Rural Reporter
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Feds Approve Proposal for State Reinsurance Program
(07/30/2018)
Governor Walker's proposal to institute a $200 million state reinsurance program has been approved by the federal government, according to announcements put out on Sunday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Governor's office. The Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan, or WIHSP, aims at reducing premiums for Wisconsinites in the individual market. The state will spend $34 million and will receive $166 million in federal funding for the program. Proponents say WIHSP will provide greater stabilization to Wisconsin’s health insurance marketplace by lowering costs on consumers and persuading insurers not to leave the market. Detractors say the plan will cover fewer people than if Governor Walker had accepted federal money to expand the BadgerCare program. The federal approval for this program lasts through December 31st, 2023. (Source: CMS and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Image: Presentation on WIHSP from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance)
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New Statewide Addiction Hotline Announced
(07/27/2018)
A new statewide hotline will help doctors treat patients with substance abuse problems. The UW Addiction Consultation Hotline was debuted earlier this month by the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, in conjunction with UW Health and in collaboration with the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative and the Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine.
It's a project that is particularly beneficial to care in rural areas, which often face critical shortages of primary care providers with the experience necessary to treat addiction.
The hotline is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Providers should call the UW Health Access Center at 608-263-3260 for assistance. Those outside Madison should call toll-free: 800-472-0111.
(Source: School of Medicine and Public Health; La Crosse Tribune; Photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash)
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Charting the Rate of Decline in Independent Rural Pharmacies
(07/26/2018)
A new brief finds that over 1,200 independently-owned rural pharmacies in the United States have closed over the past sixteen years, with the most dramatic decline occurring immediately after the implementation of Medicare Part D. Six hundred and thirty rural communities that had at least one retail (independent, chain, or franchise) pharmacy in March 2003 had no retail pharmacy in March 2018. (Source and Image: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis)
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The Role of Foundations in Systemically Bolstering Mental Well-Being
(07/26/2018)
Treating mental health and substance abuse is crucial to systemically bettering a culture of health. A policy guide from Health Affairs looks at the role foundations play in funding programs and strategies that promise to systemically bolster access to mental health treatment and services. While government cooperation is critical to funding evidence-based models, this article argues that philanthropies are obligated to take certain risks in their funding. (Source: Health Affairs; Photo: Deniz Altindas on Unsplash)
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Wisconsin Teen Birth Rates on the Decline
(07/25/2018)
Wisconsin's Department of Health and Human Services has released its annual report measuring birth rates and infant mortality in the state. According to the findings, the fertility rate — the number of births per 1,000 women of child-bearing age — remained steady in 2016, although it varied between counties, from a low of 41.7 births in Iron County to a high of 123.2 births in Menominee County. The overall birth rate for teenagers has continued to decline, although not for all groups: it has increased slightly for those who identify as Hispanic/Latino. Read the full report here. (Source and Image: Office of Health Informatics, Wisconsin Department of Health Services)
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Does the FCC's Broadband Map Accurately Describe Rural Speeds?
(07/25/2018)
A new map from the Federal Communications Commission visualizes broadband speed in rural areas, but some critics have taken issue with the map's data collection methods, saying that the purported download speeds for rural areas are often faster than real users' experiences. One open-source laboratory has designed a map that it says is more in line with what rural Internet users experience. Using speed tests run through local providers, the Measurement Lab of the Open Technology Lab has published an area-by-area comparison of reported download speeds compared to the FCC's reported download speeds. Compare your location's speed here, and/or participate in the study by clicking here. (Source: The Rural Blog and Daily Yonder; Image: Benjamin Child on Unsplash)
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Following Up On Rural Obstetric Care
(07/25/2018)
Last week, The New York Times published one woman's account as she encountered the evaporation of obstetric services in her rural area, and the corresponding difficulties she faced in reaching care. The article highlighted the cumulative difficulties pregnant women face from a lack of available services in rural areas. Follow-up comments left by rural doctors and health care workers illuminate the challenges of keeping rural obstetrics services running — particularly the economic infeasibility of services and a fear of malpractice suits. (Source: The New York Times; Image: Mon Petit Chou Photography on Unsplash)
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DPI Grants To Expand Mental Health Safety in Schools
(07/25/2018)
The Department of Public Instruction announced on Monday that sixty-four school districts and consortiums in Wisconsin have received a total of $3.25 million in grant funding to provide school-based mental health services for the upcoming school year. All projects will involve collaboration with community mental health providers and other stakeholders to create comprehensive support systems for children, youth, and families.
The funds will be used for a variety of services, from staff training to recognize mental health challenges to intensive intervention for students in crisis. All grant applicants conducted a local needs assessment along with their community partners to narrow their proposal. Additionally, applicants had to demonstrate how parents, caregivers, and families would be involved in the project.
(Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction)
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Federal Commission on School Safety Visits Adams-Friendship School
(07/24/2018)
On Tuesday, the Federal Commission on School Safety met with state and local officials to learn how Wisconsin schools are integrating behavioral and mental health into school services. The Commission was established earlier this year by President Trump to explore ways of curbing violence in schools. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and First Lady Tonette Walker were among those who led a public session with teachers, counselors, program administrators, medical professionals, and law enforcement.
One program highlighted was the Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education (AWARE), a program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Project AWARE grants fund plans in education settings to increase awareness of mental health issues and connect children, youth, and families experiencing behavioral health issues with appropriate services.
Watch the full session, below:
(Photo: Still from Tuesday's meeting)
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Wisconsin's Birth Rate Steadily Falling
(07/24/2018)
A new report finds that Wisconsin’s birth rate has been falling steady for three decades, and is now at the lowest point in a generation. While national fertility and birth rates are declining as well, compared to other states, Wisconsin's birth rate ranks 38th out of 50. Birth rate measures the number of babies delivered annually for every 1,000 people in the state. A related metric, fertility rate, which describes births relative to the population of residents capable of childbearing, is close to the nation's median rate. (Source and Image: Wisconsin Policy Forum)
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Telehealth Reimbursement Would Enhance Older Adult Care
(07/24/2018)
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a rule change that would reimburse doctors for providing telehealth services to patients. That would be boon for rural seniors, whose reliance on telehealth for medical and mental services and home health care enables them to stay in place for a longer period of time.
Still, using technology to connect with seniors remotely isn't without limitations. Telehealth's success relies on quality broadband connections, but fiber networks aren't present in many rural communities. And paying for internet serves that can accommodate video streaming can put a financial toll on low-income rural residents. (Source: Daily Yonder; Image: Franck V. on Unsplash)
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Often, Keeping Rural OB/GYN Departments Open Is a Challenge
(07/23/2018)
As rural hospitals face myriad challenges, one of the most common is keeping labor and delivery units open and financially viable. Rural hospitals choose to merge or close these departments for several reasons: low Medicaid reimbursement rates, variable staffing needs, and a general low birth volume in rural areas. This article from RHIhub highlights steps being taken to keep obstetrics departments in rural hospitals, including UW-Madison's new rural OB-GYN residency program, as well as other strategies to improve pregnancy outcomes. (Source: Rural Health Information Hub; Image: kate krivanec on Unsplash)
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Governor's Opioid Task Force Meets, Considers MAT
(07/23/2018)
At a recent meeting of the state's task force on opioid addiction, a proposal was made to expand access to methadone clinics throughout the state. Methadone, which is a common form of an opioid treatment model called medication-assisted treatment, works by alleviating withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings while an individual recovering from addiction receives therapy and other assistance.
Andrew Whitacre is a Senior Associate with Pew Charitable Trusts and an advisor to the Governor's Task Force on Opioid Addiction. At a recent July 13th meeting, he recommended a permanent push to enable more medical centers to provide methadone treatment. According to Whitacre, removing a rule that prevents medical facilities from serving as an opioid treatment program, "could result in additional methadone providers in community-based clinics, hospitals, correctional facilities and other healthcare settings."
Watch the full meeting of the Governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse here.
(Source: WisEye; Photo: Airman Valerie Monroy, U.S. Air Force)
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Wisconsin Bank Plans for Dementia in Community
(07/23/2018)
Learning to recognize signs and symptoms of dementia is important as Wisconsin grapples to serve an aging population. More than 115,000 people in Wisconsin live with dementia, and according to state projections, that number will double in the next 20 years. Utilizing toolkits and other guides from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, one bank system in northern Wisconsin has trained all of its branches to be dementia-friendly. (Source: WJFW and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services; Photo: stevepb on Pixabay)
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Study Finds Increase in Excessive Drinking; Alcoholic Cirrhosis
(07/20/2018)
A new study published this week finds that fatal liver disease has been increasing in the United States since 2009. The study finds that due to excessive drinking that leads to alcoholic cirrhosis, people aged 25-34 have experienced the greatest relative increase in mortality. Despite the recent increase, cirrhosis remains a relatively minor cause of death for young Americans, accounting for only 1.4 percent of total deaths in the 25-34 age range. But it's much more significant for young Native Americans, accounting for 6.3 percent of deaths. (Source: The BMJ and National Public Radio; Photo: Patrick Fore on Unsplash)
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Federal Funding for Navigator Programs Slashed
(07/20/2018)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that it will cut funding for health insurance navigator programs, which exist to assist people in signing up for health insurance options. CMS justified the cut, saying navigator programs failed to enroll a meaningful number of people in health insurance programs, and that Americans are now more familiar with the marketplace, anyway. (Source: Health Care Finance News; Photo: Beatriz Pérez Moya on Unsplash)
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Wisconsin Guidance on Medication Informed Consent, and More
(07/19/2018)
The newest edition of the Wisconsin Department of Health Service's "Pharmacy Newscapsule" is now available, with useful information about medication storage scenarios, informed consent in nursing homes, the nuance of "standing orders," and naloxone availability. (Source and Image: Wisconsin DHS Division of Quality Assurance)
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Nationally and Statewide, Persistent Drug Shortages Plague Hospitals
(07/19/2018)
Recently, hospitals in Wisconsin and around the country have had to deal with medication shortages, forcing them to scramble to substitute medications. The shortages, which happen somewhat regularly, often occur for local anesthetics, painkillers, and antimicrobials. Though some drugs can be substituted for available ones, it's not always possible to do so, putting care providers in a bind. In June, the American Medical Association released a statement calling the situation a public health crisis. (Source: Wisconsin Public Radio; Image: Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash)
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Wisconsin Communities Receive Infrastructure Grants
(07/19/2018)
Wisconsin Rural Development State Director Frank Frassetto announced on Thursday that three Wisconsin communities (Bluffview Sanitary District, the Village of Plum City, and the Village of Weyerhaeuser) have received over $4 million in infrastructure projects to upgrade their waste and wastewater systems. Community leaders interested in applying for funds for their rural area can do so electronically by using the RD Apply tool, or through one of Wisconsin's offices. (Source: USDA Rural Development; Image: Levi Xu on Unsplash)
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Wisconsin's Critical Access Hospitals Receive National Recognition
(07/18/2018)
The Health Resources and Services Agency (HRSA) announced today that Wisconsin’s Critical Access Hospitals ranked fourth in the nation for their quality reporting and improvement rates over the past year. The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health was particularly recognized for its work in facilitating rural hospitals' participation in the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP), a federal initiative to highlight rural-centric quality measures for national benchmarking. In 2017, WI-ORH was recognized as the first in the nation in MBQIP performance. This honor continues a trend of Wisconsin's rural hospitals leading the nation in top quality improvement measures.
"We are grateful for the willingness of the Critical Access Hospitals to participate in these reporting initiatives, and of course for the stellar performance and improvement shown consistently in our state," says Kathryn Miller, WI-ORH Flex Program Coordinator. "We extend our thanks to CAHs for their continued commitment to patient care and hospital performance."
Critical Access Hospitals, or CAHs, are low-volume, rural hospitals essential to providing health services to rural communities. Quality reporting and improvement rates are voluntary benchmark measures for the performance of CAHs. The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health assists CAHs through the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program in areas of quality improvement, financial and operational improvement, population health and integration of Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
For more information on this award, Wisconsin's Critical Access Hospitals, or the Flex Program, contact Kathryn Miller at kmiller9@wisc.edu or 608-261-1891, or visit our CAHs portal.
