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Rural Health
News by Topic: Infectious diseases

Aug 27, 2024 - Features the perspectives of Colorado farmworkers on the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other workplace precautions to prevent the spread of bird flu. Notes challenges faced by state health and agriculture departments in distributing free PPE to producers and educating farmworkers on protective measures.
Source: KFF Health News
Aug 26, 2024 - Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) on September 12-13, 2024. Agenda items will include presentations on implementing the universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for adults aged 19-59 years and adults aged 60 years and older with risk factors, new approaches for tuberculosis vaccine innovation, and research to inform future HIV vaccine development. NVAC will also host panels on vaccine equity, provider payment, and planning for the development of the next national vaccine strategy. Confirmed meeting times and information regarding attending this meeting will be posted on the NVAC website. Registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 21, 2024 - Describes challenges with accurately tracking HIV cases in rural West Virginia due to limited outreach and testing, locating unhoused people, drug use, and lack of funding. Highlights efforts by small local organizations to fill testing and treatment gaps.
Source: WV Public Broadcasting
Aug 20, 2024 - Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) proposing to update Policy Notice 21-01, "Waiver of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Core Medical Services Expenditure Requirement." The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) statute grants the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authority to waive the requirement that RWHAP Parts A, B, and C recipients send 75 percent of Parts A, B, and C grant funds on core medical services for individuals who are identified with HIV/AIDS and eligible for RWHAP services under the statute. Proposed updates reflect a new policy aimed at clarifying which percentages of HIV service dollars will be allocated to core medical and support services. Comments are due by September 19, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 19, 2024 - A call for 8-10 experts from the National Academics of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to participate in a workshop discussing highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). The workshop will discuss readiness and response, a One Health approach, and collaboration between federal, academic, and private sector communities. The deadline to submit a recommendation is August 30th.
Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Aug 15, 2024 - Discusses the loss of chemotherapy treatment in rural Tennessee. Notes that COVID-related increases in the cost of healthcare have led some hospitals to end the service.
Source: WPLN
Aug 13, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on the reinstatement with changes of an information collection titled "Conditions of Participation for Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and Supporting Regulations." Changes include new Conditions of Participation regarding obstetrical services and respiratory illness reporting requirements outlined in the July 22, 2024, and scheduled August 28, 2024, rules, respectively. Comments are due by October 7, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 12, 2024 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comment on an information collection request titled "COVID-19 Provider Relief Programs Single and Commercial Audits and Delinquent Audit Reporting Submission Activities, OMB No. 0906-0083—Revision." HRSA will use the information collected to ensure that Provider Relief Program recipients who expended over $750,000 in funding during the recipient's fiscal year submit an audit and resolve audit findings. Comments are due by September 11, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 6, 2024 - Highlights work by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support farmworker health in celebration of Farmworker Appreciation Day. Release and associated fact sheet details outreach, research, technical assistance, grants, and tools related to heat, wildfire, civil rights, Migrant Health Centers, migrant mental health, H5N1, and more.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Jul 31, 2024 - Describes new research finding H5N1 cases are likely underdiagnosed due to limited testing. Discusses barriers to improved surveillance including systemic issues common to farm workers such as precarious employment, being uninsured, lack of personal protective equipment, and more. Notes potential opportunities for spread and common symptoms.
Source: NPR, KFF Health News