COVID-19 – Navigating a Global Pandemic in Tennessee

In some isolated rural areas, COVID-19 is hitting hard

https://www.marketplace.org/2020/11/13/some-isolated-rural-areas-covid-19-is-hitting-hard/ 

Rural Broadband Today is a new podcast focused on one of the most important issues facing Rural America. It tells the stories of those working to bring broadband internet access within reach of every citizen. This interview-style show presents conversations with elected officials, industry experts and business leaders at the forefront of America’s efforts to solve the rural broadband challenge.

Jacy Warrell, Executive Director of the Rural Health Association of Tennessee, joins the show to discuss a few of the interesting and informative sessions at the upcoming RHAT Annual Conference. She also describes how broadband internet access may impact the overall health of a person and community.

The U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for a woman to give birth, even more so for moms and babies of color. This is a health crisis that has only intensified with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

That is why Rural Health Association of Tennessee has signed on to the #BlanketChange campaign. The campaign outlines key commitments that policymakers, organizations and community leaders can take to improve the health of all moms and babies across the U.S. By supporting #BlanketChange, organizations are calling for eliminating health and racial disparities, driving equity, improving access to care and addressing preventable health conditions.

Organizations that sign up at marchofdimes.org/BlanketChangeSignUp will have the organization’s name featured on the campaign webpage. Please review the attached document and log on to www.blanketchange.org to learn more about this year’s campaign. On the webpage, you will find a social media toolkit that you can utilize to help spread the #BlanketChange message with your contacts and help to amplify this critical work.

With 46 other organizations across Tennessee, Rural Health Association of Tennessee sent a letter to Commissioner Smith with Department of TennCare to request smoking quit aids be added to the CoverRx formulary.  

The full letter may be read here.