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Rural Health
News by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Apr 30, 2024 - Summarizes the proceedings of the Alaska Association of Student Government Spring Conference, held in the remote community of Utqiagvik. Highlights student resolutions, including support for Naloxone training and increased mental health resources in rural schools.
Source: The Arctic Sounder
Apr 30, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amending its medical regulations regarding Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) coverage. This rule removes the exclusion of audio-only telehealth visits. This rule also removes quantitative limitations on outpatient mental health visits and cost-sharing requirements for contraceptive services and contraceptive products approved, cleared, or granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This rule is effective May 30, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 29, 2024 - The Advisory Committee to the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACD, CDC) will hold a public meeting on June 6, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern. CD advises the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Director of the CDC on policies and strategies that will enable the CDC to fulfill its mission of protecting health through health promotion, prevention, and preparedness. Agenda items will include an update on CDC priorities from the CDC Director, discussions on CDC's work to address equity and social determinants of health, lab readiness and response improvement efforts, programmatic updates, and updates from the ACD Data and Surveillance Workgroup and the Communications and Public Engagement Workgroup. Information on how to join the meeting virtually will be posted on the ACD website prior to the meeting.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 29, 2024 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued recognition of The Compliance Team (TCT) as a national accrediting organization for suppliers providing home infusion therapy services that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Comments are due by May 29, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 29, 2024 - Highlights increased risk of mental health struggles and suicide among rural youth. Discusses a tech-based service delivery program in South Dakota.
Source: Public News Service
Apr 26, 2024 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued recognition of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) as a national accrediting organization providing home infusion therapy services that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Comments are due by May 28, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 26, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) modifying the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (Privacy Rule). This rule limits the circumstances in which provisions of the Privacy Rule permit the use or disclosure of an individual's protected health information (PHI) about reproductive healthcare for certain non-healthcare purposes that could be detrimental to privacy of the individual or another person or the individual's trust in their healthcare providers. This rule is effective June 25, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 26, 2024 - Describes the changes to substance use disorder (SUD) confidentiality regulations under 42 CFR Part 2 and the impact of the rule change on rural healthcare providers. Discusses services offered by Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Source: National Rural Health Association
Apr 26, 2024 - Profiles two Indigenous doulas in New Mexico. Discusses challenges with growing the profession related to training costs, lack of culturally relevant training, and limited or no insurance reimbursement. Notes that Medicaid reimbursements will be available beginning in July.
Source: New Mexico In Depth
Apr 25, 2024 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of receipt of an application from Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) for re-approval as an accreditation organization for clinical laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) program for several specialty and subspecialty laboratories. CMS has re-approved AABB as an accreditation organization under CLIA and grants deeming authority for 6 years through April 25, 2030.
Source: Federal Register