Bi-annual summary report on telehealth policies as of February 2021. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional regulation. -- Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center

Webinar recording summarizing results of a survey of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) executives in eight states regarding the hospitals' ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic from February-August 2020. Covers survey findings related to CAH finance, federal waivers and regulatory flexibilities, capacity for treatment, workforce, and partnerships. Discusses opportunities for future research on COVID-19 response and preparedness for future disasters and public health emergencies. -- Flex Monitoring Team

Discusses the expanded access to buprenorphine prescription through telemedicine during COVID-19, comparing the experiences of two harm reduction primary care programs in a rural and urban region of New York. Discusses reduced barriers to treatment, particularly delays due to in-person evaluation requirements before to the pandemic, and innovations to opioid use disorder treatment made possible through telehealth.

Examines alcohol-involved deaths by state and at the national level, discussing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vital statistics data. Explores death rate changes, trends, and variation, comparing state rates to U.S. rates and comparing rates across demographic and age groups, by sex, and by urban/rural location. Offers a map with links to infographics for each state. -- State Health Access Data Assistance Center

Provides an overview of legislation passed by Congress regarding COVID-19. Identifies provisions relevant to rural healthcare providers, including the Paycheck Protection Program, funding for public health and rural workforce programs, telehealth flexibilities, and more. -- National Rural Health Association

Offers information on funding opportunities available to rural health facilities in Texas, including COVID-19, economic development, and telehealth funding. Lists federal and state funding programs, national foundations, and private foundations. Organizes Texas funders into 6 service regions, and provides a map of Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System Hospitals in each region. -- Texas State Office of Rural Health

Examines the increase in number of rural hospitals that have closed or converted to a model eliminating inpatient care, as well as rural hospitals that have reduced or terminated historically essential services including obstetrics, surgery, long-term care, home health, and oncology. Features statistics on the number of hospitals offering various types of healthcare services in 2009 and in 2017, with breakdowns by urban and rural location. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Recording of an oversight hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs evaluates the response of native healthcare systems to the COVID-19 one year into the pandemic. Features testimonies by representatives of the Indian Health Service, the National Indian Health Board, the National Council of Urban Indian Health, the Papa Ola Lōkahi organization, and the Alaska Native Medical Center. -- Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Offers examples and promising practices for states, municipalities, community-based organizations, and others working to ensure that older adults and people with disabilities can receive COVID-19 vaccines. Discusses outreach and education, facilitating vaccine appointments, vaccine site accessibility and accommodations, and mobile vaccination programs. -- Administration for Community Living

Provides an overview of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) grant programs for people with disabilities and older adults. Describes examples of vaccine-related activities for each program that can support COVID-19 vaccine access. -- Administration for Community Living