Featured News

Public Health Partnership Conference Recap

This year NYSARH partnered with the NYS Public Health Association (NYSPHA), the NYS Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO), and the NYS Conference of Environmental Health Directors (NYSCEHD) to promote the 2022 Public Health Partnership Conference. The conference took place from April 27th-29th with attendees participating virtually and in-person in Niagara Falls, NY. Attendees from NYSARH included Director for Strategic Development, Sara Wall Bollinger, Communications and Development Specialist (Americorps VISTA service member), Ella James, and Board members Karin Pantel and Mandy Qualls.  Attendees enjoyed around 20 different breakout sessions, two poster presentation sessions– one for professional posters and one for student posters–and two compelling keynote addresses. The fi...

Should States Fund Municipal Broadband and Cooperatives?

March 24, 2022 By Kevin Schwartzbach Despite the more than $1.6 trillion private internet service providers (ISPs) have invested in broadband infrastructure since 1996, the internet landscape in the US faces significant challenges. Over 30 percent of American households do not have broadband at home, while as many as 42 million do not have the option to purchase it in the first place, especially in rural areas. Millions more are unsatisfied with the internet they do have. Moreover, large ISPs face little or no competition in most US markets, resulting in internet service that is comparatively more expensive than most peer nations while also not being relatively fast. As private ISPs have struggled to tackle these issues, two related models have emerged as creative alternatives: municipal b...

Apply to a New York State Fellowship Program

New York State has several fellowship programs that provide opportunities in State government to eager and talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. Empire State Fellows: The Empire State Fellows Program is a full-time leadership training program that prepares the next generation of talented professionals for careers as New York State policymakers. The incoming class of Empire State Fellows will serve from September 2022 to September 2024, and receive an annual salary of $76,500, plus a generous benefits package. Applications are being accepted through April 4. Apply and learn more here. Excelsior Fellows: The Excelsior Service Fellowship Program is an initiative to bring highly talented recent graduates of law, graduate and professional schools into government service. Prospective fe...

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

The NYS Cancer Consortium’s Colorectal Cancer Action Team acknowledges March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  Each year in New York State, approximately 9,000 people develop colorectal cancer, and 3,000 New Yorkers die from it.  One out of every 24 adults will develop colorectal cancer sometime in their life.  Colorectal cancer occurs most often as people age (60% of new cases occur among those age 65 and older), however nearly 94% of all colorectal cancers are diagnosed after age 45. Average Risk Colorectal Cancer Screening Starts at Age 45: Regular screening for colorectal cancer can save lives. For adults at average risk for colorectal cancer, the United States Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society now recommend that screening for colorectal cancer begin a...

Some Digital Divides Persist Between Rural, Urban and Suburban America

  PEW RESEARCH TRUST AUGUST 19, 2021 BY EMILY A. VOGELS Rural Americans have made large gains in adopting digital technology over the past decade and have narrowed some digital gaps. However, rural adults remain less likely than suburban adults to have home broadband and less likely than urban adults to own a smartphone, tablet computer or traditional computer. Read more

HOW NEW YORK STATE CAN PRESERVE RURAL ACCESS TO EMS

In order to preserve rural communities’ access to emergency medical services, New York State government must act now. Due to inadequate reimbursement from Medicaid causing strained budgets, minimal provided incentive for volunteers, and lack of utilization of EMS capabilities, rural ambulance agencies are at risk of closing down or consolidating with other agencies. Fewer ambulance agencies will only increase response and wait time for emergency medical situations, putting rural New Yorkers at an even higher risk of serious medical complications. To amend this crisis, New York State can increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for EMS, increase incentive for volunteerism by providing SUNY scholarships for volunteers and/or their children, and initiate community paramedicine programs in rur...

NYS Budget Summary

NYS Budget Summary Thanks to the federal American Rescue Plan, the New York State enacted budget is largely the opposite of the austerity plan presented back in January.  Thanks to the advocacy of NYSARH members and our many partners, key elements of our priorities are included in the new budget. Restoration of funding for Rural Health Networks and Rural Health Care Access Hospitals to the SFY21 level of $9,410,000 plus $1,100,000 appropriation; Restoration of funding for the Area Health Education Centers to SFY20 level of $2,200,000 after being cut out of the SFY21 budget; Funding and regulatory reforms to increase access to Telehealth and Broadband; new $15/month internet plan for low-income families; Changes to the 340B Medicaid pharmacy benefit program are delayed to 2023; Most public ...

National Government Services

As your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), National Government Services is dedicated to working with providers in the rural areas we serve. Our goal is to keep you informed about changes to Medicare and the training opportunities available to you. National Government Services Part A & B News 2021 Medicare Participating Physicians Directory Appropriate Usage of Modifier 99 Article Updates for February and March 2021 COVID-19 Vaccine and/or Monoclonal Antibodies in Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers Medicare Advantage Plan Beneficiaries Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine and Monoclonal Antibody National Government Services Part B Medical Review Newsletter – March 2021 Practitioners: Are You Ordering Lower Limb Orthoses for Your Patients? Real Time Claim ...

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Launches a New Emergency Broadband Benefit

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched a new Emergency Broadband Benefit resource last week.   The tool allows partners and consumers to view by state or territory the providers that will be participating in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.  Each listing includes the type of service offered, whether it’s “fixed” or “mobile”, and whether the provider offers connected devices as part of the program.

NYSARH Administered Legislative Appropriation

NYSARH was selected to administer $1.1 million for Rural Health Care Access Development and Rural Health Network Development programs included in the 2019-20 NYS budget.  We are pleased to announce that this project has been successfully completed having overcome several challenges. A survey of 2019 financials demonstrated that for every $1 of NYS RHN funding, the RHNs were able to secure $2.93 of funding from other sources. Rural Access Hospital Development Program The purposes of the funding are to allow small rural hospitals to: Strengthen infrastructure or capacity, Improve and/or sustain rural critical access hospital activities, Plan or implement diversification of underutilized acute care beds, Plan or implement projects that diversify hospital services, Plan or implement activities...