Rural Response to the Opioid Crisis – News
News stories from the past 60 days.
Sep 5, 2024 - A new injury prevention research center funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been established at the University of Washington. The Harborview Injury & Prevention Research Center will focus on 4 key topics: overdose prevention in rural areas, adverse childhood experiences, enhancing school safety, and fall prevention for rural American Indian and Alaska Native adults.
Source: UW Medicine Newsroom
HRSA: Meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Federal Register
Aug 16, 2024 - The Health Resources and Services Administration will hold a public meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS) on September 4-6, 2024. The agenda will include discussions on the opioid crisis and its impact on rural families, with an emphasis on prevention efforts. Information about NACRHHS and the agenda for this meeting will be available on the NACRHHS website. Written statements and requests to make oral comments should be submitted to Sahira Rafiullah at least 3 business days prior to the meeting.
Source: Federal Register
Aug 6, 2024 - Features individuals impacted by Project CARA, an Asheville-based program that utilizes a hub-and-spoke model to bring substance use treatment services to pregnant and parenting people in rural North Carolina. Describes how the program works to address stigma-related barriers and expand access to buprenorphine treatment throughout pregnancy, in addition to other harm reduction services.
Source: 100 Days in Appalachia
Jul 29, 2024 - Presents overview of the Rural Michigan Opioid and Substance Use Summit, a gathering of service providers in northern Michigan. Highlights signs of hope including decreased overdose-related ambulance runs, increased distribution of overdose-reversing drugs, and strong funding for recovery services. Notes that a lack of transportation and affordable housing are ongoing barriers for many individuals in recovery.
Source: The Manchester Mirror
Jul 15, 2024 - Discusses expanded access to opioid addiction treatment in New Mexico, with particular focus on harm reduction. Notes that the expansion is expected to benefit rural communities.
Source: Public News Service
Jul 11, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed calendar year 2025 physician fee schedule rule includes new payments and coverage for digital health and telehealth services.
The draft rule contains significant provisions for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers and gives opioid treatment programs more flexibility in their use of telehealth services.
Source: Fierce Healthcare
Jul 11, 2024 - Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Breathitt, Jessamine, Lee, and Nelson counties have been certified as Recovery Ready Communities. These counties have established addiction services including peer support services, mental health treatment, addiction treatment, employment services, and a stigma-free environment for recovery.
Source: Kentucky.gov
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
Last Updated: 9/6/2024