April 22, 2021
What’s New?
Awards for the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy awarded more than $12.7 for this four-year program for improved health services tailored to the specific needs of local communities. For the first time, awarded funding includes more than $3.7 million to the Healthy Rural Hometown Initiative to address the underlying factors related to the five leading causes of avoidable death (heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury/substance use, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke). Program funding will also support improving social determinants of health, chronic disease management and prevention, care coordination, telehealth, dental care, and behavioral health, among other areas. Visit the Rural Health Information Hub online to learn more about successful program models and evidence-based toolkits that have come from the work of FORHP-funded projects.
Facts About COVID Care for the Uninsured. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) helps uninsured individuals find no-cost COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccines. The HRSA Uninsured Program provides claims reimbursement to health care providers generally at Medicare rates for testing, treating, and administering vaccines to uninsured individuals, including undocumented immigrants. There are at-a-glance fact sheets for providers and for patients in English and Spanish.
ACL Strategies for Helping Older Adults and People with Disabilities Access COVID-19 Vaccines. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) offers examples and promising practices for states, municipalities, community-based partners and anyone else working to ensure access to vaccination. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released an issue brief on potential barriers to vaccination for homebound older adults.
CDC Launches New Website on Racism and Health. On April 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new Racism and Health website that will be a hub for CDC’s activities on disparities and the factors that cause them.
Celebrating One Year of Telehealth.HHS.gov. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the website, a one-stop resource on telehealth for patients and providers. Visit to get the latest information, including telehealth tips (in English and Spanish) for patients, to telehealth best practice guides for health care providers.