News Archive

News from the past 15-90 days.

Domestic Spending Intact as House Passes War Bill     Top Story 
Jun 20, 2008 -- Washington Post, (DC) article reports that the House yesterday approved $162 billion to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan well into 2009 as well as the domestic spending measure, that includes a 13-week extension of unemployment insurance for laid-off workers who have used all 26 weeks of their current benefits, and $2.65 billion for Midwest flood relief.

Medicaid Program Increases Kids' Access to Mental Health Care
Jun 20, 2008 -- Newswise Medical News article reports that expansion of Medicaid's Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program in California has significantly improved children's access to mental health services, and gains appear greatest in rural communities and areas with historically low levels of state funding for mental health services, reports a study in the June issue of Medical Care.

New Spanish-language Consumer Guide Compares Oral Diabetes Medications
Jun 20, 2008 -- Pastillas para la diabetes tipo 2, a new consumer guide for Hispanic adults who have type 2 diabetes and need information to help them compare various oral medications for their illness, has been released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

AoA Provides Disaster Assistance to Iowa Department of Elder Affairs Will Assist Seniors Impacted by Destructive Floods
Jun 19, 2008 -- HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina G. Carbonell today announced the award of $50,000 to the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs to assist older individuals and families impacted by record flooding, which began in May 2008.

CMS to Rate Nursing Home Quality New Five-Star System to be Added to Nursing Home Compare Site     Top Story 
Jun 19, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced it will soon launch a ground-breaking ranking system of America’s nursing homes, giving each a "star" rating.

Long-Term Care Facilities Across America to Protect Residents with Full Sprinkler Systems     Top Story 
Jun 19, 2008 -- Long term care facilities such as nursing homes across America will, for the first time, have to protect their residents by installing sprinkler systems throughout their buildings if they wish to continue to serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, under a new regulation to be issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

New Collaboration to Promote Healthy Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood
Jun 19, 2008 -- The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced today a collaboration with the National Head Start Association (NHSA) to promote healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood.

New Report Pinpoints Substance Use and Mental Health Problems in Individual Localities Throughout the Nation     Top Story 
Jun 19, 2008 -- Mental health and substance abuse problems affect every local community throughout America – but in unique, and sometimes surprising ways, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Physician Adoption of Electronic Health Records Still Extremely Low, But Medicine May be at a Tipping Point     Top Story 
Jun 19, 2008 -- According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, despite the promises it offers health care and quality improvement, only a small minority of U.S. physicians have embraced electronic health records (EHR) as a routine part of practice, says a study in the June 19 online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Program Aims at Grooming Native American Entrepreneurs
Jun 19, 2008 -- Great Falls Tribune, (MT) article tells of the inaugural First People's Youth Entrepreneurship Camp at the University of Great Falls that hopes to build entrepreneurship in Montana's Native American communities.

AMA Inaugurates Dr. Nancy Nielsen as President     Top Story 
Jun 18, 2008 -- Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, a board-certified internist from Buffalo, N.Y., was inaugurated today as the 163rd president of the American Medical Association (AMA), the nation's largest and most influential physician organization.

Arkansas Schools, Parents Adjusting Well to State Efforts to Curb Obesity
Jun 18, 2008 -- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation article reports that Arkansas' public schools are stepping up efforts to keep junk food away from kids, and parents are encouraging more healthy habits at home.

How Modern Science and Old-Fashioned Detective Work Cracked the Salmonella Case     Top Story 
Jun 18, 2008 -- USA Today article tells how the outbreak of illness, caused by contaminated tomatoes with a rare strain of salmonella, could have been a lot worse if a red flag hadn't been raised early in the outbreak by a public health nurse with good instincts in one of the nation's poorest, most remote regions.

Patient Lives Saved as Performance Continues to Improve in CMS, Premier Healthcare Alliance Pay-for-Performance Project     Top Story 
Jun 18, 2008 -- Premier Healthcare Alliance article reports that more than 1.1 million patients treated in five clinical areas at hospitals participating in a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Premier healthcare alliance pay-for-performance project are living longer and receiving recommended treatments more frequently.

Smoking Down 20 Percent in Alaska
Jun 18, 2008 -- Newsminer.com, (AK) article reports that Alaska’s air is less smoky than it was last decade with cigarette smoking down 20 percent from 1996 state levels.

2-1-1- Arrives in Dunn County
Jun 17, 2008 -- Dunn County News, (WI) article reports that United Way of Dunn County officially announces the launch of Dunn County’s 2-1-1 information and referral service, where beginning June 16, individuals in Dunn County can now connect to hundreds of community services and a 24/7 crisis line simply by dialing 2-1-1 on their telephones.

HHS Takes Action to Help Medicare Beneficiaries and Providers in Iowa and Indiana     Top Story 
Jun 17, 2008 -- HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today declared a public health emergency in the flood-stricken states of Iowa and Indiana, an action that gives HHS’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare beneficiaries and their health care providers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs.

HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Three Midwest States     Top Story 
Jun 17, 2008 -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to dozens of storm-ravaged counties in Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding.

Senate Finance Committee Hosts Health Reform Summit     Top Story 
Jun 17, 2008 -- AHA News reports that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) today co-chaired a summit on health reform for members of Congress and invited guests.

The Joint Commission Announces 2009 National Patient Safety Goals     Top Story 
Jun 17, 2008 -- The Joint Commission today announced the 2009 National Patient Safety Goals and related requirements for each of its accreditation programs and its Disease-Specific Care Certification Program.

AMA Launches Campaign to Cut Waste from Chaotic Insurance Claims Process, Unveils New Health Insurer Report Card     Top Story 
Jun 16, 2008 -- To help reduce the substantial administrative burden of ensuring accurate insurance payments for physician services, the American Medical Association (AMA) today launched the Cure for Claims campaign to help heal the ailing system of processing medical claims with health insurers, and unveiled the first AMA National Health Insurer Report Card on claims processing.

Lack of AP Courses Holds Rural Students Back     Top Story 
Jun 16, 2008 -- Daily Yonder article discusses an achievement gap between students in rural and non-rural schools, due, in significant part, to unequal course offerings where many rural schools lack Honors courses and Advanced Placement (AP) curricula.

RWJF Launches Transforming Care at the Bedside Virtual Resource Center     Top Story 
Jun 16, 2008 -- Ten innovative hospitals graduated from the Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB) pilot program on May 13 after five years of engaging frontline nurses to improve the quality and safety of patient care on medical and surgical units and increase the vitality and retention of nurses, according to the Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation.

Suicide Rate Higher for Seniors
Jun 16, 2008 -- Arizona Republic article reports that people over the age of 65 are better at completing suicides than any other age group, with one in four attempts succeeding, compared with 1 in 20 for the general population, according to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

USDA Rural Development Funds Available for Disaster Relief Efforts     Top Story 
Jun 16, 2008 -- Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr today announced that funding is available to individuals, and organizations recently hit by natural disasters in several states in the Midwest.

Grassley Introduces Medicare Bill; Baucus Bill Fails to Get Cloture     Top Story 
Jun 13, 2008 -- AHA News reports that Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) yesterday introduced a Republican Medicare reform package that includes a number of hospital provisions while a competing Medicare bill (S. 3101) introduced last week by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) failed today to gain enough votes to begin floor debate.

LocumTenens.com Offers Free Online Resource Center on Rural Medicine     Top Story 
Jun 13, 2008 -- PRWeb tells how in the last few months physician recruiting firm LocumTenens.com has established and populated the Rural Recruiting Resource Center (RRRC), a free online resource for recruiting tips, articles, physician survey results and other background information about physician recruiting in rural America.

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Releases Report on Medicare Payment Policy     Top Story 
Jun 13, 2008 -- Today, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) releases its June 2008 Report to the Congress: Reforming the Delivery System.

Notice of Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless     Federal Register 
Jun 13, 2008 -- This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for possible use to assist the homeless.
Learn more about: Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless

Rural MD Hospitals Announce eICU Initiative
Jun 13, 2008 -- AHA News reports that six hospitals in rural Maryland today announced plans for a program that will allow critical-care physicians, known as intensivists, to remotely monitor patients in intensive care units.

Updated SAMHSA Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs Now Available     Top Story 
Jun 13, 2008 -- A new, updated guide to finding local substance abuse treatment programs is now available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), providing information on thousands of alcohol and drug treatment programs located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and five U.S. territories.

Mayo Clinic Study Reveals Rural, Unmarried Women at Higher Risk for Depression
Jun 12, 2008 -- EurekAlert! article reports that Mayo Clinic research suggests unmarried women living in rural areas have lower self-rated health status than their married counterparts.

Notice of HUD's Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 General Section and FY2008 SuperNOFA for HUD's Discretionary Grant Programs; Correction     Top Story      Federal Register 
Jun 12, 2008 -- On May 12, 2008 (73 FR 27032), HUD published its Notice of HUD's Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 SuperNOFA for HUD's Discretionary Grant Programs. In this notice HUD is making corrections and changing the deadline dates for certain programs.

NRHA Past Presidents Named to Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee     Top Story 
Jun 12, 2008 -- National Rural Health Association (NRHA) past presidents Bruce Behringer and Hilda R. Heady were named to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ new Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee, which will advise Secretary of Veterans Affairs James B. Peake.

OIG Reports More Than $2 Billion in Recoveries From Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse for First-Half FY 2008     Top Story 
Jun 12, 2008 -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) “Semiannual Report to Congress” announced expected recoveries of $2.2 billion for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2008 from efforts to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in HHS programs.

Rural Education and the 'Bigger Picture'     Top Story 
Jun 12, 2008 -- Daily Yonder article tells how educators may see one future for students, go to college and leave home, but rural students often envision different ways to live.

Rural Health Care Means Teamwork
Jun 12, 2008 -- Laconia Citizen, (NH) reports that cooperation is absolutely essential to quality health care in rural areas, a national expert told a gathering at Plymouth State University Tuesday.

State's Rural Hospitals Not So Healthy
Jun 12, 2008 -- The Patriot-News, (PA) article tells how the financial health of Pennsylvania hospitals continues to improve, although many small, rural hospitals are bleeding.

U.S. Deaths Down Sharply in 2006     Top Story 
Jun 12, 2008 -- Age-adjusted death rates in the United States dropped significantly between 2005 and 2006 and life expectancy hit another record high, according to preliminary death statistics released today by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

Better Chronic Disease Care Through Technology: Health Care Foundations Unveil $4.5 Million Program
Jun 11, 2008 -- Five leading health care philanthropies have embarked on a two-year, $4.5 million effort to help community clinics and health centers that serve California's uninsured and low-income residents adopt technology to improve chronic disease care, according to the California HealthCare Foundation.

HHS Secretary Announces 12 Communities Selected to Advance Use of Electronic Health Records in First Ever National Demonstration     Top Story 
Jun 11, 2008 -- HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today named 12 communities that will participate in a national Medicare demonstration project that provides incentive payments to physicians for using certified electronic health records (EHR) to improve the quality of patient care.

HIV/AIDS Bureau; Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Core Medical Services Waiver Application Requirements     Federal Register 
Jun 11, 2008 -- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is amending the uniform waiver standards for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grantees requesting a core medical services waiver for fiscal year (FY) 2009 and beyond.

The Backroad Librarian: Generation Next     Top Story 
Jun 11, 2008 -- Daily Yonder article tells how most librarians don't say "shh!" anymore. They're "information activists," and rural communities need them more now than ever.

Administration Proposes Additional Funding for FDA to Improve Food and Medical Product Safety     Top Story 
Jun 10, 2008 -- HHS Secretary Leavitt today announced that the Administration is amending its budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2009 to include an additional $275 million for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

FDA Warns Consumers Nationwide Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes     Top Story 
Jun 10, 2008 -- The Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) is expanding its warning to consumers nationwide that a salmonellosis outbreak has been linked to consumption of certain raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, and products containing these raw, red tomatoes.

Insured But Poorly Protected: Number Up 60 Percent in 4 Years     Top Story 
Jun 10, 2008 -- The number of underinsured adults, those with health insurance all year, but also very high medical expenses relative to their incomes, rose by 60 percent between 2003 and 2007, from 16 million to more than 25 million, according to a new Commonwealth Fund study released today as a Health Affairs Web Exclusive.

Medicare Launches Outreach Effort to Help Beneficiaries with New Program that Lowers Costs for Durable Medical Equipment
Jun 10, 2008 -- Nearly four million people with Medicare living in ten communities across the nation will receive information about a new program that will lower their costs for certain medical equipment and supplies by changing how Medicare pays for these items, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Precious Rural Resources Poured Down the Tank     Top Story 
Jun 10, 2008 -- Daily Yonder reports that along with the social, cultural and employment pressures that siphon country youth off to cities, rural America has sprung a big new leak, where in some areas people are spending more than 13% of their income on gasoline.

Baucus Unveils Medicare Reform Legislation with More Help for Seniors, Payment Increase for Docs     Top Story 
Jun 9, 2008 -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) last week unveiled long-awaited legislation making reforms to Medicare.

Medicare Announces Additional Funding for Health Insurance Counseling Programs for 2008
Jun 9, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that an additional $15 million will be distributed to State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) to help people with Medicare get more information about their health care choices.

Time to Talk About CAM: Health Care Providers and Patients Need to Ask and Tell     Top Story 
Jun 9, 2008 -- The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched Time to Talk, an educational campaign to encourage patients — particularly those age 50 or older — and their health care providers to openly discuss the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

CMS Issues Reminder on Marketing Rules for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding
Jun 6, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Matters special edition article entitled Marketing Rules Reminders for DME Suppliers Including Contract Suppliers under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.

CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum Scheduled for June 19     Top Story 
Jun 6, 2008 -- The next CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum is scheduled for June 19, 2008 at 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

House Passes Budget Blueprint     Top Story 
Jun 6, 2008 -- AHA News reports that the House yesterday voted 214-210 to approve a final fiscal year 2009 budget resolution that rejects the president’s proposed Medicare and Medicaid budget cuts and the Senate approved the conference agreement yesterday.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Announces $300-Million Commitment to Dramatically Improve Quality of U.S. Health Care     Top Story 
Jun 6, 2008 -- With increasing reports of dangerous deficiencies in the quality of health care, the nation’s largest health care foundation today announced a $300-million commitment to improve quality in regions across the United States.

S.J. General to Link Patients, Doctors via Video
Jun 6, 2008 -- Stockton Record, (CA) article reports that San Joaquin County's drastic shortage of physician specialists could improve rapidly with the announcement that San Joaquin General Hospital has been selected as one of six initial telehealth programs using video technology to link out-of-area doctors with local patients.

Small, Rural School Achievement Program; Department of Education Notice Announcing Application Deadline and Availability of Funds     Federal Register 
Jun 6, 2008 -- These Department of Education grants go to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) to address the unique needs of small, rural school districts.
Learn more about: Small, Rural School Achievement Program

West Nile Virus: A Bite Out of Summer     Top Story 
Jun 6, 2008 -- Daily Yonder article tells how in Colorado, Wyoming, and the Dakotas, where West Nile Virus has been most prevalent, health officials say the biggest obstacle they face is human complacency.

2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) - National Provider Conference Call with Question & Answer Session     Top Story 
Jun 5, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host the fourth in a series of national provider conference calls on the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). This toll-free call will take place from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.

AMA Offers Solutions to Help Promote HIT Adoption
Jun 5, 2008 -- Providing solutions to help promote widespread adoption of health information technology (HIT) by physicians, the American Medical Association (AMA) testified today to the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Gas Price's Unlikely Victims     Top Story 
Jun 5, 2008 -- Wall Street Journal article tells how high gas cost crimps travel tied to volunteer programs and support services for shut-ins.

Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Hospice Conditions of Participation; Final Rule     Top Story      Federal Register 
Jun 5, 2008 -- This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revises the existing conditions of participation that hospices must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Nation′s High School Students Showing Overall Improvements in Health-Related Behaviors     Top Story 
Jun 5, 2008 -- Today′s high school students are less likely to engage in many health risk behaviors than high school students in the early 1990s, according to the 2007 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Preventive Network Scores Big     Top Story 
Jun 5, 2008 -- Buffalo News, (NY) article reports that a planned regional network offering low-cost preventive health services to the uninsured is getting a big boost, with six community hospitals and five independent pediatrician groups agreeing to participate.

Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP) Regional Technical Assistance and Continuing Education (TACE) Centers; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008     Federal Register 
Jun 5, 2008 -- The purpose of the Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program is to support training centers that serve either a Federal region or another geographical area and provide for a broad integrated sequence of training activities that focus on meeting recurrent and common training needs of employed rehabilitation personnel throughout a multi-State geographical area.
Learn more about: Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP) Regional Technical Assistance and Continuing Education (TACE) Centers

Senate Approves Bill to Address Increased Rates of PTSD, Suicide Among Veterans     Top Story 
Jun 5, 2008 -- Kaisernetwork.org article reports that the Senate on Tuesday by voice vote passed a bill that seeks to address increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide among veterans.

VA Names 13 to Rural Health Advisory Committee     Top Story 
Jun 5, 2008 -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake has appointed 13 people to a new Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee, which will advise him on health care issues affecting veterans in rural areas.

Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages; Notice of Request for Nominations     Federal Register 
Jun 4, 2008 -- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is requesting nominations to fill five (5) upcoming vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages (ACICBL).

Arizona Healthcare Workforce Data Center Reveals Dramatic Need for RNs through 2017
Jun 4, 2008 -- Arizona will need about 49,000 new registered nurses by the year 2017, according to the first report from the Arizona Healthcare Workforce Data Center.

CMS Outlines Rights of Medicare Hospice Patients     Top Story 
Jun 4, 2008 -- Medicare beneficiaries with terminal illnesses have their right to determine how they receive end-of-life care outlined for the first time in a new regulation soon to be published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

CMS to Host Conference Call on DMEPOS Competitive Bidding
Jun 4, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will host another national conference call on the implementation of the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program, which is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2008.

Consumers Union to Rate Hospitals     Top Story 
Jun 4, 2008 -- Wall Street Journal article reports that the nonprofit Consumers Union is launching a new hospital-ratings service, adding to the growing competition to provide online consumer information about health care.

FDA Warns Consumers in New Mexico and Texas Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes
Jun 4, 2008 -- The Food and Drug Administration is alerting consumers in New Mexico and Texas that a salmonellosis outbreak appears to be linked to consumption of certain types of raw red tomatoes and products containing raw red tomatoes.

Medicare FFS Update - NPI     Top Story 
Jun 4, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports that Medicare FFS has made excellent progress over the past week, since fully implementing the NPI, and the favorable trend in NPI compliance is better than they expected with most of the Medicare contractors reporting that over 90 percent of claims are NPI-compliant, with some reporting 100 percent compliance.

National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps; Notice of Public Meeting     Federal Register 
Jun 4, 2008 -- On June 10-13, 2008 the Council will be conducting a site visit to a local health center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and will be meeting the National Health Service Corps program participants to get feedback on the program.

Alzheimer’s Wanderers: Urge to Roam Can Result in Injury or Death
Jun 3, 2008 -- Longmont Daily Times-Call, (CO) article reports that increased focus on Alzheimer’s has helped spread the use of devices that identify and track people with memory impairments, and spur a number of states to enact Amber Alert-style laws to enhance public searches for those who go missing.

Cameras Focus on Rural Hospitals     Top Story 
Jun 3, 2008 -- Argus Leader, (SD) article tells how a pilot project at Avera Health network will put telehealth services in rural hospital emergency rooms linking rural hospitals in the Avera network to the system's four hub hospitals in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Mitchell and Yankton.

Federal State Program Continues to Report a Dramatic Nationwide Drop in Tobacco Sales to Minors During the Past 11 Years     Top Story 
Jun 3, 2008 -- Illegal sales of tobacco products to underage youth have reached an all-time low under the Synar Amendment program, a federal-state partnership program aimed at ending illegal tobacco sales to minors, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced today.

M.D. Graduates: From Glut to Shortage     Top Story 
Jun 3, 2008 -- Chronicle Review article reports that factors seem to point toward a coming physician shortage, and given the long lead times required for expanding doctor training, the medical-education establishment is on a track aimed at increasing output 30 percent by 2020.

State to Launch Senior Care Program
Jun 3, 2008 -- Wausau Daily Herald, (WI) article reports that a new state agency designed to provide disabled and elderly people options beyond nursing homes and assisted living facilities will roll out its services beginning next month.

Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Extension of Public Comment Period     Top Story      Federal Register 
Jun 2, 2008 -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is extending the period for comments on the Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas an additional 30 days, with a new closing date of June 30, 2008. The purpose is to revise and consolidate the criteria and processes for designating medically underserved populations (MUPs) and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).

Health Plans Pledge to Make Health Care Costs More Transparent
Jun 2, 2008 -- Effective Sept. 1, the 17 members of the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans have agreed to provide estimates of out-of-pocket costs in advance of medical services to enrollees who request them.

Hurricane Survivors Experience Long-term Mental Health Distress
Jun 2, 2008 -- American Medical Association article reports on the findings of a new study that suggests that displacement after a hurricane affects survivors' mental health.

Notice of Appointments to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission     Federal Register 
Jun 2, 2008 -- This notice from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) announces three new appointments and two reappointments to fill the vacancies occurring this year to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).

States Slowly Make Schools Require Dental Exams     Top Story 
Jun 2, 2008 -- Associated Press article via Maryland Daily Record reports that some states are trying to fill in a potentially deadly gap in health care for children by seeking proof of good dental health before they enter school.

Claims Rejections Jump After NPI Deadline     Top Story 
May 30, 2008 -- AHA News reports that according to clearinghouse Emdeon Business Services, Medicare and Medicaid provider claims rejections have increased to alarming levels since May 23, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ deadline for implementing its National Provider Identifier standard.

National Provider Identifier (NPI) Application and Update Form and Supporting Regulations in 45 CFR 142.408, 45 CFR 162.406, 45 CFR 162.408; Comment Request; Extension of a Currently Approved Collection     Federal Register 
May 30, 2008 -- Comments are being requested by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Application and Update Form used by health care providers to apply for NPIs and furnish updates to the information they supplied on their initial applications.

Notice of Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless     Federal Register 
May 30, 2008 -- This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for possible use to assist the homeless.
Learn more about: Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless

Senate Approves Telecommunications Bill for Rural, Low-income Areas
May 30, 2008 -- Lake Country News, (CA) article reports that the State Senate voted 33-0 Tuesday to approve Senate Bill 1149, legislation by Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) to continue a state grant program that provides telecommunications (new phone lines, cellular coverage, etc) to rural and low-income areas of California where these services either do not exist or are extremely limited.

Young Adults at Risk: 13.7 Million Lack Health Insurance Coverage     Top Story 
May 30, 2008 -- The number of uninsured young adults in the United States rose to 13.7 million in 2006—an increase from 13.3 million in 2005—making the 19-to-29 age group one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the population without health insurance, according to a newly updated report from The Commonwealth Fund.

Brain Drain Lowers Returns to Rural Education
May 29, 2008 -- Center for Rural Affairs article tells of a Penn State University study that finally measures how much the population shift harms rural areas (and benefits urban areas).

California Lawmakers Sign Off on Mandatory Paid Sick Leave
May 29, 2008 -- California Healthline article reports that on Wednesday, the California Assembly passed a bill that would require paid sick leave for all workers, poising California to be the first state to adopt such a requirement

Childhood Obesity Rate Stabilizes
May 29, 2008 -- AHA News reports that the percentage of U.S. children who are overweight or obese may be leveling off after rising for 25 years, according to findings reported by the National Center for Health Statistics.

FDA Proposes New Rule to Provide Updated Information on the Use of Prescription Drugs and Biological Products during Pregnancy and Breast-feeding
May 29, 2008 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today proposed major revisions to the physician labeling for prescription drugs (including biological products) to provide better information about the effects of medicines used during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Fixing Health Care: What Women Want     Top Story 
May 29, 2008 -- Individual.com article tells of a poll by the American Academy of Family Physicians that shows that American women want a health care system in which they and their families can conveniently obtain preventive services, see their personal physicians the day they become sick, and receive coordinated follow-up care if they require hospitalization or care from other physicians.

IHS and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Break Ground for New South Dakota Health Center
May 29, 2008 -- The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, in cooperation with the Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new IHS Eagle Butte Health Center in Eagle Butte, S.D., on May 28, 2008.

Report Outlines Leading Trend in Health Care Sector: Hospitals Nationwide Purchasing Local, Sustainable Food
May 29, 2008 -- "Health Care Without Harm" article reports that the “Healthy Food in Health Care” report outlines concrete steps being taken by hospitals nationwide to change their food buying practices towards more sustainably produced, healthier choices for patients, staff and visitors.

Rural Economy Booming as Commodity Prices Soar     Top Story 
May 29, 2008 -- High Plains Midwest AG Journal article reports that farmers across the heartland, who once watched as their livelihoods withered under drought and market glut, are now cashing in on a rural economic boom driven by soaring commodity prices for the crops and oil that comes from their land.

Rural Housing Service; Notice of Expiring Expanded Rural Area Definition     Federal Register 
May 29, 2008 -- Notice is hereby given that the expanded rural area definition (which increased the population limits to 75,000) under the March 13, 2006 notice regarding the availability of hurricane disaster assistance will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, September 30, 2008, for areas covered under the Hurricane Katrina or Rita declarations.

Schools Shut Down to Save on Gas     Top Story 
May 29, 2008 -- ABC News tells what is happening in some of the nation's most rural and remote school districts where as the price of gas continues to climb, they're shutting their doors one day a week in order to save on heating and busing costs.

Amerirad Chosen by the National Rural Health Association as Teleradiology Supplier of Choice
May 28, 2008 -- MSNBC article reports that Amerirad announced that it has been chosen as an official teleradiology supplier of The National Rural Health Association (NRHA), a national non-profit membership organization that provides leadership on rural health issues.

CMS Extends Deadline for Hospice CoPS Final Rule
May 28, 2008 -- AHA News reports that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced that it has extended until next May the publication of a final rule setting the criteria for hospitals and other providers to qualify for Medicare hospice reimbursements.

First State-by-State Health System Scorecard to Focus on Children Finds Wide Differences in Health Care     Top Story 
May 28, 2008 -- States vary widely in the quality of health care children receive, as well as children's access to care, family insurance premiums, equity, and the potential to lead long healthy, productive lives, according to a new scorecard issued by The Commonwealth Fund.

Higher Gas Prices Lower Exurban Home Values     Top Story 
May 28, 2008 -- Daily Yonder reports that the high price of gasoline is changing real estate values, showing that the farther your house is from an urban area, the greater the decline in the price you will receive for your home.

HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Colorado Storm Victims
May 28, 2008 -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Colorado and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms and tornadoes.

HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Georgia Storm Victims
May 28, 2008 -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Georgia and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms and tornadoes.

HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Iowa Storm Victims
May 28, 2008 -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Iowa and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding.

HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Missouri Storm Victims
May 28, 2008 -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Missouri and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms and tornadoes.

Medicare Program; Medicare Part D Claims Data; Final Rule     Top Story      Federal Register 
May 28, 2008 -- This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services allows the Secretary to collect claims data that are presently being collected for Part D payment purposes for other research, analysis, reporting, and public health functions.

Newly Appointed President for the National Cooperative of Health Networks
May 28, 2008 -- Terry Hill, Executive Director of the national Rural Health Resource Center, was recently elected President of the National Cooperative of Health Networks (NCHN) at its annual meeting in San Diego.

Adena Study is Making a Difference in EMS Industry in Ohio, Nation
May 27, 2008 -- Chillicothe Gazette, (OH) article tells how a rural Adena man assisted in initiating a study which would expand 12-lead EKG training to basic and intermediate EMTs instead of just paramedics, and provide equipment to transmit the EKG results from the squad to the hospital prior to the patient's arrival.

Bacus, Grassley Announce Health Reform Summit for Senators, Representatives on June 16     Top Story 
May 27, 2008 -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley today unveiled plans for a bipartisan summit for Senators and Representatives to discuss options for health care reform in 2009.

CMS Releases Final Rule on Medicare Part D Claims Data     Top Story 
May 27, 2008 -- On May 22, 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a display copy of a Final Rule to permit Medicare Part D claims data to be used for program monitoring, research, public health, care coordination, quality improvement, population of personal health records, and other purposes. 

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Hospice Conditions of Participation Extension of Timeline for Publication of Final Rule     Federal Register 
May 27, 2008 -- This notice from announces an extension of the timeline for publication of the "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Hospice Conditions of Participation" final rule.

Appointments Announced to Medicare Payment Advisory Commission     Top Story 
May 23, 2008 -- Gene L. Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), today announced the appointment of three new members and the reappointment of two existing members to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). The new members include George N. Miller, Jr., senior vice president of Catholic Health Partners and president and chief executive officer of Community Mercy Health Partners in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Miller is also the immediate past president of the National Rural Health Association.

CDC Reports More U.S. Nonsmokers Are Protected by Smoke-Free Laws     Top Story 
May 23, 2008 -- The number of states with laws prohibiting smoking in private sector worksites, restaurants, and/or bars in the United States tripled and the number with no such laws was halved between 2005 and 2007, according to a report in this week′s issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Congress Enacts $290B Farm Bill Over Bush Veto     Top Story 
May 23, 2008 -- Associated Press article via WTOP News reports that Congress enacted a massive farm bill Thursday with new and bigger subsidies for farmers, plus more food stamps for the poor.

Extension of a Currently Approved Collection; Title of Information Collection: Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage and Your Rights; Comment Request; (Number 2 on Page)     Federal Register 
May 23, 2008 -- The purpose of this notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is to provide enrollees with information about how to contact their Part D plans to request a coverage determination, including a request for an exception to the Part D plan's formulary.

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; The Joint Commission for Continued Deeming Authority for Critical Access Hospitals; Proposed Notice; Comment Request     Federal Register 
May 23, 2008 -- This proposed notice with comment period from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services acknowledges the receipt of a deeming application from the Joint Commission for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for critical access hospitals (CAHs) that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.

Medicare Program; Provider Reimbursement Determinations and Appeals; Final rule     Federal Register 
May 23, 2008 -- This final rule from the Centers Medicare & Medicaid Services updates, clarifies, and revises various provisions of the regulations governing Medicare provider reimbursement determinations, appeals before the Board, appeals before the intermediaries (for lesser disputes), and Administrator review of decisions made by the Board.

New Efforts to Help Improve Medical Products for Patient Safety and Quality of Medical Care     Top Story 
May 23, 2008 -- HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced efforts underway at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that will complement each other to improve patient safety and the quality of medical care.

Notice; State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); Retrospective Adjustment for Additional Allotments to Eliminate Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Funding Shortfalls and Other Related SCHIP Legislation.     Federal Register 
May 23, 2008 -- This notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services describes the implementation of certain funding provisions under title XXI of the Social Security Act (SCHIP) as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA), (Pub. L. 110-173), and other related SCHIP legislation.

Senate Ignores Bush Veto Threat, Adds Domestic Programs to Iraq Spending Bill     Top Story 
May 23, 2008 -- Associated Press article via NewsOK.com, reports that a majority of Republicans broke ranks with Bush on a veto-proof 75-22 vote while adding more than $10 billion for various other domestic programs, including heating subsidies for the poor, wildfire fighting, road and bridge repair, and health research.

Error May Force "Re-do" of U.S. Farm Bill Veto     Top Story 
May 22, 2008 -- Reuters reports that Congress gave President George W. Bush an incomplete version of the $289 billion farm bill, a mistake that would erase his veto and may require lawmakers to pass the bill again, lawmakers and congressional aides said on Wednesday.

HAC Invites Nominations for Rural Housing Awards
May 22, 2008 -- The Housing Assistance Council announces a Sept. 15, 2008 deadline for nominations for three rural housing awards.

Medicare Program; Changes for Long-Term Care Hospitals Required by Certain Provisions of the Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007; 3 Year Moratorium and 3 Year Delay; Interim Final Rule with Comment Period     Federal Register 
May 22, 2008 -- Comments are being requested on this interim final rule with comment period that implements certain provisions of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 relating to long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) and LTCH satellite facilities.

National Ad Campaign Highlights Patient Ratings for More Than 1,000 Local U.S. Hospitals     Top Story 
May 22, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is launching the first national print advertising campaign focusing on the quality of care available in the nation’s hospitals.

Smoking is Addictive, But Quitting is Contagious     Top Story 
May 22, 2008 -- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reports that through reconstructing the social network of 12,067 individuals, researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego have discovered that smoking cessation occurs in network clusters and is hardly the isolated decision it might feel like to the individual quitter.

The Sad State of U.S. Broadband     Top Story 
May 22, 2008 -- Business Week article reports that although the Internet was started here, the U.S. can't seem to catch up with other developed nations when it comes to giving citizens access to high-speed connections.

US Senate Bill on War Funding Comes at Peril of Spending for Domestic Programs     Top Story 
May 22, 2008 -- Associated Press article via International Herald Tribune reports that President Bush's Republican allies in the U.S. Senate face election-season votes Thursday on both his long-pending war funding request and tens of billions of dollars backed by Democrats for veterans education and an assortment of domestic programs.

A More Welcoming Model for Care     Top Story 
May 21, 2008 -- Boston Globe, (MA) article tells of the "medical home," a doctor or nurse-practitioner-led team practice designed to offer patients care when and where they want it and to give the team the money, the tools, and the time to do more than triage.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); Solicitation for Nominations for Members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force     Federal Register 
May 21, 2008 -- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites nominations of individuals qualified to serve as members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

CMS Issues Second Interim Final Rule with Comment Implementing MMSEA Changes to Long Term Care Hospital PPS     Top Story 
May 21, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Monday issued an interim final rule implementing two changes to the long-term care hospital prospective payment system that were mandated by Congress in the 2007 Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act.

NIAID to Advance B-Cell Approach to HIV Vaccines
May 21, 2008 -- To advance underdeveloped approaches to designing a preventive HIV vaccine, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is launching a new program to foster the study of B cells, immune cells that can produce antibodies with the capacity to neutralize HIV.

Notice of Funding Availability: Solicitation of Grant Applications for FY 2008 Tribal Transit Program Funds     Federal Register 
May 21, 2008 -- This notice announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 funds for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program.
Learn more about: Tribal Transit Program

Study: Medicaid Cuts May Force 11000 Pharmacies to Close     Top Story 
May 21, 2008 -- Supermarket News, (NY) article reports that reaffirming past estimates, an economic impact study of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 found that 11,105 pharmacies across the country could close due to reductions in the Medicaid reimbursement rate, which is well below their cost to fill prescriptions.

Broadband Access Opens Doors to Networking, Economic Development for Rural Areas     Top Story 
May 20, 2008 -- ScienceDaily article reports that proactive policies are needed to facilitate broadband Internet access and adoption in rural areas so that rural hospitals, schools and businesses can drive social and economic development and better position themselves to compete, say Penn State researchers in a recently released report from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

In Maine, a Losing Battle for Health
May 20, 2008 -- From 1983 to 1999, as most Americans were living longer, the projected lifespans of Washington County women grew shorter, along with those of women in 3 percent of all US counties, mostly in the South and West, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Washington.

Medicare Announces Over 320 Winning Suppliers Selected for Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies     Top Story 
May 20, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released the names of the 325 suppliers that have signed contracts with Medicare to provide certain medical equipment and supplies to beneficiaries in 10 communities across the U.S. at significantly lower prices than they are paying now.

New Members Are Named to Migrant Health Council
May 20, 2008 -- HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke today announced the appointment of four new members to four-year terms on the National Advisory Council on Migrant Health (NACMH).

Poor Rural Communities Need More Access to Health Information
May 20, 2008 -- eMaxHealth.com, (NC) article reports that residents of low-income, rural communities need better access to health information and health care, finds a new study that focuses on one of the poorest counties in South Carolina.

Pulmonary Rehab on Call: TELEHEALTH Offers Dial-up Help for the Rural and Remote     Top Story 
May 20, 2008 -- EurekaAlert! article tells of a program that delivers pulmonary rehabilitation via video-conferencing technology, the internet and other emerging technologies to patients who live too far from respiratory therapy centers to make the twice-weekly trip improves their clinical condition, outcome and quality of life in just eight weeks, according to a study to be presented at the American Thoracic Society’s 2008 International Conference in Toronto on Tuesday, May 20.

Request for Public Comments for Use in Preparing for 2009 Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children     Federal Register 
May 20, 2008 -- This notice announces a request for public comments to help senior officials of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prepare for the 2009 Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

30 Applicants for Electronic Health Record Demonstration Project     Top Story 
May 19, 2008 -- HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today applauded the more than 30 communities that have applied for a new demonstration project that will provide Medicare incentive payments to primary care physician practices that use certified electronic health records (EHR) to improve the quality of patient care.

Cancer Survival Handbook Aims at Alaska Natives
May 19, 2008 -- Indian Country News article reports that in a world gone awry with high-fat, processed food, scientific health studies show that a cancer-fighting, low-fat, low-processed diet can be found locally for Alaska Natives - indigenous people with the highest cancer death rates in the country.

Study Shows Rural Alaska Natives without In-Home Running Water Suffer More Disease
May 19, 2008 -- Rural Alaska Natives living without in-home access to running water have disproportionately higher rates of respiratory and skin infections, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. Farmers Fret Over Fuel     Top Story 
May 19, 2008 -- Even though the agriculture-rich region has been sprouting robust farming incomes lately, Midwestern farmers are just as worried about high energy prices as the rest of the country.

Bush Administration's FHASecure Refinanes 200,000th Mortgage for American Families
May 16, 2008 -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced the Bush Administration's FHASecure product has helped 200,000 homeowners refinance their mortgages and avoid foreclosure.

CMS Announces Demonstration to Encourage Greater Collaboration and Improve Quality Using Bundled Hospital Payments
May 16, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a new demonstration for hospitals to test the use of a bundled payment for both hospital and physician services for a select set of episodes of care to improve the quality of care delivered through Medicare fee-for-service.

Information Collection Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection; Medicare Advantage (MA) Program: Application and Contract Requirements; Comment Request     Federal Register 
May 16, 2008 -- Comments are being requested by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on information collected to approve contract applications, monitor compliance with contract requirements, make proper payment to MA organizations, determine compliance with the new prescription drug benefit requirements established by the MMA, and to ensure that correct information is disclosed to Medicare beneficiaries, both potential enrollees and enrollees.

May 23rd is Days Away – Are you Prepared?     Top Story 
May 16, 2008 -- As of May 23, Medicare FFS will require and send NPI-Only in ALL provider identifier fields for all HIPAA and paper transactions where a provider identifier is required.

Medicare Program; Revisions to the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Prescription Drug Benefit Programs: Proposed Rule; Comment Request     Federal Register 
May 16, 2008 -- Comments are being request by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on this proposed rule that would make revisions to the Medicare Advantage (MA) program (Part C) and prescription drug benefit program (Part D).

New HRSA Quality Improvement Effort: Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative (PSPC)     Top Story 
May 16, 2008 -- The Health Resources and Services Administration is inviting community-based teams of health care providers to join a quality improvement breakthrough effort called the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative (PSPC), to advance the delivery of world class care by spreading the integration of clinical pharmacy services and patient safety principles to improve health outcomes in safety-net populations.

Senate Passes Farm Bill as Veto Threat Looms     Top Story 
May 16, 2008 -- MarketWatch article reports that Senators voted 81 to 15, easily attaining the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto of the bill, which would increase funds for nutrition programs, and authorize subsidies for farmers and crops, among other provisions.

2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) National Provider Conference Call with Question & Answer Session     Top Story 
May 15, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host the third in a series of national provider conference calls on the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). This toll-free call will take place from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday, May 28, 2008.

Affordable Rental Options Limited in Rural Places     Top Story 
May 15, 2008 -- Rural counties farthest from urban centers, those with shortages of affordable housing, and those with relatively large minority populations are most likely to have high proportions of U.S. Department of Agriculture Section 515 apartments among their federally assisted rentals, according to a new Housing Assistance Council study.

Iowa Governor Signs Law to Cover all Uninsured Children
May 15, 2008 -- AHA News reports that Iowa Gov. Chet Culver yesterday signed legislation providing $25 million over three years to extend health care coverage to all uninsured children in the state.

La. Begins Linking Rural Hospitals
May 15, 2008 -- Government Health IT, (VA) article reports that a hospital in northern Louisiana recently became the first rural health care facility in the state to transmit patient information to a statewide health information exchange

Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Q&A Session     Top Story 
May 15, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host the second national education conference call on May 27, 2008, to address the implementation of the new Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding program scheduled to begin on July 1, 2008.

Republicans Abandon Bush on New Farm Bill     Top Story 
May 15, 2008 -- Associated Press article via Post-Bulletin, (MN) reports that on Wednesday 100 Republicans abandoned President Bush as the House overwhelmingly passed the latest five-year farm bill, a $290 billion measure sent to the Senate with more than enough supporters to override his promised veto.

The Joint Commission to Study Consumer Use of Quality Information     Top Story 
May 15, 2008 -- A new study by The Joint Commission, which is being funded in part by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, aims to find new ways to help consumers better understand health care quality data and use the information to make informed health care decisions.

Congress to Start Farm Bill Debate Today     Top Story 
May 14, 2008 -- Watertown Daily Times, (SD) article reports that Congress is set to begin debate today on a $300 billion, five-year farm bill that expands some farm and food programs and shrinks payments to some of the wealthiest farmers — but that still drew a veto threat from President Bush on Tuesday.

FSSA Receives Approval to Expand SCHIP Coverage
May 14, 2008 -- The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced today that the federal government has approved the state's request to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), meaning approximately 10,000 more Hoosier children will receive coverage.

Health Marketing--New--National Center for Health Marketing (NCHM), Coordinating Center for Health Information and Service (CCHIS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)     Federal Register 
May 14, 2008 -- The CDC is requesting comments and recommendations on the request by NCHM on a 3-year approval for the generic concept of health marketing to provide feedback on the development, implementation and satisfaction regarding public health services, products, communication campaigns and information.

New Studies of Bush Administration $770 Million SNF Medicare Cut Find Seniors' Care Jeopardized, Local Jobs Lost, National and State Economies Threatened     Top Story 
May 14, 2008 -- PRNewswire article via Bio-Medicine reports that in releasing a new Lewin Group analysis of the Bush administration's $770 million cut to Medicare-financed nursing home care, national and state long term care leaders warned the regulatory-driven cuts not only jeopardize seniors' access to quality nursing home care -- particularly in rural areas -- but also present a clear and present danger to the U.S. economy and the state and local caregiver jobs base.

Robert G. McSwain Sworn in as Indian Health Service Director     Top Story 
May 14, 2008 -- Robert G. McSwain, a member of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, was officially sworn in on May 7 as the eighth Indian Health Service (IHS) director.

Additional Guidance and Clarification for Identifying Secondary Providers in Medicare Claims
May 13, 2008 -- In accordance with the NPI final rule, when an identifier is reported on a paper or electronically submitted claim for ordering/referring /attending/operating/supervising/purchased service/other/service facility provider (in the x12N 837 claims transactions) or for prescriber (in the NCPDP 5.1 retail drug claim transaction), that identifier must be an NPI.

AZ Governor Directs State to Promote E-prescribing
May 13, 2008 -- AHA News reports that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano recently issued an executive order directing state agencies to work with the Arizona Health-e Connection initiative, health plans and providers to increase the use of electronic prescribing and other medication safety tools.

CMS to Host Special Open Door Forum on Wage Index Reform     Top Story 
May 13, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that it will hold a Special Open Door Forum on wage index reform from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (ET) on May 20, 2008.

It's Not too Late to be Counted in the 2007 Agriculture Census     Top Story 
May 13, 2008 -- Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today reminded America's farmers and ranchers that they should still plan to respond to the 2007 Census of Agriculture either by Internet or postal mail.

New Nationwide Report Estimates One in Every 12 Adolescents Experienced Major Depression in the Past Year     Top Story 
May 13, 2008 -- About 2.1 million teens aged 12 to 17 experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, according to a new nationwide report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

New Plan Would Provide Health Insurance for Almost All Americans; Could Reduce Health Spending $1.6 Trillion Over 10 Years     Top Story 
May 13, 2008 -- In an article in today's Health Affairs and an accompanying issue brief, Commonwealth Fund researchers lay out a plan that would insure 44 million of the estimated 48 million uninsured Americans in 2008.

SD Program to Help Rural Facilities Recruit Health Professionals
May 13, 2008 -- Applications are now being accepted for a state program that helps rural facilities recruit health professionals.

Senior Citizens, Unions, Physicians and Nurses Groups Lend Support to Hospitals’ State House Rally
May 13, 2008 -- New Jersey Hospital Association article reports that a diverse coalition of groups including AARP, the Medical Society of New Jersey and scores of additional organizations representing healthcare workers, nursing homes, mental health agencies and others raised their voices today in support of New Jersey hospitals.

Site Allows Consumers to Compare Charges for NE Hospital Care
May 13, 2008 -- AHA News reports that The Nebraska Hospital Association today launched Care Compare, a Web site offering easy access to charge information for several types of inpatient care at the state’s hospitals.

The Ohio 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force Announces Regional Meetings
May 13, 2008 -- The Ohio 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force is bringing all Ohioans to the table to explore the broad spectrum of transportation issues facing the state through a series of regional meetings.

Bush Administration to Implement FHASecure Expansion Using Fair, Flexible Premium Pricing
May 12, 2008 -- The Bush Administration today issued final guidance that will permit its flagship mortgage insurance program to assist more homeowners who are struggling to keep up with their high-cost subprime adjustable rate mortgages.

CMS Launches Pilot to Test Personal Health Records for Medicare Beneficiaries in South Carolina
May 12, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a new project that expands its efforts to encourage beneficiaries covered by traditional Medicare to take advantage of Internet-based resources to track their health care services and better communicate with their providers.

CMS Proposes New Protections for Medicare Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Programs     Top Story 
May 12, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week proposed enhanced protections for beneficiaries who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans and Medicare prescription drug plans.

CMS Provides States with Information About SCHIP Crowd-out Policies
May 12, 2008 -- In response to questions from states, and noting that it is imperative that the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) cover the lowest-income children first and prevent substitution of public health benefits over private insurance coverage, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today addressed state questions about the CMS review strategy to achieve those goals.

CMS Selects NHIC to Administer Medicare Claims Payment in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington
May 12, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that National Heritage Insurance Corporation (NHIC) has been awarded a contract of up to five years for the combined administration of Part A and Part B Medicare claims payment in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Department of Housing and Urban Development; Notice of Fiscal Year 2008 SuperNOFA for HUD's Discretionary Programs     Top Story      Federal Register 
May 12, 2008 -- Today's publication contains the 36 funding opportunities that constitute HUD's FY2008 SuperNOFA, and also provides a revised Appendix A that lists the programs contained in the FY2008 SuperNOFA and corrects two items contained in the General Section published on March 19, 2008.

HRSA Outreach Seeks to Raise Cancer Awareness Among People Who Lived Near Nuclear Sites or Mined Uranium     Top Story 
May 12, 2008 -- On May 8, HRSA 's Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (RESEP) launched a nationwide outreach effort to raise awareness about the need for cancer screening among people who lived near nuclear weapons testing facilities in the mid-20th century.

MedlinePlus Now with Multilingual Enhancement     Top Story 
May 12, 2008 -- As of May 7, 2008, MedlinePlus® has a multilingual feature, providing access to high quality health information in languages other than English and Spanish.

New Evidence Provides Clinicians with Better Tools to Help Smokers Quit
May 12, 2008 -- An updated clinical practice guideline released today by the U.S. Public Health Service has identified new counseling and medication treatments that are effective for helping people quit smoking.

Rural Personal Income Falls Behind the Cities     Top Story 
May 12, 2008 -- Daily Yonder article reports that the largest drops in personal income in rural counties between 2005 and '06 were clustered in farming counties in the Great Plains; the declines appear to have been caused, in part, by lower federal crop payments.

HUD Makes $1 Billion in Grants Available Through 35 Programs     Top Story 
May 9, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today published its Fiscal Year 2008 "SuperNOFA," an annual funding notice that makes available more than $1 billion in grants through 35 programs.

US FCC Votes to Cap Fund for Rural Phone Subsidies     Top Story 
May 9, 2008 -- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to impose a cap on fast-growing subsidies the government allots to providers of telephone service in rural America.

Cultural Smorgasbord in a Rural School     Top Story 
May 8, 2008 -- In Wausau, Nebraska, a unique situation where the school system was in danger of being phased out due to a lack of students. Superintendent Bob Marks came up with a plan to recruit foreign exchange students to fill the population needs of the school.

Ups and Downs of Rural Health Care     Top Story 
May 8, 2008 -- For rural residents, a medical clinic is a luxury not available to residents of other small towns. Patients in towns lucky enough to have a clinic tell similar stories: they enjoy the convenience of having a clinic in town and the comfort of knowing the people who work there, people who are friends and neighbors who take a personal interest in how their visitors are feeling.

Department of Veterans Affairs' new Travel Nurse Corps Hits the Road     Top Story 
May 7, 2008 -- To deal with a nationwide shortage of nurses and to improve the quality of care for veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has created the Travel Nurse Corps to enable VA nurses to travel and work throughout the department's medical system.

E.R.’s Are Busy, but Fewer Patients Are Uninsured     Top Story 
May 7, 2008 -- The number of uninsured people nationwide rose to 15.7 percent in 2004 from 15.4 percent in 1995, yet in the period, the proportion of uninsured people using emergency rooms declined. The 26 percent increase in the number of visits in the period was largely caused by an increase in the number of people with private doctors who sought emergency room care.

Changes for Long-Term Care Hospitals Required by Certain Provisions of the Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007: 3-Year Delay in the Application of Payment Adjustments for Short Stay Outliers and Changes to the Standard Federal Rate     Federal Register 
May 6, 2008 -- This interim final rule with comment period implements certain provisions of section 114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 relating to long term care hospitals (LTCHs). These provisions include a 3-year delay in the application of certain provisions of the payment adjustment for short-stay outliers and revisions to the RY 2008 standard Federal rate.

Federal Government Walking Away from Rural America     Top Story 
May 6, 2008 -- The Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Brief April 2008 Issue takes a close look at Rural Development funding for FY09, pointing out that as with previous budgets, the FY09 budget recommends termination of numerous federal rural development and rural asset-building programs.

Nation’s Front Line Caregivers Say New CMS Rule Undermines Care Needs of America’s Oldest, Sickest Seniors     Top Story 
May 6, 2008 -- San Francisco Examiner, (CA) article reports that the Coalition to Protect Senior Care (CPSC) today expressed its strong opposition to a newly-issued rule promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which, by regulatory means, will cut Medicare-financed nursing home funding by $5 billion over five years.

New Town Doctor to Help with New Tribal Health-care Delivery Plan
May 6, 2008 -- Minot Daily News reports that when Dr. Monica Mayer finished her last day with Trinity Community Clinic in New Town Friday, it also was the start of her part in a new chapter in health care for the Three Affiliated Tribes on the Fort Berthold Reservation.

Notice; Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers: Implementation of the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program     Federal Register 
May 6, 2008 -- This Notice sets forth the policies and procedures for the administration of tenant-based Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance under the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program administered by local public housing agencies (PHAs) that have partnered with local Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers.

CMS Announces Rate Year 2009 Payment and Policy Changes for Long-Term Care Hospitals     Top Story 
May 5, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week published the final regulation establishing rate year (RY) 2009 Federal payment rates and policies for long-term care hospitals (LTCHs).

CMS Announces RY 2009 Payment Update for Inpatient Psych Facilities
May 5, 2008 -- AHA News reports that The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week announced that inpatient psychiatric facilities would receive a 2.5% increase in payments − about $120 million− for rate year 2009, which begins July 1.

Department of Agriculture; Notice of Semiannual Regulatory Agenda     Federal Register 
May 5, 2008 -- This agenda provides summary descriptions of significant and not significant regulations being developed in agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) including the Rural Housing Service.

Department of Health and Human Services; Notice of Semiannual Regulatory Agenda     Federal Register 
May 5, 2008 -- The purpose of the publication of the agenda is to encourage public participation in the regulatory process by providing, at as early a stage as possible, summarized information about regulatory actions under consideration.

Department of Housing and Urban Development; Notice of Semiannual Regulatory Agenda     Federal Register 
May 5, 2008 -- The purpose of publication of the agenda is to encourage more effective public participation in the regulatory process by providing the public with advance information about pending regulatory activities.

Hunters Aim for Military Service     Top Story 
May 5, 2008 -- Daily Yonder article discusses how a disproportionate number of rural people join the U.S. military and that may be because a disproportionate number of rural kids grow up hunting.

Rising Gas Prices Squeeze Rural Fire Departments’ Budgets     Top Story 
May 5, 2008 -- Northwest Arkansas Times article tells how the high price of fuel is causing budget problems and most small town and rural fire chiefs don't see an end to the high costs in sight.

Rural EMS in Financial Straits
May 5, 2008 -- Recordnet.com article tells how the California rural EMS system is under a strain as State and federal funds shrink and workload grows.

USDA, Ginnie Mae Announce Milestone in Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program     Top Story 
May 5, 2008 -- USDA Rural Development and Ginnie Mae announced today that they have reached a significant milestone by securing more than $100 million in loans to build or rehabilitate affordable rental housing in rural communities.

Wanted: Ph.D. Who'll Kiss a Cow     Top Story 
May 5, 2008 -- Daily Yonder article reports that presidents of rural community colleges typically must contend with geographic isolation, a static local economy, and meager funding, but a researcher says it's time to "ruralize" the job description and attract those people most likely to succeed.

Aid a Concern for Emergency Services     Top Story 
May 2, 2008 -- Press and Sun Bulletin article reports that the challenges facing volunteer fire and EMS are creating havoc throughout the Southern Tier of New York and newly announced state budget cuts are expected to cause additional hardships for departments seeking to recruit, train and retain new members.

Centers for Independent Living; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards     Federal Register 
May 2, 2008 -- This program from the Department of Education provides support for planning, conducting, administering, and evaluating centers for independent living (centers).
Learn more about: Centers for Independent Living

CMS Proposes New Payment Rates for Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities; Recalibration of Case-Mix Adjustment     Top Story 
May 2, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced its proposal for new, fiscal year (FY) 2009 payment rates for Medicare skilled nursing facilities that CMS says are more accurate and more closely reflect differences in patient care needs. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until June 30, 2008.