Tuesday afternoon webinar will discuss the challenges of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in rural America

The Rural Health Information Hub will host a free webinar at 3 p.m. ET Tuesday, Oct. 6, to discuss "recent increases in new HIV infections in rural areas, address barriers to HIV prevention and treatment services, and present on the committee's site visit and policy recommendations," according to the website. Click here for more information about speakers or to register for the webinar.

Specifically, the webinar will discuss recent a recent policy brief and recommendations the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services wrote for the Department of Health and Human Services.

The NACRHHS paper made three major policy recommendations: 

1. HHS should modernize the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 to better meet rural needs. That includes increasing funding to grow existing rural programs and encourage pilot programs, earmarking some funding opportunities for rural areas, giving preference to rural applicants in areas with a shortage of health-care professionals, and expanding telehealth to increase access to services and reduce stigma in rural areas.
2. HHS should increase rural access to pre-exposure prophylaxis for rural residents through the Health Resources & Services Administration's Community Health Centers Program and the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program.
3. HHS should support a streamlined grant application process for cash-strapped rural providers, as well as more virtual grant-writing technical assistance for rural communities so they have a better chance of successfully applying for HHS funding.