Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Is Taking Action to Strengthen Primary Care
Commentary describing challenges facing primary care in the United States and actions the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking to address these challenges and strengthen primary care.
Author(s): Rachel Levine, R. Burciaga Valdez, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, et al.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Commentary describing challenges facing primary care in the United States and actions the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking to address these challenges and strengthen primary care.
Author(s): Rachel Levine, R. Burciaga Valdez, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, et al.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Improving Maternity Care for Indigenous Populations
Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Tina Pattara-Lau, M.D., maternal and child health consultant with the Indian Health Service Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, and Johnna Nynas, M.D., obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. Describes common disparities and systemic barriers Indigenous people experience in maternity care and ways hospitals and healthcare organizations can address these challenges and provide culturally-focused care.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Tina Pattara-Lau, M.D., maternal and child health consultant with the Indian Health Service Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, and Johnna Nynas, M.D., obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. Describes common disparities and systemic barriers Indigenous people experience in maternity care and ways hospitals and healthcare organizations can address these challenges and provide culturally-focused care.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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National Rural Health Day and a Behavioral Health Community Star, with Tammy Norville and Jason Lillich
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Tammy Norville, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) CEO, and Jason Lillich, Executive Director of Three Rivers Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Center, a 2023 National Rural Health Day Community Star. Focuses on the origins of National Rural Health Day and the ongoing importance of behavioral health and substance use services for rural communities.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Tammy Norville, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) CEO, and Jason Lillich, Executive Director of Three Rivers Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Center, a 2023 National Rural Health Day Community Star. Focuses on the origins of National Rural Health Day and the ongoing importance of behavioral health and substance use services for rural communities.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Evaluation of the Medicare Care Choices Model: Fifth and Final Annual Evaluation Report
Evaluates the Medicare Care Choice Model (MCCM), which tests whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive services without forgoing payment for treatment of their terminal conditions improved their quality of life and care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced Medicare expenditures. Describes the characteristics of participating hospices and withdrawal of providers over time; beneficiaries who were referred to, eligible for, and enrolled in MCCM; services provided and the quality of service delivery; transitions from MCCM to the Medicare hospice benefit; beneficiary outcomes and effects across subgroups; and key findings. Includes information on rural provider and beneficiary participation in the model and compares rural and urban beneficiary outcomes.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Participant Experience & Evaluation Results Video
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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Evaluates the Medicare Care Choice Model (MCCM), which tests whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive services without forgoing payment for treatment of their terminal conditions improved their quality of life and care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced Medicare expenditures. Describes the characteristics of participating hospices and withdrawal of providers over time; beneficiaries who were referred to, eligible for, and enrolled in MCCM; services provided and the quality of service delivery; transitions from MCCM to the Medicare hospice benefit; beneficiary outcomes and effects across subgroups; and key findings. Includes information on rural provider and beneficiary participation in the model and compares rural and urban beneficiary outcomes.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Participant Experience & Evaluation Results Video
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Who Used the Internet in the Past 12 Months to Communicate with a Doctor or Doctor's Office, by Urbanization Level — National Health Interview Survey, United States, July–December 2022
Bar chart showing adult use of the internet to communicate with a doctor, with data by location of residence for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 72(44), 1207
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Bar chart showing adult use of the internet to communicate with a doctor, with data by location of residence for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 72(44), 1207
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Extra Episode - Rural Communities Opioid Response Program with Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donell
Podcast episode featuring Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donnell from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Describes the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), which aims to improve access to substance use disorder, prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural communities. Discusses examples of how RCORP grantees are effectively serving communities and tips for accessing resources to address the opioid crisis in tips for accessing resources to address the rural opioid crisis.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode featuring Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donnell from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Describes the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), which aims to improve access to substance use disorder, prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural communities. Discusses examples of how RCORP grantees are effectively serving communities and tips for accessing resources to address the opioid crisis in tips for accessing resources to address the rural opioid crisis.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Health is Primary: Charting a Path to Equity and Sustainability
Examines factors driving the downward trends in primary care, including fewer clinicians practicing primary care, fewer available appointments, lower spending on primary care, and fewer adults reporting that they have a usual source of primary care. Features a literature review, supply and demand analysis, and recommendations for potential solutions. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Slide Presentation
Author(s): Alison Huffstetler, Ann Greiner, Anam Siddiqi, et al.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Primary Care Collaborative, Robert Graham Center
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Examines factors driving the downward trends in primary care, including fewer clinicians practicing primary care, fewer available appointments, lower spending on primary care, and fewer adults reporting that they have a usual source of primary care. Features a literature review, supply and demand analysis, and recommendations for potential solutions. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Slide Presentation
Author(s): Alison Huffstetler, Ann Greiner, Anam Siddiqi, et al.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Primary Care Collaborative, Robert Graham Center
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Red County: Arkansas County Life Expectancy Profile 2023 Report
Reports on Arkansas's Red Counties, defined as the Arkansas counties with a life expectancy at birth more than 6 years below the Arkansas county with the highest life expectancy at birth. Offers comparisons of red and non-red counties over time and analysis of health outcomes, behaviors, clinical care indicators, social and economic factors, and physical environment factors for red counties.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Minority Health Commission, Office of Health Disparities Elimination
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Reports on Arkansas's Red Counties, defined as the Arkansas counties with a life expectancy at birth more than 6 years below the Arkansas county with the highest life expectancy at birth. Offers comparisons of red and non-red counties over time and analysis of health outcomes, behaviors, clinical care indicators, social and economic factors, and physical environment factors for red counties.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Minority Health Commission, Office of Health Disparities Elimination
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Partnering with Schools to Increase HPV Vaccine Coverage in Rural Communities along the U.S.-Mexico Border
Describes a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program which coordinated on-campus, no-cost vaccination events for students at middle schools in rural, underserved communities in Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley. Describes barriers to access experienced by families in the U.S.-Mexico border region.
Author(s): Jane Montealegre
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Describes a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program which coordinated on-campus, no-cost vaccination events for students at middle schools in rural, underserved communities in Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley. Describes barriers to access experienced by families in the U.S.-Mexico border region.
Author(s): Jane Montealegre
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Formative Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer Screening Practices at Two Hawaiʻi Rural Community Health Centers and One Urban Hospital
Reports on colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) practices in 2 rural community health centers and 1 urban hospital in Hawaii. Covers types of intervention provided, barriers and facilitators of CRCS, and recommendations for increasing CRCS. Identifies challenges related to rural access to care.
Author(s): David A. Stupplebeen, Whitney Watts
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaii and Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies
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Reports on colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) practices in 2 rural community health centers and 1 urban hospital in Hawaii. Covers types of intervention provided, barriers and facilitators of CRCS, and recommendations for increasing CRCS. Identifies challenges related to rural access to care.
Author(s): David A. Stupplebeen, Whitney Watts
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: University of Hawaii and Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies
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