NRHA's Rural Health Voices blog offers informed commentary on the latest news in rural health care from NRHA staff and editorials from selected contributors.

NRHA Meets with White House Rural Council Chair

NRHA CEO Alan Morgan participated in a meeting today with United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who serves as Chair of the newly created White House Rural Council. Representatives of more than twenty national rural organizations also attended the White House meeting, and included Doug McKalip, of the White House Domestic Policy Council and Jon Carson, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. The purpose of the meeting was to allow for an open...

Read more

Rumors of "Big Deal" Resurface

After extensive development of debt ceiling increase plans by Senators Reid and McConnell as well as the recently released "Gang of Six" proposal, rumors surfaced Thursday afternoon that President Obama and Speaker of the House Boehner had rekindled talks of a large deficit reduction-debt ceiling increase deal.  President Obama and Speaker Boehner abandoned talks of a $4 trillion deal in recent weeks after both sides grew concerned that tax increases and entitlement cuts were too large to...

Read more

Rumors of "Big Deal" Resurface

After extensive development of debt ceiling increase plans by Senators Reid and McConnell as well as the recently released "Gang of Six" proposal, rumors surfaced Thursday afternoon that President Obama and Speaker of the House Boehner had rekindled talks of a large deficit reduction-debt ceiling increase deal.  President Obama and Speaker Boehner abandoned talks of a $4 trillion deal in recent weeks after both sides grew concerned that tax increases and entitlement cuts were too large to...

Read more

Update: Health Profession Shortage Areas

The Health Resources Services Administration Negotiated Rulemaking Committee continued work this week in Washington DC. The Committee’s purpose is to reconsider how Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) are designated for the purposes of Federal programs. Today, new models were identified for HPSAs and MUA/Ps but much, much work remains to be done. These models can now be further tested and modified to capture underserved areas as the committee...

Read more

Short-Term Debt Limit Increase Possible if Long-Term Deal Imminent

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney confirmed today that President Obama would sign a short-term increase in the debt ceiling if Congress agreed to pass a long-term, "significant" deficit reduction plan.  If a short-term increase was asked for, the White House maintains that the President would only agree to an extension of a "few days". Senate leaders from both political parties expressed skepticism earlier this week that proposals put forward by the "Gang of Six" would have enough...

Read more

Health Profession Shortage Areas

"The reality is that some places will be losing (shortage) designations, some will be gaining." said Edward Salsberg, HRSA, in the opening comments to the negotiated rule making committee today. The Health Resources Services Administration Negotiated Rulemaking Committee began meeting again this week in Washington DC. The Committee’s purpose is to reconsider how Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) are designated for the purposes of Federal...

Read more

House of Representatives Votes on H.R. 2560

Last night the House of Representatives voted on and passed H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011.  This bill would cut current spending levels for total government expenditures, cap future expenditures at a set percentage of GDP ( 19.9 percent by fiscal year 2021), and mandate a “Balanced Budget Amendment” to the Constitution. The vote was largely along party lines, though 9 Republicans voted against the measure and 5 Democrats voted in favor of the bill. The Senate is...

Read more

"Gang of Six" Reunites, Proposes Plan for Deficit Reduction

The so-called "Gang of Six" reunited this morning and presented their plan for deficit reduction to a crowd of approximately 50 Senators.  While specific details of the agreement have not been released to the general public, initial reactions from Senators in attendance indicate wide-ranging support for the agreement.  Reports have stated that the deal, totaling $3.6 trillion over 10 years, would include closing certain tax loopholes and recalculating rates in addition to cuts to current...

Read more

Debt Votes Scheduled for this Week

President Obama held a meeting at the White House Sunday with House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor to continue discussions on raising the debt ceiling. “[There is] nothing to report in terms of an agreement or progress,” stated Kevin Smith, spokesman for Speaker Boehner. Smith also confirmed that H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011, would be voted on today in the House of Representatives.With the debt ceiling negotiations stalled at the White House, Senate...

Read more

Health Profession Shortage Areas

What are health profession shortage areas or medically underserved populations/areas? It turns out that these are not easy questions to answer. And the answers will have significant impact on rural America for years to come. The Health Resources Services Administration Negotiated Rulemaking Committee meets again this week in Washington DC. The Committee’s purpose is to reconsider how Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) are designated for the...

Read more
Displaying results 731-740 (of 896)
 |<  <  70 - 71 - 72 - 73 - 74 - 75 - 76 - 77 - 78 - 79  >  >| 
Back to top