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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Buprenorphine and the Opioid Crisis: A Primer for Congress
Discusses the use of buprenorphine in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) of opioid addiction. Report addresses questions for U.S. lawmakers to craft opioid treatment policy. Looks at the effectiveness, demand, and access of buprenorphine.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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The Special Registration for Telemedicine: In Brief
Describes changes to the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) authorizing special registration for telemedicine to increase access to healthcare providers that can prescribe controlled substances using telemedicine, with the goal of helping address the opioid crisis and shortage of mental health providers. Outlines the seven categories for the practice of telemedicine under the authority of the CSA. The Drug Enforcement Administration plans to publish the related proposed rule to finalize the registration process and procedures.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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A Rural Hospital Gets A Second Chance
Describes efforts undertaken in 2016 and 2017 to save an independent rural North Carolina hospital from closure, by affiliating with a larger healthcare system.
Author(s): Dana M. Weston
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 79(6), 373-374
Date: 11/2018
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Using Telehealth to Support Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Provides an issue brief on how telehealth can increase access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Addresses how telehealth is used, implemented, and reimbursed, highlighting the implications for MAT.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Looking Back But Leaning Forward: New Opportunities and Challenges for North Carolina's Rural Communities
Issue brief describing efforts among local and state leaders to promote community engagement in rural North Carolina and to address shortages of physicians and advanced practitioners. Also examines challenges faced by rural North Carolina hospitals, uses of telemedicine, plans to promote quality care for children and families, and recommendations for the future.
Author(s): Thomas G. Irons, Margaret L. Sauer
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 79(6), 366-371
Date: 11/2018
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Pharmacy Staff Perspectives on Alcohol and Medication Interaction Prevention Among Older Rural Adults
Analyzes the perspectives of pharmacy staff on alcohol and medication interaction (AMI) prevention programs, dissemination methods for AMI prevention information, and barriers to participation in prevention programs by rural older adults. Interviews were conducted with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in 2 counties for each of the following states: Kentucky, Maryland, and Virginia. Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings were used to identify the counties selected based on their rural and national health risk profiles.
Author(s): Faika Zanjani, Hannah Allen, Rachel Vickers Smith, et al.
Citation: Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 4
Date: 11/2018
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Factors Influencing Patient Adherence with Diabetic Eye Screening in Rural Communities: A Qualitative Study
Reports on a study in rural Wisconsin to understand the circumstances affecting diabetic patients' adherence to yearly eye screening in order to design effective interventions and increase screenings in rural health settings.
Author(s): Yao Liu, Nicholas J. Zupan, Olayinka O. Shiyanbola, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 13(11)
Date: 11/2018
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State Laws and Policies Affecting Broadband Access in Eight Northern Region States
Highlights several state-level broadband policies and their effect on healthcare access in rural communities in Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Compares broadband access in rural areas to state and national averages and breaks down the policies in each state.
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: The Network for Public Health Law
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Health Disparities Among American Indians/Alaska Natives — Arizona, 2017
Reports on sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare access, health behaviors, health status, and chronic conditions among Arizona adults, with data for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), White, and other adults. Discusses the need for culturally tailored public health approaches to address AI/AN health disparities.
Author(s): Monique Adakai, Michelle Sandoval-Rosario, Fang Xu, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(47), 1314-1318
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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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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