Category: Resources

New Patient Engagement Toolkit from HRSA’s Federal Cervical Cancer Collaborative (FCCC)

December 20, 2024

New Patient Engagement Toolkit from HRSA’s Federal Cervical Cancer Collaborative (FCCC)

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported higher rates of cervical cancer for rural residents than urban. The Federal Cervical Cancer Collaborative (FCCC) is a multi-year federal partnership that bridges the federal priorities of cancer research and health care delivery in safety net settings of care. This resource is a companion to the Toolkit to Build Provider Capacity, publicly available on the FCCC resources page.

The toolkit supports efforts to increase patient and community engagement in prevention, screening, and management of a cancer that is highly treatable if found early.

Materials include social media posts, posters, a cervical screening follow-up card, and more and are available in both English and Spanish.

Click Here to Access the Toolkit

Research Recap: HIV Care

December 3, 2024

Research Recap: HIV Care

This research recap outlines different types of telehealth and how they can be used to support HIV treatment and prevention.

Click Here to Read the Research Recap

Calendar Year 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule

December 3, 2024

Calendar Year 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Hospital OPPS/ASC Payment System Final Rule (89 FR 93912) was published by the Office of the Federal Register on November 27, 2024.

Program information for outpatient quality reporting begins with cross-program changes for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program, Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting Program, and the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program at Section XIV, pages 94367-94404; https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-27/pdf/2024-25521.pdf#page=456.

Individual program information can be found in the following sections of the final rule:

Inpatient facilities participating in the Hospital IQR Program are encouraged to review the hybrid measure changes, which further extend the voluntary reporting period under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 payment determination.

Major provisions of the CY 2025 OPPS/ASC Payment System Final Rule are also discussed on the CMS website.

Become a Champion for the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

December 2, 2024

Become a Champion for the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced a new national public awareness campaign for the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA) in conjunction with their latest Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative convening in Portland, Oregon.

As part of this new campaign, HHS announced the first six Maternal Mental Health Champions. They include:

  • Grocery stores
  • Pharmacies
  • Community organizations
  • Other institutions

Champions will raise awareness of the hotline at their thousands of locations across the nation, including Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

You can be a Hotline Champion by ordering and downloading 1-833-TLC-MAMA materials for free at any time to share with your friends, family, and network.

Click Here to see Maternal Mental Health Champion list

Click Here to Learn More about National Public Awareness Campaign

Click Here to Order and Download free TLC MAMA materials

Updates to the Definition of Rural Area

November 26, 2024

Updates to the Definition of Rural Area

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a final notice with updates to the criteria for defining rural areas. This update incorporates a new Road Ruggedness Scale from the Economic Research Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a technical clarification about treatment of Census Bureau-defined  urban areas in the definition given the removal of the term Urbanized Areas following the 2020 Census. HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy uses this rural definition for determining rural health grant eligibility.

Click Here to view Road Ruggedness Scale

Click Here to see HRSA definition of Rural

New Rural Resources

November 26, 2024

New Rural Resources

To mark National Rural Health Day last week, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released new resources highlighting rural health investments across the country and key programs in rural communities.

  • Click Here to learn more about HRSA’s FY 2024 rural health investments to address health care needs in rural communities.
  • Click Here to find out more about HRSA’s rural health investments in your state.
  • Click Here to see infographic highlighting how HRSA supports rural maternal health.
  • Click Here to listen to the Exploring Rural Health Podcast: Advancing Maternal Health Care in Rural Communities featuring Dr. Kristen Dillon, HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Chief Medical Officer. She shares the challenges and successes of maternal health care delivery in rural communities and how HRSA is working to improve maternal health outcomes.

Rural America at a Glance: 2024 Edition

November 22, 2024

Rural America at a Glance: 2024 Edition

Rural America at a Glance, 2024 edition, focuses on the age structure of the rural population and the implications of age-related demographic change including rural migration, employment, poverty, childcare, eldercare, and broadband

Click Here to Read

Health Equity: Research Recap

November 22, 2024

Health Equity: Research Recap

This research recap describes how telehealth impacts health equity and opportunities for reducing health disparities.

Click Here to Read More

DEA Extends Telehealth Flexibilities

November 22, 2024

DEA Extends Telehealth Flexibilities

This week, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in concert with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issued a third extension of telemedicine flexibilities for the prescribing of controlled medications through December 31, 2025.

Click Here to Learn More

Telehealth Policy Update

November 19, 2024

Telehealth Policy Update

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule and CY2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, which include telehealth policies.

Absent Congressional action, the statutory limitations in place for Medicare telehealth services prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency will take effect for most telehealth services beginning January 1, 2025.

Click Here to Read More