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Rural Health
News by Topic: Racial and ethnic groups

Jul 23, 2024 - Highlights a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help expand the Wisconsin Tribal Elder Food Box Program. Describes how the program works to support tribal food security through the distribution of boxes filled with culturally-relevant foods purchased from Indigenous food producers.
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
Jul 22, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2025. This proposed rule would also update and refine the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Program, ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program, and Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program and proposes Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services. Among other things, this rule would request information on options being considered for future changes to the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating methodology and further information related to a Tribal Technical Advisory Group request to apply the Indian Health Service encounter rate to all outpatient tribal clinics. This proposed rule would also provide exceptions to the Medicaid clinic services benefit four walls requirement for Indian Health Service and Tribal clinics, and, at state option, for behavioral health clinics and clinics located in rural areas. Comments are due by September 9, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 17, 2024 - Describes the role of dental therapists, a provider type licensed to provide basic preventative care under the supervision of a dentist, in expanding oral healthcare access in rural and underserved communities. Highlights the work of dental therapists in tribal communities in Alaska and Washington, where oral health needs are significant and dentists are in short supply.
Source: Stateline
Jul 17, 2024 - Outlines new grant funding available through the Montana Department of Health and Human Services to support behavioral health services in tribal communities. Describes possible uses of the grant funding, including facilities upgrades, transportation support for patients, and expanded crisis response services.
Source: Daily Montanan
Jul 16, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families to amend the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations to allow all Indian tribes and tribal organizations operating CCDF program to establish eligibility criteria regardless of family income. Comments on the proposed rule are due September 16, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 12, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Census Bureau seeking comments on the timeline for the adoption of the 2024 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) updated race and ethnicity data collection standards into the American Community Survey (ACS). Specifically, The Census Bureau is seeking feedback about the impact this update will have on data users, researchers, and community organizations if it is implemented in either the 2026 ACS or the 2027 ACS. The Census Bureau developed the ACS to collect and update demographic, social, economic, and housing data every year that are that are similar to the data collected once a decade as part of the decennial census and is the only source of such data for small areas and small subpopulations across the nation and in Puerto Rico. Comments are due by August 12, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 12, 2024 - Pre-publication notice of proposed rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposing to amend the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations to establish and use eligibility criteria regardless of family income. Comments are due within 60 days of the publication of this notice, which is scheduled for July 16, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 12, 2024 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a joint meeting of the National Advisory Councils, the Advisory Committee for Women's Services (ACWS), and the Tribal Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) on August 28, 2024. Agenda items include remarks from the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and presentations and discussions on youth engagement efforts, criminal justice, suicide prevention, and general discussions and public comments. Registration is required to attend the meeting. Individuals interested in making oral presentations must notify Carlos Castillo by August 21, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 12, 2024 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a public meeting of the Tribal Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) on August 27, 2024, from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern. SAMHSA TTAC provides a venue wherein Tribal leadership and SAMHSA staff can exchange information about public health issues, identify urgent mental health and substance abuse needs, and discuss collaborative approaches to addressing these behavioral health issues and needs. Meeting information will be posted on the SAMHSA Council's website. Pre-registration is required.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 10, 2024 - The Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center proposed rule would increase access to care and advance health equity. The proposal introduces new requirements for maternal quality improvement efforts, increases access to services in tribal, rural, and other underserved communities, addresses barriers to Medicare coverage for those recently incarcerated, and supports the agency's goals of reducing opioid overdoses.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services