GEORGIA RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING & CONFERENCE

GRHA- KEEPIN' IT RURAL: 30 YEARS & COUNTING

Call for Abstracts -

Students Poster Session  

Deadline Extended

Georgia Rural Health Association 2011 Awards of Excellence

Please visit our website for award descriptions and a Nomination Form. Completed nominations must be received by August 15, 2011.

Links are on our Homepage under GRHA Annual Meeting or

Call the GRHA home office- 478-552-3620 and request a form

The July 2011 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology contains a special section on rural health issues in pediatric psychology. The special section presents articles that document differences in behavior and psychosocial functioning in children and adolescents residing in rural and non-rural areas as well as how pediatric psychology can help to address the health and psychosocial functioning of children in rural settings. The articles focus on the need for and use of mental and behavioral health services; health behaviors, quality of life, and obesity; and treatment outcome research in rural settings.

Special Section

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today proposed to add alcohol screening and behavioral counseling, and screening for depression, to the comprehensive package of preventive services now covered by Medicare.  These proposed national coverage determinations (NCDs) are issued under authority granted by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), which allows CMS to add coverage of new preventive benefits that are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and are appropriate for Medicare beneficiaries.

Under the new proposals, Medicare would cover an annual alcohol misuse screening by a beneficiary's primary care provider.  The benefit would also include four behavioral counseling sessions per year if a beneficiary screens positive for alcohol misuse.  Medicare would also cover an annual screening for depression in primary care settings that offer staff-assisted depression care, so beneficiaries can receive an  accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up.

Public comments are invited on today's proposed decisions for 30 days.  CMS will issue final coverage decisions later this year.  The proposal for screening and counseling for alcohol misuse is available on the CMS website at:

https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-proposed-decision-memo.aspx?&NcaName=Screening%20and%20Behavioral%20Counseling%20Interventions%20in%20Primary%20Care%20to%20Reduce%20Alcohol%20Misuse&bc=ACAAAAAAIAAA&NCAId=249&

Cancer Disparities in Minority and Rural Underserved Populations:

Barriers to Success and Lessons Learned

Howard A. Zaren, MD, F.A.C. S.

Date: Thursday, July 28, 2011

Time: 12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM (EST)

Register

State proposes increases in Medicaid co-pays 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Children could be among the hardest hit by proposed increases in co-pays for Medicaid enrollees and the creation of co-pays for families in the state's PeachCare for Kids health care program starting this fall. 

A plan to double existing co-pays for inpatient hospital services to $25 is also among the changes proposed by the Georgia Department of Community Health that would save the state an estimated $4.2 million. Co-pays for prescription drugs, vision care and other services would also climb under the plan outlined at a department board meeting Thursday.

Children ages 6 and older enrolled in PeachCare would be the most dramatically affected by the changes, which would take effect Sept. 1, since those families don't currently have co-pays, said Jerry Dubberly, the state's Medicaid division chief. PeachCare provides health care to more than 200,000 children through age 18 who don't qualify for Medicaid and have family incomes up to 235 percent of the federal poverty level.

Advocates worry the co-pays could discourage some families from getting needed care or seeking preventive treatment. The proposed co-pays vary from 66 cents to $3.74 depending on the service, excluding the inpatient hospital fee.

Full article 

Independently Owned Pharmacy Closures in Rural America, 2003-2010

 
This policy brief provides information about the closure of rural independently owned pharmacies, including pharmacies that are the sole source of access to local pharmacy services, from 2003 through 2010. The number of rural independently owned pharmacies was relatively constant from 2003 to 2006. A sharp decline in independently owned retail pharmacies in rural communities began in May 2006 and continued to September 2008. Although the rate of closure slowed from September 2008 through December 2010, the number of independently owned rural pharmacies continued to decline. This trend indicates that maintaining retail pharmacy businesses remains challenging in many rural places in the United States. 

Copy of this brief

Free Webinar Series

'Issues in Rural Health Planning'

Details 

ATA Policy Summit/ in cooperation with The Continua Health Alliance

July 27, 2011

The Westin Washington, D.C. City Center

Info and Registration

Dental Loan Repayment Applications DUE August 1

For Application form or more information, contact Ketarya Dent at 706-721-2383 or kedent@georgiahealth.edu

Fifth Annual National Conference on Health Communications, Marketing, and Media

August 9 - 11, 2011

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Atlanta, GA

Information

2011 GeorgiaForward Forum: Creating an Innovation Agenda for Georgia

August 17-18, 2011

The Lodge at Callaway Gardens

Registration & More Information 

"Diabetes Update 2011: Current Trends, Treatments and Practices"

When: August 24, 2011

Where: Warner Robins Conference Center

Sponsored by: Houston Health Care & Magnolia Coastlands AHEC

Details

Georgia Rural Health Association Annual Conference

September 19-21,2011

Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

2011 11th Annual Primary Care and Prevention Conference

Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health

September 22-23, 2011

Atlanta Airport Marriot Gateway Hotel

Atlanta, GA

Registration & Information

ANNA FALL MEETING 2011

For Nephrology Nurses, Managers, and Advanced Practice Nurses

September 24-26, 2011

Hilton Atlant

Atlanta, GA

Register by August 12, 2011 to take advantage of reduced rates

Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital Conferences

September 27-30, 2011

Kansas City, MO

Details and Registration Information