Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program
The Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program is scheduled for December 6. Up to 25 rural public and nonprofit entities forming a consortium of three or more organizations will be awarded total funding of $5 million/year to expand health care services into underserved areas. This unique program administered by FORHP allows communities to determine their most pressing health need and the best approach for addressing them. Applicants may apply for the traditional Outreach Program track addressing a health need specific to their community, or they may apply to a newly created track, the Health Improvement Special Project (HISP) focusing on cardiovascular disease risk. HISP applicants will be required to meet certain requisites as outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and, if awarded, will utilize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Heart Age Calculator to assess cardiovascular disease risk and track the same subset of individuals in their community throughout the 3-year project period. You can learn more about the work of our Outreach Program grantees on the Rural Health Information Hub, which includes videos of current and past work.
FORHP will host a live technical assistance webinar on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. CT to review the NOFO guidance. For more information, please contact Meriam Mikre at mmikre@hrsa.gov.
Trump to end key ACA subsidies, a move that will threaten the law’s marketplaces
President Trump is throwing a bomb into the insurance marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act, choosing to end critical payments to health insurers that help millions of lower-income Americans afford coverage. The decision coincides with an executive order on Thursday to allow alternative health plans that skirt the law’s requirements.
The White House confirmed late Thursday that it would halt federal payments for cost-sharing reductions, although a statement did not specify when. Another statement a short time later by top officials at the Health and Human Services Department said the cutoff would be immediate. The subsidies total about $7 billion this year. READ MORE.
Washington Post, October 13, 2017
Senators urge CMS to consider stakeholders' concerns on 340B proposal
Fifty-seven senators Friday urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to “carefully consider stakeholder feedback” before the agency finalizes its proposal to reduce Medicare Part B payment for drugs acquired through the 340B Drug Pricing Program. “The long-term success of the 340B program is imperative," the senators wrote.
“As CMS finalizes the 2018 [outpatient prospective payment system] rule, we implore you to carefully consider stakeholder concerns and feedback, and to act to ensure that reimbursement for 340B providers enables them to continue serving the most vulnerable.” READ MORE. AHA News, October 10, 2017
Take action to fight the flu
One of the most important steps you can take to avoid serious, flu-related illnesses is to be vaccinated. Who needs a flu vaccine? Almost everyone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated, particularly people who are at a high risk for flu complications. This includes people 65 years and older, young children and people with chronic conditions such as asthma or heart disease. And, people who care for or live with these high-risk populations also should get vaccinated.
The United Against the Flu campaign is a collaborative effort by the AHA and several other national health care organizations to amplify the importance of getting vaccinated, especially during flu season.
The online hub, www.advancinghealthinamerica.org/flu, provides information and resources on getting the flu vaccine and why it’s important for nearly every person to get vaccinated. We encourage you to visit the website and engage with us and the other health care organizations via Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms to show why we are all United Against the Flu.
Hospitals are essential anchors in their communities
Recent events have reminded us that in times of crisis, whether natural or man-made, hospitals are always there, ready to care. From Texas and Florida to Puerto Rico and Las Vegas, America’s hospitals and health systems are clearly essential anchors in their communities. In addition to providing quality care, hospitals deliver enormous value to their communities through programs to promote wellness and prevention, protect our most vulnerable citizens, strengthen community partnerships, and more.
A report released this week reveals just how much non-profit hospitals in particular give back to their communities. Conducted by EY, the report shows that for every dollar invested in non-profit hospitals and health systems via their federal tax exemption, they deliver $11 in benefits back to their communities in the form of health care services to treat illness and disease as well as maintain the health and well-being of their communities.
And hospitals tailor these benefits to the needs of their distinctive communities. In Kansas, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital provides low-income families with much-needed baby supplies. In Michigan, Munson Medical Center supplies patients with chronic diseases with nutritional counseling and vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables. In Kentucky, Baptist Health Lexington sponsors support groups for breast cancer survivors.
Programs like these and many more strengthen the bond between America’s hospitals and the communities they serve. We have a special responsibility for our patients, and advancing their health must be our foundational mission.
