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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Rural Aging in America: Proceedings of the 2017 Connectivity Summit
Summarizes discussions from the 2017 Connectivity Summit on rural aging in the U.S. Covers social connections, access to health resources, and innovative approaches to improve care and deliver programs to the rural elderly. Includes recommendations for stakeholders to improve collaboration and work to improve the health of aging rural residents.
Author(s): Alexis Skoufalos, Janice L. Clarke, Dana Rose Ellis, Vicki L. Shepard, Elizabeth Y. Rula
Citation: Population Health Management, 20(Suppl 2), S-1-S-10
Date: 12/2017
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Strategic Plan: Oral Health in Kentucky
Outlines the strategic plan for the Kentucky Oral Health Program. Includes county-level maps showing the distribution of general dentists and dentists who accept Medicaid, and discussion on how to reduce oral health disparities among rural and underserved populations. Covers policy initiatives to support oral healthcare and providers in rural areas.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health, Division of Maternal and Child Health
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Vermont Hub-and-Spoke Model of Care for Opioid Use Disorders: An Evaluation
Details an evaluation of Vermont's hub-and-spoke model of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction. Discusses the system's successes and areas that need focus and improvement.
Additional links: Summary Brief
Author(s): Richard A. Rawson
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Center on Behavior & Health
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Chartbook: Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in a Changing Kansas
Examines trends in demographics, the social determinants of health, and health outcomes in Kansas. Includes statistics and data with a rural versus urban comparison on: population characteristics; education; income, employment, and insurance; housing and household characteristics; nutrition, physical activity, and related outcomes; substance use; healthcare and preventive services; disease and disability; births; and mortality.
Additional links: Appendix A. Population Characteristics, Appendix B. Education, Appendix C. Income, Employment, and Insurance, Appendix D. Housing and Housing Characteristics, Appendix E. Disease and Disability, Appendix F. Births, Appendix G: Mortality, Appendix H: Technical Notes
Author(s): Lawrence John Panas
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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Using Hospital Community Benefits to Improve Access to Oral Health Care
Explains how nonprofit hospitals can use targeted oral health programs to fulfill their community benefit obligations, while also improving oral health in the communities they serve. Provides guidance on how to effectively advocate for such programs, and shares tips for assessing community needs.
Author(s): Cheryl Fish-Parcham
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Families USA
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Physician Supervision Requirements in Critical Access Hospitals and Small Rural Hospitals
Provides background information on Medicare physician supervision requirements, and examines how enforcement of these requirements impacts access to care, quality of care, and staffing needs in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and small rural hospitals. Findings are based on interviews with CMS officials, hospital association representatives, and CAH administrators in several states.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Long-Term Services and Supports: A Primer
Discusses the basics of rural long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults including system fundamentals, access, and opportunities and limitations of current policy. Includes models for rural LTSS and suggests priority areas for a high-performing rural health delivery system.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Jennifer P. Lundblad, Erin M. Mobley
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Philanthropy as the South's Passing Gear: Fulfilling the Promise
Report providing an overview of Southern economic development and population health since the 1960s, describing the state of philanthropy in the South, profiling philanthropic foundations and programs, and presenting reflections by experienced grantmakers. Covers racial and ethnic equity, health access and outcomes, and the needs of rural communities throughout.
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organizations: MDC, Southeastern Council of Foundations (SECF)
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Pain in the Nation: The Drug, Alcohol and Suicide Crises and the Need for a National Resilience Strategy
Examines current trends, causes, costs, and potential solutions to the drug, alcohol, and suicide crises in the U.S. Includes rural data and discussion of rural-specific issues.
Author(s): Laura M. Segal, Anne De Biasi, Jennifer L. Mueller, Kendra May, Molly Warren
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Emerging Strategies to Ensure Access to Health Care Services: Emergency Medical Center
Provides an overview of the emergency medical center (EMC) model, which would allow struggling hospitals to convert to EMC status and provide emergency and outpatient services, without having to provide inpatient acute care services. Also outlines rural-specific federal policy proposals that seek to create similar hospital designations, with the goal of improving access to and the delivery of care in underserved communities.
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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