Committee advances telehealth payment-parity bill, adopts amendment pushing effective date to 2027 The House Health and Social Services Committee advanced Senate Bill 83, adopting an amendment to move its effective date to Jan. 1, 2027. Supporters said payment parity is essential for rural Alaskans’ access to behavioral and cancer care delivered via telehealth.

Alaska's Senate Bill 83 just took a crucial step towards ensuring telehealth payment parity, vital for rural patients relying on remote access to essential healthcare services.

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#AK #RuralCare #BehavioralHealth #CitizenPortal #TelehealthAccess #AlaskaHealthcare

Nebraska optometrists urge law to curb vision‑plan practices they say limit choice and depress pay Supporters of LB987 told the Banking, Commerce & Insurance Committee that a small number of vision benefit managers (VBMs) use vertical integration and contracting practices to steer patients and underpay providers, reducing rural access; industry groups disputed the scale of the problem and warned the bill could raise costs and operational burdens.

Nebraska optometrists are rallying behind a new bill aimed at curbing deceptive practices by vision benefit managers that could limit patient choice and jeopardize access to quality eye care.

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#NE #RuralCare #CitizenPortal #PatientAccess #HealthcareTransparency

Hospice and nursing‑home advocates press committee to stop a 5% Medicaid reduction for hospice residents Proponents of LB944 told senators that when Medicaid nursing‑home residents elect hospice the current payment mechanics reduce the facility’s room‑and‑board payment by 5% and shift billing complexity to hospice agencies; DHHS opposed the bill, citing federal rules and audit concerns that require payment to hospice and could put federal funding at risk.

A new bill in Nebraska could change the way Medicaid pays for nursing-home residents in hospice, potentially easing financial burdens on rural facilities—will it succeed against federal opposition?

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#NE #RuralCare #HealthcareAccess #CitizenPortal #MedicaidReform

Sen. Klayman introduces bill to require telehealth pay parity for private insurers; physician urges passage Senate Bill 83 would require private insurers to reimburse telehealth at the same rate as in-person services; sponsor and a rheumatologist testified that parity would preserve access in rural Alaska and prevent avoidable emergency transfers.

Senator Klayman is pushing for a groundbreaking bill that aims to ensure telehealth services are reimbursed equally to in-person care, a crucial step for expanding access in rural Alaska!

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#AK #RuralCare #CitizenPortal #HealthPolicy #TelehealthAccess #AlaskaHealthcare

Learn more here: hcai.ca.gov/workforce/health-workfor...

#RuralHospitals #CaliforniaHealth #HealthFunding #RuralCare

Monongalia County EMS: whole-blood program credited with life-saving interventions; county hears early data Presenters told the Monongalia County Commission the prehospital whole-blood program (effective May 1, 2025) administered whole blood to 15 patients in 2025, with providers reporting improved blood pressure and a 64.28% discharge rate; presenters said EMTs can now assist paramedics under updated state protocol, increasing coverage in rural areas.

Monongalia County's innovative whole-blood prehospital program is transforming emergency care, saving lives and improving outcomes like never before!

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#MonongaliaCounty #WV #MonongaliaCountyEMS #PublicHealth #RuralCare #CitizenPortal #EmergencyMedical

Rural healthcare isn’t just about access — it’s about progress.
Through mobile health innovation, communities across Appalachia are gaining the care, connection, and opportunity they’ve long deserved.
#DrivingHealthForward #MobileHealth #RuralCare #HealthEquity #CommunityHealth

📡IMSPARK: No One Left Offline in Health📡 Social justice, Digital Equity, Poverty, Accessible Technology, Marginalized communities, Pacific, COFA, Veterans, Low-Income, Affordable housing

www.imagine-pacific.com/2025/10/imsp...

📡IMSPARK: No One Left Offline in Health📡

CommunityEmpowerment, #HealthAccess, #HealthJustice, #IMSPARK, #InfrastructureMatters, #IslandHealth, #NoDeadZone, #RuralCare, #TelehealthEquity

#UpstateHealthcare #WesternNYHealth #RuralHospitals #BuffaloNiagaraHealth #NY23
#WorkingFamilies #NoSurpriseMedicalBills #HealthEquity #RuralCare #HealthcareReform #HealthEquity #NoSurpriseMedicalBills #RuralHospitals

Rural and remote communities deserve consistent care too.

Will the next government expand the travel locum program?

buff.ly/Gi6ggIM

#RuralCare

One eastern Oregon clinic is a health care ‘lifeline.’ Medicaid cuts threaten its existence • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon Planned Parenthood affiliates depended on about $17 million in Medicaid funding in the 2024 fiscal year.

This Planned Parenthood clinic in eastern Oregon is a lifeline for its community and now Medicaid cuts might force it to close. People will lose access to basic care, especially in places already under-served. #HealthEquity #RuralCare #Medicaid

oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/10/01/o...

It is the final day of #RuralConference2025 – this morning we focus on Rural Health and Care, tackling inequalities and building resilience with @newcastleuni.bsky.social, The Churchill Fellowship, Lancaster University, University of Lancashire and Young Somerset.

#RuralHealth #RuralCare

Which really is anyone with or without insurance, everyone who participates at any level in the US #economy .

#healthcare #healthNews #news #ruralCare #news #publicPolicy #workingFamilies [3/4]

Parasite: “Say it… ‘biggest federal $ infusion ever!’ 💸”
💬 RFK Jr: "Uh… yes! Biggest… infusion…!"
💬 Bernie: "Cut $150B, add $50B… that’s a $100B LOSS 😬"
🪱 Parasite: "Ignore him… feed the narrative 🪱💉 #TrustTheParasite #RuralCare #FederalInfusion"

What's contributing delays in cancer care and surgeries across NL? For treatments such as radiation, NLHS says it's meeting national benchmarks, but Canadian Cancer Society spokesperson sees room to improve

Great piece Cameron Kilfoy and great advocacy by @hmulligan.bsky.social ! ❤️

@cancersociety.bsky.social

#NewfoundlandAndLabrador #Cancer #Advocacy #MTAP #RuralCare #CancerCare

www.saltwire.com/newfoundland...

Michigan counselors assess impacts of proposed Counseling Compact for cross-state practice Counselors express concerns over the Counseling Compact's potential effects on Michigan's mental health services.

Michigan's lawmakers are weighing the Counseling Compact, a game-changing proposal that could expand mental health care access, but experts warn of potential pitfalls that might leave vulnerable communities behind.

Read the full story!

#MI #CitizenPortal #HealthAccess #RuralCare

VA hearings reveal rise in community care referrals for Nebraska veterans VA reports over 14 million community care referrals amid increased demand and awareness.

Nebraska veterans are set to benefit from enhanced healthcare access as new discussions reveal a staggering rise in community care referrals amidst growing demand.

Get the details!

#US #RuralCare #CommunityReferrals #CitizenPortal #NebraskaVeterans #HealthcareAccess

Healthcare Champion | Larry Kraiss, MD, University of Utah Health, SLC, Utah The Health Care Champion award was established as a method for U of U Health teams to honor and recognize individuals who champion programs and partnerships to elevate care in their community. The nominees for this award provide leadership and positively impact both people and patient care. Nominee considerations include: 1. Actions the nominee took this year to help the organization meet clinical, operational, patient experience, and financial goals and overcome challenges. 2. Contributions to a culture of innovation and transformation. 3. Leadership, advocacy for improvement, and commitment to quality demonstrated by an individual. Health Care Champion nominees can come from any work area within the U of U Health Affiliate Network. Each calendar year, the Office of Network Development and Telehealth senior leaders select healthcare champions. This award was presented at the 10th Annual Regional Network Symposium, held at the Ken Garff University Club, April 18th, 2025. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/user/UofUHealthCare ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH: University of Utah Health is the only academic medical center in the state of Utah and the Mountain West and provides patient care for the people of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, western Colorado, and much of Nevada. It also serves as the training ground for the majority of the state's physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and other health care professionals. Consistently, ranked #1 in quality in the nation among academic medical centers, our academic partners at the University of Utah include Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, and Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Health, which are internationally regarded research and teaching institutions. Our team is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for our staff, students, patients, and partners Share this video with others: https://youtu.be/BDYNP5B88d0 SUBSCRIBE to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/user/UofUHealthCare UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH ACROSS THE WEB: University of Utah Health: https://healthcare.utah.edu/ Facebook: https: https://www.facebook.com/UofUHealth/ X: https://twitter.com/UofUHealth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uofuhealth/

Congratulations to Larry Kraiss, MD, on being named a 2025 Health Care Champion! This award honors his dedication to exceptional care, particularly in rural communities. #HealthcareChampion #RuralCare

Watch the tribute video here: bit.ly/3Yrd5qa

Health: Sabah not aggressive enough Kota Kinabalu: Sabah deserves better from the Federal Government in terms of health equity where everyone should have the chance to be as healthy as possible.

Sabah’s top health official says the state hasn’t been aggressive enough in tackling long-standing healthcare issues—like rural access and staffing.
www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/256198/...
#SabahHealth #MalaysiaHealth #RuralCare ❤️‍🩹

Montana optometrists advocate for House Bill 218 to improve rural healthcare access Doctors urge support for legislation to enhance eye care access in underserved rural areas.

Montana optometrists are fighting for House Bill 218 to revolutionize eye care access for rural communities, but will their voices be heard?

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#MT #MontanaHealthcare #RuralCare #OptometryReform #CitizenPortal #HealthcareAccess

OU preps tomorrow’s medical providers to care for body and mind in rural Oklahoma A new OU Health Sciences initiative fueled by a federal grant is sending PA students on three-month rotations in rural primary care clinics that integrate mental health services.

Oklahoma’s rural counties lack enough primary and mental health care providers. A new federal grant is training OU physician assistant students to help fill the gap. #OKhealth #RuralCare

EyeCare for Kids provides vision services to underserved children in Utah EyeCare for Kids has helped over 500000 children with vision care services in Utah.

EyeCare for Kids is transforming the lives of underserved children in Utah by providing essential vision care, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive.

Learn more here

#UT #RuralCare #EducationVision #HealthAccess #CitizenPortal

Utah clinic treats 50 patients with complex conditions thanks to reliable transport service Doctors provide essential care to rural Utah families thanks to efficient transportation support.

In a transformative move, UDOT is making specialized pediatric care accessible to rural Utah families, drastically reducing travel burdens for children with complex medical conditions.

Learn more here

#UT #RuralCare #PediatricSupport #CitizenPortal #HealthcareAccess