Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health Information Hub

 

Rural Health
News by Topic: Public health

Mar 27, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) will hold a virtual public meeting on May 11, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern. ACD 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 discussions on CDC's current and future work on communications, laboratory quality, global health, health equity, response readiness, and data and surveillance. Information on how to join the meeting will be posted on the ACD website prior to the meeting.
Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/03/27/2023-06258/advisory-committee-to-the-director-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention
Mar 24, 2023 - Two recent studies found that while deaths from heart disease are declining overall in the United States, people living in rural areas are at higher risk of dying from heart disease, and that Black rural men are at greatest risk for developing heart failure. Heart disease is the leading cause of death nationwide and one out of every three deaths in Georgia is attributed to heart disease.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mar 23, 2023 - Announces that the National Association of County and City Health Official has awarded almost $360,000 in funding to 6 sites as part of the Harm Reduction and Academic Detailing project. Sites are located in Ohio, Utah, California, Arkansas, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
Source: National Association of County and City Health Officials
Mar 22, 2023 - Interview with West Virginia healthcare providers, discussing challenges in rural areas including provider shortages, lack of preventive care, and distances patients must travel to see a provider.
Source: PBS News Hour
Mar 20, 2023 - Last fall Congress passed the MOBILE Health Care Act, which gives Federally Qualified Health Centers greater flexibility to use federal funding to create and operate mobile units. Health and community organizations have started using mobile units to bring COVID-19 testing and vaccination, primary care, behavioral health, and reproductive services to rural patients.
Source: Kaiser Health News
Mar 19, 2023 - Tribal leaders in the Cherokee Nation say $100 million won in opioid settlements will help their community heal from decades of addiction. Over the next five years, the tribe plans to roll out a total of $75 million in new treatment facilities. The remainder will go toward the costs of running these sites as well as a scholarship fund.
Source: WHQR Public Media
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 6, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking comments on a proposed information collection project titled "Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS)." The ACBS is an in-depth asthma survey conducted on a subset of BRFSS respondents with an asthma diagnosis with the goal to strengthen the existing body of asthma data and address critical questions surrounding the health and experiences of people with asthma. Comments are due by May 5, 2023.
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
Feb 23, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will hold a virtual listening session on March 15, 2023, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Eastern. HHS and the Department of State are charged with co-leading the U.S. delegation to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a World Health Organization (WHO) convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The listening session will discuss potential areas that could be included in a pandemic accord to promote pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Participation is welcome from public health and advocacy groups; state, local, and tribal groups; private industry; minority health organizations; and academic and scientific organizations. Registration is required by March 6, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 22, 2023 - Describes changes that are scheduled to occur in policies related to COVID-19 testing and treatment, emergency use authorization for medical countermeasures, liability immunity, Medicaid eligibility and disaster relief, nursing homes, SNAP benefits, student loan repayment, telehealth, and more.
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures
Feb 17, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking comments on a proposed information collection project titled "National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Rapid Surveys System (RSS)." The RSS is a new survey system being designed to complement the current household survey systems at NCHS and will use survey data from probability-based online panels to produce time-sensitive estimates of new and emerging public health topics, attitudes, and behaviors. Comments are due by April 18, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 16, 2023 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcing the establishment of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. This notice amends the Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the Department of Health and Human Services at Chapter AN, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The establishment of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response realigns the functions of ASPR to reflect the changes mandated by the 21st Century Cures Act and the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act to address ever-increasing manmade and naturally occurring threats, which degrade public health, access to healthcare, access to emergency medical services and national security. This reorganization is effective February 11, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 13, 2023 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcing a reorganization to better position the agency to respond to and tackle future public health threats. This reorganization is effective February 8, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 13, 2023 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcing the establishment of the Coronavirus and other Respiratory Viruses Division and other organizational components within the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases (DDID). NCIRD prevents disease, disability, and death through immunization and by control of respiratory and related diseases. Among other things, NCIRD provides leadership, expertise, and service in laboratory and epidemiological sciences, and in immunization program delivery; conducts applied research on disease prevention and control; and translates research findings into public health policies and practices. This reorganization is effective February 8, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 13, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the charter renewal for the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). The renewal is effective through January 19, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 9, 2023 - Join the CDC Rural Health Team on February 15th for a webinar on how to become a host site for the Public Health Associate Program. The host site application deadline is February 28, 2023.
Source: Rural Health (CDC)
Related funding: Public Health Associate Program Host Site Application
Feb 9, 2023 - Announces that the Department of Health and Human Services plans for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 to expire on May 11, 2023. Specifies what will and will not be affected by the expiration of the PHE.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human 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 7, 2023 - Describes a new program at UC Berkeley School of Public Health that will provide funding for 25 full scholarships per year for 4 years for eligible master's of public health students who will receive specialized training on rural health issues.
Source: UC Berkeley School of Public Health
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
Jan 31, 2023 - Announces that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program will provide nearly $8 million in investments that will improve healthcare and water infrastructure in rural Louisiana. The funds will be used to buy medical supplies including telehealth equipment, and help rural communities obtain the technical assistance and financing necessary to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Jan 27, 2023 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extending the comment period for the November 29, 2022, notice seeking comments and suggestions to update the CDC Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health (CDC Evaluation Framework) and associated resources. Updates to the CDC Evaluation Framework are needed to continue its valuable use and service to the evaluation field and public health. Information collected will help identify how the framework may have been adapted and used in different settings, what aspects of the framework have been useful, any challenges in using the framework across different contexts, and gaps that may need to be addressed. Comments are due by February 17, 2023.
Source: Federal Register