Rural Health
News by Topic: Access
Mar 11, 2024 - Offers overview of priorities in the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget for the Health Resources & Services Administration including youth mental health, maternity care deserts, access to primary care, opioid treatment and recovery, the healthcare workforce, and organ donation. Discusses rural specific needs throughout.
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration
Mar 11, 2024 - Highlights a project in North Carolina offering school-mandated physicals to rural children using mobile clinics. Children that do not receive physicals may be suspended. Discusses the impact of suspension on educational outcomes and entering the justice system.
Source: North Carolina Health News
Mar 7, 2024 - Highlights the use of telemedicine in ambulances in an effort to improve health outcomes for patients being transported long distances to receive emergency care. Discusses loss of ambulance and hospital services in addition to limited specialty care in rural communities. Describes implementation in South Dakota and Minnesota.
Source: MPR News
Mar 7, 2024 - Reports on financial struggles for rural hospitals across the country leading to department and facility closures and many more at risk of closure. Highlights common rural health disparities and notes the impact of closures on rural communities. Discusses the impact of various policies on rural hospitals including Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement as well as the Rural Emergency Hospital designation.
Source: KFF Health News
Mar 6, 2024 - Announces nearly $50 million in new funding for the Rural Opioid Treatment and Recovery Initiative through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The funding can be used for both establishing new treatment and recovery services or expanding existing ones.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Related funding:
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Impact (RCORP – Impact)
Mar 6, 2024 - Discusses the rise in colorectal cancer rates and mortality disparities for Black and rural Americans. Highlights efforts by multiple states to increase screening rates including in rural West Virginia. Notes challenges for rural residents such as distance to care and shortages of specialists.
Source: Stateline
Mar 6, 2024 - A rural Colorado library system has added telehealth kits to its collection. The kits include a laptop, pulse oximeter, thermometer, webcam, and internet hotspot.
Source: KXRM Colorado Springs
Mar 5, 2024 - Highlights a peer group program for rural Colorado veterans with chronic pain. The program uses human connection for chronic pain treatment and increasing healthcare access. Discusses recent program expansion and offers success stories.
Source: Veterans Administration
Mar 5, 2024 - Highlights projected impacts to rural health following the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Discusses concerns about equity for patients using telehealth, particularly for rural residents and people with disabilities.
Source: Mother Jones
Mar 5, 2024 - Highlights a mobile health clinic in rural Indiana. Notes the clinic expanded to offer additional services after success offering vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: USDA Rural Development Newsroom