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Rural Health
News by Topic: Population health

Mar 17, 2023 - Oregon's coastal and rural communities have higher rates of "deaths of despair," such as overdoses, alcohol-related deaths and suicides, compared with the more urban parts of the state. Oregon State University's Coast to Forest initiative helps people learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health distress and how to respond.
Source: OPB
Mar 15, 2023 - Announcement of a virtual public meeting of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC) to be held on April 12-13, 2023. Agenda items include agency updates from CDC, CMS, and FDA. Agenda items will include presentations and discussions on reports from two CLIAC workgroups and the laboratory's role in advancing health equity. The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the CLIAC website prior to the meeting.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 15, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations for membership on the Board of Scientific Counselors, Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases (BSC, DDID). Nominations are being sought for individuals who have the expertise and qualifications in the fields relevant to the issues addressed by CDC's infectious disease national centers and related specialties, including clinical and public health practice, laboratory practice, research, and health policy/communications, among others. Nominations are due by April 14, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 10, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seeking comment on a proposed information collection for the STD Surveillance Network. Information gathered is designed to strengthen surveillance capacity for incident, new and emerging sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) by collecting risk, demographic, and clinical information on patients at risk for STDs attending STD related healthcare facilities, and providing more accurate estimates of the burden of disease, incidence of STDs, trends and impact of STDs at the population level. Written comments must be received on or before May 9, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 10, 2023 - The U.S. Census Bureau is allowing an additional 30 days to comment on the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) which is designed to collect data on the physical and emotional health of children age 18 and younger, including information related to access to healthcare, family interactions, and school and after-school experiences, among other things. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 10, 2023 - Mercer University's new Faith in Rural Health initiative, a partnership among the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, School of Medicine, and McAfee School of Theology, aims to support the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people in rural Georgia counties by coordinating efforts of clergy, physicians, and healthcare professionals.
Source: The Den
Mar 6, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES produces descriptive statistics, which measure the health and nutrition status of the general population. The proposed changes include modifications that were previously approved via non-substantive change requests, as well as a request for three years of approval. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 3, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a virtual public meeting of the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) on April 19-20, 2023. The CPSTF is charged with identifying community preventive programs, services, and policies that increase healthy longevity and improve quality of life while saving money. Agenda items include deliberation on systematic reviews of the literature on mental health, substance use, preparedness and response, cancer, and oral health.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 2, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a hybrid public meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors, Center for Preparedness and Response (BSC, CPR) on March 30, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The agenda includes updates on the Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation; CDCReady Responder; health equity; data modernization; and more. Registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 2, 2023 - Notice from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) making corrections to the February 23, 2023, notice seeking comments on the draft Physical Activity Guidelines Midcourse Report on Older Adults (Midcourse Report). The earlier notice did not include the deadline for comments. Comments are due by March 10, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 2, 2023 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will hold a virtual public meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) on March 29-30, 2023. The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the PACHA website prior to the meeting. Preregistration is required by April 5, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 2, 2023 - The Veterans Administration (VA) announced the availability of grants to community-based organizations that offer suicide prevention services for veterans and their families. This includes conducting veteran mental health screenings, providing case management and peer support services, delivering emergency clinical services, reaching out to veterans at risk of suicide, and more.
Source: VA News
Feb 28, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STD Prevention and Treatment (CHAC) will hold a virtual public meeting on November 1-3, 2022. Agenda items include discussions related to sexual health, equitable scale-up of interventions, mpox, and youth and STD testing.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 24, 2023 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking comments on the draft Physical Activity Guidelines Midcourse Report on Older Adults (Midcourse Report). The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provides science-based recommendations on how physical activity can help promote health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) led the development of this midcourse report, which is focused on how to increase physical activity levels among older adults. Comments are due within two weeks of the publication of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 21, 2023 - A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) consistently declined at the county level from 2009-2018. However, rural counties and counties with a higher percentage of black residents had higher CVD mortality rates than urban counties and counties with a lower percentage of black residents.
Source: EurekAlert
Feb 17, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking comments on a proposed information collection project titled "Data Collection Through Web Based Surveys for Evaluating Act Against AIDS Social Marketing Campaign Phases Targeting Consumers." Information collected will be used to assess the effectiveness of social marketing messages aimed at increasing HIV/AIDS awareness, increasing prevention behaviors, and improving HIV testing rates among consumers. Comments are due by April 18, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 17, 2023 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comments on revisions to an information collection request related to the Healthy Start Program. The data will be used to conduct ongoing performance monitoring of the program, thus meeting program needs for accountability, programmatic decision-making, and ongoing quality assurance. Proposed changes include the correction of typos, the addition of response options, and the clarification of instructions. Comments are due by March 20, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 16, 2023 - The Indian Health Service is accepting applications for a single cooperative agreement for the IHS Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center. The "Zero Suicide" model focuses on developing a system-wide approach to improving care for individuals at risk of suicide who are currently using health and behavioral health systems. The Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center will provide technical assistance in the areas of data collection, reporting, training, resources, and implementation of the Zero Suicide approach in Indian Country. Applications are due by April 17, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 13, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the charter renewal for the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Health Statistics (BSC, NCHS). The renewal is effective through January 19, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 10, 2023 - Highlights some of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' policies to support rural providers, improve access to care in rural areas, and support the transformation of the rural health delivery system.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Feb 9, 2023 - Highlights the work of the Chiricahua Community Health Centers in rural Arizona to increase vaccination rates and improve access to other health services. Approaches include offering childhood immunizations at dental clinics, adding more walk-in hours at health clinics, and reaching farmworkers with mobile medical and dental clinics.
Source: Arizona Republic
Feb 6, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on the information collection project titled " Surveillance of Persons with Early and Late HIV Diagnosis (SHIELD)." This project will collect information from people recently diagnosed with HIV at early or late diagnosis to understand barriers to HIV prevention and testing services contributing to transmission. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 5, 2023 - Highlights the work of Josiah Hugs, a Native American liaison working with Billings Clinic, to bring attention to health equity concerns and intention to the care provided to Native American patients and their unique cultural needs.
Source: Billings Gazette
Feb 3, 2023 - A University of Michigan study found that women living in rural communities had lower rates of uninterrupted health insurance before, during, and after pregnancy compared to those in urban areas. Rural women also often have limited access to local obstetric services and live farther from care.
Source: U.S. News & World Report
Feb 2, 2023 - Announces new actions that will build on the work done in the first year of the reignited Cancer Moonshot, drawing us closer to ending cancer as we know it today. Priority areas include closing the screening gap, understanding and addressing environmental exposure, decreasing the impact of preventable cancers, bringing cutting-edge research through the pipeline to patients and communities, and supporting patients and caregivers.
Source: The White House
Feb 2, 2023 - Profiles Thomas Atkins, MD, a 2022 graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the first rural track medical resident in Nashville's family medicine program. The pilot program is a state-funded effort to eliminate a physician shortage in rural areas.
Source: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Feb 1, 2023 - Notice from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking comments on revisions to the information collection titled "ASPA COVID-19 Public Education Campaign Market Research," which includes five components: 1) COVID-19 Current Events Tracker (CET); 2) qualitative data collection in the form of focus groups, interviews, and dyads; 3) copy testing surveys; 4) message matrix surveys; and 5) creative testing surveys and experiments. Information collected will be used to inform the development of campaign messaging and strategy. Comments are due by March 3, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 1, 2023 - A study published in The Lancet says that premature "deaths of despair" have affected American Indian and Alaska Native communities more than white communities. American Indians and Alaska Native people were not surveyed in a 2015 study that looked at death rates for 45-54 year-olds from 1999-2013.
Source: NPR
Feb 1, 2023 - Notice of final rule with comment period from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) revise the Section 306C Water and Waste Disposal (WWD) Loans and Grants program regulations. These revisions are being made to to implement changes recommended by the May 15, 2018, Government Accountability Office (GAO) Audit Report, "Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure: Opportunities Exist to Enhance Federal Agency Needs Assessment and Coordination on Tribal Projects." This final rule also implements other changes to clarify terminology and policies, update scoring criteria, and allow the program to run more efficiently. This rule is effective May 2, 2023. Comments are due by April 3, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program
Jan 31, 2023 - The Virginia Consortium to Advance Healthcare in Appalachia will use $5.1 million in federal grant money to launch or expand several innovative programs to improve access to care in southwestern Virginia. The effort is aimed at tackling health inequity, improving rural healthcare, and expanding evidence-based models in telehealth for underserved communities.
Source: HealthLeaders
Jan 31, 2023 - A new program at the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences addresses workforce shortages by supporting rural pharmacies and increasing the number of rural pharmacists over the next 10 years. The curriculum includes hands-on experiences in rural clinics and a project focused on improving an aspect of rural health care. Students are eligible to receive a $10,000-a-year scholarship if they agree to practice for at least 3 years in rural Washington after graduation.
Source: The Spokesman-Review
Jan 27, 2023 - The Louisiana Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force has been studying health disparities in rural Louisiana and has developed several legislative recommendations. The volunteer group consists of medical experts charged with finding solutions to close the healthcare gap between rural and urban areas. Approximately 98% of the state's population lives in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Source: Louisiana Illuminator
Jan 26, 2023 - Funding awards for a total of $139 million have been made to 302 tribal, urban, and Indian Health Service sites in 35 states for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. This provides diabetes prevention and treatment services for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Jan 26, 2023 - Discusses disparities in access to breast cancer treatment between urban and rural patients, and how they might be addressed. Explores findings from a report by researchers from Cleveland Clinic that examined 2004-2012 data from the National Cancer Database.
Source: CancerNetwork
Jan 25, 2023 - Researchers from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Vanderbilt University Medical Center conducted a long-term study of 27,115 adults in 12 southeastern states, and found that adults living in rural areas have a 19% higher risk of developing heart failure compared to their urban counterparts. Rural Black men participating in the study had a 34% higher risk of heart failure compared to urban Black men.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Jan 23, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS). The NISVS is used to measure the extent of sexual violence (SV), stalking, and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among adults in the United States. Data collected will be used to inform public policies and prevention strategies and to help guide and evaluate progress toward reducing the substantial health and social burden associated with IPV, SV, and stalking. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register