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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

Disparities in Access to Trauma Care in the United States: A Population-Based Analysis
Describes the geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic disparities in access to trauma care in the U.S., including a rural and urban analysis of disparities. Covers data detailing demographic characteristics stratified by trauma center access by income, poverty, insurance status, education, race/ethnicity, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Brendan Carr, Ariel Bowman, Catherine Wolff, et al.
Citation: Injury, 48(2), 332-338
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
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Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Needs of Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Rural-Urban Comparison in Delaware, USA
A comparison of transportation patterns and costs for middle-aged and older adult Medicaid patients for medical care in rural versus urban Delaware. These patients were eligible for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) services. Discusses transportation barriers to care for rural residents, including cost, availability, and accessibility and suggests solutions for connecting residents to needed services.
Author(s): Matthew Lee Smith, Thomas R. Prohaska, Kara E. MacLeod, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(2)
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
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Community Health Workers: Recommendations for Bridging Healthcare Gaps in Rural America
Policy brief reviewing research findings on community health worker (CHW) integration, and how CHWs can help bridge healthcare gaps in rural communities. Also reviews various state policies related to CHWs, identifies a number of care settings where CHWs are working in rural areas, and makes policy recommendations to support the continued integration of CHWs into the rural healthcare delivery system.
Author(s): Kailyn Dorhauer Mock, Tracy Morton, Prisci Quijada, Julie St. John
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Treating the Rural Opioid Epidemic
Policy brief reviewing the barriers to implementing effective, high-quality treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues in rural areas. Includes policy recommendations for addressing these issues, focusing on access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) and funding for rural mental health infrastructure.
Author(s): Christine Hancock, Heidi Mennenga, Nikki King, et al.
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Disruptive Innovation in Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation
Discusses the current state of Medicaid's non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) benefit, focusing on challenges, potential improvements, and state-level reforms. Includes an overview and table of NEMT service models by state and touches on the structural inefficiencies faced by rural communities.
Author(s): Adam Ganuza, Rachel Davis
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Telemedicine and Primary Care Obesity Management in Rural Areas – Innovative Approach for Older Adults?
Explores telemedicine as a potential delivery tool for the Medicare Obesity Benefit in primary care settings. Describes challenges in implementing the benefit in rural areas, including increasing older adult populations, shortages in primary care and specialized healthcare providers, reimbursement issues, and transportation barriers. Presents the potential utility of telemedicine in rural obesity care and non-physician staff delivery options, which require regulatory changes.
Author(s): John Batsis, Sarah Pletcher, James Stahl
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 17, 6
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
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Understanding Treatment Gaps for Mental Health, Alcohol, and Drug Use in South Dakota: A Qualitative Study of Rural Perspectives
Details a study on gaps in access to behavioral health treatment in rural South Dakota. Discusses data collected from interviews with people in rural and tribal areas of the state with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Author(s): Lauren Broffman, Margaret Spurlock, Kristen Dulacki, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 22(1), 71-81
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
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Delivering CBT to Rural Latino Children with Anxiety Disorders: A Qualitative Study
Examines perceptions of different methods of providing cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) that could increase access to care for anxiety in rural Latino youth. Compares telephone based, bibliotherapy, and therapist supported bibliotherapy from both the viewpoint of Latino parents and mental health providers.
Author(s): Denise A. Chavira, Cristina E. Bustos, Maritza S. Garcia, Bernardo Ng, Alvaro Camacho
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal, 53(1), 53-61
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
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Health Inequities by Sexual Orientation among New Mexican Adults, 2011-2014
Examines health outcomes and behaviors by sexual orientation for adults in New Mexico. Covers demographics, access to healthcare, chronic health conditions, behavioral risk factors including binge drinking and smoking, protective factors such as HIV and cervical cancer screening, and quality of life differences such as mental health. Includes rural/urban breakdowns for demographics and addresses disparities by race/ethnicity, including American Indian/Alaska Native lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults.
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Changes in Individual and Small Group Behavioral Health Coverage Following the Enactment of Parity Requirements: Final Report
Examines the impact of extending parity protections for behavioral health coverage in 2014 to individual and small group plans, requiring them to cover behavioral health treatments at the same level as medical/surgical services. Addresses additional barriers for rural areas, such as network adequacy and shortages of psychiatrists.
Author(s): Alexander J. Cowell, Shivaani Prakash, Alan Barnosky, Brendan Wedehase, Allison Briggs
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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