News Archive

News from the past 15-90 days.

Ambulances Start Charging Extra for Obese Patients     Top Story 
Oct 23, 2009 -- Newsday article reports that as the nation battles the obesity crisis, ambulance crews are trying to improve how they transport extremely heavy patients, so some ambulance companies have started charging higher fees for especially overweight people.

HHS Provides More Than $2.6 Billion to States to Help Low-Income Households with Energy Costs     Top Story 
Oct 23, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the release of more than $2.6 billion to states to help low income citizens with their heating bills during October, November and December of this year.

Oregon Offers Model to Boost Nursing Faculty     Top Story 
Oct 23, 2009 -- Associated Press article via Idaho Statesman tells how eight community colleges have joined Oregon Health and Science University to create the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education, allowing students in rural areas of the state to complete their coursework for a bachelor's while remaining in their community.

Sebelius Releases New Report on Benefits of Health Insurance Reform for Women with Breast Cancer as Americans Mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Oct 23, 2009 -- As Americans mark breast cancer awareness month, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius today released a new report that details how health insurance reform will help women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Senate Bill May Have Public Insurance Plan     Top Story 
Oct 23, 2009 -- USA Today article reports that the Senate has long been seen as opposed to the federal government selling health insurance in competition with private industry, but now senior Senate Democrats and White House officials are strongly considering including such a measure in health care overhaul legislation, officials say.

University of Minnesota Awarded $1.1 Million for Regional Telehealth Assistance Center
Oct 23, 2009 -- The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded a three year, $1.1 million grant to the University of Minnesota for the Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center (GPTRAC).

Congressional Negotiators Agree on 2010 USDA Funding     Top Story 
Oct 22, 2009 -- Housing Assistance Council article reports that House-Senate conferees agreed on a final compromise version of H.R. 2997, including funding for rural housing programs in the fiscal year that began October 1.

HHS to Create a National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Elders     Top Story 
Oct 22, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced plans to establish the nation’s first national resource center to assist communities across the country in their efforts to provide services and supports for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

Medicare Program; Medicare Part B Monthly Actuarial Rates, Premium Rate, and Annual Deductible Beginning January 1, 2010     Federal Register 
Oct 22, 2009 -- This notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces the monthly actuarial rates for aged (age 65 and over) and disabled (under age 65) beneficiaries enrolled in Part B of the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) program beginning January 1, 2010.

Medicare Program; Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs; Proposed Rule     Federal Register 
Oct 22, 2009 -- The proposed revisions from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clarify various program participation requirements; specify changes to strengthen beneficiary protections; ensure that plan offerings to beneficiaries include meaningful differences; improve plan payment rules and processes; and implement new policy such as a Part D formulary policy.

Medicare Reopens Competitive Bidding Program for Medical Equipment and Supplies     Top Story 
Oct 22, 2009 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today began accepting bids from accredited and bonded medical equipment suppliers after implementing a number of important modifications to the program and conducting an intensive supplier outreach and education effort.

New National Community of Philanthropic Funders, Practitioners to Promote Expansion of Effective Social Programs
Oct 22, 2009 -- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Growth Philanthropy Network and Duke University on Tuesday announced the creation of a first-of-its kind collaboration of philanthropic funders, practitioners, researchers and others designed to make it easier for top-performing social programs to expand widely to communities that need them.

Notice: Medicare Program; Part A Premium for Calendar Year 2010 for the Uninsured Aged and for Certain Disabled Individuals Who Have Exhausted Other Entitlement     Federal Register 
Oct 22, 2009 -- This annual notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces Medicare's Hospital Insurance (Part A) premium for uninsured enrollees in calendar year (CY) 2010.

Notice; Medicare Program; Inpatient Hospital Deductible and Hospital and Extended Care Services Coinsurance Amounts for Calendar Year 2010     Federal Register 
Oct 22, 2009 -- This notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces the inpatient hospital deductible and the hospital and extended care services coinsurance amounts for services furnished in calendar year (CY) 2010 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance Program (Medicare Part A).

Obama Administration Expands Efforts to Improve School Meals and Children's Health
Oct 22, 2009 -- First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday announced the Obama Administration is expanding the HealthierUS School Challenge.

Senate Fails to Address Medicare Physician Sustainable Growth Rate Dilemma     Top Story 
Oct 22, 2009 -- Medicare Update article reports that on October 21, 2009, the U.S. Senate voted 47-53 on a cloture motion for the Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009 (S.1776), which would eliminate the 21.5 percent Medicare payment rate reduction for physician services in 2010 and sunset the sustainable growth rate (or SGR) formula.

Speak Your Piece: Internet Ghosts     Top Story 
Oct 22, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells how the current battle over net neutrality has deep roots, oddly enough, in rural America.

US Senator Al Franken Introduces Safe Patient Handling Bill
Oct 22, 2009 -- Ergonomics Today article reports that Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has introduced legislation that would establish standards for safe patient handling and injury prevention for health care workers.

Administration Announces Initiative for State and Local Housing Finance Agencies     Top Story 
Oct 21, 2009 -- As part of its comprehensive plan to stabilize the U.S. housing market, the Obama Administration today announced a new initiative for state and local housing finance agencies (HFAs) that will help support low mortgage rates and expand resources for low and middle income borrowers to purchase or rent homes that are affordable over the long term.

HHS Releases Update of "Understanding Breast Changes: A Health Guide for Women"
Oct 21, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the HHS National Institute of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI) has released its updated booklet in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Understanding Breast Changes: A Health Guide for Women.

House Dems Trim Health Bill to $871 Billion     Top Story 
Oct 21, 2009 -- Associated Press article via MSNBC reports that House Democrats are aiming to scale back the cost of their health care bill to well below President Barack Obama's preferred price tag by giving the government a strong hand in selling insurance in competition with the private market.

HUD's Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 NOFA for the HOPE VI Revitalization Grants Program; Technical Correction     Federal Register 
Oct 21, 2009 -- The technical corrections to the NOFA are available on the HUD Web site at http://www.hud.gov/hopevi and http:// www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa09/grphopevirevi.cfm, and on the Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov, CFDA Number 14.866.

National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice; Notice of Meeting     Federal Register 
Oct 21, 2009 -- The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice will hold a public meeting, November 19-20 in Rockville, MD.

Physician Workforce Numbers Overestimated     Top Story 
Oct 21, 2009 -- Ivanhoe Newswire article reports that data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests the future physician workforce could be younger and fewer in number than previously thought.

Rural Communities Prepare for H1N1 Vaccine
Oct 21, 2009 -- Star Press, (IN) article tells how Randolph County might be one of the more rural counties in East Central Indiana but that doesn't mean its residents aren't prepared for the H1N1 virus.

SAMHSA Accepting Applications for $8 Million in Statewide Family Network Grants to Strengthen State Capacity and Infrastructure     Top Story 
Oct 21, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for fiscal year 2010 grants for the Statewide Family Network Program, whose purpose is to enhance State capacity and infrastructure and to be more oriented to the needs of children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances and their families.

Teens Still Not Getting Enough Fruits and Vegetables, CDC Report Finds
Oct 21, 2009 -- National Academies of Health article tells of a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that says that children and adults still do not choose enough fruits and vegetables for better health and reduced obesity.

The Uneven Cost of Rural Health Care     Top Story 
Oct 21, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article reports that the nation is spending vastly more on health care in some rural areas than in others without any indication that the increased spending results in better health.

US Department of Labor Provides More Than $24.8 Million to Assist Tsunami Recovery Efforts in American Samoa
Oct 21, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $24,857,608 National Emergency Grant award to assist clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of a tsunami that struck American Samoa on Sept. 29.

USDA-Commissioned Report from Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies Highlights Ways to Improve National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs
Oct 21, 2009 -- The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies today released the report of its expert panel, commissioned by USDA, to develop recommendations on improvements to the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to align them with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Behind Purple Heart, Medical Hassle and Heartache     Top Story 
Oct 20, 2009 -- Anchorage Daily News, (AK) article tells the story of Sgt. 1st Class Michael Waszak, a Purple Heart recipient, and his efforts to bring national attention to the reimbursement problems of the military health plan called Tricare.

CDC Urges Antiviral Use for All Hospitalized Patients with Suspected Flu
Oct 20, 2009 -- AHA News reports that health care providers should initiate antiviral treatment as soon as possible for all patients hospitalized with suspected flu, even if flu has not been confirmed by laboratory testing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an advisory today to clinicians.

High Blood Pressure Medicines Show Promise for Treating Heart Disease
Oct 20, 2009 -- Two medications commonly used to treat high blood pressure appear to be effective in treating a common type of heart disease known as stable ischemic heart disease, according to a new comparative effectiveness review funded by the Department of Health & Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Medical School Enrollment Continues to Rise to Meet Physician Need     Top Story 
Oct 20, 2009 -- Enrollment in both new and existing U.S. medical schools continues to expand to meet the nation's need for more doctors, according to data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges).

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts Launch National Initiative to Advance Policies That Promote Health     Top Story 
Oct 20, 2009 -- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced the launch of the Health Impact Project, a national initiative designed to promote the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) as a decision-making tool for policy-makers.

Town Hall Meetings on Rural Health
Oct 20, 2009 -- The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, through Community Asset Builders LLC, will be scheduling 15 town hall meetings around the state to obtain public input on rural health issues for the development of its Rural Health Plan.

CMS Announces 2010 Medicare Premiums and Deductibles     Top Story 
Oct 19, 2009 -- On October 16, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released display copies of Notices announcing Medicare Part A and Part B premiums and deductibles for calendar year 2010.

Community Programs Guaranteed Loans; Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection     Federal Register 
Oct 19, 2009 -- This notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 3575, subpart A, "Community Programs Guaranteed Loans."

Drug Crisis Intensifies Health-Plan Debate     Top Story 
Oct 19, 2009 -- Kentucky.com article reports that as Congress wrangles over the cost, shape and scope of health care legislation, doctors, nurses and rural hospital administrators say the plan must include stronger safeguards against abuses of the government health program and greater insurance coverage for drug treatment and rehabilitation.

HIT Standards Committee's Implementation Workgroup Meeting; Notice of Public Meeting     Federal Register 
Oct 19, 2009 -- This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory subcommittee of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to be held October 29, 2009, in Washington, DC.

Lawmakers to Fight for Rural Hospitals Despite Budget Concerns on Reform     Top Story 
Oct 19, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News' staff writers report in a story produced in collaboration with Politico on lawmakers who want to help rural hospitals in their states get the funding boost that comes with the "critical access" designation.

New Program of OSU's Aims to Produce Rural Doctors     Top Story 
Oct 19, 2009 -- Tulsa World, (OK) article reports that Oklahoma State University (OSU) College of Osteopathic Medicine has launched a program designed to prepare future physicians for practice in rural areas.

Study Shines Light on Health-Care Debt in Rural Areas     Top Story 
Oct 19, 2009 -- Lincoln Journal Star, (NE) article reports on a new survey of farm and ranch residents in Nebraska and six other states, where findings suggest many people in rural settings are sinking under the weight of medical costs even when they have health insurance.

FDA Warns of Unapproved and Illegal H1N1 Drug Products Purchased Over the Internet     Top Story 
Oct 16, 2009 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned consumers to use extreme care when purchasing any products over the Internet that claim to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure the H1N1 influenza virus.

Foreclosures in Rural America? Who Knows!!     Top Story 
Oct 16, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article reports that laws are being written (or not) to deal with the housing foreclosure crisis, but nobody really knows how many homes in rural America are affected.

Human Patient Simulation Lab to Benefit Rural Health Training
Oct 16, 2009 -- Gant Daily, (PA) article tells how Penn State, Lewistown Hospital and Mifflin-Juniata Career and Technology Center are partnering to create a training center for rural and other health care professionals.

IOM: Smoking Bans Reduce Heart Attacks
Oct 16, 2009 -- AHA News reports that smoking bans reduce heart attacks associated with secondhand smoke, according to a report released today by the Institute of Medicine.

MedPAC Releases Updated Medicare Payment Basics Documents     Top Story 
Oct 16, 2009 -- On October 14, 2009, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released updated documents for its Medicare Payment Basics series, which provide an overview of 18 Medicare payment systems.

Notice of a Public Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality     Federal Register 
Oct 16, 2009 -- This notice announces a meeting of the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality to be held on Friday, November 13, 2009, in Rockville, Maryland 20850.

Notice; Charter Re-Establishment for the Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees     Federal Register 
Oct 16, 2009 -- This notice from the Department of Agriculture announces that the eight charters for the Secure Rural School Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) are being re-established and authorized to carry out the requirements of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

Sebelius, West Highlight New Tips to Prevent Medical Identity Theft and Medicare Fraud     Top Story 
Oct 16, 2009 -- Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Assistant Attorney General Tony West today highlighted the Obama Administration’s work to fight Medicare Fraud and released new tips and information to help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries deter, detect and defend against Medical identity theft.

Statement by Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, on National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
Oct 16, 2009 -- In this press release from Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, she stresses the importance of HIV testing towards preventing AIDS in the Latino community.

Vilsack Wrong about Rural Health Insurance     Top Story 
Oct 16, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article analyzes the most recent census figures and found that the percentage of people under the age of 65 without health insurance is higher in urban America than it is in rural, which is contrary to what U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is saying.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Highlights Recovery Act Efforts to Bolster Healthcare Infrastructure in Rural America     Top Story 
Oct 15, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA is providing $30 million for 36 community facilities projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, many of which are for healthcare facilities.

CDC Updates H1N1 Infection Control Guidance for Health Care Settings
Oct 15, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today updated its H1N1 infection control guidance for health care settings, including use of N95 respirators.

Center for Rural Health Newsflash
Oct 15, 2009 -- Center for Rural Health, (ND) reports that as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers will provide education and technical assistance to help providers select, implement, and achieve meaningful use of certified EHR technology, as well as the ability to exchange health information with other providers and agencies.

Community Clinics Key to Health Care Reform     Top Story 
Oct 15, 2009 -- Associated Press article via ABC 7 News, (CO) reports that more and more people are relying on taxpayer-supported health centers that offer care on a sliding fee scale, but if Congress passes a law giving more Americans access to health insurance, the clinics will also be a critical element to ramping up capacity to care for millions of new patients.

Higher Rates of Perforated Appendix in Rural Areas May be Linked to Shortage of General Surgeons     Top Story 
Oct 15, 2009 -- Newswise article reports that people who live in rural areas may run a greater risk of having perforated appendix than those in suburban and urban areas, according to a new study out of Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH.

HUD Takes Action to Expand Jobs and Training Opportunities for Low-Income Residents     Top Story 
Oct 15, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today launched a new campaign to increase hiring of low-income individuals and public housing residents by state and local governments that receive HUD funds.

Idaho Physician Named 2010 Family Physician of the Year
Oct 15, 2009 -- The American Academy of Family Physicians today named Karl N. Watts, M.D., the 2010 Family Physician of the Year at the opening ceremony of its Annual Scientific Assembly.

Lori J. Heim, M.D., Assumes Role of President of the American Academy of Family Physicians
Oct 15, 2009 -- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) article reports that Lori J. Heim, M.D., FAAFP, a family physician in Laurinburg, N.C., assumes the role of president of the AAFP today.

Not if, but Who?
Oct 15, 2009 -- BusinessNorth.com article tells how rural healthcare facilities in Minnesota look to partnerships and affiliations to remain viable.

Success of Health Care Reform Depends on Strong Primary Care Physician Workforce     Top Story 
Oct 15, 2009 -- AAFP article discusses how health care reform in the U.S. will not succeed unless it includes policies that encourage tens of thousands of medical students to choose primary medical care specialties.

What Will Make it into the Final Senate Health Bill?     Top Story 
Oct 15, 2009 -- NPR News article via Kaiser Health News reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid began private meetings Wednesday with fellow Democrats and the White House to merge his chamber's two health care overhaul bills into a single plan that could win a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

AAFP Backs Legislation to Increase Ranks of Rural Physicians     Top Story 
Oct 14, 2009 -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) reports that they are supporting a Senate bill that would give medical schools the resources to establish or expand rural physician training programs.

CMS Proposes New Rules for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans to Better Serve Beneficiaries     Top Story 
Oct 14, 2009 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a proposed rule to improve performance of prescription drug and health plans by strengthening standards to participate in the Medicare program.

Facebook Draws a Growing Crop of Farmers     Top Story 
Oct 14, 2009 -- Center for Rural Affairs article tells how a growing number of farmers and others in agriculture are using social media tools to communicate with each other, send out information and educate the public about agriculture.

Finance Democrats Approve Overhaul Measure With Boost from Snowe     Top Story 
Oct 14, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that the Senate Finance Committee approved its long-anticipated version of the health-care overhaul legislation in a 14-9 vote Tuesday, with Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, joining the panels 13 Democrats to support the bill.

First Care Health Center of Park River, ND, Awarded HRSA Grant
Oct 14, 2009 -- Prairie Business, (ND) article reports that First Care Health Center, Park River, North Dakota, has been awarded a 3 year, $375,000 Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Librarians 'Broker' Health Information
Oct 14, 2009 -- Kansas Health Institute article tells of a program at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library that created a central point where people who have health-related questions can come and get assistance from trained librarians who have the resources — both in print and electronic — to answer their questions.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service; Inviting Applications for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2010     Federal Register 
Oct 14, 2009 -- This Notice is to invite applications for loans and grants under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program for fiscal year (FY) 2010, to assist in economically developing rural areas.
Learn more about: Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program

Speak Your Piece: Rural Economies Must Change or Die     Top Story 
Oct 14, 2009 -- Daily Yonder editorial by Karl Stauber discusses how rural America has been the battleground between the Old Economy, the New Economy, and No Economy, and many rural people face a choice between moving out or becoming part of the growing rural ghetto.

Telemedicine May Help Rural Trauma Surgeons Avoid Medical Errors and Unnecessary Patient Transfers     Top Story 
Oct 14, 2009 -- Newswise article reports that telemedicine can help health care providers in rural areas stabilize and treat trauma victims when long distances or inclement weather prevents immediate transfer to an accredited trauma center.

Health Reform Proposals Enhance Children’s Dental Care     Top Story 
Oct 13, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News article reports that pediatric dental care, long a concern of children’s health advocates, is poised to get a major boost with each of the Democratic health reform proposals.

Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for Inviting Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program Preapplications for Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems     Federal Register 
Oct 13, 2009 -- The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), solicits applications of two individual grants: one single grant from the passenger transportation funds appropriated for the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program and another grant for Federally Recognized Native American Tribes' from funds appropriated for the RBEG program.

Novel Telemedicine Project Links Rural Docs, Chronic Care Experts     Top Story 
Oct 13, 2009 -- AHA News tells of Project ECHO, a six-year-old program that helps rural New Mexico residents manage a dozen chronic diseases by putting a twist on the traditional use of telemedicine.

Senate Finance Committee to Vote Today on Health Care Reform Overhaul     Top Story 
Oct 13, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News article reports that after months of negotiation, haggling, posturing and talking, the Senate Finance Committee votes today on a health care reform bill.

Therapy in Preschools: Can It Have Lasting Benefits?
Oct 13, 2009 -- Wall Street Journal article tells of a growing body of research that shows that mental-health services in preschools are benefiting entire classrooms of children by reducing behavior problems and supporting overburdened teachers.

Toothaches Don't Belong in the ER
Oct 13, 2009 -- Concord Monitor, (NH) article discusses the reasons why a growing number of patients in New Hampshire rely on hospital emergency rooms for dental care.

VA Extends “Agent Orange” Benefits to More Veterans     Top Story 
Oct 13, 2009 -- Relying on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki decided to establish a service-connection for Vietnam Veterans with three specific illnesses based on the latest evidence of an association with the herbicides referred to Agent Orange.

World Rural Women's Day Celebrates Role of Women in Ag
Oct 13, 2009 -- Wisconsin Ag Connection article reports that as World Rural Women's Day is celebrated throughout the world on October 15, Wisconsin Farmers Union wishes to recognize rural women who produce the world's food supply.

America's Coolest Small Towns     Top Story 
Oct 12, 2009 -- Center for Rural Affairs article tells how every now and then, you stumble upon a town that's gotten everything right—great coffee, food with character, shop owners with purpose. These 10 spots have it all, in perfectly small doses.

Area Physicians Recognized for Excellence in Rural Health Care
Oct 12, 2009 -- JG-TC, (IL) article reports that several area doctors in the Mattoon and Charleston area were honored with the Rural Physician of Excellence Award recently.

Farmers' Financial Woes Sow Mental Health Issues     Top Story 
Oct 12, 2009 -- National Public Radio talks to Michael Rosmann, a clinical psychologist and farmer who is also the director of a non-profit agency that specializes in the mental health of agricultural workers, about how the recession isn't just taking a financial toll on farmers and agricultural workers, it's also affecting their mental health.

Fewer U.S. Schools Selling Less Nutritious Food and Beverages
Oct 12, 2009 -- Fewer secondary schools in the United States are selling less nutritious foods and beverages, such as candy and soda, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Former UNMC Student to Lead Rural Health Network
Oct 12, 2009 -- 1011 News, (NE) article reports that the University of Nebraska Medical Center has hired Dr. Patrik Johansson, one of its former students, to run its Rural Health Education Network.

Groundwater Pollution in Rural Nuke Testing Areas     Top Story 
Oct 12, 2009 -- Associated Press article via KDKA, (PA) reports that rural communities that hosted the first nuclear missiles 50 years ago are now having to deal with a much longer-lasting legacy than the Cold War -- groundwater pollution.

Leaders Disguise a Deep Tribal Dispute
Oct 12, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article reports that news coverage of a recent ban on environmental groups in Navajo Country misses what's happened and what's happening.

Physician Shortage Worries Rural Communities but Gets Little Attention in Health Bills     Top Story 
Oct 12, 2009 -- "Even as Congress moves to expand health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, it's doing little to ensure there will be enough primary care doctors to meet the expected surge in demand for treatment, experts say," Kaiser Health News reports.

Rural Hospitals Fear Health Care Overhaul Won't Help Them     Top Story 
Oct 12, 2009 -- Miami Hearld, (FL) article via Acute Care, Inc. discusses how overhauling the health system could offer a lifeline to hospitals, doctors and nurses that serve the nation's small towns and agricultural communities, but they fear that Congress might not provide either enough money or the right incentives to allow rural hospitals to cover their costs and recruit talented medical professionals.

Tough to Find Doctors for Small Wash. Towns
Oct 12, 2009 -- Seattle Times article tells how many of Washington state's small town hospitals are struggling, with most of the state's 43 hospitals operated by taxing districts and need an annual infusion of property tax dollars to meet maintenance costs.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Ad Council Launch National Campaign to Help Prevent the Spread of the H1N1 Flu Virus     Top Story 
Oct 12, 2009 -- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is joining with the Ad Council to launch a series of national television public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage Americans to take steps to protect themselves from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.

Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry; Notice of Meeting     Federal Register 
Oct 9, 2009 -- A public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD) will be held November 12-13, 2009, at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville, Rockville, Maryland.

Farm Injury Rate Among Va. Children Declining
Oct 9, 2009 -- Associated Press article via WRIC News, (VA) reports that a Virginia official says safety education and parental supervision are likely behind a steep drop in the rate of injuries to children living on farms.

National Academy of Sciences Study Will Recommend Improvements to U.S. System of Oral Health Care     Top Story 
Oct 9, 2009 -- HRSA recently awarded the National Academy of Sciences contracts worth $2.4 million to conduct a wide-ranging study of oral health care in the United States and suggest ways it could be improved.

National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): Request for Nominations for Public Members     Top Story      Federal Register 
Oct 9, 2009 -- AHRQ is requesting nominations to the Council, to advise the Secretary of HHS and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality on matters related to activities of the Agency to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.

National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps; Notice of Meeting     Federal Register 
Oct 9, 2009 -- A public meeting of the National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps will be held November 12-14, 2009 at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Executive Meeting Center, Rockville, MD.

Notice of Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless     Federal Register 
Oct 9, 2009 -- 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

Obama Administration Releases New Data on Making Home Affordable Program, Achieves Key Milestone Weeks Ahead of Schedule
Oct 9, 2009 -- Today, almost one month ahead of a November 1 benchmark set earlier this year, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a new milestone of more than 500,000 trial loan modifications in progress under the Making Home Affordable program.

Senate Finance Committee Plans Tuesday Vote as Lawmakers Crunch Numbers     Top Story 
Oct 9, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that a key Senate committee will vote Tuesday on its $829 billion overhaul of the nation's health-care system, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday, the final hurdle before the full House and Senate can begin their debate on the future of health care.

USDA Assists American Samoans Following the Tsunami
Oct 9, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today highlighted USDA's continuing efforts to provide resources and assistance to the recovery operations on American Samoa after the recent tsunami.

CBO Says Finance Bill To Cost $829 Billion Over 10 Years; Will Reduce Deficit by $81 Billion     Top Story 
Oct 8, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News article reports that the Congressional Budget Office released its analysis of the Senate Finance Committee's health bill today, and said that, over time, the bill would lower the deficit, cost less than President Barack Obama's threshold, and would expand coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.

Doctors, Hospitals Lag in Going Digital with Medical Records, Sebelius Says in KC     Top Story 
Oct 8, 2009 -- Kansas City Star, (MO) article reports that electronic medical records will transform the practice of medicine, but so far not many doctors or hospitals have gone digital, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday.

Domestic Abuse Victims Struggle With Another Blow: Difficulty Getting Health Insurance
Oct 8, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reporter Jenny Gold details the difficulties faced by domestic abuse victims in getting health insurance.

For H1N1 Outbreak, Too Few Hospital Beds     Top Story 
Oct 8, 2009 -- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation article reports that the Trust for America’s Health released a new report today that finds 15 states could run out of available hospital beds during the peak of the outbreak if 35 percent of Americans were to get sick from the H1N1 flu virus.

HHS Unveils New Features on Flu.gov     Top Story 
Oct 8, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today unveiled several new resources on the federal government’s one-stop resource for flu information -- www.flu.gov. 

New State Health Care Scorecard Finds Wide Differences in Access, Quality, Avoidable Hospitalization and Cost Across States; Persistent, Growing Disparities Underscore Need for National Reform     Top Story 
Oct 8, 2009 -- The cost and quality of health care, as well as access to care and health outcomes, continue to vary widely among states, according to the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System's second state scorecard report released today.

Rural Restaurants Serve Online Appetizers     Top Story 
Oct 8, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells how small town restaurants are finding that social media sites spur customers to the door.

Senate Committee Approves Dr. Regina Benjamin     Top Story 
Oct 8, 2009 -- WKRG News (AL) reports that Wednesday morning, the Senate Health Committee approved Dr. Benjamin's nomination, but now she must be confirmed by the full senate.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Vendor Cost Containment; Final Rule.     Federal Register 
Oct 8, 2009 -- This final rule from the Food and Nutrition Service adopts, with changes, an interim rule published on November 29, 2005 amending the WIC regulations that incorporates into program regulations new legislative requirements for vendor cost containment that affect the selection, authorization, and reimbursement of retail vendors.

USDA's Farm Service Agency Announces New $1.1 Million Maximum Guaranteed Loan Amount
Oct 8, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the loan limit for its Guaranteed Loan Program has been increased to $1,112,000, effective Oct. 1.

HIPAA Administrative Simplification: Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information     Federal Register 
Oct 7, 2009 -- Comments are being requested by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on their proposal to modify certain provisions of the "Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information" (Privacy Rule), issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Medicare Program; Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and Fiscal Year 2010 Rates and to the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Rate Year 2010 Rates; Corrections     Federal Register 
Oct 7, 2009 -- This document corrects technical and typographical errors that appeared in the final rules and interim final rule with comment period published in the Federal Register on August 27, 2009 entitled "Medicare Program; Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and Fiscal Year 2010 Rates and to the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Rate Year 2010 Rates."

Misrepresenting Rural Americans in the Politics of Health Care Reform     Top Story 
Oct 7, 2009 -- Huffington Post article discusses how recent polls suggest that swing voters in rural districts support health reform, including a robust public option, but some politicians who claim that rural voters oppose this are looking for any excuse to help insurance company donors, rather than their constituents.

New Report Highlights Plight of Family Farmers and Ranchers With Medical Debt     Top Story 
Oct 7, 2009 -- Center for Rural Affairs tells of a recent study, conducted by The Access Project, that shows that farmers and ranchers with children and those in poorer health are at increased risk of carrying medical debt.

Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Genetic Information; Interim Final Rules; HIPAA Administrative Simplification; Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act; Proposed Rules     Federal Register 
Oct 7, 2009 -- Comments are being requested on this document that contains interim final rules implementing sections 101 through 103 of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, prohibiting discrimination based on genetic information in health insurance coverage and group health plans.

Rural America's Health Care Challenges     Top Story 
Oct 7, 2009 -- The Center for Rural Affairs reports that they recently participated in a briefing on Capitol Hill about the importance of health care reform to rural communities, that featured the release of a report, "Sweet the Bitter Drought," detailing the most crucial issues facing rural people and rural communities in the ongoing debate over health care reform.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program; Proposed Rule; Comment Request     Federal Register 
Oct 7, 2009 -- The Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA, is requesting comments on a proposed rule to implement the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program to meet the goals and requirements of the The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.

States Begin H1N1 Flu Vaccinations     Top Story 
Oct 7, 2009 -- AHA News reports that States yesterday began administering up to 2.2 million doses of the nasal spray version of H1N1 flu vaccine, giving priority to health care workers, children and people who care for infants, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Thomas Frieden, M.D., said today.

VA Center Grant to Fund Rural Care
Oct 7, 2009 -- Tulsa World, (OK) article reports that a $3.9 million grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Rural Health will help the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center launch new initiatives to reach veterans in rural eastern Oklahoma.

Wind Rich Great Plains Could Provide Energy and Jobs for Nation     Top Story 
Oct 7, 2009 -- According to a recent Center for Rural Affairs report (http://files.cfra.org/pdf/Renewable-Energy-and-Economic-Potential.pdf), expanding the nation's renewable electricity to 20% of total generation has the potential to create over 3,500 operations and maintenance jobs on Nebraska wind farms.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Brings Obama Administration's 'Rural Tour' to South Dakota
Oct 6, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the Jim Hundstad Farm today and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents talk about how the federal government can assist them, and discuss solutions to challenges facing their communities.

CMS Announces 'Town Hall Meeting' on 935 Appeals Process     Top Story 
Oct 6, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Nov. 5 will hold a "town hall meeting" conference call on appeals of Medicare payment denials under Section 935 of the Medicare Modernization Act.

National Advisory Council on Migrant Health; Notice of Meeting     Federal Register 
Oct 6, 2009 -- The Health Resources and Services Administration announces a public meeting of the National Advisory Council on Migrant Health to be held November 2, 2009 in Rockville, MD.

New Tools Help Emergency Planners Select Alternate Care Facilities and Transfer Patients During Disasters     Top Story 
Oct 6, 2009 -- Two interactive computer tools released today by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will help emergency planners and responders select and run alternate care facilities during disaster situations.

Senate Finance Committee Vote Delayed     Top Story 
Oct 6, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that the Senate Finance Committee will delay its vote on health care reform — and, likely the bill's move to the Senate floor — as members await cost estimates by the Congressional Budget Office.

Very Hot and Cold on Net Neutrality     Top Story 
Oct 6, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article discusses how net neutrality has become a contentious issue within the media, among pundits and in Congress, generating an edginess on par with healthcare reform discussions, but what does this debate mean to Smalltown, USA, and rural America?

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Number of Farmers Markets Grows to More Than 5,200 Nationwide     Top Story 
Oct 5, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the number of farmers markets in the United States is up more than 13 percent from a year ago.

American Samoa Tsunami News
Oct 5, 2009 -- During this tragic time of disaster in American Samoa, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be working with other federal partners in providing support in responding and recovering from the impact of the September 29th tsunami, which ravaged towns and has killed at least 150 people.

Connecticut Becomes Second Highest Cigarette Tax in U.S.
Oct 5, 2009 -- Connecticut had become the 12th state in the country to raise its cigarette tax in 2009, as it increased the state excise tax on cigarettes by $1 to $3 per pack, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Wash. State, Farm Workers Push for Unionization
Oct 5, 2009 -- MyMotherLode.com, (CA) article tells how this summer, the United Farm Workers of America, filed suit on Washington farm workers' behalf - the latest action from a union looking to increase its ranks among the tens of thousands of farm workers in Northwest agriculture.

Medicare Announces Additional Funding for Health Insurance Counseling Programs for 2009
Oct 5, 2009 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that an additional $6.3 million has been distributed to State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) to help beneficiaries get more information about their Medicare health and prescription drug plan choices.

Montana Goes Smoke-free     Top Story 
Oct 5, 2009 -- Bars in Montana went smoke-free today, making Montana the 22nd state in the country to have a comprehensive smoke-free law in workplaces, restaurants and bars, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New Guide Available from U.S. Government for Community and Faith-Based Organizations Working to Help Americans Stay Healthy from H1N1 and Seasonal Flu
Oct 5, 2009 -- Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the White House Office for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships began distributing a new flu-response guide for community and faith-based organizations this week in an effort to reach out and educate Americans about the dangers of the new H1N1 and seasonal flu, and to reach populations who may not have access to this public health information in other ways.

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Family Unification Program (FUP)     Federal Register 
Oct 5, 2009 -- In this notice HUD announces the availability on its Web site of the applicant information, deadline information, and other requirements for the Family Unification Program (FUP) NOFA for FY 2009.
Learn more about: Family Unification Program (FUP)

Pamela Hyde, Nominee to be Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services     Top Story 
Oct 5, 2009 -- Last week President Obama announced his intent to nominate Pamela Hyde to be Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Pharmacists Join CDC Efforts in Promoting Appropriate Antibiotic Use     Top Story 
Oct 5, 2009 -- Pharmacists around the nation are joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to educate consumers about the appropriate use of antibiotics during this influenza season.

Rural Food Banks Strain, Stretch
Oct 5, 2009 -- The Stump, (OR) article tells how back in the summer of 2007, before the stock market began its downward spiral, the Oregon Food Bank saw the first surge in rural need and since then, the recession has seemed more like a collapse.

Rural, Urban Differences in Health Insurance     Top Story 
Oct 5, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article finds that as the number of people employed goes up in rural counties so does the rate of uninsured.

Dauz Recipient of Rural Physician of Excellence Award
Oct 2, 2009 -- Shelbyville Daily Union, (IL) article reports that Dr. Urbano Dauz, M.D., of Shelbyville, was a recipient of the Illinois Rural Health Association’s “Rural Physician of Excellence Award.”

Health Care Reform in Massachusetts: The Employer Response     Top Story 
Oct 2, 2009 -- Commonwealth Fund article reports that as Congress and the Administration debate health care reform, it is instructive to look at the Massachusetts model, now in its third year.

Meeting of the AHRQ National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality Subcommittee on Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstrations; Notice of Public Meeting     Federal Register 
Oct 2, 2009 -- This notice announces a meeting of the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality Subcommittee on Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstrations, to be held in Washington, DC Metro area; specific information will be available at http://www.AHRQ.gov.

New Rules Protect Patients’ Genetic Information     Top Story 
Oct 2, 2009 -- Individuals’ genetic information will have greater protections through new regulations issued today by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury.

Obese and Overweight Women Have a Higher Risk of Giving Birth to Baby with Heart Defects
Oct 2, 2009 -- The largest study of obesity during pregnancy and babies with heart defects in the United States finds that women who were overweight or obese before they became pregnant had an approximately 18 percent increased risk of having a baby with certain heart defects compared with women who were of normal body mass index (BMI) before they became pregnant.

Patience Urged on Rural Roads
Oct 2, 2009 -- Center for Rural Affairs article reports that this week has been declared National Farm Safety and Health Week, and due to the fall harvest season, drivers are warned to take their time, as there will be a higher volume of farm equipment on country roads this time of year.

Report Highlights Rural Health Care Challenges     Top Story 
Oct 2, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News article tells of a new report from the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Neb., and the Center for Community Change that highlights the particular health care challenges faced by those living in rural parts of the country.

Report: High Poverty Risk for Southern Rural Kids     Top Story 
Oct 2, 2009 -- Associated Press article via Shelby Star, (AL) tells how a child living on a remote Southern farm may be at a higher risk of poverty than counterparts in the city, as schools struggle to develop new opportunities and factories shut down what few jobs are available, according to a new report from the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institute.

Robust Medicare Health and Drug Plan Coverage Continues in 2010 Beneficiary Protections Strengthened     Top Story 
Oct 2, 2009 -- Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare health and prescription drug plans will continue to have a wide range of plan options in 2010, and those beneficiaries who decide to change plans should find choosing a new plan simpler than in previous years, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Secretary Sebelius Releases $7.6 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Support Health Professionals Serving in High Need Areas     Top Story 
Oct 2, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced 63 awards totaling more than $7.6 million to help states recruit new health care clinicians and alleviate their debt burden, as part of the $500 million allotted to HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to address workforce shortages and encourage diversity in the health professions.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Brings Obama Administration 'Rural Tour' to New Mexico
Oct 1, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds today and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents talk about how the federal government can assist them, and discuss solutions to challenges facing their communities.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Highlights Healthcare Disparities in Rural America     Top Story 
Oct 1, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $1.5 million in grants to support the Rural Health and Safety Education Program and also noted the healthcare disparity that exists for those who live in rural America.

Bacterial Co–Infections Common in Fatal Cases of Influenza     Top Story 
Oct 1, 2009 -- Many people who have died from 2009 H1N1 influenza in the United States had co-infections with a common bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus) which likely contributed to their death, according to a report published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention′s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

For Myth-Busting, Indians Take to the Web     Top Story 
Oct 1, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells how a Montana tribe is using online videos to explain reservation life and counter old misconceptions about federal money, law enforcement, and sovereignty.

HUD Offers $15 Million in Grants to Keep Families Together     Top Story 
Oct 1, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is making $14.6 million in grants available to help local housing authorities across the country reunite thousands of children with their parents.
Learn more about: Family Unification Program (FUP)

Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2010; Correction to Final Rule     Federal Register 
Oct 1, 2009 -- This document from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services corrects technical errors that appeared in the final rule published in the Federal Register on August 7, 2009 entitled "Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2010" (74 FR 39762).

New School Hopes to Train Rural Pharmacists     Top Story 
Oct 1, 2009 -- Pharmacy Choice article reports that at a time when hometown drugstores are in deep decline, the University of Kansas on Wednesday ceremonially launched a new school in Wichita to turn out more rural pharmacists.

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Continuum of Care (CoC) Homeless Assistance Program     Federal Register 
Oct 1, 2009 -- HUD announces the availability on its website of the applicant information, deadline information, and other requirements for the Continuum of Care (CoC) Homeless Assistance Program NOFA for FY2009.
Learn more about: Supportive Housing Program (Continuum of Care Program)

Secretary Sebelius Releases New Success Story Report: Health Information Technology Strengthens Care in Rural Communities     Top Story 
Oct 1, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a report on how health information technology can improve health care for Americans living in rural communities.

States Report Sharp Increase in Medicaid Enrollment and Spending Amid Worst Recession in Decades
Oct 1, 2009 -- The number of people on Medicaid and state spending on the program are climbing sharply as a result of the recession, straining state budgets and pressuring officials to curb costs despite increased financial help from the federal government, according to a survey released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.

Grassley Amendment Raises Doctor Payments     Top Story 
Sep 30, 2009 -- DesMoines Register, (IA) article reports that physicians working in rural areas would see a boost in Medicare reimbursement as part of a bipartisan deal struck by members of the Senate Finance Committee and attached to a broad health overhaul bill.

HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Two-Day Meeting     Federal Register 
Sep 30, 2009 -- This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory committee of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to be held on October 27-28, 2009, in Washington, DC.

Majority of Americans not Meeting Recommendations for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption     Top Story 
Sep 30, 2009 -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention article reports that no U.S. state is meeting national objectives for consumption of fruits and vegetables, according to the first report to provide state–by–state data about fruit and vegetable consumption and policies that may help Americans eat more fruits and vegetables.

Out-of-Pocket Health Care Costs Could Increase More Than 35 Percent in Every State by 2019     Top Story 
Sep 30, 2009 -- As policymakers continue to debate comprehensive reform of the nation’s health care system, a new report commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) projects that if federal reform efforts are not enacted, the cost of failure would be substantial.

Recycled Medication Program Will Receive Top Health Award     Top Story 
Sep 30, 2009 -- Tulsa-World, (OK) article tells of an award winning medication recycling program that in five years has distributed more than $5.5 million in medicines and has been replicated in whole or in part in 37 other states.

Renewal of Charter for the Secretary's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020     Federal Register 
Sep 30, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is announcing that the charter for the Secretary's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020 (Healthy People 2020 Advisory Committee; HPAC) has been renewed.

Senate Panel Rejects Public Health-Reform Option     Top Story 
Sep 30, 2009 -- Denver Post, (CO) article reports that underscoring the divisions within their party, Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee split decisively Tuesday over a central issue in the health care debate as centrists teamed with Republicans to reject creation of a public option for medical insurance.

Tracing Rural America's 'Mortality Penalty'     Top Story 
Sep 30, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article discusses how beginning in 1989, rural Americans began dying at a higher rate than Americans living in cities, but nobody knows why.

Tsunami in South Pacific Kills Nearly 100
Sep 30, 2009 -- Associated Press article via Salon reports that a massive tsunami hurled by a powerful earthquake flattened Samoan villages and swept cars and people out to sea, killing at least 99 and leaving dozens missing Wednesday.

AHA Releases Issue Brief on Role of Teaching Hospitals
Sep 29, 2009 -- AHA News article reports that America's teaching hospitals play a vital role in the nation's health care system, and require adequate funding to support their unique missions, according to the AHA's latest TrendWatch report.

Air Evac Provides Emergency Response to Rural Areas
Sep 29, 2009 -- Delta Democrat Times, (MS) article reports that over the summer, a critical piece to the local Greenville health care service puzzle was added with the arrival of the West Plain, Missouri-based Air Evac Life Team.

Broadband Network to Improve Health Care
Sep 29, 2009 -- WOWK News, (WV) article reports that plans for a new network to improve rural health care were unveiled at a Broadband Summit in Charleston Monday.

GAO Examines CMS's Nursing Home/Special Focus Facility Methodology
Sep 29, 2009 -- Medicare Update article tells how the U.S. Government Accountability Office recently released a report that assessed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' special Focus Facility Program methodology, applied it on a nationwide basis, and adopted several refinements to the methodology.

Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System     Federal Register 
Sep 29, 2009 -- This notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces the date, time, and location of the town hall meeting to discuss the Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) proposed rule.

Medicare Programs; End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System; Proposed Rule and Notice; Comment Request     Federal Register 
Sep 29, 2009 -- Comments are being requested on this proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that would implement a case-mix adjusted bundled prospective payment system for Medicare outpatient end-stage renal disease dialysis facilities beginning January 1, 2011.

MeritCare, Mayville Hospital Merging
Sep 29, 2009 -- Associated Press article via KXMB News, (ND) reports that after nearly two years of talks, officials with Fargo-based MeritCare have announced plans to merge with Union Hospital of Mayville.

Nationwide Survey Reveals that 33.6 Million Full-Time Employees (Aged 18 to 64) in the U.S. Reported Using Cigarettes in the Past Month
Sep 29, 2009 -- SAMHSA news article tells of a new report that reveals that 33.6 million full-time workers aged 18 to 64 (or 28 percent of persons in this category) reported that they smoked cigarettes in the past month based on combined 2006 to 2008 survey data.

Nobody's Right If Everybody's Wrong     Top Story 
Sep 29, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article, written by a renowned family physician, explains what the rural outcomes of proposed health care reforms are likely to be.

Notice of Meeting of the President's Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships     Federal Register 
Sep 29, 2009 -- This notice announces a forthcoming public meeting of the President's Advisory Council for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, on October 13th, 2009.

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting     Federal Register 
Sep 29, 2009 -- This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory committee of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to be held October 14, 2009, in Washington, DC.

Public Support For Health Reform Increases in September, Reversing Summer Declines as Congress Takes Up Legislation
Sep 29, 2009 -- Public support for health reform ended its summer slide, reversed course and moved modestly upwards in September, according to the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

Report Provides Objective, Independent Analyses of Quality Improvements in America’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Facilities
Sep 29, 2009 -- Today the American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care publicly released the nursing, post-acute, short term and rehabilitative sector’s first comprehensive report examining quality trends in the nation’s nursing homes.

Top Obama Administration Officials Hold 'Rural Tour' Community Forum in Nebraska
Sep 29, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar visited the Scottsbluff National Monument today and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss production agriculture as well as efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America,

Veterans Health System Reaching Out to Rural Veterans     Top Story 
Sep 29, 2009 -- WCTV News, (FL) article reports that doctors, nurses, and researchers are joining forces to reach the more than three million Veterans enrolled in the V.A. Health Care System who live in rural areas.

Health Systems, Recruitment Firms Turn to Social Media to Recruit Physicians     Top Story 
Sep 28, 2009 -- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation article reports that in an effort to attract physicians for typically hard-to-fill specialties, several health systems and physician recruitment firms are turning to social media tools, according to Health Leaders.

HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Senate Confirmation of Carmen Nazario as Assistant Secretary for Children and Families
Sep 28, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Carmen Nazario as Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. In that role, she will oversee the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within HHS.

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the FY 2010 Funding Round of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program     Federal Register 
Sep 28, 2009 -- The U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund has announced the opening of the fiscal year (FY) 2010 round of its program grants to provide financial awards and technical assistance to CDFIs.
Learn more about: FY2010 Funding Round of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund

Number of Homeless in Conn. Decreases
Sep 28, 2009 -- New Haven Register, (CT) article tells of a new report that says the number of homeless people in Connecticut has dropped in the past year, except in rural and suburban areas.

Recession Eases Nursing Shortage     Top Story 
Sep 28, 2009 -- Chattanooga Times Free Press, (TN) article reports that in the midst of an economic recession, the shortage of nurses in the United States has eased somewhat, experts said, with current nurses delaying retirement, putting off a career move or switching from part-time shifts to full-time employment.

State Forces Nurses to Receive Flu Shots
Sep 28, 2009 -- Watertown Daily Times, (NY) article reports that the state Health Department is requiring, as a condition of employment, that all direct care workers and those with whom they have contact be vaccinated for seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

Health Disparities are Costly, Studies Find     Top Story 
Sep 25, 2009 -- The higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, stroke and renal disease among African Americans and Latinos compared to whites added $15.6 billion to Medicare spending in 2009, according to a new study by the Urban Institute, whiles a similar study by researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the University of Maryland found that eliminating health disparities for African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans would have saved an estimated $229 billion in U.S. medical care expenditures between 2002 and 2006.

House Leaders Eye Medicare Tweak to Woo Rural Democrats     Top Story 
Sep 25, 2009 -- Dow Jones article reports that House Democratic leaders may try to win support from rural Democrats for a public insurance plan by offering to increase Medicare payment rates to providers in rural areas.

House Passes Bill to Stop Some Medicare Premium Increases     Top Story 
Sep 25, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that the House voted overwhelmingly to stop premium increases in Medicare Part B— which covers doctor visits — from taking effect next year.

HUD to Launch Fair Lending Education Program
Sep 25, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Patricia Roberts Harris National Fair Housing Training Academy (NFHTA) today announced a new education initiative to address fraudulent, predatory and unfair lending practices of some mortgage lenders.

MCG Will Improve Access to Dental Care in Georgia's Underserved, Rural Areas
Sep 25, 2009 -- Media-Newswire article reports that the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry will improve access to dental care for underserved Georgians by increasing the state's dental workforce.

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Quarterly Listing of Program Issuances-- April through June 2009; Notice     Federal Register 
Sep 25, 2009 -- This notice lists CMS manual instructions, substantive and interpretive regulations, and other Federal Register notices that were published from April 2009 through June 2009, relating to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Medicare Program; Listening Session Regarding: Defining an Episode Logic for the Medicare Physician Resource Use Measurement Program; November 10, 2009     Federal Register 
Sep 25, 2009 -- This notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces a listening session being conducted as part of the proposal to further the Medicare program's ability to assess the relative resources used for beneficiary care using episodes of care as the unit of measurement.

Medicare Program; Medicare Provider Feedback Group Town Hall Meeting--October 29, 2009     Federal Register 
Sep 25, 2009 -- This notice announces the annual Medicare Provider Feedback Group (MPFG) Town Hall meeting, open to all Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) providers and suppliers that participate in the Medicare program, including physicians, hospitals, home health agencies, third-party billers, and interested parties, to present their individual views and opinions on selected FFS Medicare topics.

Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Final Rule; Correction     Federal Register 
Sep 25, 2009 -- This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the final rule published in the Federal Register (74 FR 40288) on August 11, 2009 entitled, "Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities for FY 2010; Minimum Data Set, Version 3.0 for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Medicaid Nursing Facilities."

Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for Members for the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee     Federal Register 
Sep 25, 2009 -- This notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces the request for nominations for consideration for membership on the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC).

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Green and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program     Federal Register 
Sep 25, 2009 -- Through this notice, HUD announces the availability on its website of the application information, submission deadlines, funding criteria, and other requirements for the FY2009 Green and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program Notice of Funding Availability.
Learn more about: Green and Healthy Homes and Technical Studies Program

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Healthy Homes Demonstration Program     Federal Register 
Sep 25, 2009 -- HUD announces the availability on its Web site of the application information, submission deadlines, funding criteria, and other requirements for the FY 2009 Healthy Homes Demonstration Program Notice of Funding Availability.
Learn more about: Healthy Homes Demonstration Program

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Lead Hazard Control Capacity Building Grant Program     Federal Register 
Sep 25, 2009 -- Through this notice, HUD announces the availability on its Web site of the application information, submission deadlines, funding criteria, and other requirements for the FY2009 Lead Hazard Control Capacity Building Grant Program Notice of Funding Availability.
Learn more about: Lead Hazard Control Capacity Building Program

Small Hospitals Receive Funds Through UND Center for Rural Health
Sep 25, 2009 -- The Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences distributed over $267,000 from the Small Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) to 35 small rural hospitals in North Dakota.

The America’s Healthy Future Act Help for Rural America’s Communities     Top Story 
Sep 25, 2009 -- Senate Finance Committee article reports that the America’s Healthy Future Act contains several provisions to ensure rural health care facilities and providers have the resources they need to deliver quality care in their communities.

U.S. Doesn't Always Trump Other Countries in Quality of Health Care     Top Story 
Sep 25, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News article tells of a study, released in August by the Urban Institute, that compared U.S. treatment outcomes and other quality indicators with that of at least 30 developed countries, including Australia, France and the United Kingdom.

USFA Releases Annual Report on Firefighter Fatalities in the United States
Sep 25, 2009 -- U.S. Fire Administration report analyzes the circumstances surrounding the on-duty deaths of 118 firefighters in the United States in 2008 and helps identify approaches that could reduce the number of firefighter deaths in future years.

CDFI Fund Opens FY 2010 Funding Round for CDFI Program
Sep 24, 2009 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) released its fiscal year (FY) 2010 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for its CDFI Program.

Groups Issue Guidelines for Pediatric Care in EDs     Top Story 
Sep 24, 2009 -- AHA News article reports that the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians and Emergency Nurses Association have published guidelines for the care of children in the emergency department.

Groups Want Review After Vets Lose Vision
Sep 24, 2009 -- Associated Press article via WLBT News, (CA) reports that a Veterans Administration probe that found eight veterans suffered potentially preventable vision loss while under the care of optometrists at a Northern California VA facility is prompting medical groups to call for a state investigation.

New Economic Forecast Values Allied Health Workforce Earning Power at $116 Billion By 2030
Sep 24, 2009 -- California Health Jobs article reports that new workforce projections show that California’s allied health industry will be a key driver of economic growth in the state over the next two decades, and by 2030, the allied health sector will comprise almost 1 million workers with a collective earning power of more than $116 billion in wages.

Probationers with Mental Illness to Get More Help
Sep 24, 2009 -- Bozeman Daily Chronicle, (MT) article reports that eight rural communities, including Livingston, will get additional probation officers specially trained to work with criminals who have mental health and substance abuse problems or are Native American, the Montana Department of Corrections announced Wednesday.

Rural Areas Feel Transit Squeeze
Sep 24, 2009 -- Star-Tribune, (MN) article reports that Minnesota's rural transit services are being hit with money problems just as demand is starting to take off.

Tornado Town has Green Resurrection     Top Story 
Sep 24, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells of the extraordinary efforts that have transformed the tornado ravaged town of Greensberg, Kansas, into a gleaming example of new, energy saving and creating technology.

Uninsured in Rural Areas
Sep 24, 2009 -- WeAreCentralPA.com reports that according to the Census Bureau, 9.4 percent of people in Pennsylvania don't have insurance, but that's better than the nation as a whole which comes in at 15.1.

USDA Launches New Web Pages and On-Line Tools to Help Consumers Make Healthier Food Choices     Top Story 
Sep 24, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today launched three new online tools that will help consumers make healthier food choices and gain a better appreciation of the role of American agriculture in food production from the farm to the table.

Vice President Biden, Secretary Sebelius Issue New Report on Seniors and Health Insurance Reform     Top Story 
Sep 24, 2009 -- Vice President Joe Biden and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday hosted a town hall meeting with seniors in Silver Spring, Md., and released a new report, Health Insurance Reform and Medicare: Making Medicare Stronger for America’s Seniors.

What the Tribe Gives, the IRS Takes     Top Story 
Sep 24, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells how the Indian Health Service spends less on health care per patient than the federal prison system, but some tribes have supplemented this low rate — only to have the IRS tax the benefits as income.

1 in 6 Uninsured in Colorado
Sep 23, 2009 -- Vail Daily, (CO) article reports that Colorado has huge disparities in the number of uninsured residents, ranging from almost one in four in Aurora to one in 20 in Highlands Ranch, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released today.

Baucus Releases Modified Health Reform Mark     Top Story 
Sep 23, 2009 -- CCH Tax News article reports that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., on September 22 released his modifications to the chairman's mark of a sweeping health care reform bill that increases the tax credit for purchasing insurance, lowers the penalties for people who fail to meet the individual requirement to have health insurance and increases the threshold for high-cost insurance plans.

Critics See Home Health Care Boom as Wasteful, but Others Tout Benefits
Sep 23, 2009 -- Dallas News, (TX) reports that Texas ranks near the bottom in Medicare home health quality ratings and near the top in suspected waste and fraud.

Facing Aging Without Health Insurance     Top Story 
Sep 23, 2009 -- NPR article via Kaiser Health News tells the story of Fernando Arriola, 58, who had full health coverage for years at his former job, but since starting his own contracting business, there are no affordable coverage options for him and his wife.

Hard Times Bring Rising Foreclosures to Rural Ohio
Sep 23, 2009 -- Reuters News article reports that more than a year and a half into America's worst housing crisis since the Great Depression, rising unemployment is pushing ever more homeowners in rural Ohio toward foreclosure.

Medicare Issues New Guidance to Insurance Companies on Medicare Mailings
Sep 23, 2009 -- Medicare today called on Medicare-contracted health insurance and prescription drug plans to suspend potentially misleading mailings to beneficiaries about health care and insurance reform, and recently asked Humana, Inc. to end similar mailings.

The Key to Rural Development     Top Story 
Sep 23, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells of the small town of Canadian, Texas, who hasn't accepted the fate of most dusty Panhandle towns to curl up and die, but instead have a lot of people who try things to make the town better, and who keep trying.

The Rapid Spread of Rural Homelessness
Sep 23, 2009 -- Flathead Beacon, (MT) article tells how Montana’s homeless are disproportionately working families, and they’re crowding shelters from Billings to Kalispell.

Delaware Hospitals Adopt Wristband Color Standard
Sep 22, 2009 -- AHA News reports that Delaware hospitals have adopted a voluntary standard for the color-coded wristbands used to convey critical patient information to health care workers.

Full Senate Finance Committee to Take Up Health Reform     Top Story 
Sep 22, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that the full Senate Finance Committee takes up health care legislation this week and there are already a slew of amendments that would significantly alter the proposal from the chairman, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

Lake County's Dark Woods Hide Scourge of Meth
Sep 22, 2009 -- Orlando Sentinel, (FL) article tells how the tiniest towns in rural Lake County, outposts such as Paisley, Lake Mack and Altoona — towns that rim the Ocala National Forest — are ground zero for a deepening meth problem.

Local Health Departments Lose 8,000 More Jobs in First Half of 2009     Top Story 
Sep 22, 2009 -- NACCHO article reports that local health departments, the public agencies that work on-the-ground to safeguard their communities against the H1N1 flu virus and other threats to public health—sustained accelerated job losses during the first half of 2009, a new survey shows.

Nationwide Public Health Alert Issued Concerning Life-Threatening Risk Posed by Cocaine Laced with Veterinary Anti-Parasite Drug
Sep 22, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is alerting medical professionals, substance abuse treatment centers and other public health authorities about the risk that substantial levels of cocaine may be adulterated with levamisole – a veterinary anti-parasitic drug.

Oregon Office of Rural Health Announces Federal Loan Repayment Program Award
Sep 22, 2009 -- Media Newswire article reports that the Oregon Office of Rural Health at Oregon Health & Science University has been awarded a $400,000 grant to create the Oregon Partnership State Loan Repayment Program.

Secretary Shinseki Announces Progress on $1.4 Billion in Recovery Act Spending
Sep 22, 2009 -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced today the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) progress in executing more than $1.4 billion as the Department’s share of spending under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), more commonly known as the economic stimulus program.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals     Top Story 
Sep 22, 2009 -- Kaiser Family Foundation website gives an interactive side-by-side comparison of the leading comprehensive health reform proposals across a number of key characteristics and plan components.

Inspector General Completes Study of VA Endoscopic Programs
Sep 21, 2009 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General inspected every VA medical site with endoscopic equipment, independently verifying the success of a national program VA instituted to ensure safe and sterile procedures for reprocessing endoscopic equipment across the country.

Nevada's Rural Counties Grab Lion's Share of Stimulus Funds
Sep 21, 2009 -- RGJ.com article reports that early federal stimulus spending in Nevada will benefit rural counties more than urban ones and doesn’t target counties experiencing the state’s highest unemployment rates, according to a Reno Gazette-Journal analysis of American Recovery and Reinvestment data.

Notice of Availability--Patient Safety Organizations: A Compliance Self-Assessment Guide     Top Story      Federal Register 
Sep 21, 2009 -- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is announcing the availability of a document entitled: "Patient Safety Organizations: A Compliance Self-Assessment Guide."

Rural Business--Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, Rural Utilities Service, USDA; Rural Development Guaranteed Loans; Interim Final Rule; Withdrawal     Federal Register 
Sep 21, 2009 -- On December 17, 2008, USDA Rural Development published an interim rule with request for comments establishing a unified guaranteed loan platform for the enhanced delivery of four existing Rural Development guaranteed loan programs--Community Facility; Water and Waste Disposal; Business and Industry; and Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects. Having considered the comments received on the interim rule and for the reasons explained, Rural Development is withdrawing the interim rule for Rural Development Guaranteed Loans.

Too Many Bars in Rural America Linked to High Suicide Rates Instead of Idyllic Life     Top Story 
Sep 21, 2009 -- ScienceDaily article tells of a new look at suicide and alcohol that has found that both attempted and completed suicides occur at greater rates in rural communities with greater bar densities.

White House Announces Patient Safety/Medical Liability Grants     Top Story 
Sep 21, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the White House last week announced a $25-million demonstration program to help states and health systems test new models for patient safety and medical liability.

Winds of Change for Rural Medicine     Top Story 
Sep 21, 2009 -- Denverpost.com, (CO) article reports that sixty-five million Americans live in areas where health care providers are unevenly distributed or too few, and as the population ages and doctors concentrate in urban areas, the problem will only grow worse.

CMS Publishes Final Rule on Overpayments and Recoupment Limitations
Sep 18, 2009 -- On September 16, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Final Rule implementing Section 935 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), which limits CMS's recoupment of overpayments during the Medicare appeals process.

Federal Support for Rural Small Business Makes Cents     Top Story 
Sep 18, 2009 -- Center for Rural Affairs weekly column discusses why investing in small business development is the most critical step our leaders in Washington can take to create genuine opportunity in our small towns.

Health Resources and Services Administration; Notice of Availability of Draft Policy Documents for Comment     Top Story      Federal Register 
Sep 18, 2009 -- This is a Notice of Availability and request for comments on a draft Agency Guidance ("Policy Information Notices" (PINs)) to convey and clarify statutory and regulatory governance requirements for federally-funded health centers and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alikes.

HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Cornerstone Funding of the $650 Million Recovery Act Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative     Top Story 
Sep 18, 2009 -- Creating ways for healthful lifestyle habits to be the natural first choice for Americans is the goal of a $650 million initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to be used to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, decrease obesity, and decrease smoking in U.S. communities.

Instant Housing in Watford City
Sep 18, 2009 -- KFYR-TV, (ND) article tells of a Fargo-based operation is hoping to make a difference by providing affordable housing in rural communities.

Medical Interpreters Break Language Barriers in Health Care
Sep 18, 2009 -- Kansas City InfoZine tells how the University of Missouri Institute of Public Policy, Center for Health Policy and Missouri Telehealth Network are partnering with the Language Access Metro Project (LAMP) and the Missouri Primary Care Association to provide medical interpreters to non-English-speaking patients who otherwise might not have access to live interpreters.

Montana Farmers Union Visits DC to Tackle Rural Health Care
Sep 18, 2009 -- KFBB Great Falls reports that the Montana Farmers Union conducted its annual fall fly-in to the nation's capitol this week, to meet with lawmakers, and urge them to listen to concerns of Ag producers.

USDA Releases Publication on Opening Farmers Markets on Federal Property
Sep 18, 2009 -- The U. S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service today released "Opening a Farmers Market on Federal Property: A Guide for Market Operators and Building Managers."

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Brings Obama Administration's 'Rural Tour' to Oklahoma
Sep 17, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today visited the Redlands Community College and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents talk about how the federal government can assist them, and discuss solutions to challenges facing their communities.

Baucus Unveils Bill     Top Story 
Sep 17, 2009 -- Montana Standard article reports that Sen. Max Baucus Wednesday unveiled his long-awaited health-reform bill, which would require all Americans to buy or maintain health insurance starting in 2013 — and which immediately drew political fire from all sides.

First-of-a-Kind National Study Reveals that 8.3 Million Adults in the U.S. had Serious Thoughts of Committing Suicide in the Past Year
Sep 17, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that nearly 8.3 million adults (age 18 and older) in the U.S. (3.7 percent) had serious thoughts of committing suicide in the past year, according to the first national scientific survey of its size on this public health problem.

Gangs in Indian Country
Sep 17, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article reports that gangs are everywhere in Indian Country and tribal leaders wonder if the community and culture have lost their powers.

Notice; Multifamily Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIPs) and Credit Subsidy Obligations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010     Federal Register 
Sep 17, 2009 -- This notice announces the mortgage insurance premiums (MIPs) for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) multifamily mortgage insurance programs, health care facilities; and hospital insurance programs that have commitments to be issued or reissued in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010.

Reasonable Charges for Inpatient MS-DRGs and SNF Medical Services for 2010; Fiscal Year Update     Federal Register 
Sep 17, 2009 -- The Code of Federal Regulations sets forth the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical regulations concerning "Reasonable Charges" for medical care or services provided or furnished by VA to a veteran.

Rural Americans Impacted by Health Care Reform     Top Story 
Sep 17, 2009 -- Yankton Press & Dakotan, (SD) article reports that nationwide, about 50 million Americans are without any health insurance, but national numbers aren’t always a fair reflection of reality in rural America.

Secretary Sebelius Announces Medicare to Join State-Based Healthcare Delivery System Reform Initiatives     Top Story 
Sep 17, 2009 -- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, along with Vermont Governor Jim Douglas and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle today announced an initiative that will allow Medicare to join Medicaid, and private insurers in state-based efforts to improve the way health care is delivered.

Study Points to Billions in Excess Costs From Racial Disparities in Health
Sep 17, 2009 -- W.K. Kellogg Foundation reports that the Joint Center’s Health Policy Institute will unveil a study that estimates the direct medical costs of racial inequalities in health status and access to quality care.

The New Numbers – Health Insurance Reform Cannot Wait     Top Story 
Sep 17, 2009 -- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a new state by state analysis of last week’s U.S. Census numbers regarding the uninsured.

Vaccines Approved for H1N1 Influenza Virus     Top Story 
Sep 17, 2009 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that they have approved four vaccines for use against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, and that they will be distributed nationally after the initial lots become available.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Awards $794 Million in Electric Loans to Bolster Rural Infrastructure     Top Story 
Sep 16, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 23 rural utilities and cooperatives in 19 states have been selected to receive $794 million in loans to build and repair 3,373 miles of distribution and transmission lines and make system improvements that will benefit 24,959 rural customers.

Baucus Bill Garners No Republican Support     Top Story 
Sep 16, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that Sen. Max Baucus is unveiling his health overhaul bill today at noon and news outlets noted it will not have any Republican support.

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); Allotment Methodology and States' Fiscal Year 2009 CHIP Allotments; Proposed Rule     Federal Register 
Sep 16, 2009 -- This proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addresses methodologies and procedures for determining States' FY 2009 through FY 2013 allotments and payments in accordance with sections 2104 and 2105 of the Act, as amended by CHIPRA.

CMS Proposes New Prospective Payment System for Renal Dialysis Facilities
Sep 16, 2009 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today proposed a new prospective payment system (PPS) for facilities that provide dialysis services to Medicare beneficiaries who have end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Commission to Certify Health Care Interpreters
Sep 16, 2009 -- AHA News reports that health care professionals, interpreters and other stakeholders today launched the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters, which will work to assure competency and proper training for health care interpreters through an accredited professional certification program.

Family Health Premiums Reach $13,375 Annually in 2009 Up 5 Percent as Inflation Fell Nearly 1 Percent     Top Story 
Sep 16, 2009 -- Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose to $13,375 annually for family coverage this year—with employees on average paying $3,515 and employers paying $9,860, according to the benchmark 2009 Employer Health Benefits Survey released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET).

Medicare Program; Limitation on Recoupment of Provider and Supplier Overpayments; Final Rule     Federal Register 
Sep 16, 2009 -- This final rule implements a provision of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) which prohibits recouping Medicare overpayments from a provider or supplier that seeks a reconsideration from a Qualified Independent Contractor (QIC).

Notice of Funding Availability for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009; Self- Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP); Clarifications and Technical Corrections     Federal Register 
Sep 16, 2009 -- Through this document, HUD announces that it has posted a notice that corrects and clarifies a number of provisions in the FY2009 SHOP NOFA posted on July 13, 2009.
Learn more about: Self Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)

Obama Top Health Official, a Leading Nurse Educator, to Receive National League for Nursing's Prestigious President's Award
Sep 16, 2009 -- Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and a leading nurse educator, will be honored by the National League for Nursing on Wednesday, September 23, opening day of the NLN's 2009 Education Summit in Philadelphia.

UNMC Research Division Head Says Nebraska Health-care Shortage Not Dire
Sep 16, 2009 -- Associated Press article via ActionNews3.com reports that Dr Keith Mueller, director of the Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research, says Nebraska is in better shape than some of the other predominantly rural states when it comes to health-care work force shortages.

USDA Launches 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Initiative to Connect Consumers with Local Producers to Create New Economic Opportunities for Communities     Top Story 
Sep 16, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced a new initiative - 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' - to begin a national conversation to help develop local and regional food systems and spur economic opportunity.

Children Face Increased Injury Risk in Rural Areas
Sep 15, 2009 -- WIBW News, (KS) reports that in Kansas, approximately 158,598 children live in rural areas and these kids are at greater risk of unintentional injury-related death than children living in urban areas.

Kansas Facing Shortage of Dentists
Sep 15, 2009 -- Lawrence Journal World, (KS) article reports that rural Kansas is facing a serious shortage of dentists in the next three to five years, according to a report released Monday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Majority of Physicians Support Health Reform that Includes Both Public and Private Insurance Options     Top Story 
Sep 15, 2009 -- A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study published in today's New England Journal of Medicine shows that a majority of physicians (63 percent) support a health reform proposal that includes both a public option and traditional private insurance.

Notice of Acceptance of Proposals for the Section 538 Multi- Family Housing Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) Demonstration Program for Fiscal Year 2009     Federal Register 
Sep 15, 2009 -- Through this Notice, the Rural Housing Service, USDA, announces the implementation of a demonstration program under the section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) pursuant to 7 CFR 3565.4 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 and 7 CFR 3565.17 demonstration programs.
Learn more about: Section 538 Multi- Family Housing Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program (GRRHP) Demonstration Program

Notice of Availability: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Community Development Technical Assistance (CD- TA) Program     Federal Register 
Sep 15, 2009 -- Through this notice, HUD announces the availability on its website of the application information, submission deadlines, funding criteria, and other requirements for the FY2009 Community Development Technical Assistance (CD-TA) Program NOFA.
Learn more about: Community Development Technical Assistance Programs (CD-TA)

Notice of Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Minority Health     Federal Register 
Sep 15, 2009 -- The Department of Health and Human Services is giving notice that the Advisory Committee on Minority Health will hold a public meeting on October 20-21, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Standards Committee; Notice and Publication of Committee Recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology     Federal Register 
Sep 15, 2009 -- The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, HHS, is publishing this notice with recommendations made by the HIT Standards Committee at its public meeting on August 20, 2009, and invites public input on the recommendations at the Committee's next meeting on September 15, 2009.

Recession in Rural America by the Numbers     Top Story 
Sep 15, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article reports that once a year the Economic Research Service publishes a report on rural America called Rural America at a Glance and this year's edition focuses on the recession.

Senate Health Bill on the Floor Within Two Weeks     Top Story 
Sep 15, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., will unveil his long awaited health care overall bill by midweek and told reporters this morning that the overall cost would come in below $880 billion over the next 10 years, about $20 billion less than the price tag used by President Barack Obama in a major speech to Congress last week.

Showerheads May Harbor Bacteria Dangerous to Some     Top Story 
Sep 15, 2009 -- USA Today article reports that in what may be the scariest shower news since Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," a study says showerheads can harbor tiny bacteria that come spraying into your face when you wash.

Violent Crime in Oregon Takes Nation's Biggest Drop; Decrease in Meth Production May be Key
Sep 15, 2009 -- Oregonian article reports that at least one factor in the precipitous decline in Oregon's crime rate - both violent and property crimes - appears to be based on the state's aggressive attack on methamphetamine production.

IHS Announces $90.5 Million Contract Award for Completion of Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Alaska
Sep 14, 2009 -- The Indian Health Service (IHS) announces that it has awarded a $90.5 million contract for of the Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Nome, Alaska.

Living In A 'Medical Home'     Top Story 
Sep 14, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News article tells how experiments in Vermont and other states are prompting calls for national improvement in care for the chronically ill.

NIH: Single Dose of H1N1 flu Vaccine Likely to Suffice for Most Adults     Top Story 
Sep 14, 2009 -- AHA News reports that early data from National Institutes of Health studies of two H1N1 flu vaccines indicate that a single dose is likely to produce a protective immune response in most healthy adults, an NIH official said last week.

Nurses Become More Dependent on Mobile Technology
Sep 14, 2009 -- Dotmed.com article reports that Epocrates, Inc., a provider of clinical information and decision support tools with more than 800,000 active professionals in its network, announced survey results indicating that nurses are responding to the nursing shortage by relying increasingly on mobile technology.

Rural Jay County Physician Gets Doc Hollywood Award     Top Story 
Sep 14, 2009 -- StarPress.com, (IN) article reports that David Brown is one of five rural physicians in Indiana to be honored with the Doc Hollywood Award from the Indiana Rural Health Association, that recognizes physicians working in under-served areas who have dedicated themselves to improving health care in their communities.

Rx for Money Woes: Doctors Quit Medicine     Top Story 
Sep 14, 2009 -- CNN Money article reports that some physicians, fed up with the costs of their practice, are ready to hang up their stethoscopes and shift careers.

Secretary Sebelius Releases $33 Million in ARRA Funds to Train Health Professionals     Top Story 
Sep 14, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced awards totaling $33 million to expand the training of health care professionals, part of the $500 million allotted to HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration to address workforce shortages under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Stand Down 2009 Coming Up
Sep 14, 2009 -- Herald, (CT) article reports that due to the poor state of the economy, more people than ever are expected at Stand Down 2009, the Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs annual program to assist homeless or needy veterans from across the state.

Survey: WI Hospitals Investing in Health IT
Sep 14, 2009 -- AHA News reports that more than one-quarter of Wisconsin hospitals have implemented electronic medical records and a similar proportion are in the process of doing so, according to a new survey by the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

What Social Media Offers to Health Professionals and Citizens     Top Story 
Sep 14, 2009 -- World Health Organization article discusses how increased access to the Internet and mobile communication combined with strategic uses of social media can bring public health information to many more people, more quickly and directly than at any time in history.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces $17.5 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Community Facilities Projects in Rural Areas     Top Story 
Sep 11, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of 27 new rural community facilities projects to receive $17.5 million in Recovery Act funds that includes libraries, hospital expansion, and an abused children's center.

Broadband Applications are Online
Sep 11, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article reports that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has put a summary of all 2200 applications on line, and you can now see who in your community has applied for broadband money from the stimulus fund.

Duluth Students Prepare for Rural Health Care
Sep 11, 2009 -- Northland's News Center article reports that more than forty percent of University Minnesota Duluth Medical School graduates go to work in a rural setting, practicing family medicine, while only eight percent of medical schools graduates practice in rural settings nationally.

Hospital CEO Says Merger Could Help Rural Areas
Sep 11, 2009 -- Associated Press article via INO.com, (ND) reports that a merger between North Dakota's largest hospital and a South Dakota-based health system could create the largest rural health network in the country, the hospital's chief executive said.

New National Survey Reveals Significant Decline in the Misuse of Prescription Drugs     Top Story 
Sep 11, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that the misuse of prescription drugs decreased significantly between 2007 and 2008 among those aged 12 and older, including among adolescents, according to 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Number Of Uninsured Grows Even as Government Programs Cover More Americans     Top Story 
Sep 11, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that yesterday, the Census Bureau released the latest data on the number of Americans without health insurance in the report Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008.

Secretary Sebelius to Deliver Health Insurance Reform Address, Release New Report on Insurance Insecurity     Top Story 
Sep 11, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday addressed the University of Chicago’s dialogue on health care reform and education and issued a new report on the employer-sponsored insurance market.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Joins Ad Council and Warner Bros. Pictures to Combat Childhood Overweight and Obesity
Sep 11, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Ad Council today launched a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to address childhood overweight and obesity.

Experts Analyze Obama's Speech     Top Story 
Sep 10, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News asked seven health experts, all outside the Beltway, to comment on the speech President Obama delivered to Congress yesterday.

HHS Announces HIT Extension Program Funding Plan     Top Story 
Sep 10, 2009 -- Modern Medicine article reports that details of a $694-million program that will create a national extension service to help office-based physicians set up their health information technology have been announced by officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare Takes Aim at Patient Safety Failures
Sep 10, 2009 -- Teaming up with top hospitals and health systems across the country to use new methods to find the causes of and put a stop to dangerous and potentially deadly breakdowns in patient care, The Joint Commission is launching the Center for Transforming Healthcare.

The Towns That Build Entrepreneurs     Top Story 
Sep 10, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article discusses what rural communities can do to help entrepreneurs succeed.

Transcript of President Obama's Health Care Address     Top Story 
Sep 10, 2009 -- Fox14 News, (PA) article gives a transcript of President Obama's speech on efforts to overhaul the health care system, that was delivered on Wednesday to a joint session of Congress.

USDA and HHS Unveil New Food Safety Consumer Web Site     Top Story 
Sep 10, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the co-chairs of the Obama Administration's Food Safety Working Group, unveiled a new consumer Web site today at www.foodsafety.gov.

CDC Awards $22 Million for Colorectal Cancer Screening Program     Top Story 
Sep 9, 2009 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded a total of $22 million to 26 states and tribal organizations to provide colorectal cancer screening services for low–income people aged 50–64 years, who are underinsured or uninsured.

Homelessness Increases in Recession
Sep 9, 2009 -- Molalla Pioneer, (OR) article reports that with the recession in full swing and unemployment at record levels, more and more people are taking to the streets ... to live.

HSC Report Provides 'Snapshot' of U.S. Physicians in 2008
Sep 9, 2009 -- The Center for Studying Health System Change has released results from its annual Health Tracking Physician Survey, which examines physician demographics, pay and satisfaction, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Small Business Owners and Employees Would See Lower Costs, More Comprehensive Health Coverage from Health Reform Proposals     Top Story 
Sep 9, 2009 -- Small business owners and employees are among those who stand to benefit the most from provisions in some of the current health reform proposals under consideration by Congress according to a Commonwealth Fund report released today.

Summer of Work Exposes Medical Students to System’s Ills     Top Story 
Sep 9, 2009 -- New York Times article reports that this summer, medical students from the University of Washington took a long look under the hood of the health care system they are about to inherit, and many returned to campus last week with their eyes wide open and their idealism tempered.

Baucus Circulates $900 Billion Health Reform Plan to 'Gang Of Six'     Top Story 
Sep 8, 2009 -- Congress Daily via Kaiser Health News reports that in advance of a crucial meeting Tuesday, Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus has rolled out a $900 billion healthcare overhaul proposal for the group of senators engaged in negotiations to produce a bipartisan bill.

CMS to Host Conference Call on HIPAA Version 5010     Top Story 
Sep 8, 2009 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold its third national Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) education call on HIPAA version 5010 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (ET) on September 9, 2009.

HHS Awards $70.9 Million to States to Expand Health Insurance Coverage
Sep 8, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $70.9 million in grants to 13 states to support the expansion of health care coverage for their uninsured populations.

HHS Posts Revised Application for Health IT Grant Program     Top Story 
Sep 8, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has revised the preliminary application form for Health Information Technology Extension Program grants. The revised application, answers to frequently asked questions and other information on the grant program can be found at http://healthit.hhs.gov/extensionprogram.

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Assisted Living Conversion Program (ALCP) for Eligible Multifamily Housing Projects     Federal Register 
Sep 8, 2009 -- HUD announces the availability on its Web site of the application information, deadline information and other requirements for the FY2009 Assisted Living Conversion Program (ALCP) for Eligible Multifamily Housing Projects.
Learn more about: Assisted Living Conversion Program

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Section 811 Housing for Persons With Disabilities (Section 811 Program)     Federal Register 
Sep 8, 2009 -- HUD announces the availability on its Web site of the application information, deadline information and other requirements for the FY2009 Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities (Section 811 Program).
Learn more about: Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing     Federal Register 
Sep 8, 2009 -- HUD announces the availability on its Web site of the application information, deadline information and other requirements for the FY2009 Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing NOFA.
Learn more about: Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for HUD's Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly     Federal Register 
Sep 8, 2009 -- HUD announces the availability on its Web site of the application information, deadline information and other requirements for the FY2009 Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly.
Learn more about: Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly

Paying Less for Better Health Care?     Top Story 
Sep 8, 2009 -- American News article highlights how some communities find their own methods to improve their health system.

Rising Sun's Charm Melds Community of Artists, Rural Life
Sep 8, 2009 -- Indystar.com, (IN) article tells how the town of Rising Sun, IN, with 2,450 people is determined to transform itself into a community of artists as a community development goal.

Rural Health Care Accessibility Becoming More Difficult     Top Story 
Sep 8, 2009 -- Grand Island Independent, (NE) article reports that a new U.S. Department of Agriculture report has found that health care access and health status are particular concerns in rural areas, where the population is older, has lower education and income levels, and is more likely to be living in medically underserved areas than is the case in urban areas.

State Creates New Rural Education Job
Sep 8, 2009 -- Juneau Empire, (AK) article reports that the state is hiring a new rural education director, hoping to boost performance at some of the state's struggling rural schools.

UNL Poll: Self-Employment Big in Rural Nebraska
Sep 8, 2009 -- North Platte Bulletin , (NE) article reports that people are pasting together bits and pieces of work during these tough economic times, according to a university poll of rural Nebraskans.

Working Together to Make Healthier Communities     Top Story 
Sep 8, 2009 -- Today the Center for Rural Affairs released a report entitled, Healthy Communities--Healthy People, that examines what rural people, families, businesses and communities can do to reverse trends showing rural people, on average, eat less nutritious food, get less physical activity, and are more often obese than their urban counterparts.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Highlights Recovery Act Progress After First 200 Days; Announces Additional $172 Million for Rural Water Projects     Top Story 
Sep 4, 2009 -- On the 200th day since President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today highlighted the important investments being made in communities throughout the country and announced an additional $172.5 million in funding for water and environmental projects in 24 states.

Agriculture Under Secretary Tonsager Urges Farmers and Business Owners to Apply for Value-Added Producer Grants
Sep 4, 2009 -- Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager today urged farmers and business owners to apply for $18 million in grants to help them add value to the commodities they produce.

Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-Formula Federal Assistance Programs--Specific Administrative Provisions for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program; Interim Rule and Request for Comments     Federal Register 
Sep 4, 2009 -- Comments are being requested from the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service on the publishing of a set of specific administrative requirements for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program to supplement the Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-Formula Federal Assistance Programs--General Award Administrative Provisions for this program.

Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-Formula Federal Assistance Programs--Specific Administrative Provisions for the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program; Interim Rule and Request for Comments     Federal Register 
Sep 4, 2009 -- Comments are being requested by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service on the publishing of a set of specific administrative requirements for the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP) to supplement the Competitive and Noncompetitive Non- formula Federal Assistance Programs--General Award Administrative Provisions for this program.

Grants Will Aid Area Health Care Facilities
Sep 4, 2009 -- Palladium Times, (NY) article reports that Gov. David Paterson will announce $8.34 million in state grants for Oswego County health care services to support primary care needs for rural residents.

Nearly 1 in 5 Older Americans Believed to be in Poverty — Almost Double the Official Rate     Top Story 
Sep 4, 2009 -- Associated Press article via Community Legal Aid reports that the poverty rate among older Americans could be nearly twice as high as the traditional 10 percent level, according to a revision of a half-century-old formula for calculating medical costs and geographic variations in the cost of living.

Notice of Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless     Federal Register 
Sep 4, 2009 -- 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 Dwellers Want Equal Shot at Health Care     Top Story 
Sep 4, 2009 -- Public News Service article reports that a nationwide letter-writing campaign to Congress is underway urging lawmakers to factor the needs of rural America in any new health care reform plan being considered.

Search Begins for New Director at Center for Rural Health     Top Story 
Sep 4, 2009 -- The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences has appointed a search committee to help select the next director of the Center for Rural Health at the medical school for the position formerly held by Dr. Mary Wakefield, who was appointed in February by President Obama to serve as administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Sebelius Visits Maine, Releases New Report on Importance of Health Insurance Reform for Older Women and Senior Women     Top Story 
Sep 4, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will travel to Maine today and formally release a new report on the importance of health insurance reform for older women (ages 55-64) and senior women (ages 65 and older).

Secretary Sebelius Announces New Director of CDC's National Institute
Sep 4, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the selection of John Howard, M.D., as the new director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), effective immediately. Dr. Howard will assume a dual role.

VA Tries to Keep Up With Surge of Need
Sep 4, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs is experiencing a surge of treatment requests and disability claims as soldiers return from Iraq and Afghanistan, overwhelming VA clinics.

CDC to Distribute $40 Million in Recovery Act Funding to Help States Fight Healthcare-Associated Infections     Top Story 
Sep 3, 2009 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today announced plans to distribute $40 million to state health departments to help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Farm Service Agency; Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers; Notice Requesting Nominations     Federal Register 
Sep 3, 2009 -- The Secretary of Agriculture is renewing the charter of the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers and invites nominations for persons to service on the Committee.

GAO Recommends Expanding Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction Policy
Sep 3, 2009 -- Medicare Update article reports that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report that examined the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) efforts to set appropriate fees for, and additional opportunities for CMS to avoid excessive payments when, services are furnished together.

Good News, Bad News for Colo. Low-income Health Clinics
Sep 3, 2009 -- Denver Post article reports that health clinics for the poor must chop $32.9 million from their budgets at the same time they are receiving millions in stimulus dollars to expand — creating a situation where new buildings may stand empty.

HRSA Guidance Makes Children’s Hospitals Eligible for Discount Drugs     Top Story 
Sep 3, 2009 -- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has published a notice in the Federal Register adding children's hospitals to the list of institutions eligible to participate in HRSA's 340B Drug Pricing Program.

Indiana and Ohio Health Information Exchanges Connect for Nation's First Live, Multi-Region Clinical Information Exchange     Top Story 
Sep 3, 2009 -- Yahoo Finance article reports that the day when your medical information follows you electronically wherever you go just came one day closer to reality when three Indiana and Ohio organizations today started securely sending clinical test results, reports and other medical information among their health information exchanges (HIEs), a first in the U.S.

IOM Workshop Summary Highlights Inadequate Access to Oral Health Care Across U.S.
Sep 3, 2009 -- A summary of an Institute of Medicine (IOM) workshop, called The U.S. Oral Health Workforce in the Coming Decade, now available online, says “the current oral health workforce fails to meet the needs of many segments of the U.S. population.

Justice Department Announces Largest Health Care Fraud Settlement in its History     Top Story 
Sep 3, 2009 -- American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and its subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc. have agreed to pay $2.3 billion, the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice, to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products, the Justice Department announced today.

Museum to Help Rural Schools
Sep 3, 2009 -- Jamestown Sun, (ND) article reports that Plains Art Museum is offering its educational outreach programming to under-served K through 12 teachers and students in rural regions and small towns in North Dakota and Minnesota for the 2009-10 school year.

Notice of Meeting; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Advisory Council     Federal Register 
Sep 3, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Advisory Council will hold a public meeting on September 25, 2009 in Portland, Oregon.

President Obama to Deliver Health Care Address to Joint Session of Congress
Sep 3, 2009 -- New York Daily News article reports that after surrendering the momentum all summer, President Obama will get off the sidelines and dive into the heart of the reform battle, hounding legislators to pass an overhaul plan during a prime-time speech Wednesday to Congress.

Service Dogs Help Traumatized Veterans Heal
Sep 3, 2009 -- HealthDay article tells of "psychiatric service dogs" that are being used all over the country to help people with various mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and, perhaps most notably, PTSD.

Undergraduate Program Aimed at Underserved Populations
Sep 3, 2009 -- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health reports that Eleven University of Wisconsin System undergraduate students-all of whom envision future careers as physicians caring for rural and urban patients in Wisconsin-are about to enter the first of two academic years in a new program addressing a serious state and national threat: inadequate access to quality health care for many individuals in urban and rural areas, where too few physicians choose to practice.

UW Med School Sees Record Enrollment
Sep 3, 2009 -- Channel3000.com (WI) article reports that the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is welcoming its largest class in school history, including 18 students in a specialized program focusing on rural health, an area which is seeing a growing doctor shortage.

Which Voter Has the Health Insurance?     Top Story 
Sep 3, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article discusses who has health care coverage, who'll benefit most from proposed reforms, and how the uninsured voted in 2008.

12% of Rural Nebraskans Lack Insurance
Sep 2, 2009 -- Associated Press article via 1011Now.com reports that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's annual rural poll suggests that 12 percent of the working-age residents of rural Nebraska lack health insurance.

Drug Resistant Bacteria Found in Returning Wounded Service Members
Sep 2, 2009 -- Military Health System article reports that a new study suggests that Military Health System hospitals and treatment facilities may be vulnerable to multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria, but says there is no cause for alarm.

Health Care Policy Experts Release Steps for Containing Costs and Improving Value in Health Care     Top Story 
Sep 2, 2009 -- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation article reports that with the President, members of Congress and key stakeholders seeking aggressive reforms to slow spending growth while improving value, a group of 10 health care policy experts today released a set of concrete, feasible steps that could achieve this goal.

Here a Tweet, There a Tweet
Sep 2, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells how social networking online was once a personal diversion; now, says an Oregon farmer, it's a business necessity.

Meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020     Federal Register 
Sep 2, 2009 -- The Secretary's Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020 will hold a public meeting on September 17 and 18, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

National Veterans Creative Arts Festival Coming to San Antonio
Sep 2, 2009 -- More than 120 Veterans from across the country who are medal winners in national music, dance, drama, creative writing or visual arts contests are preparing to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in San Antonio from Oct. 5 – 11.

Notice of Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Opportunity to Register and Other Important Information for Electronic Application Submission for Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs     Federal Register 
Sep 2, 2009 -- This notice provides instructions to potential Continuums of Care (CoCs) applying for the approximately $1.43 billion of funding under HUD's Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Competition in FY 2009.

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Policy Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting     Federal Register 
Sep 2, 2009 -- This notice from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology announces a forthcoming meeting of the HIT Policy Committee to be held on September 18, 2009, in Washington, DC.

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting     Federal Register 
Sep 2, 2009 -- This notice from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology announces a forthcoming meeting of the HIT Standards Committee to be held September 15, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

Three Federal Agencies Join with Sesame Workshop to Launch National PSA Campaign Stressing Healthy Habits to Prevent H1N1 Flu Infection     Top Story 
Sep 2, 2009 -- The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education and Sesame Workshop, have teamed up to launch a new, national public service advertising campaign designed to encourage American children and families to practice healthy habits and to take steps to prevent the spread of the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.

VA’s Suicide Prevention Program Adds Chat Service
Sep 2, 2009 -- The Suicide Prevention campaign of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is expanding its outreach to all Veterans by piloting an online, one-to-one “chat service” for Veterans who prefer reaching out for assistance using the Internet.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Brings Obama Administration 'Rural Tour' to Ohio     Top Story 
Sep 1, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today visited the Muskingum County Welcome Center and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents talk about how the federal government can assist them, and discuss solutions to challenges facing their communities.

Business Week Finds Success in North Dakota
Sep 1, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article reports that the recession is giving great press to North Dakota, and Business Week is the latest national publication to admire the low unemployment rates on the Great Plains amidst the jobless carnage in the rest of the country.

Centers for Independent Living; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards     Federal Register 
Sep 1, 2009 -- This program from the Department of Education provides support for planning, conducting, administering, and evaluating centers for independent living.
Learn more about: Centers for Independent Living

DoD Issues Final TRICARE Rule for CAHs
Sep 1, 2009 -- AHA News reports that The U.S. Department of Defense yesterday published a final payment rule for critical access hospitals under TRICARE, which covers uniformed service members and their families. Effective Dec. 1, the rule adopts Medicare's reimbursement methodology for CAHs, paying 101% of reasonable costs for inpatient and outpatient care.

Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS; Notice Regarding 340B Drug Pricing Program--Children's Hospitals; Final Notice     Federal Register 
Sep 1, 2009 -- The purpose of this notice is to inform interested parties of final guidelines regarding the addition of children's hospitals that meet certain requirements, specifically: (1) The process for the registration of children's hospitals to the 340B Program; and (2) the obligation of manufacturers to provide the statutorily mandated discount to those children's hospitals.

Insured for Health Care: Rural and Urban     Top Story 
Sep 1, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article reports that a slightly higher percentage of rural Americans has health insurance than do urbanites, according to a new study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, but there are large disparities in health care coverage state-to-state.

New Technology Allows Rural Areas to Have Medical Care
Sep 1, 2009 -- KCBD News, (TX) article reports that project CHART, Children's Healthcare Access in Rural Texas, is being launched by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and is their newest network of health care for children in rural Texas.

Notice of Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless     Federal Register 
Sep 1, 2009 -- 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

Report: Tips on Creating Fat-Fighting Communities     Top Story 
Sep 1, 2009 -- ABC News reports that where you live matters when it comes to children's waistlines, says a report that finds lots of options localities could and should use to fight child obesity — from easy bike paths, to luring healthier stores, to taxes on junk food.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service; Notice of withdrawal of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) and Republication of Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) Announcement of Value-Added Producer Grant Application Deadlines     Federal Register 
Sep 1, 2009 -- Rural Development previously withdrew the May 6, 2009 Federal Register notice (74 FR 20900), which was published in error, announcing the availability of approximately $18 million in competitive grants for fiscal year (FY) 2009 to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. This notice announces the availability of approximately $18 million in competitive grants for fiscal year (FY) 2009 to help independent agricultural producers enter into or expand value-added activities, with clarifications and alterations.
Learn more about: Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG)

Take a Stand for Rural Hospitals by Urging Senators to Back 'R-HoPE' Bill
Sep 1, 2009 -- AHA News reports that they support S. 1157, the "Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Providers Equity Act," or R-HoPE, introduced by Sens. Kent Conrad, D-ND, and Pat Roberts, R-KS, that would improve Medicare reimbursement formulas for rural health care providers and is named after the late Republican senator from Wyoming.

Department of Defense; TRICARE; Extended Care Health Option; Proposed Rule.     Federal Register 
Aug 31, 2009 -- The Department of Defense is publishing this proposed rule to implement the requirements enacted by Congress in Section 732 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 which changes the limit of the Government's share of providing certain benefits under the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) from $2,500 per month to $36,000 per year, and for other non-legislated changes to the ECHO.

Department of Defense; TRICARE; Reimbursement of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs); Final Rule     Federal Register 
Aug 31, 2009 -- This final rule implements a reimbursement methodology similar to that furnished to Medicare beneficiaries for services provided by critical access hospitals (CAHs).

Farm Matchmaking a Way to Preserve Rural America     Top Story 
Aug 31, 2009 -- Associated Press article via Wisconsin State Journal tells of farm matchmaking, a down payment on the future of rural America, where young apprentices are working with seasoned farmers who won’t have heirs who want to follow in their footsteps.

Health Insurance: How Much More Should Older People Pay?
Aug 31, 2009 -- Maria Bishop, age 60, pays $500 a month for health insurance, while Chris Denny, 27, pays $117. In most states, insurers can charge older customers far more than younger ones, but as Congress wrestles with a health care overhaul, lawmakers are debating new limits that could narrow the difference.

Hospital Executives Worry About the 'What-Ifs' of Reform
Aug 31, 2009 -- Washington Post, (DC) article tells how anxiety is running high among hospital executives as they ponder the ever-changing proposals on Capitol Hill.

Immunization Rates Remain Stable at High Levels Among the Nation's 19- Through 35-Month-Old Children
Aug 31, 2009 -- Childhood immunization rates in the United States remain stable at high levels, according to data from CDC′s 2008 National Immunization Survey (NIS) published in this week′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

SAMHSA Accepting Applications for CSAP’s Prevention Fellowship Program     Top Story 
Aug 31, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for its Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s (CSAP) Prevention Fellowship Program, designed to build a workforce of highly competent substance abuse prevention professionals.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Request for Nominations to the SAMHSA National Advisory Council     Top Story      Federal Register 
Aug 31, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting nominations through October 7, 2009, to fill vacancies for its five advisory committees (the SAMHSA National Advisory Council, the Center for Substance abuse Prevention, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and Center for Mental Health Services National Advisory Councils and the Advisory Committee for Women's Services).

Are Rural Electric Co-ops a Model for Health Care?     Top Story 
Aug 28, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article discusses how health-care cooperatives are seen as one way to provide coverage to the millions of uninsured and an alternative to a “public option” that would function as something of an extension of Medicare, or government-managed coverage, to younger Americans.

CMS’ Five Star Nursing Home Rating System Called Into Question Once Again
Aug 28, 2009 -- The American Health Care Association (AHCA) today applauded thirty-one state Attorneys General for sending a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, calling for the suspension and revision of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS’) Nursing Home Five Star Rating System.

Commerce and Agriculture Announce Strong Demand for First Round of Funding to Bring Broadband, Jobs to More Americans     Top Story 
Aug 28, 2009 -- The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced today that they received almost 2,200 applications requesting nearly $28 billion in funding for proposed broadband projects reaching all 50 U.S. states and territories and the District of Columbia.

Department of Veterans Affairs; Medication Prescribed by Non-VA Physicians; Final Rule     Federal Register 
Aug 28, 2009 -- This document amends and adopts an interim final rule that governs the provision of medications to veterans when medication is prescribed by physicians who are not employees of nor are they providing care under contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA); Notice of Availability of Draft Policy Document for Comment     Federal Register 
Aug 28, 2009 -- Comments are being requested on this Policy Information Notice (PIN) that describes the documentation that will be considered by HRSA to establish whether an organization can qualify as a "public agency" for the purpose of determining eligibility for a Health Center Program grant under Section 330 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act and/or Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike designation.

Information Collection Request: Conditions of Certification for Rural Health Clinics and Supporting Regulations in 42 CFR 491.9, 491.10, 491.11; Comment Request     Federal Register 
Aug 28, 2009 -- Comments are being requested by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) conditions of certification, based on criteria prescribed in law and are designed to ensure that each facility has a properly trained staff to provide appropriate care and to assure a safe physical environment for patients.

Notice of Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless     Federal Register 
Aug 28, 2009 -- 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

Nurses, Once in High Demand, Face Job Shortages     Top Story 
Aug 28, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News article tells how nursing, even in hard times, was thought to be recession-proof, but as economic conditions force a tighter job market, new nurses find it’s harder than ever to land their dream job—or any job, for that matter.

Report: Many Rural Women in Minnesota Lack Access to Basic Health Care
Aug 28, 2009 -- Minnesota Independent article reports that women living in rural Minnesota face poor health outcomes according to a report released by Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota (PPMNS) on Wednesday.

Secretary Sebelius Releases New Report: America’s Seniors and Health Insurance Reform: Protecting Coverage and Strengthening Medicare     Top Story 
Aug 28, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday issued a new report that highlights the problems with the status quo that leave seniors paying escalating costs for their health care while outlining how health insurance reform will strengthen Medicare and protect coverage for seniors.

To Your Health, Norwood
Aug 28, 2009 -- Telluride Daily Planet, (CO) article reports that good health care is not always easy to find – or fund - when you live in a rural area, but the Uncompahgre Medical Center in Norwood is celebrating 30 years of service to the region, and, in one form or another, has been providing medical services for more than 70 years.

Two Rural Hospitals Say Award Doesn't Matter in Pay for Performance Success     Top Story 
Aug 28, 2009 -- HealthLeaders Media article tells how it isn't every day that rural hospital officials eagerly discuss their abysmal practice scores in crucial care areas like heart failure or hip and knee surgery, but that's because that poor performance is now history.

U.S. Health Spending for Seniors Climbs 30% Over Decade
Aug 28, 2009 -- The U.S. spent an estimated $333.3 billion on health care for people 65 and over in 2006, $106 billion more than in 1996, according to a new report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

VA Secretary Addresses Service in Rural Areas
Aug 28, 2009 -- Bismarck Tribune, (ND) article reports that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs should expand services in the most rural areas and is trying to streamline the transition from active military duty to civilian life and VA programs, Secretary Eric Shinseki said Thursday.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces $54 Million for 46 Community Facilities Projects in Rural Areas     Top Story 
Aug 27, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the selection of $54 million in community facilities projects that are being funded immediately with federal funds provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Obama signed into law in February.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Availability of Value Added Producer Grants     Top Story 
Aug 27, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday announced that USDA will soon be accepting applications for grants to assist agricultural producers seeking to add value to the commodities they produce.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Brings Obama Administration 'Rural Tour' to California
Aug 27, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday visited the Stanislaus County Agriculture Center and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents talk about how the federal government can assist them, and discuss solutions to challenges facing their communities.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Establishes First USDA Volunteer Program for the Peoples' Garden Initiative
Aug 27, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today established a department-wide U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) volunteer program to encourage individuals to volunteer with the People's Garden Initiative.

Center Offers Community Development Resource Guide; Easy to Use Guide Provides Information On Organizations and Programs to Assist Rural Communities, and Foundations
Aug 27, 2009 -- The Center for Rural Affairs recently released a Community Development Resource Guide, an easy reference document that provides information on a number of key resources that can assist communities in the work they are doing, with grants, foundations, and even low-interest loans.

Joint Commission Alert: Effective Leadership Critical to Preventing Medical Errors     Top Story 
Aug 27, 2009 -- A new Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert issued today urges health care leaders to step up efforts to prevent errors by taking the zero-defect approach used in other high-risk industries such as aviation and nuclear energy.

Medical Clinic Goes Mobile     Top Story 
Aug 27, 2009 -- All Business article reports that President Obama has made telemedicine a centerpiece of his health-care overhaul proposal, and on Wednesday, local medical professionals and public officials saw what that could look like: a doctor's office on wheels.

Medical College Aims to Increase Number of Rural Doctors
Aug 27, 2009 -- Floyd Press, (VA) article reports that the newest group of students has arrived at the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Blacksburg, where students must not only have the grades, but also a love for rural medicine.

Medicare Program; Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and Fiscal Year 2010 Rates; and Changes to the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Rate Years 2010 and 2009 Rates; Final Rule     Federal Register 
Aug 27, 2009 -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are revising the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals to implement changes arising from their continuing experience with these systems, and to implement certain provisions made by the TMA, Abstinence Education, and QI Program Extension Act of 2007, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Providing Social Support for Rural Seniors     Top Story 
Aug 27, 2009 -- Fox 14 News, (KS) tells of some ways seniors in rural areas can reach out for social support.

USD Grant Will Address Rural Docs Shortage
Aug 27, 2009 -- Associated Press article via KTIV News, (SD) reports that the University of South Dakota says it will use a $372,000 federal grant to address a shortage of health care professionals in rural areas.

VA Pledge to Women Veterans on Women’s Equality Day
Aug 27, 2009 -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki pledged today on Women’s Equality Day that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will work to ensure the nation upholds its obligation to meet the needs of our Veterans – including women Veterans.

CMS Releases Results of Study on Home Health Case-Mix Changes
Aug 26, 2009 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a Final Report titled Analysis of 2006 - 2007 Home Health Case-Mix Change, that shows there has been a steady increase in the average case-mix of home health patients since the implementation of the Medicare home health prospective payment system.

Electronic Public Comment Transmission Error for Two Medicare Program Rules; Request for Resubmission of Comments     Top Story      Federal Register 
Aug 26, 2009 -- This document requests that the public resubmit their comments on the CY 2010 Physician Fee Schedule or CY 2010 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System proposed rule before the close of the comment period for these rules (that is, August 31, 2009) if their comments were originally submitted via www.regulations.gov during the period from July 26, 2009 through July 30, 2009.

Governor Doyle Joins Ashland Dental Clinic Opening
Aug 26, 2009 -- BusinessNorth.com, (WI) article reports that State Senator Bob Jauch and Representative Gary Sherman joined Governor Doyle and Department of Health Services Secretary Karen Timberlake in grand opening ceremonies for the Lakes Community Health Center Dental Clinic in Ashland.

ONCHIT to Host Webcast on Health IT Grants     Top Story 
Aug 26, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology will host on Thursday a Webcast to answer questions about $598 million in grants available to non-profit organizations to create regional extension centers, which will help primary care providers achieve meaningful use of electronic health records.

Providence Wants to Help Treat Stroke Victims Via High-Speed Internet
Aug 26, 2009 -- The Providence Health System announced plans Tuesday, to create a network of stroke treatment stations around the state to help hospitals and clinics in rural areas to use high-speed internet connections and a web camera to consult with the Providence Stroke Center as soon as a patient arrives.

RN 'Super Union' Adopts Name: National Nurses United Sets Founding Convention Dec. 7 in Arizona     Top Story 
Aug 26, 2009 -- PRNewswire reports that leaders of three major nurses organizations that are coming together to form the largest registered nurses union and professional association in U.S. history announced today that they will hold a founding convention December 7-8 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy -- Health Care Champion -- Dies     Top Story 
Aug 26, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that Sen. Edward M. Kennedy had a hand in nearly every piece of health care legislation that moved through Congress during his eight-term Senate tenure. He died Tuesday night of brain cancer at age 77.

Wind Energy Tour Blows through S.D.
Aug 26, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells how Howard, SD, located about 70 miles northwest of Sioux Falls, was one stop on a national tour sponsored by a coalition of wind industry, environmental, and labor organizations to promote the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces More Than $1 Billion in Electric Loans to Bolster Rural Infrastructure     Top Story 
Aug 25, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 46 rural utilities and cooperatives in 30 states have been selected to receive $1.16 billion in loans to build and repair 11,249 miles of distribution and transmission lines and make system improvements that will benefit 109,250 rural customers.

Children's Advocates Fear Health Reform Could Undermine CHIP     Top Story 
Aug 25, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that as Democratic leaders pursue their quest to provide millions of Americans with health care insurance, some advocates see an unlikely casualty of reform: youngsters now covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program whom they fear could end up with reduced benefits.

HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Intent to Appoint Dr. Helene Gayle as Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS at 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference
Aug 25, 2009 -- Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced her intent to appoint Helene Gayle, MD, MPH to serve as the Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement: Civil Money Penalty Inflation Adjustment; Direct Final Rule     Federal Register 
Aug 25, 2009 -- The Department of Health and Human Services amends the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Rule by adjusting for inflation the maximum civil money penalty amount for violations of the confidentiality provisions of the Rule.

Primary Physician Shortage Spurs Search for Alternatives     Top Story 
Aug 25, 2009 -- Examiner.com, (UT) article discusses how medical schools have pledged to ramp up their programs by 30 percent, but there still will not be enough new primary care doctors, as one third of all doctors presently practicing will reach retirement age within ten years.

Secretary Shinseki Moves to Simplify PTSD Compensation Rules
Aug 25, 2009 -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps to assist Veterans seeking compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Ag Secretary Emphasizes Importance of Health Care in Rural Areas     Top Story 
Aug 24, 2009 -- Billings Gazette, (MT) article reports that rural Americans aren't getting their fair share under the nation's existing health care system, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said on Friday.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Brings Obama Administration's 'Rural Tour' to Missouri
Aug 24, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week visited the State Fair Community College and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents talk about how the federal government can assist them, and discuss solutions to challenges facing their communities.

Breach Notification for Unsecured Protected Health Information; Interim Final Rule With Request for Comments     Federal Register 
Aug 24, 2009 -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is issuing this interim final rule with a request for comments to require notification of breaches of unsecured protected health information.

Broadband Initiatives Program; Broadband Technology Opportunities Program; Notice of Funds Availability; Method of Acceptance of Supplemental Attachments     Federal Register 
Aug 24, 2009 -- Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and Department of Commerce announce additional measures to ensure that any pending electronic applications experiencing difficulties uploading attachments into the Easygrants System for the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) can be submitted by the extended application deadline of August 20, 2009.

Catholic Nuns Wins Rural Preservation Award     Top Story 
Aug 24, 2009 -- Center for Rural Affairs article reports that a group of nuns is being honored for combining progressive farm practices with historic preservation at their southeastern Indiana farm.

CDC Expects up to 195 Million Doses of H1N1 Vaccine This Year     Top Story 
Aug 24, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects to have 45-52 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine available for distribution by mid-October, then more available weekly to total up to 195 million doses by year-end, a CDC official said today.

CMS Requests the Resubmission of Public Comments for Two Proposed Rules
Aug 24, 2009 -- On August 21, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a display copy of a Request for Resubmission of Comments (Notice) for 2 proposed rules CY 2010 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule; and CY 2010 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Proposed Rule if comments were originally submitted via www.regulations.gov during the July 26, 2009 through July 30, 2009 time period a minor software problem resulted in the non-transmittal of some public comments.

First Woman Director of Indian Health Works to Heal Troubled Agency
Aug 24, 2009 -- Great Falls Tribune, (MT) article reports that according to Indian Health Service (IHS) director Yvette Roubideaux, the IHS still lacks much of the money it needs to make sure all its patients get adequate, timely care and all of its hospitals are fully staffed.

FTC Issues Final Breach Notification Rule for Electronic Health Information     Top Story 
Aug 24, 2009 -- The Federal Trade Commission has issued a final rule requiring certain Web-based businesses to notify consumers when the security of their electronic health information is breached.

HHS Secretary Announces $25.7 Million in Grants to Expand, Improve Health Center Services     Top Story 
Aug 24, 2009 -- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced more than $25.7 million in grants to increase and improve health and support services at the nation's health centers.

Nurse Still Makes House Calls in Northern Rural Community     Top Story 
Aug 24, 2009 -- Indiana Gazette article tells of rural nurse practitioner Melissa Rudd, who travels a 25- to 35-mile radius from her Indiana clinic, down gravel roads and dirt roads, making house calls in the Smicksburg, Dayton and Rural Valley areas.

Request for Information Relevant to the Regionalization of Emergency Medical Care Delivery Systems and Demonstration Model Development     Federal Register 
Aug 24, 2009 -- This is a time-sensitive Request for Information issued by the Emergency Care Coordination Center meant to ascertain key concepts, best practices, and operational approaches to support regionalized, comprehensive and accountable emergency care and trauma systems.

Rural Areas Pass on Fast Connections     Top Story 
Aug 24, 2009 -- Omaha World Herald, (NE) article reports that most Nebraska and Iowa telephone companies, mirroring a national trend, appear to be taking a pass on seeking federal stimulus funds to extend and improve broadband Internet services in rural areas.

Duncan, Sebelius Unveil New CDC H1N1 Guidance for Colleges, Universities, and Institutions of Higher Education     Top Story 
Aug 21, 2009 -- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Department of Education (ED) Secretary Arne Duncan joined with Dr. Beth Bell, Deputy Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to announce new guidance for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) to plan for and respond to the upcoming flu season.

Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless; Notice     Federal Register 
Aug 21, 2009 -- 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

Grant Saves Time and Rural Patients Lives
Aug 21, 2009 -- KFYR News, (ND) reports that in March, Senator Byron Dorgan helped secure $900,000 in funding to help create a Rural Radiology Outreach Initiative whereby 15 rural clinics around the state are networked to Trinity Hospital in Minot allowing them to transmit images to be viewed by a radiologist.

Health Reform: The Rural Uninsured     Top Story 
Aug 21, 2009 -- National Rural Health Association (NRHA) article discusses that the greatest barrier to a healthy rural America, as well as the NRHA’s main health reform policy priority, is access to coverage, and it would be a mistake to overlook the disproportionate number of uninsured or under-insured rural Americans.

Hospital Campuses Going Smoke-Free: What’s the Trend?     Top Story 
Aug 21, 2009 -- A new study from The Joint Commission projects that a majority of U.S. hospitals will have a smoke-free campus by the end of 2009.

New Study: State-by-state Impact of Proposed Medicare Cuts to Skilled Nursing Facility Care for Seniors     Top Story 
Aug 21, 2009 -- A new American Health Care Association (AHCA) analysis of the pending House health reform bill, combined with the impact of a recently-enacted Medicare regulation cutting Medicare-funded nursing home care by $12 billion over ten years, finds seniors in fifteen states requiring nursing and rehabilitative care will face total funding cuts in excess of $1 billion over that same time period.

Vice President Biden Announces Availability of Nearly $1.2 Billion in Grants to Help Hospitals and Doctors Use Electronic Health Records     Top Story 
Aug 21, 2009 -- The White House reports that Vice President Joe Biden today announced the availability of grants worth nearly $1.2 billion to help hospitals and health care providers implement and use electronic health records.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Brings Obama Administration's 'Rural Tour' to Iowa
Aug 20, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday visited the Iowa State Fair and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents talk about how the federal government can assist them, and discuss solutions to challenges facing their communities.

Budget Knife Slices Hard Into Community Health Clinics
Aug 20, 2009 -- Capitol Weekly, (CA) article reports that the Potter Valley Community Health Center, a rural medical office which serves all patients regardless of their ability to pay, will shut its doors. It is the third clinic to close down within a month.

Federal Guidelines Encourage Employers to Plan Now for Upcoming Influenza Season     Top Story 
Aug 20, 2009 -- Department of Commerce (DOC) Secretary Gary Locke, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced new guidance for businesses to plan for and respond to the upcoming flu season.

HHS Issues Rule Requiring Individuals Be Notified of Breaches of Their Health Information     Top Story 
Aug 20, 2009 -- New regulations requiring health care providers, health plans, and other entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to notify individuals when their health information is breached were issued today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Kansas' Winds of Life
Aug 20, 2009 -- Center for Rural Affairs article reports that increasing wind generation of electricity is the most significant legislation before Congress this year for bringing jobs and revitalization to rural Kansas.

Life Expectancy at All Time High; Death Rates Reach New Low, New Report Shows     Top Story 
Aug 20, 2009 -- U.S. life expectancy reached nearly 78 years (77.9), and the age-adjusted death rate dropped to 760.3 deaths per 100,000 population, both records, according to the latest mortality statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Meeting of the AHRQ National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality Subcommittee on Quality Measures for Children's Healthcare in Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs     Federal Register 
Aug 20, 2009 -- This notice announces a public meeting of the Quality Subcommittee on Quality Measures for Children's Healthcare in Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs, to be held on Thursday, September 17-18, 2009, in Washington, DC.

Most Americans Continue to Support Moving Ahead With Health Care Reform Now Despite Town Hall Fights and Ad Campaigns
Aug 20, 2009 -- A slim majority of Americans continues to favor moving forward on health care reform now despite an intensifying ad war and a political climate of contentious town hall meetings that coincide with rising concerns about the reform effort, according to the August Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

New Report: Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Premiums Increase 119 Percent from 1999-2008; Projected to Double Again by 2020     Top Story 
Aug 20, 2009 -- Nationally, family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance increased 119 percent between 1999 and 2008, and could increase another 94 percent to an average $23,842 per family by 2020 if cost growth continues on its current course, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report.

Renewable Energy and Economic Potential
Aug 20, 2009 -- The Center for Rural Affairs has released an analysis on the economic potential of wind energy development in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota and also examines economic impact, job creation and wind resources.

USFA Announces the Release of a Report on Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity
Aug 20, 2009 -- The United States Fire Administration (USFA), announces the release of the Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Study that highlights the results of a U.S. Department of Justice supported project intended to enhance emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other emergency responders.

Doctor Shortage Looms as Primary Care Loses It's Pull     Top Story 
Aug 19, 2009 -- USA Today article tells how longer days, lower pay, less prestige and more administrative headaches have turned doctors away in droves from family medicine, presumed to be the frontline for wellness and preventive-care programs that can help reduce health care costs.

For Many Rural Missourians, You Just Can't Get to Health Care from Here
Aug 19, 2009 -- St. Louis Beacon, (MO) article reports that every Monday morning, primary health care arrives on a bus in Oran, a town of 1,264 in southeast Missouri that hasn't had a doctor for at least 15 years, or maybe 30, depending on who you ask.

Health Center Used as Example
Aug 19, 2009 -- Rutland Herald, (VT) article reports that the Health Center, like eight others around the state, houses doctors, dentists and other specialists under one roof – and it doesn't turn away any patients for lack of money or health insurance.

Hospital’s Telemedicine Helps Save Woman’s Life     Top Story 
Aug 19, 2009 -- Sequoyah County Times, (OK) reports that Memorial Hospital in Sallisaw is the first hospital in eastern Oklahoma to use telemedicine for stroke treatment in the emergency room, and one patient is happy to be alive because of the service.

Inmates Grow Veggies to Feed the Hungry     Top Story 
Aug 19, 2009 -- Associated Press article via MSNBC reports that the nation's food banks, struggling to meet demand in hard times, are turning to prison inmates for free labor to help feed the hungry.

NJ Hospitals Launch Medicare 'Gainsharing' Demonstration
Aug 19, 2009 -- AHA News reports that Medicare will offer physicians at 12 New Jersey hospitals financial incentives to work with the hospitals to lower costs and improve health care quality, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced yesterday.

Practicing Excellence: A Small-town, Rural Doctor Embraces Technology     Top Story 
Aug 19, 2009 -- Modern Medicine article tells of Jim Selenke, MD, the lone physician in Hudson, Iowa, who keeps up a prodigious pace with help from his electronic health record system, an investment he made five years ago when he first opened his own practice.

Senator Cuts Ribbon Opening New Veterans Clinic
Aug 19, 2009 -- Associated Press article via KFGO News, (ND) reports that Senator Kent Conrad helped open the new Veterans Administration (VA) community-based outpatient clinic in Grand Forks today.

Study Finds End-of-life Counseling Improves Mood
Aug 19, 2009 -- Associated Press article via Deseret News, (UT) reports that as a political uproar rages over end-of-life counseling, a new study finds offering such care to dying cancer patients improves their mood and quality of life.

USDA Provides $17 Million for Critical Access Hospital in Rural Kansas
Aug 19, 2009 -- USDA Rural Development Undersecretary Dallas Tonsager today announced the award of a $17 million Community Facilities guaranteed loan to Community Memorial Healthcare, Inc. of Marysville, Kan., to construct a 25-bed critical access hospital.

USDA Study Finds Rural Communities Benefit from Greater Broadband Internet Access     Top Story 
Aug 19, 2009 -- A new USDA economic analysis has found that rural communities with greater broadband Internet access had greater economic growth than areas with less access.

CMS Opens Registration for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
Aug 18, 2009 -- On August 17, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that registration is now open and available to suppliers interested in participating in the Round 1 Rebid of the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program.

Cooperatives Being Pushed as an Alternative to a Government Plan     Top Story 
Aug 18, 2009 -- Washington Post, (DC) article reports that as prospects fade for a public, or government-run, option as part of health-care reform, key senators are considering another model to create competition for private insurers: member-owned, nonprofit health cooperatives.

Fewer and Fewer Dentists are Working in Rural Areas
Aug 18, 2009 -- Marshall Independent, (MN) article discusses why there are there fewer dentists in rural areas of Minnesota and the nation.

Leading Health Foundations Say Prevention is Vital to Health Systems Reform     Top Story 
Aug 18, 2009 -- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation article reports that in a letter released yesterday, leaders at The California Endowment, The Kresge Foundation, Nemours, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente, wrote that prevention measures like early health screenings and improved access to healthy food will save both lives and money.

Many Baby Boomers are Continuing Illicit Drug Use into Their Later Years According to New Analytic Publication
Aug 18, 2009 -- Many baby boomers (Americans in the generation born between 1946 and 1964) are continuing to use illicit drugs as they grow older, causing the rate of illicit drug use to go up within the 50 to 59 year old age segment of the population.

Medicare Demonstrations Show Paying for Quality Health Care Pays Off     Top Story 
Aug 18, 2009 -- According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) demonstrations being conducted by (CMS) continue to provide strong evidence that offering financial incentives for improving or delivering high quality care increases quality and can reduce the growth in Medicare expenditures.

NAHIT to Cease as Health IT Focus Shifts to Implementation
Aug 18, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the National Alliance for Health Information Technology will cease operation on Sept. 30, after seven years of working to forge consensus and speed progress in the use of health information technology.

New SAMHSA Website Highlights Latest News in Behavioral Health Financing
Aug 18, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today launched a new website that features up-to-date information on the financing of mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services and delivery systems.

No Cash for Medical Bills? Bartering Pays     Top Story 
Aug 18, 2009 -- MSNBC article tells of an innovative program that allows cash-strapped patients to swap skills and services to reduce what they owe, reflecting a nationwide trend as more providers offer patients the option of paying for the non-covered costs of medical and dental care without a direct exchange of cash.

Nurses in Demand in Rural Areas
Aug 18, 2009 -- Bismarck Tribune,(ND) article discusses the nursing program at Bismarck State College and how it is hard to attract new nurses to the smaller communities because new nurses want to work in larger facilities.

Obama Calls for Veterans' Health Care Expansion
Aug 18, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that President Obama included health care in a speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars' national convention on Monday saying that the government is expanding access to veterans health care, not reducing it, and health care reform won't change veterans' health care.

Office of Rural Health Apple A Day Campaign Reflects Health Care Debate
Aug 18, 2009 -- Media Newswire article reports that the Oregon Office of Rural Health has announced the Apple A Day Campaign, built on a dollar a day contribution to train rural EMTs and assist health care providers throughout Oregon in meeting the needs of their rural communities.

RGH Clinics Moving Closer to Rural Status
Aug 18, 2009 -- Portales News Tribune, (NM) article reports that the Roosevelt General Hospital Board learned Tuesday the Portales clinic is 90 days away from being able to bill as a designated rural health clinic, once Medicare and Medicaid send a billing code.

Ritter Launches Rural Health Initiative
Aug 18, 2009 -- Associated Press article via Durango Herald, (CO) reports that Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter says a new audio and video health-care program will provide health care to rural communities that lack doctors and hospitals.

Rural Utilities Service (RUS); Notice of Funds Availability; Extension of Application Closing Deadline for Pending Electronic Applications.     Top Story      Federal Register 
Aug 18, 2009 -- RUS announce that the application closing deadline for the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) is extended until 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on August 20, 2009, for any electronic applications pending as of 5 p.m. ET on August 14, 2009. There are no changes to the filing instructions for paper applications.

Top Obama Administration Officials Hold 'Rural Tour' Community Forum in North Carolina
Aug 18, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Education Secretary Arne Duncan yesterday visited North Carolina and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss the importance of strengthening education in communities throughout the country to revitalize rural America.

USDA Launches New Website for Obama Administration's Rural Tour     Top Story 
Aug 18, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today launched a new website designed to enhance discussions and facilitate innovation for issues facing rural America as part of the Obama Administration's Rural Tour.

A New Approach to 'Medical Homes' Will Transform the Relationship between You and Your Doc     Top Story 
Aug 17, 2009 -- Idaho Statesman article discusses the nationwide trend of a "medical home," that hinges on providers having comprehensive electronic medical records that other doctors, hospitals or medical practices can access easily.

Doctors See More Patients     Top Story 
Aug 17, 2009 -- Chattanooga Times, (TN) article reports that the proposed broad expansion of health care insurance to cover the bulk of the nation's uninsured has doctors in Tennessee and across the nation bracing for a deluge of new patients into an already strained system.

Free Health Care for Those Who Need It Most     Top Story 
Aug 17, 2009 -- ABC News tells how Stan Brock through his Remote Area Medical Foundation, has staged 346 clinics in 12 states across the country since 1992, primarily in rural counties, providing free medical care to all who come to see him.

HHS Designates HIPAA Regional Privacy Advisors
Aug 17, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights has designated its regional managers to advise covered entities, business associates and individuals of their rights and responsibilities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act's privacy and security rules.

HHS Forum to Focus on H1N1 Preparedness     Top Story 
Aug 17, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the Department of Health and Human Services on Aug. 20 will host a teleconference on H1N1 flu preparedness for hospitals and other health care providers.

Secretary Shinseki Announces Expansion of Counseling for Combat Veterans
Aug 17, 2009 -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that combat Veterans will receive readjustment counseling and other assistance in 28 additional communities across the country where the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will establish Vet Centers in 2010.

White House Rethinks Health-care Option     Top Story 
Aug 17, 2009 -- Associated Press article via Nashua Telegraph, (NH) reports that bowing to Republican pressure and an uneasy public, President Barack Obama's administration signaled Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new health-care system.

Doctors Providing End of Life Counseling See Benefit in Current Controversy
Aug 14, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News discusses how the controversy, over proposed Medicare funding of end-of-life counseling, has come to epitomize some of people’s deepest fears about the government’s role in health care.

Many in Rural Communities Aren't Insured and Live Far From Health Providers     Top Story 
Aug 14, 2009 -- HealthLeaders Media editorial by Cheryl Clark discusses how with all the week's ranting in town halls about what health reform will or won't do for Americans, she kept thinking about what the U.S. Census revealed last week about some parts of rural America.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Premiums to Increase Slightly: Medicare Beneficiaries May Need to Enroll in New Plans     Top Story 
Aug 14, 2009 -- The majority of Medicare beneficiaries currently enrolled in Medicare drug plans will not see significant changes in their premiums in 2010, but some may need to take steps to ensure they have the coverage they need when open enrollment begins later this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today.

n4a Announces 2009 Aging Innovations and Achievement Award Recipients
Aug 14, 2009 -- The Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging in Front Royal, VA was honored at the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) conference for their "At Home" program, that provides chronic disease management and support to rural homebound seniors.

New High-Speed Internet Health Information Network to Connect State's Urban, Rural Health Care Providers
Aug 14, 2009 -- Enhanced Online News article reports that the Colorado Hospital Association and the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council today announced that they have selected Qwest Communications to provide high-speed broadband services that will link nearly 400 of the state’s urban and rural health care and behavioral health providers, and facilitate telemedicine access.

UND Center for Rural Health Receives Funding to Support Rural Hospitals
Aug 14, 2009 -- For the 11th consecutive year, the Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine and Health Sciences has received funding to support rural hospitals through the North Dakota Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program.

Updated Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs Now Available     Top Story 
Aug 14, 2009 -- A new, updated guide to finding local substance abuse treatment programs is now available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Boomers Migrating to Rural America     Top Story 
Aug 13, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells how over the next decade, many baby boomers will leave the cities for smaller towns, a migration that will change the nature and economy of many rural counties.

CDC Issues H1N1 Vaccine Planning Guide     Top Story 
Aug 13, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released an H1N1 flu vaccination planning guide, which answers questions related to vaccine distribution and administration.

For Dying and Seriously Ill Children, Hope for Better Care     Top Story 
Aug 13, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News tells how new models of care similar to hospice but not limited to children who are dying have emerged in a handful of states, and many more are moving in that direction.

Group Launches Online Tool to Help Nurses Avoid 'Never Events'
Aug 13, 2009 -- Healthcare information services provider Elsevier has developed an online tool designed to help nurses prevent the 10 "never events" identified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Healthcare IT News reports.

Long Term Care Facilities Earn National Quality Improvement Award
Aug 13, 2009 -- The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) will present National Quality Awards to 468 long term care facilities that demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to quality care for the nations’ frail, elderly and disabled.

Medicare Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update for Calendar Year 2010; Proposed Rule; Republication     Federal Register 
Aug 13, 2009 -- The Federal Register proposed rule document E9- 18587, originally published at pages 39436 to 39496 in the issue of Thursday, August 6, 2009, included incorrect tables from pages 39471 to 39496. This document, along with the correct tables, is being republished in its entirety.

Missouri Seeks $142M for Rural Internet Access
Aug 13, 2009 -- Stjoenews.net, (MO) article reports that Missouri is seeking $142 million of federal stimulus money to expand high-speed Internet access to remote parts of the state.

New DSHS Mobile Office to Travel the State with Support Services
Aug 13, 2009 -- By Spring 2010, the state Department of Social and Health Services reports that they expect to "roll out" a new effort aimed at providing remote communities with greater access to its core services.

Rural Health Care Workforce: Opportunities to Improve Care Delivery     Top Story 
Aug 13, 2009 -- The Center for Rural Affairs has released a report entitled, "Rural Health Care Workforce: Opportunities to Improve Care Delivery," that examines the critical shortage of primary care providers in rural America, the importance of nurse practitioners as rural primary care providers, opportunities for rural nursing, and ultimately, how health care reform presents opportunities for nurses to improve access to and quality of health care for rural residents.

SAMHSA Provides New Information on How Grant Program Allotments are Calculated
Aug 13, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Office Of Applied Studies (OAS) is issuing a new guide providing updated information on the procedures used by that office to calculate allocations for some of the key block and formula grants the agency administers.

Secretary Shinseki Announces Over $153 Million for Biloxi
Aug 13, 2009 -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced six contracts have been awarded worth $153.7 million to build new health care facilities and expand existing services that provide care to Veterans in the Biloxi, Miss., area.

Top Obama Administration Officials Hold 'Rural Tour' Community Forum in Alaska     Top Story 
Aug 13, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Education Secretary Duncan, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan yesterday visited Alaska and held a 'Rural Tour' community forum to discuss efforts by the Obama Administration to rebuild and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents talk about how the federal government can assist them, and discuss solutions to challenges facing their communities.

VA Hosts Vegas Conference on Medical Care for Afghanistan/Iraq Veterans
Aug 13, 2009 -- The Department of Defense is collaborating with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), who will host a conference which highlights its methods for delivering top quality care to returning Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) troops on Sept. 21 – 25, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nev.

'Home' Health-care Solution Gets NH Tryout
Aug 12, 2009 -- Union Leader, (NH) article reports that last fall, 11 practices in the state joined the New Hampshire Citizens Health Alliance medical-home pilot program.

12 Year Nationwide Drop in Tobacco Sales to Minors Continues Under State/Federal Partnership Program     Top Story 
Aug 12, 2009 -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced that sales of tobacco to underage youth (those younger than age 18) have continued to decline, and have in fact reached historic lows under the Synar Amendment program – a federal and state partnership program aimed at ending illegal tobacco sales to minors.

A Day in the Life of a Family Doctor     Top Story 
Aug 12, 2009 -- New York Times article reports that according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, most medical school graduates now choose better-paying specialty fields like dermatology or orthopedic surgery, a trend that is expected to lead to a shortage of tens of thousands of family doctors.

HHS Announces $13.4 Million in Financial Assistance to Support Nurses     Top Story 
Aug 12, 2009 -- HHS Deputy Secretary Bill Corr today announced the release of $13.4 million for loan repayments to nurses who agree to practice in facilities with critical shortages and for schools of nursing to provide loans to students who will become nurse faculty.

Maine Launches Nation’s Largest Statewide Electronic Health Exchange
Aug 12, 2009 -- HealthInfoNet article reports that as policymakers in Washington debate how to reform the nation’s healthcare system, Maine has taken a major step toward transforming how care will be delivered to the state’s 1.3 million residents.

New Report Examines Insurance Company Practice of Denying Coverage to or Discriminating Against Americans Who Have Pre-Existing Medical Conditions     Top Story 
Aug 12, 2009 -- In a new report, “Coverage Denied: How the Current Health Insurance System Leaves Millions Behind,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services examines the insurance company practice of denying coverage to or discriminating against Americans who have pre-existing medical conditions.

Notice; Reopening Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Competition for the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians With Disabilities Program     Federal Register 
Aug 12, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Education is reopening this competition and establishing a new deadline for the submission of applications by those applicants affected by the change posted in the Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-19335.htm.
Learn more about: Vocational Rehabilitation Services Projects for American Indians with Disabilities

OIG Opinion Reviews Preventive Services Exception to Anti-kickback Statute     Top Story 
Aug 12, 2009 -- AHA News reports that a critical access hospital that provides free blood pressure checks to walk-in visitors on request during daylight hours does not risk civil monetary penalties under the federal anti-kickback statute, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General said in an advisory opinion released yesterday.

Painkillers: In Lieu of Indian Health Care     Top Story 
Aug 12, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article discusses how tribal leaders call the abuse of painkilling drugs "epidemic," but until there's decent health treatment for Native Americans, prescription drugs will substitute for healing.

Region’s Broadband Landscape Isn’t Good
Aug 12, 2009 -- BusinessNorth Exclusives article tells how in Wisconsin and Northern Minnesota broadband service is "hit and miss."

Rural Health Care Report Released     Top Story 
Aug 12, 2009 -- Farm Futures article reports that the Center for Rural Affairs has released a report that examines the critical shortage of primary care providers in rural America, the importance of nurse practitioners as rural primary care providers, opportunities for rural nursing, and ultimately, how health care reform presents opportunities for nurses to improve access to and quality of health care for rural residents.

Stimulus Funds Help Health Centers Meet Growing Needs     Top Story 
Aug 12, 2009 -- American Academy of Family Physicians reports that the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, has provided an immediate infusion of funds into the nation's community health centers, enabling them to expand care and to retain or hire additional staff.

Vocational Rehabilitation Service Projects for American Indians With Disabilities; Interim Final Rule; Request for Comments     Federal Register 
Aug 12, 2009 -- Comments are being requested from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services on an interim final rule that amends the regulations for the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) program to permit a consortium of Indian Tribes to establish a separate legal entity to apply for a grant under this program.

3 Areas Can Reenergize Rural America     Top Story 
Aug 11, 2009 -- Argus Leader, (SD) article reports that rural America faces the same challenges in this recession as corporate America, but the federal government has the ideas and money to energize small communities, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official says.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Launches Retooled Loan Assistance for Individuals and Businesses in Struggling Agriculture Industries     Top Story 
Aug 11, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is undertaking an unprecedented effort to use the department's administrative flexibility to provide relief to individuals and businesses in struggling agriculture industries.

CMS Releases Final 2010 Payment Changes for Skilled Nursing Facilities     Top Story 
Aug 11, 2009 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the release of the Federal Register Final Rule updating the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF-PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2010.

Deadline Established for Completing Funding Year 2008 Application Process for the Rural Health Care Pilot Program
Aug 11, 2009 -- The Wireline Competition Bureau establishes June 30, 2010, as the filing deadline for participants in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program (Pilot Program) to submit FCC Form 466-A1 for funding year 2008.

Do You Qualify for a $63,750 Medicaid EHR Bonus?
Aug 11, 2009 -- AAFP article tells of a new report that estimates that as many as 45,000 office-based physicians who participate in Medicaid and use electronic health records, or EHRs, could collect as much as $63,750 paid out over a six-year period as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

For Major Health Industry Players, Reform's Positives Outweigh Negatives     Top Story 
Aug 11, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News reports that most of the major health care players, including hospitals, health insurers and pharmaceutical companies, are likely to benefit – some handsomely – over the long term from the proposed health care overhaul.

Help On Way for Residents Close to Homelessness
Aug 11, 2009 -- Channel5.com, (TN) article reports that agencies across the state received $6 million in Federal stimulus money for a program designed to help those on the brink of homelessness or those who have just lost their home.

Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs     Federal Register 
Aug 11, 2009 -- This notice from the Bureau of Indian Affairs publishes the current list of 564 tribal entities recognized and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs by virtue of their status as Indian tribes.

Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities for FY 2010; Minimum Data Set, Version 3.0 for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Medicaid Nursing Facilities; Final Rule     Federal Register 
Aug 11, 2009 -- This final rule updates the payment rates used under the prospective payment system (PPS) for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), for fiscal year (FY) 2010. In addition, it recalibrates the case-mix indexes so that they more accurately reflect parity in expenditures related to the implementation of case-mix refinements in January 2006.

New Web Site Assists Physicians with Digital Transition     Top Story 
Aug 11, 2009 -- HealthcareIT News article reports that a new Web site has been launched that is designed to help educate physicians on the benefits of a digitally connected medical practice.

Stimulus Billions Fund Rural Broadband Internet     Top Story 
Aug 11, 2009 -- CNN Money article reports that fast Internet access is a luxury most businesses take for granted these days, but in remote areas of the country, the staticky crackle of a dial-up modem connection remains a familiar sound. A $7.2 billion stimulus initiative aims to expand broadband access and speed up the modem's extinction.

TransforMED Launches First-Ever Professional Social Networking Site for Primary Care Physicians, Physician Extenders and Office Staff     Top Story 
Aug 11, 2009 -- TransforMED LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Academy of Family Physicians, today announced the launch of Delta-Exchange, a first-of-its-kind collaborative networking site dedicated to helping primary care practices implement the patient-centered medical home model of care.

22nd Annual Utah Rural Summit Highlights
Aug 10, 2009 -- Thespectrum.com, (UT) article tells the highlights of the three-day, 22nd Annual Utah Rural Summit.

A Hot and Contentious August Recess for Health Reform
Aug 10, 2009 -- Rural Policy Research Institute, (RUPRI) article discusses how as August recess begins for Congress, progress has been slower than hoped for on health reform, but further along than any reform efforts that have been undertaken in numerous decades.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Proclaims August 23-29 as National Community Gardening Week
Aug 10, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today encouraged Americans to connect with the land, the food it grows and their local communities by proclaiming August 23-29, National Community Gardening Week.

Alaskans Question Cost of Supporting Rural Outposts
Aug 10, 2009 -- Los Angeles Times, (CA) article discusses how Alaskans increasingly wonder how much they can afford to support those who choose to live miles from civilization.

Amendment a Victory for Women's Health Care
Aug 10, 2009 -- Greely Tribune, (CO) article reports that a recent victory for women's health came with the defeat of the Pence amendment, which sought to ban federal funding from Planned Parenthood health centers across the country.

CMS Publishes 2010 Medicare Payment and Policy Updates for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities     Top Story 
Aug 10, 2009 -- On August 7, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register updating the Medicare payment rates and policies for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) for fiscal year (FY) 2010.

Community Health Centers Strained by Recession, Face Bigger Caseloads Under Reform     Top Story 
Aug 10, 2009 -- Kaiser Health News tells how community health centers, which have seen their caseloads increase significantly with the growing number of uninsured Americans and the economic tumult of the recent recession, appear to be in line for a major rise in federal support and likely a corresponding crush in patients seeking treatment if a health care overhaul is passed.

Durbin Introduces Bill to Help Rural Hospitals     Top Story 
Aug 10, 2009 -- Paris Beacon News, (IL) reports that assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Rural Access to Nurse Anesthesia Services Act that would close existing loopholes to guarantee anesthesiology cost reimbursement for Critical Access Hospitals and enable these hospitals to continue to provide surgical services to residents in rural areas.

IHS Summit Grapples with Agency’s Role in National Health Care Reform
Aug 10, 2009 -- Indian Country Today article discusses how the Indian Health Service (IHS) must adapt to rapid changes in national health care reform and demonstrate willingness to improve.

Louisiana Cuts Hospitals' Medicaid Payments by 6.2%
Aug 10, 2009 -- AHA News reports that the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals this week implemented a 6.2% cut in Medicaid payments to hospitals, approved by the legislature as part of the state's fiscal year 2010 budget.

Quality Focus Reduces Deaths in US Hospitals-Report     Top Story 
Aug 10, 2009 -- Reuters News tells of a new report that finds that a focus on quality reduces the number of deaths in U.S. hospitals, specifically saving 47,000 lives a year and preventing 92,000 complications.

Stimulus Injects $26 Million for Ariz. Clinics' Vital Services
Aug 10, 2009 -- Arizona Republic article tells how the federal stimulus program is injecting $25.6 million into the state's network of 16 federally qualified health centers, which operate more than 100 medical and dental clinics, mostly in rural or underserved areas.

Udall Introduces Bill to Add Rural Doctors     Top Story 
Aug 10, 2009 -- Pueblo Chieftain, (CO) article reports that Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) waded into the country's health care debate Thursday with legislation aimed at increasing the number of physicians who practice in rural areas.

University to Expose Nurses to Rural Life     Top Story 
Aug 10, 2009 -- Daily Progress, (VA) article tells how a new grant will help nursing students at the University of Virginia learn about a painful reality: In rural counties, some people are lucky to have access to a doctor at all.

Why Do Some Towns Thrive? — and Other Questions     Top Story 
Aug 10, 2009 -- Daily Yonder article tells how rural sociologists got together recently to talk about ethanol, migration, Obama and what it takes to be a thriving small town.