Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Tribal Broadband: FCC Should Undertake Efforts to Better Promote Tribal Access to Spectrum
Examines wireless broadband access for tribal entities, barriers to obtaining spectrum licensing for tribes, and steps taken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to support tribal access. Provides recommendations for the FCC to improve broadband wireless internet access in rural tribal areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines wireless broadband access for tribal entities, barriers to obtaining spectrum licensing for tribes, and steps taken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to support tribal access. Provides recommendations for the FCC to improve broadband wireless internet access in rural tribal areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Information on Medicare Telehealth
Report to Congress, as mandated by the 21st Century Cures Act, examining how Medicare patients are using telehealth, particularly in rural areas, with breakdowns by sociodemographic characteristics and primary diagnoses, including mental health issues. Includes an analysis of Medicare claims data regarding high volume services that could be delivered through telehealth, an overview of telehealth models funded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, and state-level breakdowns of Medicare telehealth data. Discusses who may benefit from telehealth expansion and barriers to expansion.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Report to Congress, as mandated by the 21st Century Cures Act, examining how Medicare patients are using telehealth, particularly in rural areas, with breakdowns by sociodemographic characteristics and primary diagnoses, including mental health issues. Includes an analysis of Medicare claims data regarding high volume services that could be delivered through telehealth, an overview of telehealth models funded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, and state-level breakdowns of Medicare telehealth data. Discusses who may benefit from telehealth expansion and barriers to expansion.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (VA MISSION Act; P.L.115-182)
Provides an overview of the changes made to the VA MISSION Act, including establishing a permanent Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and provisions to help recruit and retain healthcare providers. Discusses provisions specific to healthcare access for veterans in rural and underserved areas.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the changes made to the VA MISSION Act, including establishing a permanent Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and provisions to help recruit and retain healthcare providers. Discusses provisions specific to healthcare access for veterans in rural and underserved areas.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Community Perspectives on Emergency Department Use and Care for American Indian Children
Explores parental and community perspectives of pediatric emergency department (ED) use for American Indian (AI) populations. Utilizes qualitative data from 70 parents who participated in focus groups to report on issues such as healthcare access, healthcare environment, and culturally insensitive interactions with professionals. Includes participants from both rural and urban areas and presents differentiated experiences according to location.
Author(s): Wyatt J. Pickner, Katherine M. Ziegler, Jessica D. Hanson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 5(5), 939-946
Date: 10/2018
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Explores parental and community perspectives of pediatric emergency department (ED) use for American Indian (AI) populations. Utilizes qualitative data from 70 parents who participated in focus groups to report on issues such as healthcare access, healthcare environment, and culturally insensitive interactions with professionals. Includes participants from both rural and urban areas and presents differentiated experiences according to location.
Author(s): Wyatt J. Pickner, Katherine M. Ziegler, Jessica D. Hanson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 5(5), 939-946
Date: 10/2018
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Examining the Association Between Intervention-Related Changes in Diet, Physical Activity, and Weight as Moderated by the Food and Physical Activity Environments among Rural, Southern Adults
Study examining changes in weight, diet, and physical activity in rural adults who took part in a lifestyle intervention in rural Lenoir County, North Carolina. Reports data on self-reported and objectively-measured changes over 6 months, covering access to different kinds of food retailers, gyms, and parks, as well as community walkability, crime, and barriers to physical activity.
Author(s): Stephanie B. Jilcott Pitts, Thomas C. Keyserling, Larry F. Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 117(10), 1618-1627
Date: 10/2018
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Study examining changes in weight, diet, and physical activity in rural adults who took part in a lifestyle intervention in rural Lenoir County, North Carolina. Reports data on self-reported and objectively-measured changes over 6 months, covering access to different kinds of food retailers, gyms, and parks, as well as community walkability, crime, and barriers to physical activity.
Author(s): Stephanie B. Jilcott Pitts, Thomas C. Keyserling, Larry F. Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 117(10), 1618-1627
Date: 10/2018
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Understanding Infant and Toddler Child Care Deserts
Examines the availability of licensed infant-toddler child care in 9 states and the District of Columbia, with a focus on how rural communities are disproportionately affected by a limited or complete lack of access to childcare services. Features discussion on consequences of childcare deserts and offers policy recommendations to increase the supply of licensed child care.
Author(s): Steven Jessen-Howard, Rasheed Malik, Simon Workman, Katie Hamm
Date: 10/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Examines the availability of licensed infant-toddler child care in 9 states and the District of Columbia, with a focus on how rural communities are disproportionately affected by a limited or complete lack of access to childcare services. Features discussion on consequences of childcare deserts and offers policy recommendations to increase the supply of licensed child care.
Author(s): Steven Jessen-Howard, Rasheed Malik, Simon Workman, Katie Hamm
Date: 10/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Rationale and Development of a Randomized Pragmatic Trial to Improve Diabetes Outcomes in Patient-Centered Medical Homes Serving Rural Patients
Reports on a randomized trial developed to determine the effectiveness of a health literacy intervention supporting diabetes self-management education compared to enhanced usual care. Clinical trial occurred in six rural clinics in Arkansas that are Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH), targeting patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.
Author(s): Kristie B. Hadden, Connie L. Arnold, Laura M. Curtis, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials, 75, 152-157
Date: 10/2018
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Reports on a randomized trial developed to determine the effectiveness of a health literacy intervention supporting diabetes self-management education compared to enhanced usual care. Clinical trial occurred in six rural clinics in Arkansas that are Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH), targeting patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.
Author(s): Kristie B. Hadden, Connie L. Arnold, Laura M. Curtis, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials, 75, 152-157
Date: 10/2018
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Geographic Representativeness of a Web-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention: Reach Equity Analysis
Compares the use of a web-based smoking cessation program by 67,854 users across large metro, small metro, and nonmetro populations throughout the United States between 2013 and 2017. Examines if the location of program participants is proportional to the national smoking population.
Author(s): Michael S. Amato, Amanda L. Graham
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(10), e11668
Date: 10/2018
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Compares the use of a web-based smoking cessation program by 67,854 users across large metro, small metro, and nonmetro populations throughout the United States between 2013 and 2017. Examines if the location of program participants is proportional to the national smoking population.
Author(s): Michael S. Amato, Amanda L. Graham
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(10), e11668
Date: 10/2018
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A Regional Analysis of Hepatitis C Virus Collaborative Care with Pharmacists in Indian Health Service Facilities
Reports on an Indian Health Service (IHS) review to identify and address gaps in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). The study took place at 11 separate healthcare facilities in mostly rural Oklahoma and Kansas. The HCV treatment included a strong pharmacy component with a collaborative practice agreement, and HCV telehealth services for specialist support.
Author(s): Rebecca Geiger, Jessica Steinert, Grant McElwee,et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 9, 1-5
Date: 10/2018
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Reports on an Indian Health Service (IHS) review to identify and address gaps in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). The study took place at 11 separate healthcare facilities in mostly rural Oklahoma and Kansas. The HCV treatment included a strong pharmacy component with a collaborative practice agreement, and HCV telehealth services for specialist support.
Author(s): Rebecca Geiger, Jessica Steinert, Grant McElwee,et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 9, 1-5
Date: 10/2018
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Utilization and Adherence in Medical Homes: An Assessment of Rural-Urban Differences for People with Severe Mental Illness
Discusses whether enrollment in medical homes improves care in rural versus urban settings for people with severe mental illness (SMI). Examines utilization measures of primary care, mental health, emergency department, inpatient hospitalizations, and medication adherence using data derived from North Carolina Medicaid claims from 2004–2007.
Author(s): Mona Kilany, Joseph P. Morrissey, Marisa Elena Domino, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 56(10), 870-876
Date: 10/2018
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Discusses whether enrollment in medical homes improves care in rural versus urban settings for people with severe mental illness (SMI). Examines utilization measures of primary care, mental health, emergency department, inpatient hospitalizations, and medication adherence using data derived from North Carolina Medicaid claims from 2004–2007.
Author(s): Mona Kilany, Joseph P. Morrissey, Marisa Elena Domino, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 56(10), 870-876
Date: 10/2018
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