RHIhub This Week - January 15, 2025
Trust in Translation: Rural Providers Cross Language Barriers with Training, Outreachby Gretel Kauffman As language diversity grows in rural America, health systems and training programs are taking new steps to reach patients with limited English proficiency. |
Upcoming Webinar
2025 Physician Fee Schedule Final RuleJoin us Thursday, January 30th at 1:00 p.m. Central to hear Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) experts discuss highlights from the final rule for the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and policy updates impacting healthcare services in rural areas related to behavioral health, telehealth, care management, and more. Register today! |
Recently Added to the Online Library |
Jan 15, 2025 -- Announces the final policy and funding initiatives from the Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Funded work will sustain the work of the year long initiative and also develop recommendations for preventing cardiovascular conditions in women. Includes a report on the work of the committee and highlights work throughout 2024 including rural health initiatives. Source: Human Resources and Services Administration Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation: Request for Input 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 Can Medical Schools Funnel More Doctors Into the Primary Care Pipeline? Jan 13, 2025 -- Discusses the factors contributing to a growing shortage of primary care doctors across the nation and efforts by medical schools to encourage students to pursue a career in primary care. Highlights a University of Washington program which has shown success in funneling primary care graduates to rural communities. Source: KFF Health News Study Examines Links Between Opioid Epidemic and Rural Homelessness Jan 13, 2025 -- Outlines the findings of a new study on the relationship between opioid use and homelessness in rural populations. Discusses the difficulty of accurately counting the number of homeless individuals in rural areas, and how this can lead to inadequate allocations of funding and resources. Source: Georgia State University News Federal RegisterHHS: Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity Tribal Advisory Committee; Solicitation of Nominations for DelegatesJan 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 Public Inspection: DEA, HHS: Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter Jan 15, 2025 -- Pre-publication 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 30 days after the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for January 17, 2025. Source: Federal Register Public Inspection: DEA: Special Registrations for Telemedicine and Limited State Telemedicine Registrations Jan 15, 2025 -- Pre-publication 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 within 60 days of the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for January 17, 2025. Source: Federal Register |
A paid training program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where associates gain hands-on experience across a variety of public health settings. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. territories Application Deadline: Jan 21, 2025 Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention State Falls Prevention Coalitions Funding to develop new or enhance existing coalitions to reduce falls and/or the risk of falls among older adults, adults with disabilities, and their families and caregivers. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Feb 13, 2025 Sponsor: National Council on Aging CMS Health Equity Award Awards for organizations that are using the CMS Framework for Health Equity to advance health equity and reduce disparities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Feb 18, 2025 Sponsor: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hillman Emergent Innovation: Serious Illness and End of Life Program Grants for early stage nursing-driven interventions that target serious illness and end of life needs faced by vulnerable populations, including economically disadvantaged, rural, and other populations that encounter barriers to accessing services. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Required): Feb 18, 2025 Application Deadline: May 20, 2025 Sponsor: The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation Connecting Kids to Coverage Healthy Kids Outreach and Enrollment Grants Grants to organizations that help families with children and pregnant individuals enroll in health coverage opportunities, including Medicaid, CHIP, and insurance affordability programs. Rural and tribal communities are considered target populations. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Letter of Intent (Optional): Feb 7, 2025 Application Deadline: Mar 7, 2025 Sponsors: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rural Residency Planning and Development Program Grants to expand access to healthcare in rural areas by developing new sustainable rural residency programs, including rural track programs (RTPs). The program will provide start-up funding to create rural residency programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Geographic coverage: Nationwide Application Deadline: Apr 10, 2025 Sponsors: Bureau of Health Workforce, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Pathways Grants to create innovative new youth-focused, peer-driven behavioral healthcare support programs while also offering career pathway opportunities in rural communities. Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories Application Deadline: Apr 14, 2025 Sponsors: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Jail-based Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Mentor Site Initiative Peer-to-peer learning opportunity for jails interested in providing or enhancing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services for individuals with substance use disorders. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsors: Bureau of Justice Assistance, Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP), U.S. Department of Justice Technical Assistance for Tribal Domestic Violence Programs and Shelters Technical assistance for tribal domestic violence programs and shelters to build tribal capacity to respond to domestic violence; strengthen advocacy; and improve services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and sex trafficking. Geographic coverage: Nationwide Applications accepted on an ongoing basis Sponsor: National Indigenous Women's Resource Center |
Summarizes progress made and challenges that remain in building and sustaining capabilities needed to prevent and recover from threats and incidents that pose the greatest risk to the nation. Covers calendar year 2023 and places particular emphasis on mass care services, public information and warning, infrastructure systems, and cybersecurity. Mentions rural throughout, and discusses rural hospital closures and rural residents' unreliable access to medical care during disasters. Sponsoring organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency Date: 12/2024 Assessing the Feasibility of Creating a National Behavioral Health Workforce Database Results of a project to determine the feasibility of developing a database of behavioral health providers and practices that offers up-to-date information to support research, policymaking, and public access. Identifies key elements, including demographics, licensure, education, and practice details. Includes information on databases focused on rural health. Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Date: 01/2025 The Association Between Neighborhood Social Vulnerability and Community-Based Rehabilitation after Stroke Examines the relationship between the timely use of community-based rehabilitation after a stroke and the social determinants of health. Analyzes 6,843 adults enrolled in a post-acute stroke program in North Carolina, with breakdowns according to patient SVI and therapy visits within 90 days of stroke. Includes discussion of rurality as a factor related to access and timely use of care. Author(s): Shuqi Zhang, Elizabeth R. Mormer, Anna M. Johnson, et al. Location: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 55 Date: 01/2025 Behavioral Health Service Use among Individuals Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP Before and During The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Examines behavioral health (BH) service usage changes among Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Compares BH service initiation and treatment before the PHE (2018-2019) and during the PHE (2019-2020), with further data breakdowns by enrollee BH condition and demographic variables, including rural versus urban location. Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Date: 12/2024 Child Maltreatment 2023 Reports on rates of children receiving child protective services, children who died of abuse and neglect, and children who are victims of maltreatment, using data collected from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). Offers information on availability and access to child protective services at the state and territory level, including how some counties respond to child abuse and neglect screenings, referrals, and the provision of services. Includes data broken down by race/ethnicity as well as discussions specific to rural and tribal areas. Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Date: 01/2025 CMS Office of Minority Health: Health Equity Data Book Provides data on disparities in participation in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) programs, including data on demographics of covered individuals, chronic conditions, behavioral health conditions, and social determinants of health. Contains rural data for select programs. Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Date: 12/2024 Combating Antimicrobial Resistance During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perceived Risks and Protective Practices Explores the range of factors that impacted efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents findings from an analysis of published scholarly sources and lessons learned from urban and rural healthcare professionals involved in antimicrobial stewardship. Includes rural references and considerations throughout. Sponsoring organizations: Eastern Research Group, Inc., HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Date: 01/2025 Disparities in Cardiac Arrest Mortality among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A US-Based Epidemiological Analysis Examines demographic disparities in chronic kidney disease-related cardiac arrest mortality, utilizing 1999-2020 CDC WONDER data. Provides data on factors including social vulnerability and rural or urban dwelling. Author(s): Mahek Shahid, Hoang Nhat Pham, Ramzi Ibrahim, et al. Location: Journal of Arrhythmia, 41(1), e13217 Date: 01/2025 Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative Describes accomplishments of the Health Resources and Services Administration's initiative to strengthen, expand, and accelerate work to address maternal mortality and maternal health disparities, especially in underserved areas. Mentions rural throughout. Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration Date: 01/2025 Evaluating Medicare Advantage Benchmark Setting Methodology on Rural Counties Examines how the current Medicare Advantage benchmark setting process and methods impact rural and urban counties. Presents data on the Medicare fee-for-service spending quartiles by metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties and the effects of caps on benchmark payments by geography. Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis Date: 01/2025 Healthcare Insurance Coverage, Affordability of Coverage, and Access to Care, 2021-2024 Provides an overview of health insurance access between 2021 and 2024. Provides data on the national uninsured rate, enrollment in new insurance plans after a consumer's Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) disenrollment, and indicators on healthcare access and affordability for both children and adults. Includes select data on rural consumers, such as projected savings and uninsurance rates. Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Date: 01/2025 Implementation of Mobile Medication Units: Findings from a Qualitative Study Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout. Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica Date: 01/2025 Maximizing the Value of Remote Patient Monitoring Provides a brief description of the remote patient monitoring landscape. Discusses four areas policymakers could focus on to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of remote patient monitoring. Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center Date: 01/2025 Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System (GADCS) Report: Year 1 and Year 2 Cohort Analysis Provides data from the first two cohorts of ground ambulance organizations selected to participate in the Ground Ambulance Data Collection System. Includes response rates, information on data cleaning and validation, statistics summarizing responses, and analyses exploring relationships between costs per service and organizational characteristics. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, rural, and super rural areas. Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RAND Corporation Date: 12/2024 Resources for Measuring Rurality in Research on Maternity Care Explores how different measures of rurality influence research outcomes, with a focus on maternal health research. Describes multiple measures and definitions commonly employed to categorize rural populations. Discusses the implications of these definitions for research, public health interventions, and policy formulation. Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center Date: 01/2025 Rural Nonprofit Hospital Community Benefit and Financial Assistance Spending: A Call for Greater Reporting Transparency Examines the variation in community benefit and financial assistance spending among rural nonprofit hospitals that filed group returns in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Analyzes 2021 nonprofit hospital tax data to explore whether group filers' community benefit spending differed from individual nonprofit hospital filers. Discusses potential implications of policy recommendations that would require nonprofit hospitals to file individual tax returns. Author(s): Hannah MacDougall, Melissa Latcham, Erica Eliason Location: Journal of Rural Health, 41, e12914 Date: 01/2025 Target Door-to-Needle Time in Acute Stroke Treatment via Telemedicine Versus In-Person Evaluation in a Rural Setting of the Midwest: A Retrospective Cohort Study Examines door-to-needle time (DTN) among 239 patients who received thrombolytic treatment within a rural, Midwestern stroke network. Compares telemedicine and in-person treatment delivery, with data on patient safety, short-term outcomes, and DTN by provider type. Author(s): Andrea Loggini, Jonatan Hornik, Jessie Henson, et al. Location: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 34(1), 108141 Date: 01/2025 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Strategic Plan for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health, Human Services, and Public Health Outlines plans by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the adoption and assessment of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and human service delivery in 7 domains: medical research and discovery; medical product development, safety, and effectiveness; healthcare delivery; human services delivery; public health; cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, and internal operations. Notes the role of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Indian Health Service (IHS) in ensuring equitable use in rural, tribal, and other underserved communities. Additional links: Overview, Slide Presentation Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Date: 01/2025 Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of a Patient Safety Bundle for Pregnancy-Related Severe Hypertension in 3 North Carolina Outpatient Clinics: A Qualitative Study Examines the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health's Patient Safety Bundle (Bundle) implementation in North Carolina, which aims to address complications of pregnancy related hypertension. Utilizes feedback from 11 key informant interviews working at a rural outpatient Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in central North Carolina. Discusses facilitators and barriers of the Bundle implementation, with a focus on access issues in rural and underserved communities. Author(s): Aparna G. Kachoria, Hiba Fatima, Alexandra F. Lightfoot, et al. Location: Implementation Science Communications, 6, 7 Date: 01/2025 Urban and Rural Differences in the Efficacy of a Mobile Health Depression Treatment for Young Adults Examines the efficacy of a randomized clinical trial of a mobile health (mHealth) depression treatment in 103 young adults ages 18-25 across the U.S. Explores whether treatment efficacy differed by rural and urban residence. Author(s): Jeremy Mennis, J. Douglas Coatsworth, Michael Russell, et al. Location: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(12), 1572 Date: 11/2024 |
Deadline: Jan 17, 2025 Michigan Center for Rural Health Event Dates: Apr 24 - 25, 2025 Mount Pleasant, MI Conference Website Call for Posters: 2025 Annual Northwest Regional Rural Health Conference Deadline: Feb 14, 2025 Rural Health Clinic Association of Washington, Washington Area Health Education Center Program, Washington State Office of Rural Health Event Dates: Mar 24 - 26, 2025 Spokane, WA Conference Website Call for Speakers: 2024 Annual Rural Nevada EMS Conference Deadline: Mar 1, 2025 Nevada State Office of Rural Health Event Dates: Sep 16 - 19, 2025 Elko, NV Conference Website Call for Abstracts: 2025 Annual American Public Health Association Meeting and Expo Deadline: Mar 28, 2025 American Public Health Association Event Dates: Nov 2 - 5, 2025 Washington, DC Conference Website |
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Tell Us How RHIhub Has Impacted YouEmail kristine@ruralhealthinfo.org about how RHIhub has impacted you. Your stories may be used in testimony, budget documents, and presentations concerning the Rural Health Information Hub. |