Providers who use telehealth platforms are already concerned about the restrictions they will face if the public health emergency (PHE) ends and COVID-19-related waivers for telemedicine expire. But new rules from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will further complicate their practices.
Under the DEA's new rule, patients will...News
Rural hospitals and health systems have an outsized impact on the health and economic well-being of rural communities supporting one in every 12 rural jobs in America. A September report from the American Hospital Association poses solutions to preserve care in local communities.
The report considers the vital role of rural hospitals,...National News
On June 30, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a new provider type developed for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and certain rural hospitals to help them avert potential closure and provide support for the essential services they provide to the communities they serve.
A Rural Emergency Hospital ...CMS Rules
On February 24, the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) gave a long-awaited announcement regarding the future of the Global and Professional Direct Contracting Model (GPDC). The existing model will phase out by December 31, 2022 and will be redesigned to create the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and...Arizona News
On Monday, the White House announced an executive order (EO) directed at easing the "customer experience" of interacting with federally regulated public programs. The order directs certain federal agencies to make it easier for individuals to apply for and receive benefits, specifically through telehealth services, a personalized web...
Hospitalizations across the state are on the rise due to the extended surge related to the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Only 7% of intensive care unit beds are available statewide and 38% are in use by COVID-19 patients, a new high since February 2021.
On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, Arizona reported 3,163 new cases of COVID-19...
Cases are on a slow uptick nationwide with new cases on Tuesday, November 23 totaling 92,785. The rolling seven-day average for new cases is 95,481. There were 1,474 new deaths nationally and the total number of deaths nationally is now over 775,000. About 70% of the country has received at least one dose of the vaccine and just under...Arizona News
According to a poll conducted by Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute, healthcare is the foremost concern among the state’s rural population.
Water quality and health insurance tied for first place with 79% of respondents rating the importance of the two issues as either an 8, 9, or 10, on a scale of 1-10. In light...Arizona News
The University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine in Tucson and Phoenix is offering to cover medical school tuition for those who commit to practice primary care in underserved regions of the state for at least two years following their residency.
An American Medical Association (AMA) study published in the summer linked increasing...Arizona News
Healthcare information technology giant Cerner has proven to be a favorite among health systems when selecting electronic health records (EHRs) as it recently secured a spot in the Mayo Clinic and Oxford University partnership and three new rural health system.
As Mayo Clinic establishes its first health facility in the United...National News
The latest of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to unveil a health plan is South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, centering his proposal on rural health needs and emphasizing major shortage areas such as primary care, maternal care, mental health and substance abuse providers.
Buttigieg's plan offers support for Sen....Arizona News
A new study connects growing student loans to physician practice choices and highlights that forgiveness programs and repayment of that debt can encourage graduating physicians to choose primary care tracks, meaning incentives to pursue primary care careers can significantly impact the current U.S. physician shortfall.
The...Arizona News
All eyes are on the Arizona Legislature as a bill encouraging parity of coverage (not rates) between in-person care and telemedicine makes its way through the lawmaking process. Publisher's note: Bill 1089 ultimately passed and was signed by Gov. Ducey, effective January 1,2021Senate bill 1089, sponsored by now Senator Heather Carter...Arizona News
The shortage of primary care providers, has grown steadily worse in recent years, according to the National Rural Health Association.
Since 2010, more than 70 rural hospitals have closed. Though the shortage of doctors all across rural America is a crisis affecting some 90 million Americans, the problem is not even part of the health...