"In rural communities across the United States, citizens depend on front-line healthcare services from 1,300 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Twenty-three percent of Americans live in rural areas; these facilities are often an area’s sole care provider. Sadly, today many CAHs face closure as proposed federal...
A draft of the House Farm Bill was released late last week. The Farm Bill contains many changes, including a provision allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to declare a 'rural health emergency' and allocate funding for such a crisis. The bill includes cuts in spending,...
The physician shortage has impacted hospitals across the United States, but rural communities and hospitals are feeling the shortage more than their urban counterparts. "Despite concerted efforts to increase the rural workforce, the long-standing shortage of physicians and other medical personnel is expected to worsen as...
Nebraska's health care workforce is not growing as needed to meet the state's demands, per a new report. The problems are particularly pronounced in the state's rural areas. "Fifty-eight of Nebraska’s 93 counties are designated shortage areas for family physicians." Click here to read more about Nebraska's...
Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie released a statement today telling Congress to pass the permanent Veterans Choice program fix. "It’s time to fix the Choice Program – as well as the department’s other non-VA care efforts – once and for all by merging them into a...
Yoakum Community Hospital in Yoakum, Texas, has innovated with the creation of a psychiatric treatment model for their older adult population. By providing psychiatric care close to home, Yoakum Community Hospital improves continuity of care and also reduces the cost to patients. "The hospital’s plan demonstrates that a...
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission discussed significant changes to MACRA during the first day of their April meeting. "Though MIPS is a relatively new program, MedPAC has come to the conclusion that it will not be successful at its goals of increasing payment for high-value clinicians and...
The Southwest Rural Health Research Center released a report showcasing the trends in diabetes-related hospital deaths in rural areas throughout the regions of the United States. The report covers the years of 2009-2014 and found a higher likelihood of diabetes-related hospital deaths in the midwest...
The government agreed on an Omnibus package to extend the government's funding and avert what would have been the third shutdown in 2018. The Omnibus contained many provisions relevant to health care including an increase in funding for the NIH and the opioid crisis. The...