2025 - Discusses progress made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) toward accountable care goals, highlighting accomplishments from the 2025 performance year. Notes participation numbers related to Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, Critical Access Hospitals for various CMS models.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Newsroom
Jan 14, 2025 - Request for input regarding barriers to participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models from the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC). Topics of interest include business decisions impacting participation for different organization types, streamlining models, and incentivizing participation for both primary and specialty care. Asks for feedback regarding types of organizations best positioned to serve rural and other communities. Comments can be emailed to PTAC@HHS.gov by February 7, 2025.
Source: Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Jan 13, 2025 - Announces a new mobile clinic bringing primary care services to rural Nevada. The new mobile unit expands on an existing mobile healthcare program offering mammography services.
Source: 2 News Nevada
Jan 13, 2025 - Highlights a new report on mental healthcare awareness among and access for veterans in New York. Discusses reductions in stigma, rural community focused networks, rural culture, and telehealth.
Source: North Country Public Radio
Jan 6, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is accepting applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program for fiscal year 2025, subject to the availability of funding. DLT grant funds support the use of telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. Applications that will help rural communities recover economically, ensure all rural residents have equitable access to USDA Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD-funded projects, and reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support are encouraged. Applications are due by March 6, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants