News stories via the Rural Assistance Center This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $800 Million to Strengthen Rural Infrastructure and Create Jobs
Announces $808 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for rural cooperatives and utilities for building new and improving existing infrastructure. Infrastructure areas benefitting from this funding include electric grids, drinking water, and wastewater systems in 36 states and 2 territories. The funding is also expected to create new rural jobs. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 28, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Efforts in Rural New York Communities Aim to Prevent Children From Entering Foster Care
Describes a program in rural New York which aims to keep children in the Child Protective Services (CPS) system in the home rather than placed with a foster family. The program helps parents with medical appointment transportation, parenting lessons, acquiring basic needs, and other wraparound services. Discusses trends in child welfare in the foster care system and the role poverty plays in introducing families to the system. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 28, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Dane County Joins Harvard to Expand Mental Health Crisis Services
A program that sends crisis workers rather than police to behavioral health emergencies in a Wisconsin city is being evaluated for its potential application in a rural Wisconsin county. The partnership with Harvard will provide research support for the evaluation. Discusses rural specific challenges such as volunteer first responders and response times for emergency care. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 28, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Vt. Hospitals Partner to Help Babies in Need of Critical Care
A partnership between rural providers and urban specialists in Vermont is improving care for premature newborns during transportation. Telemedicine in ambulances and hospital rooms allows a specialist to provide care while transporting the newborns potentially an hour or more. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 23, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

The Face Of Rural Addiction Is Not What You Think
Describes the rise of addiction among rural Black residents. New research has found that overdoses have increased for young Black people in both urban and rural areas. Highlights rural specific conditions that make drug use more common and describes how lack of access to healthcare and addiction treatment impacts rural residents. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 22, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS is Taking Action to Address Benefit Integrity Issues Related to Hospice Care
Announces The Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) policy changes related to oversight of hospice facilities due to fraudulent billing practices. Includes specific regulation updates for facilities in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas as well as accrediting organizations. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 22, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

August 2023 Maui Fire Rural Response Guide
Lists local, state, federal, and national resources to aid in the rural response to the August wildfires in Maui. Includes recommendations from the American Red Cross on how to evacuate and return home safely. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 22, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Rural Healthcare Cybersecurity Aid Grows, But Challenges Persist
Describes the unique impact cybersecurity attacks can have on rural hospitals and rural residents compared to urban ones. Notes that limited healthcare options mean rural residents cannot easily go to a different facility for healthcare. Additionally, cybersecurity is costly and rural facilities often experience financially instability. Highlights efforts by federal officials to respond to these issues as well as resources for rural facilities to help mitigate risk. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 22, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Leadership Announcement - CDC Office of Rural Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the selection of Diane M. Hall to lead the newly established CDC Office of Rural Health. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 22, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Novel Survey Elevates Rural Lived Experience
Describes a new survey method being tested in Oregon to include more rural resident participation. Highlights some of the findings after implementing the new methodology and discusses using this methodology at a national scale. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 21, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $700 Million to Connect People in Remote and Rural Areas to High-Speed Internet
Announcement of $667 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for affordable high-speed internet for rural communities in 22 states and the Marshall Islands through the ReConnect Program. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 21, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

NIH establishes Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence
The National Institutes of Health has funded 12 institutions to establish 10 Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence and 2 hubs focusing on data collection and integrating research into public health. The Centers will focus their work on health disparate communities, including rural residents. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 17, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Experts: Mainstream Addiction Treatment Act Removes a Roadblock to Recovery
The Mainstream Addiction Treatment Act (MAT Act) has potential to increase opioid use disorder treatment access in rural areas. The number of healthcare professionals able to prescribe the treatment has gone from 130,000 to over 1.8 million. Education and partnerships are still needed for healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas where there are fewer prescribers and other addiction support services. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 16, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

Tribal Health Workers Aren't Paid Like Their Peers. See Why Nevada Changed That.
Describes the role of community health representatives (CHR) in a Nevada tribe. The role is functionally the same as a community health worker (CHW), but typically not covered by Medicaid. Nevada recently changed this policy which should allow the tribe to hire more CHRs. Describes the improved health outcomes that CHRs and CHWs can contribute to by providing their services including transportation to medical appointments, grocery delivery, medication delivery, and more. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 14, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

CMS Announces Resources and Flexibilities to Assist with the Public Health Emergency in Hawaii Due to Recent Wildfires
Announcement of a public health emergency beginning August 8, 2023 from The Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) related to recent wildfires in Hawaii. Offers information and resources for those impacted and responding to the wildfires including CMS waivers, a disaster toolkit, dialysis care, and medical equipment and supplies replacement. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - August 12, 2023 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news