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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access

The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 (Division FF, Title I of P.L. 117-328, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023): Section-by-Section Summary
Provides a section-by-section summary of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act, which was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) and reauthorized or amended specific federal programs related to mental health and substance use. Includes information on programs targeted to, or extending eligibility to, tribes and tribal organizations.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Clinical Risk and Outpatient Therapy Utilization for COVID-19 in the Medicare Population
Evaluates COVID-19 treatment disparities among Medicare beneficiaries, with comparisons by age, race and ethnicity, Medicaid eligibility, nursing home use, telemedicine use, rural/urban status, and more. Utilizes Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary and Standard Analytic Claim files for the year 2022. Provides data on rates of COVID-19 therapy use, including medication, hospitalization, and outpatient treatment. Highlights undertreatment experienced by populations with high risk of severe infection.
Author(s): Andrew D. Wilcock, Stephen Kissler, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(1), e235044
Date: 01/2024
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Association of Spatial Proximity to Fixed-Site Syringe Services Programs with HCV Serostatus and Injection Equipment Sharing Practices Among People Who Inject Drugs in Rural New England, United States
Examines the correlation of proximity to a syringe services program (SSP) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in rural areas of the northeastern United States. Utilizes 2018-2019 data to analyze people who inject drugs (PWID) and their demographic characteristics, drug usage, and distance to the nearest fixed-site SSP.
Author(s): Eric Romo, Thomas J. Stopka, Bill M. Jesdale, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 21, 23
Date: 01/2024
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Analysis: Hospitals and Health Systems Are Critical to Preserving Access to Care for Rural Communities
Provides information on how hospitals provide access to healthcare for rural communities, with a focus on hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). Includes data related to rural physician practice acquisitions, rural outpatient visits to an HOPD, Medicaid eligibility, and more.
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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The Effect of Disability and Social Determinants of Health on Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines the effect of disability status and social determinants of health on rates of adherence to breast and cervical cancer screening recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2018 and 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Includes statistics and discussion of rural-urban screening disparities.
Author(s): LaShae D. Rolle, Maurice J. Chery, Michaela Larson, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21, 230234
Date: 01/2024
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Closing the Gap: How a Community Effort Can Improve Rural Maternity Care
Case study of a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) that increased access to maternal healthcare in rural North Carolina by opening a maternity care center. Discusses recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals and collaboration among healthcare organizations in the community.
Author(s): Jesus Ruiz
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 22(1), 68
Date: 01/2024
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How Does Cost Affect Access to Healthcare?
Explores trends in how costs affect access to healthcare using data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Covers the percentage of adults who delayed or went without care due to cost. Presents data by income level, health status, race and ethnicity, insurance status, and urban/rural residence. Also discusses insulin users who rationed insulin due to costs and the impact of medical debt on accessing care.
Author(s): Shameek Rakshit, Krutika Amin, Cynthia Cox
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survivorship Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic review of 39 studies on rural-urban colorectal cancer (CRC) disparities. Summarizes study results related to CRC screening, stage at diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship care. Discusses barriers to access, identifies trends, and evaluates study characteristics.
Author(s): Aryana Sepassi, Meng Li, Jason Zell, Alexandre Chan, Ila M Saunders, Dana B Mukamel
Citation: The Oncologist, 29(4), e431-e446
Date: 01/2024
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Overdose Prevention Policy Considerations: A Policy Playbook for State and Territorial Health Officials and Agencies
Provides an overview of policy considerations related to overdose prevention, with a focus on health equity and stigma reduction, community distribution, drug checking equipment, syringe service programs, and substance use support peer programs. Includes case examples, strategies for overdose prevention interventions, and considerations for rural and frontier areas.
Author(s): Victoria Pless, Kaela Hurd, Kayley Humm, Arieana Love
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Patient Characteristics Associated With Phone and Video Visits at a Tele-Urgent Care Center During the Initial COVID-19 Response: Cross-Sectional Study
Examines patient characteristics related to tele-urgent care in the southeastern United States during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic period. Analyzes phone visits compared to video visits, with data further broken down by sex, age, health insurance status, prescriptions received, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Saif Khairat, Roshan John, Malvika Pillai, Philip McDaniel, Barbara Edson
Citation: Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 16
Date: 01/2024
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