Month: January 2021

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Announcements

January 7, 2021

COVID-19 Taking Heavy Toll on Farmers’ Mental Health. The American Farm Bureau released a report showing that two in three farmers surveyed say that the pandemic has impacted their mental health. Farmers and farmworkers were 10% more likely than rural adults as a whole to have experienced feeling nervous, anxious or on edge during the pandemic (65% vs. 55%). Two-thirds of rural adults ages 18-44 say they are personally experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago.

CDC Recommended Strategies for Initial COVID-19 Vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) produced a guide intended to assist state, tribal, local, or territorial immunization programs with planning for the first three phases of vaccination: Phase 1a, which includes healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities; Phase 1b, frontline essential workers and individuals aged 75 years and older; and Phase 1c, other essential workers, persons 65-74 years of age, and individuals 16-64 years of age with underlying medical conditions.

Share Your Thoughts and Opinions on Health – Respond by January 11. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking English-speaking individuals to participate in upcoming virtual discussions about health from any of the following groups: 1) parents or guardians of children ages 6 months to 3½ years; 2) people with HIV; 3) people living in rural areas; 4) HRSA health center patients; 5) adults ages 45 years and older. Patient feedback will help HRSA create easy to understand health materials for everyone. We’ll hold 90-minute Zoom sessions in January, March, and May. Participants will receive monetary payment. If you or someone you know who may be interested, please have them email Heidi Palacios or call (972) 503-3100 x407.

AHRQ Hospital Utilization Trends. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides a series of data files on monthly hospital utilization. The tables include state-by-state data on hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory conditions; normal newborns and deliveries; non-elective stays admitted through emergency departments; and elective inpatient stays. 

National Rural Health Day Events Archive. Where available, webinar recordings, PowerPoint slides, and transcripts for 2020 National Rural Health Day programming can now be accessed on the National Rural Health Day website. All links are free and accessible to the public. Event topics range from telehealth and COVID-19 testing to social determinants of health and substance use disorder. Participating organizations included the Department of Health and Human Service entities Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.

CMS Adds to ACO, ESCO Resources with a Care Transformation Toolkit, Case Studies, and a Tip Sheet

CMS is announcing the release of new resources highlighting strategies that Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and End-Stage Renal Disease Seamless Care Organizations (ESCOs) use to improve quality of care, lower health care costs, and enhance the beneficiary experience. These resources, posted on the ACO General Information web page, include:

  • A care transformation toolkit that describes ACO approaches to developing and implementing programs that transform the delivery of care and relate to telehealth, home visits, and timely access to skilled nursing facilities.
  • Four case studies that feature specific ACO and ESCO initiatives to:
  • A tip sheet that highlights strategies for enhancing education on home dialysis and for expanding the use of home dialysis.

The care transformation toolkit, case studies, and tip sheet join a collection of resources for organizations participating in value-based care models, including toolkits on provider engagement, beneficiary engagement and care coordination, and over a dozen case studies that describe ACO and ESCO strategies to improve care delivery. For more information please visit the ACO General Information web page.

Webinar: Medicaid in Missouri: Back to Basics

Date: January 15, 2021

Time: 1:00 PM CT

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Across the country, and especially in Missouri, the Medicaid program has received more attention than ever. With the recent passage of Medicaid expansion in Missouri and other states, the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the health and economic stability of the nation, and the pending Supreme Court case that could overturn parts or all of the Affordable Care Act, it has never been more imperative to recognize the importance of Medicaid.

Join Missouri Foundation for Health for a brief overview of Missouri’s Medicaid program, MO HealthNet, as well as information on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the status of children’s health coverage, and the anticipated impact of Medicaid expansion in Missouri. 

Check out the Missouri Medicaid Basics 2020 publication or At-a-Glance factsheet for a summary before the event.

Webinar: Demystifying the Immigration Process

Date: January 28, 2021

Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM CT

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Join MPCA as guest presenters, Robert Aronson and Kayla Hoel of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., present a fast paced and engaging program that will include a dash of humor on how the immigration puzzle can be put together in a highly beneficial manner to your recruitment efforts!

Our immigration laws and policies contain certain very desirable provisions intended to provide rural healthcare facilities, FQHC’s, and other healthcare employers experiencing recruitment challenges with the ability to recruit International Physicians. Yet, many employers shy away from considering International Physicians owing to the perceived complexity, expense, and uncertainty with U.S. immigration. This program is intended to demystify this whole immigration process and to provide attendees with some meaningful insights and pointers not solely on qualifying International Physicians for immigration status, but how immigration can actually assist in your recruitment efforts.