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Rural Tribal Health – News

News stories from the past 60 days.

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 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 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
Jul 10, 2024 - A new telehealth study done by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Connected Nation Michigan provides insights into how tribal members use telehealth, what barriers exist, and attitudes toward telehealth. The study identifies ways tribal health clinics can expand telehealth efforts, identifies unmet demand, and addresses concerns that may prevent tribe members from adopting telehealth services.
Source: Connected Nation
Jul 10, 2024 - Profiles a mobile clinic program based in Oklahoma City, which sends teams of physicians to 14 remote locations across Oklahoma, many of which have large Native American populations. The program aims to reduce healthcare disparities in areas with limited access to specialized medical care.
Source: Cardiovascular Business
Jul 9, 2024 - The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for the second round of cooperative agreements for the Ending the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Syphilis Epidemics (known as "the Syndemic") in Indian Country (ETHIC II) program. The purpose of this program is to support communities to directly increase the diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of HIV, HCV, and syphilis. Applications are due by July 31, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jul 8, 2024 - Announces new awards to 6 tribal entities as part of the Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program. This initiative supports and promotes the health and well-being of expectant families and families with young children from birth to kindergarten entry in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Source: Administration for Children & Families
Jul 8, 2024 - Announces $24.5 million in grants awarded to 23 tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations as part of a grant program to develop and improve access to public health services. The grant program comprises the Native Public Health Resilience Program and the Native Public Health Resilience Planning Program.
Source: Indian Health Service
Last Updated: 7/24/2024