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Doctors, Hospitals Lag in Going Digital with Medical Records, Sebelius Says in KC
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.
CBO Says Finance Bill To Cost $829 Billion Over 10 Years; Will Reduce Deficit by $81 Billion
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.
Rural, Urban Differences in Health Insurance
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.
Montana Goes Smoke-free
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.
Pamela Hyde, Nominee to be Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services
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.
Secretary Sebelius Releases $7.6 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Support Health Professionals Serving in High Need Areas
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.
Robust Medicare Health and Drug Plan Coverage Continues in 2010 Beneficiary Protections Strengthened
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.
New School Hopes to Train Rural Pharmacists
Oct 1, 2009 -- Wichita Eagle, (KS) 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.
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Highlights Healthcare Disparities in Rural America
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.
Recycled Medication Program Will Receive Top Health Award
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.
Tracing Rural America's 'Mortality Penalty'
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.
Veterans Health System Reaching Out to Rural Veterans
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.
Recession Eases Nursing Shortage
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.
The America’s Healthy Future Act Help for Rural America’s Communities
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.
Safety-net Enhancement Initiative
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Funding designed to reduce health disparities within vulnerable communities by enhancing collaboration and coordination among agencies and institutions providing health and social supports to these communities.
Small Research Grant to Improve Health Care Quality through Health Information Technology (IT) (R03)
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Funding to support the development and enhancement of expertise in health IT and related disciplines, including research and evaluation methods.
Brookdale Leadership in Aging Fellowship Program
Application deadline: Nov 5, 2009
Fellowship program to encourage the emerging leaders in the field of aging.
2010 Welcome Back Awards
Application deadline: Nov 10, 2009
Awards to fight the stigma associated with depression and promote the understanding that depression is treatable.
Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program
Application deadline: Dec 4, 2009
The program's purpose is to expand the pool of students of color interested in the field of health policy.
Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program
Application deadline: Dec 8, 2009
Grants to develop integrated home and community-based services and supports for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families by encouraging the development and expansion of effective and enduring systems of care.
Recovery Act Limited Competition: Building Sustainable Community-Linked Infrastructure to Enable Health Science Research (RC4)
Letter of Intent (Optional): Nov 12, 2009
Application deadline: Dec 11, 2009
Funding to support the development, expansion, or reconfiguration of infrastructures needed to facilitate collaboration between academic health centers and community-based organizations for health science research.
General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids Grant Program
Application deadline: Jan 15, 2010
Grants for programs to encourage communities to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people.
2009 Annual Quality Report: A Comprehensive Report on the Quality of Care in America’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Facilities
Details quality improvement trends in the nation's nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. Co-sponsored by the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care.
Organization: American Health Care Association
Date: 09 / 2009
A Success Story in American Health Care: Using Health Information Technology to Improve Patient Care in a Community Health Center in Washington
Reports on how health information technology can improve health care for Americans living in rural communities.
Organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Date: 09 / 2009
Advancing the Health and Well-Being of Rural Communities
Discusses the future of health care delivery for rural America that includes access, community health and wellness.
Organization: American Public Human Services Association
Date: 10 / 2009
Bitter Drought: Why Rural America Needs Health Care Reform
Surveys issues facing rural America that could be addressed through health care reform.
Organization: Center for Rural Affairs
Date: 09 / 2009
Burden of Poverty in Rural America
Discusses how poverty impacts health. Identifies key rural economic development areas and how they may strengthen the health and wellness of rural communities.
Organization: American Public Human Services Association
Date: 10 / 2009
Chairman’s Mark: America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009
Modifications to the chairman's mark of the health care reform bill as proposed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. Includes details related to rural health care.
Organization: U.S. Senate
Date: 09 / 2009
Collaboration Is Key For Rural Challenges
Discusses how collaborative efforts can help mitigate the significant challenges rural communities face when providing health and human services with fewer and different kinds of resources than their urban counterparts.
Organization: American Public Human Services Association
Date: 10 / 2009
Crunch Continues: Medicaid Spending, Coverage and Policy in the Midst of a Recession
Dissects annual 50-state survey, which finds that 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 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
Date: 09 / 2009
H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community and Faith-based Organizations
Offers action steps to take to help keep communities healthy. Helps to inform about both 2009-2010 seasonal and the 2009 H1N1 flu.
Organization: Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (The Partnership Center)
Date: 09 / 2009
Health Insurance Reform and Medicare: Making Medicare Stronger for America's Seniors
Identifies how health insurance reform will improve the quality of care in Medicare, reduce costs for seniors, and make sure Medicare is there for them in the future.
Organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Date: 09 / 2009
High Cost of Student Debt
Provides a brief overview of the impact of student debt load on primary care workforce.
Organization: Health Workforce Information Center
Date: 09 / 2009
Journal: Health Workforce News
Homegrown Responses to Economic Uncertainty in Rural America
Discusses how rural communities can approach economic development by looking inward to community strengths and existing resources.
Organization: Rural Sociological Society
Date: 2009
Journal: Rural Realities
Profile of American Indians and Alaska Natives and Their Health Coverage
Examines the health coverage, access to care and health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives across the country.
Organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
Date: 09 / 2009
Recommendations in Blending House Committee Health Reform Legislation.
Outlines recommendations from the National Association of Community Health Centers for H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, that focus on five priority provisions for health centers.
Organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
Date: 10 / 2009
School-Based Telehealth: An Innovative Approach to Meet the Health Care Needs of California's Children
Outlines how telehealth in schools is emerging as a valuable way to complement and expand the capacity of schools to meet the health care needs of children, particularly those who are low-income and living in medically underserved areas.
Organization: Children's Partnership
Date: 09 / 2009
Side-by-Side Comparison of Key Medicare Provisions in 2009 Health Reform Legislation
Describes the major Medicare provisions relating to benefit changes, Medicare Advantage, the Medicare prescription drug benefit, physician and other provider payment reforms, and other health system reforms in the Senate Finance proposal and the House Tri-Committee bill.
Organization: Kaiser Family Foundation
Date: 09 / 2009
Where are States Today? Medicaid and State-Funded Coverage Eligibility Levels for Low-Income Adults
A brief overview of low-income adults' current eligibility for Medicaid and other state-funded coverage programs and a discussion of how this coverage may be impacted by health reform.
Organization: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
Date: 10 / 2009
Who Has Medical Debt and What Are the Consequences?
An issue brief examining the characteristics of farmers and ranchers who had medical debt and the impact of the debt on their financial situation and ability to access care.
Organization: Access Project
Date: 10 / 2009
Authoritative Resources on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
Designed to assist in responding to a broad range of constituent questions and concerns about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), P.L. 111-5. Includes links to the full text of the act, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates, White House fact sheets, and federal, state, and municipal government websites.
Organization: Congressional Research Service
Community Development Resource Guide
A reference document that contains key resources - grants, foundation and low interest loans - that may assist with your community's projects. Emphasis is on Nebraska but also includes information for other locations.
Organization: Center for Rural Affairs
Community Issues Management
An interactive tool that includes a publicly accessible component for dynamic mapping and reporting with locally contributed data.
Organization: Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems
Disaster Alternate Care Facility Selection Tool
Assists users in selecting alternate sites and identifying what they need to prepare these sites for use. It evaluates the characteristics of several potential facilities and calculates the results into weighted scores, which planners can use to select appropriate sites for care and plan for operations during a disaster.
Organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
FederalReporting.gov
The central government-wide data collection system for Federal agencies and recipients of Federal awards under Section 1512 of the Recovery Act.
Organization: White House
Health Professions Programs: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Section 1512 Reporting
Provides recovery grantee reporting assistance for HRSA health professions programs.
Organization: Bureau of Health Professions
Healthcare Facility Design
Intended for community health centers and other safety net clinics that are planning upgrades to their facilities and was developed by The Center for Health Design (CHD). Offers literature reviews, best practice clinic design examples, recommended design and operational strategies, and tips from the field.
Rural Development: Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
Describes grant and loan programs available through USDA Rural Development as part of the ARRA. Programs support community facilities, broadband initiatives, business and industry, and 502 home loans. Includes information on application procedures, eligibility requirements, and how to contact your State Rural Development Office.
Organization: USDA Rural Development
Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC)
Developed by Congress and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and deliver relevant all-hazards training in support of rural homeland security requirements. Offers training and certification programs, plus related news and resources for rural emergency responders.
Organization: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Rural FP Community Blog
In this blog, sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians, authors post their experiences while practicing family medicine in rural areas as well as posting about other topics related to rural family physicians.
Organization: American Academy of Family Physicians
Rural Health IT Adoption Toolbox
Developed by the Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) and the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) to assist rural health providers seeking to implement health IT (information technology) to improve the overall effectiveness of their institutions.
Organization: Office of Rural Health Policy
WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System)
An interactive database system that provides customized reports of injury-related data.
Organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
| Oct 18 - 20, 2009 | National PACE Annual Conference 2009 |
| Oct 21, 2009 | CMS Home Health, Hospice & Durable Medical Equipment Open Door Forum |
| Oct 21, 2009 | Rural Health Clinic Fall Workshop |
| Oct 21 - 22, 2009 | Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Minority Health |
| Oct 22, 2009 | Colorado Health Professions Workforce Summit |
| Oct 22, 2009 | InSOPHE Fall Workshop: Addressing the Obesity Epidemic in the Heartland |
| Oct 22, 2009 | Issues to Action Leadership Collaborative: Diversity Leadership Cultural Competency |
| Oct 23, 2009 | 7th Annual American Indian Health Research Conference |
| Oct 27, 2009 | NOSORH Webinar: Managing Conflict |
| Oct 27 - 28, 2009 | Meeting of a Public Advisory Committee of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology |
| Oct 27 - 29, 2009 | Flex Program Workshop |
| Oct 29, 2009 | Medicare Provider Feedback Group Town Hall Meeting |
| Oct 29 - 30, 2009 | 10th Annual CAH Conference |
| Oct 30, 2009 | 12th Annual New England Rural Health RoundTable Symposium |
| Oct 30, 2009 | 22nd Annual Idaho Conference on Health Care |
| Nov 1 - 2, 2009 | Meeting of the National Advisory Council on Migrant Health |
| Nov 3 - 6, 2009 | Faces of a Healthy Future: National Conference to End Health Disparities II |
| Nov 4 - 5, 2009 | 2009 Tri-State Health Information Technology (HIT) Conference |
| Nov 4 - 5, 2009 | 9th Transforming Healthcare through Health IT Summit |
| Nov 4 - 5, 2009 | Idaho RHC & CAH Conference |
| Nov 5, 2009 | CMS 'Town Hall Meeting' on 935 Appeals Process |
| Nov 5 - 6, 2009 | 2009 Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference |
| Nov 5 - 6, 2009 | Mississippi Rural Health Association Annual Conference |
| Nov 5 - 7, 2009 | SOPHE 60th Annual Meeting |
| Nov 9 - 10, 2009 | Texas Rural Health Forum |
| Nov 9 - 13, 2009 | NNAEMSA 2009 18th Annual Educational Conference |
| Nov 10, 2009 | Listening Session on Medicare Physician Resource Use Measurement Program |
| Nov 12, 2009 | Rural Health Care Program Monthly Outreach Conference Call |
| Nov 12 - 14, 2009 | Wisconsin AgriSafe Training - Agricultural Medicine: The Core Course |
| Nov 15 - 17, 2009 | 2009 Joint Conference: Changing Times, Changing Strategies. Working Together to Strengthen the Safety Net |
| Nov 17, 2009 | Face-to-Face Workshop: Making the Most of Evaluation/Advocacy Skills |
| Nov 17 - 20, 2009 | 9th Annual California State Rural Health Conference |
| Nov 18 - 19, 2009 | NOSORH Annual Meeting |
| Nov 18 - 20, 2009 | 2009 AAMA Annual Conference: Certain Solutions for Uncertain Times |
| Nov 18 - 20, 2009 | 2009 Tennessee Rural Health Conference |
| Nov 18 - 21, 2009 | National MultiCultural Institute's 2009 Fall Conference |
| Dec 1 - 3, 2009 | Helping Small Towns Succeed |
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This e-mail and the RAC Health updates are a service of the Rural Assistance Center. The Rural Assistance Center (RAC) does not assume any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information provided in this message. Web site links included in the message are for your convenience. The RAC is not responsible for the availability or content of these web sites. For additional services and information, see the RAC web site at http://www.raconline.org or call 1-800-270-1898.