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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Access

Feb 27, 2024 - Announces a 4-part webinar series, starting March 12, 2024, presented by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) in collaboration with the Rural Health Information Hub, to support access to safe, high-quality maternity care in rural communities. Webinars will cover information on achieving the Birthing-Friendly Hospital Designation from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), working with Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) to improve care, implementing AIM bundles to improve patient safety, and how rural hospitals without birthing units can prepared for patient needs.
Source: Rural Health Information Hub
Feb 27, 2024 - Discusses the impact of a proposed bill on healthcare access for rural Veterans in Georgia. The bill would offer funding to increase transportation options for VAs.
Source: WSAV
Feb 26, 2024 - Highlights nonprofits and Centers for Independent Living in Georgia partnering to offer access to medical equipment for rural people with disabilities.
Feb 26, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service (RUS) extending the application period for the Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program for fiscal year 2024. RUS will begin to accept applications on March 22, 2024. Applications are due by May 21, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 23, 2024 - Describes the launch of a collaborative program in Nevada aiming to increase access to healthcare and health insurance for tribal communities. Discusses current rates of participation for Native residents and health disparities they experience. Highlights the impact of tribal representation in policymaking.
Source: The Nevada Independent
Feb 22, 2024 - Discusses challenges with accessing mental healthcare for rural areas, focusing primarily on workforce shortages, lack of inpatient care, distance to care, and broadband.
Source: 13 WREX
Feb 22, 2024 - Highlights research being done in Pennsylvania to investigate the impact on rural communities when local pharmacies close. Notes proposed solutions and challenges that still remain.
Source: 90.5 WESA
Feb 21, 2024 - Summarize a recent study finding race disparities in buprenorphine prescribing for in both rural and urban communities. Study examined 2018 prescribing data at the zip code level. Notes that the lack of medical providers for the rural minority communities is the reason for the rural disparity. Also discusses urban disparities trends and the impact these trends have on overdose mortality for various race and ethnicities.
Source: 90.5 WESA
Feb 21, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will begin to accept applications for the Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program for fiscal year 2024 on March 22, 2024. The ReConnect Program provides loans and grants to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. Applications that will assist rural communities to recover economically, ensure rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefit from Rural Development funded projects, and reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities are encouraged. Applications are due by April 22, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 20, 2024 - Discusses the opening of an additional distribution site for a Pennsylvania organization offering weekend meals to students. The new site will allow for easier access to rural students, described as a barrier for the main distribution center previously.
Source: The Tribune-Democrat