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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Understanding the Impact and Costs Associated with Medical Device Shortages During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Providers, Health Systems, Patients, and Manufacturers
Analyzes the U.S. medical device shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic and provides a related literature review, key stakeholder interviews, and data synthesis. Includes information on type of medical device shortages, strategies to manage shortages, and more, with a focus on shortages in nursing homes and rural hospitals.
Author(s): Linda Thai, Trinidad Beleche, Oluwarantimi Adetunji
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Financial Stress Associated with Oncology Clinical Trial Participation
Examines accessibility issues and financial stress of 112 patients participating in an oncology clinical trial between 2018 and 2024. Includes demographic information, cancer type, miles traveled, and financial burden of participants, as well as commentary on access issues for those in rural areas.
Author(s): Allison Kolbe, Trinidad Beleche
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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2025 National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care
Offers a framework for behavioral health crisis care systems to reduce the impact substance use and mental illness following 11 principles and 3 essential elements that are comprehensive, accessible, evidence-based, quality, responsive, and equitable. Discusses rural throughout. Includes guidance on developing a behavioral health coordinated system of crisis care.
Additional links: Model Definitions for Behavioral Health Emergency, Crisis, and Crisis-Related Services
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Impact of the Medicare Improvements for Patients And Providers Act on Mental Health Service Utilization And Spending among Older Adults
Examines the impact of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) on outpatient mental healthcare utilization. Utilizes 2008-2017 Medicare claims and administrative data to analyze MIPPA in a pre-implementation phase as well as 4 post-implementation phases. Includes data on mental healthcare outpatient visits by age group, race, dual eligibility status, substance use disorder, comorbidities, and urban, large rural, small rural, or isolated rural location.
Author(s): Matt Toth, Brent Gibbons, Abbie Levinson, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Postpartum Health Care Use in Medicaid During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Implications for Extending Postpartum Coverage
Examines the impact of Medicaid continuous enrollment during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on postpartum healthcare utilization. Utilizes 2018-2023 claims data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) to analyze a pre-PHE versus PHE cohort of women. Includes healthcare utilization data with breakdowns according to age, race/ethnicity, eligibility group (Medicaid or other form), rural versus urban location, maternity care desert status, severe maternal morbidity and/or chronic health condition, postpartum month, and state.
Author(s): Amelia Whitman, Anupama Warrier, Sarah Gordon, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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HealthHIV State of Aging with HIV: Fourth Annual National Survey
Reports on the demographics, health, quality of life, and barriers to care of people aging with HIV (PAWH), utilizing data from a 2024 survey of 907 PAWH. Includes data on the geography of PAWH and HIV workforce participants, and discusses geographic barriers to care.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health HIV
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Medicaid's Role in Small Towns and Rural Areas
Discusses the roles Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) play in providing health coverage to residents of small towns and rural areas. Presents data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) on the percentage of children, non-elderly adults, and older adults covered by Medicaid and CHIP in 2023, and compares the share of Medicaid coverage of these groups by metro areas and small town/rural residence. Describes Medicaid coverage of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in metro and non-metro areas. Includes lists of the top 20 small towns and rural areas with the highest share of children, non-elderly adults, and older adults covered by Medicaid.
Author(s): Joan Alker, Aubrianna Osorio, Edwin Park
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
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Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative
Describes accomplishments of the Health Resources and Services Administration's initiative to strengthen, expand, and accelerate work to address maternal mortality and maternal health disparities, especially in underserved areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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The Association Between Neighborhood Social Vulnerability and Community-Based Rehabilitation after Stroke
Examines the relationship between the timely use of community-based rehabilitation after a stroke and the social determinants of health. Analyzes 6,843 adults enrolled in a post-acute stroke program in North Carolina, with breakdowns according to patient SVI and therapy visits within 90 days of stroke. Includes discussion of rurality as a factor related to access and timely use of care.
Author(s): Shuqi Zhang, Elizabeth R. Mormer, Anna M. Johnson, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 55
Date: 01/2025
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Maximizing the Value of Remote Patient Monitoring
Provides a brief description of the remote patient monitoring landscape. Discusses four areas policymakers could focus on to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of remote patient monitoring.
Author(s): Maya Sandalow, Julia Harris
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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