Federal News
Is Food Insecurity the Same Thing as Hunger?
The United States Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as having two ranges: low food security, with reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet, but little or no indication of reduced food intake; and very low food security, with reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake (i.e., episodic hunger). “Very low food security” often simply goes by the label “food insecurity.” (Source: RAC) [Read article]
Rural Spotlight: An Interview with Clint MacKinney, MD, MS
MacKinney, an emergency room doc, professor and RUPRI Health Panel member, discusses how health care can be transformed to a system of care that responds to patient and community needs. (Source: RAC) [Read article]
The Rural Monitor
The Spring issue of the Rural Monitor deals with “Rural Hunger.” Articles in this issue range from food pantries and programs to food deserts and food insecurity/hunger. Check it out! (Source: RAC) [Read articles]
CDC Takes A Closer Look At Kids’ Mental Health
Somewhere between 13 and 20 percent of kids in the United States experience some sort of mental illness, according to Mental Health Surveillance Among Children — United States, 2005–2011, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That adds up to millions of children suffering from disorders like ADHD, depression, autism and illicit drug use. (Source: Kaiser Health News) [Read article]
TEDMED Talks: 'Cure Violence' Founder on Treating Violence as a Contagious Disease
How can we put a stop to violence? Gary Slutkin, MD, believes the key is treating it as we would any contagious disease. “The greatest predictor of a case of violence is a preceding case of violence,” said Slutkin. The way to stop violence is to find those “first cases” and interrupt the transmission. (Source: NewPublicHealth) [Read article]
Bipartisan Legislation Would Expand Use of Volunteer Health Professionals at Community Health Centers
The National Association of Community Health Centers is lauding bipartisan legislation that aims to remove barriers that prevent health professionals from volunteering their services at Community Health Centers. The Family Health Care Accessibility Act (S. 955) introduced would amend the Public Health Service Act to extend Federal Tort Claims Act medical malpractice coverage to all qualified health care professionals who volunteer at health centers. (Source: Nat'l Assoc of Community Health Centers) [Read article]
Senate Finance Committee Hears More 'Doc Fix' Testimony
The article says that the sustainable growth rate formula's days may be numbered, but the SGR won't be repealed until an alternative system for making Medicare payments to physicians is found. (Source: Health Leaders Media) [Read article]
Affordable Care Act Implementation FAQs - Set 12
Website indicates Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of various provisions of the Affordable Care Act. These FAQs have been prepared jointly by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments). Like previously issued FAQs, these FAQs answers questions from stakeholders to help people understand the new law and benefit from it, as intended. (Source: CCIIO) [Website]
