Rural issues

The House Energy and Commerce Committee today advanced two AHA-supported bills to enhance maternal health care quality and outcomes, including in rural areas.
The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program provided states $398 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to distribute to 1,540 small rural hospitals for COVID-19 testing and mitigation.
The Federal Communications Commission released a final rule summarizing guidance adopted last month for participants in its $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program, including eligible services, competitive bidding, invoicing and data reporting.
In Bellingham, Wash., the PeaceHealth clinic is using community health workers, or promotoras, to help educate farmworkers in rural communities about the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. 
The Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Health Care Program will carry forward up to $379.97 million in unused funds from prior years to increase available funding for funding year 2021 and beyond if needed, the agency announced.
On this podcast AHA offers part two of two podcasts on rebuilding maternity services at a critical access hospital. Cristen Page, M.D., executive dean of UNC School of Medicine and Jeff Strickler, CEO of Chatham Hospital UNC Health Care, Siler City discuss the business case and how the plan was…