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Several Federal Bills To Impact Agriculture

(07/03/09) 

The U.S. Congress is addressing a full plate of legislation during its latest session, many of which are in the interest of agriculture. Health care is one of the issues that are front and center as lawmakers try to determine how much is too much in terms of coverage for the uninsured.  [Read article]

What Percentage of U.S. Hospitals Will Meet All Metrics of 'Meaningful Use' by FY 2011?

(07/03/09) 

Seventy-five percent of health IT professionals surveyed believe that less than 25% of hospitals will be prepared to meet all of the metrics of "meaningful use" of electronic health records by the beginning of fiscal year 2011.  [Read article]

Physician Rating Web Sites Create Quite a Stir Among Doctors

(07/03/09) 

There are more than 40 websites offering consumers the chance to rate and review their physicians. Patients' increasing use of these sites suggests that they are eager for more information as they take on a more proactive role in their own health care. But a lot of doctors aren't on board.   [Read article]

CMS Physician Payment Proposal Includes New E-Reporting Measures

(07/03/09) 

The draft Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2010 includes several revised health IT provisions. CMS will accept public comment on the rule through August 31.  [Read article; Proposed rule]

Remarks on National Broadband Plan Process

(07/03/09) 

The remarks on the National Broadband Plan Process at a FCC Open Agenda Meeting.  [Genachowski statement; Copps statement]

CBO Scores Affordable Health Choices Act at $611 Billion Over 10 Years

(07/03/09) 

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee announced that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has rescored the Affordable Health Choices Act (Act).  [Read article]

A Practical Guide to Effective Use of EHR Systems

(07/03/09) 

A MN Dept of Health guide for the effective and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) and to tap into the available incentives under Medicare and Medicaid stimulus funds.  [Read article]

Doc's Bedside Manner A Bit Mechanical

(07/03/09) 

Robot connects rural patients with big-city specialists. [Read article]

Syndicate content State News

Through Health Care, Center Expands Reach

(07/03/09) 

Access to affordable, quality health care is an issue that impacts all of us. On a trip to Wisconsin, Center for Rural Affairs staff visited the Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine, part of the University of Wisconsin’s medical school working to graduate doctors who go on to practice medicine in rural areas.  [Read article]

Wisconsin Residents Sound Off On Health Care

(07/03/09) 

Obama held a national discussion on health care through an online town hall meeting in Virginia. A Wisconsin community provides a microcosm about the various opinions on health reform. Representative Kind hosted in Dodgeville a listening session and people questioned who would pay for health reform, how quickly it should take place, and what role government should play.  [Listen]

Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment

(07/03/09) 

This website will help the people of Wisconsin take full advantage of the funding opportunities the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides.  Check it regularly for updates and for new information.  [Website]

Wisconsin Remains In Middle Of Obesity Rankings

(07/03/09) 

According to the latest obesity rankings from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America's Health, Wisconsin remained the 25th fattest state in the nation, but folks in the land of beer, brats and cheese still gained weight. Wisconsin saw its adult obesity rate rise 0.5 percentage points to 26 percent.  [Read article]

Free Health Care To The Area’s Uninsured Community

(07/03/09) 

Our Lady of Hope Clinic celebrated the conclusion of its first month of providing free primary care to the area’s uninsured population.  [Read article]

F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009

(07/01/09) 

According to Trust for America's Health, adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year.  [Read article]

Online Color Copying and Printing Company Docucopies Now Offers 5% Discount to Non-Profits

(07/01/09) 

This discount, which comes in the form of a coupon code, applies to schools, universities, churches, charities, and other organizations with legitimate non-profit status. Two weeks ago the company put on a rock concert in Northern Wisconsin to raise money for the local fire and EMS departments.  [Read article]

Doctors Reviving House Calls

(07/01/09) 

Local doctors are among those putting their patients first by leaving the office to provide medical care and feel that  it's important, especially in a rural community, to offer this service.  [Read article]

Syndicate content Funding Opportunities

Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) - USDA Rural Development

Application Deadline: 09/24/2009 

These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development.  [Funding]

Fund for Better Health - AMA Foundation

Application Deadline: 07/15/2009 

AMA Foundation provides seed grants for grassroots, public health projects that target the issue of healthy lifestyles. Grants made in 2009 support programs addressing the issue of healthy lifestyles in these three areas: Nutrition and physical fitness; Alcohol, substance abuse and smoking prevention (includes smoking cessation); Violence prevention (domestic violence, Internet safety, bullying).  [Funding]

Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund

Application Deadline: 08/28/2009 

The mission of the AFBCF is to link medically underserved women to breast health education and screening services.  Medically underserved women need targeted, customized approaches that enable them to obtain regular mammograms and clinical breast exams.  [Funding]

2010 Healthy Vision Community Awards Program - National Institutes of Health

Application Deadline: 08/31/2009 

The Program provides awards of up to $10,000 each and is intended to stimulate collaborative initiatives that support the vision objectives in Healthy People 2010. The objectives address examinations and prevention, eye diseases, injury and safety, and vision rehabilitation.  [Funding]

Community Health Centers: Facility Investment Program – Department of Health & Human Services

Application Deadline: 08/06/2009 

Funding is intended to support health center efforts to expand their capacity to provide primary and preventive health services to medically underserved populations nationwide as well as create employment opportunities in underserved communities over the next 2 years.  [Funding]

Broadband Initiatives Program - Rural Utilities Service & National Telecommunications Information Administration

Application Deadline: 08/14/2009 

The funding will help to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the U.S., increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits. The result is the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).  BIP will make loans and grants for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas. BTOP will provide grants to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects.  [Funding]

Community Living Program Cooperative Agreements - AoA Office for Planning and Policy Development

Application Deadline: 08/03/2009 

This provides an opportunity for the Aging Network to modernize its approach to service delivery and to prioritize helping individuals who are at imminent risk of nursing home placement but not eligible for Medicaid to avoid nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid, consistent with the long-term care provisions that were included in the 2006 Amendments to the Older Americans Act (OAA).  [Letter of intent deadline: July 1, 2009; Application deadline: August 3, 2009]  [Funding]

Support Systems for Rural Homeless Youth: A Collaborative State and Local Demonstration - Family and Youth Services Bureau

Application Deadline: 08/03/2009 

Applications are for a five-year Demonstration project targeted to young people ages 16-21, in rural areas (including Tribal lands and other rural Native communities) who are approaching independence and young adulthood, but have few or no connections to a supportive, family structure or community.  [Funding]

Syndicate content WORH Updates

Dentist Placement Program

Filling the Gaps: Improving Access to Dental Care in Wisconsin Blog.   [Read articles prior to January 2009]

Rural Communities Initiatives

Rural Community Development Blog   [Read articles prior to November 2008]

New Physicians for Wisconsin Program

The New Physicians for Wisconsin program is pleased to announce that “Physician Recruitment News, and Physician Recruitment Tips & Advice” will be two new features to our website. Each month, we will try and update you on the latest physician recruitment trends, newsworthy items, and/or offer tips & advice related directly to any/all aspects of physician recruitment. Please check our website monthly to see what’s new, and hopefully what can be helpful to you with your physician recruitment needs. Also, check out our recruitment Testimonial page.  [Read article]

Rural Hospital Initiatives

We had an outstanding turnout for the Webinar that we hosted, “RACS are here, now what?” which was held on June 22.  ORH worked in collaboration with JoNell Moore, RN and Principal at Eide Bailly, LLC.  JoNell presented a general overview of the history of RAC Audits, what to expect at your audit, and how to prepare your facility.  Over 80 hospital CEO’s, CFO’s, Nurses and other staff participated.  If you didn’t have the opportunity to join in, you can view the Webinar in its entirety at http://worh.acrobat.com/p40629838/    [Read article]