Rural Health
News by Topic: Health workforce
Apr 22, 2024 - Announces three rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services establishing national standards and increasing access to care. "Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes" aims to improve healthcare quality by setting minimum staffing standards for nursing staff, collecting and reporting on workforce compensation data, and offering incentives for the nurse workforce to work in nursing homes. The 2 remaining rules work together to establish national appointment wait time standards, address payment transparency, and create payment standards for workers providing home and community based services.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
HRSA: Income Levels Used for Various Health Professions and Nursing Programs Authorized in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act
Federal Register
Apr 22, 2024 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) updating income levels used to identify a "low-income family" to determine disadvantaged background eligibility for Titles III, VII, and VIII nursing and health professions programs authorized by the Public Health Service Act. These programs provide health professions students with scholarships and/or loan repayment in return for service in underserved locations.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 22, 2024 - Discusses recent research finding the shortage of primary care physicians is greater in rural areas. Includes analysis of findings by study authors, discussing rural-specific needs, Medicare reimbursement, and recruiting rural residents into healthcare.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Apr 22, 2024 - Describes the role community health workers play in re-entry for recently incarcerated rural Utah residents. Discusses the role of addiction in incarceration and how the program is funded.
Source: KFF Health News, CBS News
Apr 18, 2024 - Describes a program for rural underserved high school students in Tennessee interested in healthcare careers, aiming to recruit students into the healthcare field. The program offers hands-on experience with the medical field.
Source: ETSU News
Apr 17, 2024 - A rural pediatric partnership is expanding into new areas in rural Georgia. The initiative equips rural hospitals with the tools, best practices, training, and research to offer quality healthcare in rural areas, aiding residents who would otherwise have to travel for specialty care. Initiative offers support for emergency department care, pediatrician and telehealthcare, and behavioral and mental health assessments and interventions. The program also offers scholarships for students who commit to working in rural communities.
Source: The Den
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register
Apr 16, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks comments on revisions to an information collection titled "Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities." The information collected will be used by CMS, state survey agencies, and long-term care (LTC) facilities to ensure compliance with Medicare and Medicaid requirements and quality of care provided to LTC residents. Revisions include new requirements proposed at 42 CFR 483.35 and new section 483.71, which were discussed in the September 6, 2023, proposed rule on page 61391. Comments are due by June 17, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 15, 2024 - Highlights the Duluth Family Medicine Residency Program, a program addressing physician shortages in rural areas. The program focuses on training physicians for the varied needs of rural and remote regions where residents face health disparities and less access to emergency and specialty healthcare.
Source: Essentia Health
Apr 15, 2024 - Discusses the social and economic factors contributing to early mortality for Native Americans. Highlights community health workers, food insecurity, generational trauma, and interventions attempting to reduce disparities.
Source: CBS News, KFF Health News
Apr 11, 2024 - Discusses proposed legislation for a residential high school aiming to address rural healthcare workforce shortages in Alabama. Notes that the school would be the fourth residential school in the state, but the first one in a rural area.
Source: Alabama Daily News