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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

VA Health Care: The Medically Underserved Facilities Initiative
Describes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medically underserved facilities initiative, which identifies medical facilities that were underserved for primary care and mental health services in 2022. Describes the criteria VA has used to identify medically underserved facilities and which facilities are designated as underserved and what officials from the designated underserved facilities reported about their experiences with the initiative. Explores what VA information shows about the effectiveness of the initiative. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural, Regional, Racial Disparities in Telemedicine Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among US Adults: 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
Analyzes telemedicine use among rural and urban adults in context of the COVID-19 pandemic using 2021 National Health Interview Survey data. Presents data on telemedicine use and urbanization level, region, income, sex, race and ethnicity, and other demographic characteristics. Highlights access disparities, and discusses COVID-19's influence on telehealth adoption.
Author(s): Jeong-Hui Park, Min Jee Lee, Meng-Han Tsai, Huan-Ju Shih, Jongwha Chang
Citation: Patient Preference and Adherence, 17, 3477-3487
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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NHPCO Facts and Figures: 2023 Edition
Provides an overview of hospice and palliative care in the United States. Includes information and data on patient characteristics, access to care, reimbursement, barriers and facilitators to care, quality of care, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
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Who is Served by USDA Rural Broadband Projects? Study Shows Smaller Share of Eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives Reached by ReConnect
Examines which populations were reached in fiscal years 2009-2021 by three USDA rural broadband programs: the Broadband Initiatives Program, the Community Connect grant program, and the ReConnect grant and loan program. Provides information about each program, its service area, and obligations. For the ReConnect program, looks at eligibility and project approval by race/ethnicity, educational attainment, poverty, and population 65 and older, with particular discussion of disparities in access for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Author(s): John Pender
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Engaging Families and Providers When Aligning Early Childhood and Medicaid Systems: State Lessons
Describes how the alignment of health and social supports and services offered by Medicaid and early childhood agencies can create systems that better meet the needs of families with young children. Outlines four strategies states can use to engage families and providers when working on systems alignment effectively. Highlights an Alaska initiative that worked with a local community organization to recruit rural providers and families to identify opportunities for service improvement.
Author(s): Lauren Scannelli Jacobs, Armelle Casau
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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2023 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability. Focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare and healthcare systems.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Disparities in LTSS Needs and Supportive Resources at Age 55, and Outcome Disparities During the Next Decade
Reports on disparities in long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs and resources of adults at age 55, and analyzes outcomes over the next 10 years of their lives, using 2008-2018 longitudinal Health and Retirement Study data. Covers race and ethnicity, rural or urban setting, and other demographic information. Highlights financial resources, health insurance, social supports, cognitive decline, assets, and more.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: ATI Advisory, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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The Association Between Tribal Transit And Food Insecurity Status among Native Americans in North Dakota
Examines the relationship between food insecurity in rural tribal areas and transportation access. Analyzes 2022 survey data from Native American respondents in North Dakota and reports on respondent demographics, traditional indigenous food pathways, factors leading to food insecurity, disability and health status, availability of transportation, and more. Provides information on Native American reservations and populations as well as strategies to reduce food insecurity.
Author(s): J. Hough, J. Mattson, H. Al Qublan, B. Rahman
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Improving Access to Health Care Coverage in Rural Communities with Medicaid and CHIP
A recorded webinar that provides strategies and best practices to improve outreach in an effort to enroll American Indian/Alaska Native communities (AI/AN) in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Discusses the importance of healthcare access and offers resources and tools for enrollment outreach.
Additional links: Slides, Transcript
Date: 12/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Rural Health Association
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VA Health Care: Actions Needed to Improve Information Reported on Mobile Medical Units
Describes how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) utilizes mobile medical units to provide primary and specialty medical care to veterans in communities with veteran populations too small to support local facilities and in areas with limited access to specialty care, including rural areas. Examines VA's annual reports to Congress between 2018 and 2023 about mobile medical units' operations and performance. Offers recommendations to the VA to improve the reliability of the data and contextual information reported to Congress on mobile medical units.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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