Rural Health
News by Topic: Technology for health and human services
Mar 14, 2024 - Offers highlights from a recent Committee on Ways and Means hearing discussing the benefits of receiving healthcare at home. Notes issues such as quality of life, social networks, rural access to care, technology and telehealth, decreasing emergency room visits, and Medicare barriers to care.
Source: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means
Mar 14, 2024 - Following an annual assessment of telecommunications capability, the Federal Communications Commission has raised the benchmark for broadband download and upload speeds. Notes that broadband deployment in rural and tribal areas is not happening in a reasonable timeframe.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
Mar 13, 2024 - Highlights the history of telehealth use by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Describes how access to specialists, behavioral healthcare, and prescription medication in particular has been improved by telehealth. Discusses how rural healthcare access is managed for veterans without reliable internet access.
Source: Cronkite News
Mar 12, 2024 - Announces $58 million in funding for tribal communities in Nevada, South Dakota, and Oklahoma. Funding will improve water infrastructure and high-speed internet.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Mar 12, 2024 - Highlights pilot projects in Vermont and Minnesota offering public transit planning and payment apps in rural communities. Discusses challenges with offering these services including customer buy-in, sustainable funding, technology limitations, and unreliable internet and cell phone service.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Mar 12, 2024 - Offers overview of a meeting between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, other Administration officials, and healthcare stakeholders related to the Change Healthcare cyberattack. Highlights key actions taken by the Administration to address impacts.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Mar 7, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services statement that they are coordinating efforts in response to the recent Change Healthcare cyberattack. Notes they are aware of the disparate impact on small practices and community-based providers and considering their needs in the response.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Mar 7, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) making technical and typographical corrections to the January 9, 2024, final rule. The corrections in this notice are effective March 11, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 6, 2024 - A rural Colorado library system has added telehealth kits to its collection. The kits include a laptop, pulse oximeter, thermometer, webcam, and internet hotspot.
Source: KXRM Colorado Springs
Mar 5, 2024 - Announces steps being taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services related to the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Group. Notes flexibilities in place for claims processing, prior authorization, and electronic billing.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services