Author: janiya
Prevent Addiction and Support Recovery in Employment
In a groundbreaking move three years ago, New York introduced the first-in-the-nation “recovery-friendly workplace tax credit” to encourage employers to support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. However, recent data reveals a stark reality: out of the $6 million allocated for this initiative, only $6,000 has been utilized by qualified for-profit employers since its ...
Legislative Commission on Rural Resources Releases Fall 2023 Edition of Rural Futures Newsletter
The Legislative Commission on Rural Resources is excited to present the Fall 2023 edition of *Rural Futures*, a newsletter that underscores their unwavering commitment to advocating for rural communities in New York State. This newsletter reflects a year of significant accomplishments, raising awareness of the importance of rural New York within state government. In 2023, they have spearheaded col...
New York State’s Struggle with Medical Debt Disparities
A recent analysis funded by NYHealth and conducted by the Urban Institute has revealed concerning statistics regarding medical debt in New York State. As of February 2022, approximately 6% of consumers, or around 740,000 adults, had medical debt in collections. Alarmingly, almost half of those with medical debt owed $500 or more. In June 2023, the New York State Legislature passed a bill to exclud...
Construction Industry Hit Hard by Opioid Epidemic
New York, NY- The opioid epidemic has claimed over a million lives since 1999, with 2021 seeing 106,699 drug overdose deaths, 75.4% of which were opioid-related, according to the CDC. An alarming trend is evident in the construction industry. Recent data from the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) reveals that construction workers face the highest opioid-related overdose death ra...
Vice President Alison Coates with NCP Radio on Rural Improvement
Our Vice-President Alison Coates, has been at the forefront of advocating for improvements in rural healthcare. In a recent conversation with David Sommerstein at North Country Public Radio , she shed light on the specific challenges faced by rural communities in accessing quality healthcare. Urban-Centric Healthcare According to Coates, the healthcare system in our country was primarily built wi...
The Evolution of CACTC into the Rural Health Institute of New York
In an exciting transformation, the Cortland Area Communities That Care (CACTC) has evolved to better align with their mission and vision. This nonprofit organization, dedicated to advancing community health, has expanded its focus to include rural public health. With these changes, they proudly introduce their new agency name: The Rural Health Institute of New York (RHI). The Journey from CACTC to...
Transform Rural Health: Bridging the Gap for a Healthier Tomorrow
At the core of the Transform Rural Health campaign lies a fundamental belief: everyone, regardless of their geographical location, deserves access to the resources and support required to attain good health. Sadly, many rural communities across New York State have been left behind due to a long history of economic disinvestment, under-resourcing, and systemic factors that have resulted in subpar h...
Exploring Trends in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) from 2020 to 2022
In 2020, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) took a significant step forward in their mission to provide accessible healthcare information by establishing the NARHC Research and Education Foundation. Among its objectives, the Foundation aimed to create a comprehensive RHC data warehouse, which would serve as a valuable resource accessible to the public free of charge. This dat...
Request for Applications (RFA) for the Making Care Primary Model Now Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken a significant step towards enhancing healthcare with the release of a Request for Applications (RFA) outlining model payment, care delivery, quality, and other policies for the eagerly awaited Making Care Primary (MCP) Model. This promising initiative aims to elevate the standards of primary care, enabling participants to offer patie...
Exploring the Link Between Housing Quality and Health: A Closer Look at Rural-Urban Disparities
Housing quality plays a vital role in our overall health and well-being, yet the relationship between the two is often overlooked. When we think about health, factors like diet, exercise, and medical care tend to take the spotlight. However, the conditions in which we live, particularly the quality of our housing, can significantly impact our health outcomes. In a new policy brief, we delve into t...
Housing Quality by Disability, Race, Ethnicity, and Rural-Urban Location: Findings From the American Community Survey
Housing quality plays a crucial role in determining the health and well-being of individuals and communities. A recent policy brief sheds light on this issue by exploring the relationship between housing quality indicators and factors such as disability, race, ethnicity, and rural-urban location. The brief, based on data from the American Community Survey, reveals important insights into the dispa...
CMS Announces Multi-State Initiative to Strengthen Primary Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new primary care model called the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model. This model will be implemented and tested in eight states through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. The MCP Model aims to enhance the primary care infrastructure in the United States, particularly for safety net organizations and smaller or indepe...