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CMS Issues Joint Informational Bulletin for Older Adults and People with Disabilities in Rural America

Research indicates that individuals living in rural America tend to face greater challenges than those living in urban areas, particularly with respect to socio-demographic factors, health status, and access to the health care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Joint Informational Bulletin with HUD, USDA, and three other HHS agencies—ACL, the CDC and the HRSA with information on existing federal resources available to help improve health and housing outcomes for older adults and people with disabilities living in rural America.

The Bulletin discusses a wide variety of federal resources that can be used by state Medicaid agencies, state and local housing agencies, state and local public health agencies, and other health and housing entities to help reduce physical environmental barriers in the home, increase safety, minimize the risk of falls, and support a person's ability and desire to remain in their own home.

The Bulletin also supports the HHS Rural Health Task Force, an HHS-wide effort on improving health care and access for rural America. This includes the efforts by CMS, ACL, the CDC and HRSA to improve health care in rural America.

ACL contributed information about several programs that support efforts to facilitate housing assistance, accessibility, home repair and modifications. The agency also funds research on housing accessibility. Read the Bulletin to learn more.

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