HRSA halts proposed rule revising medically underserved areas

Following pressure from the American Academy of Family Physicians and other rural health proponents, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced that it will not finalize a proposed rule that changes how it designates medically underserved populations and health professional shortage areas.

In a notice released by the organization, HRSA said it received many substantive comments on the proposed rule and will need to make a number of changes. The agency plans to issue a new proposed rule for review and public comment.

To read about the proposed rule and its impact had it gone into effect, check out the news briefs from the summer issue of TEXAS FAMILY PHYSICIAN online.