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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Benefit enrollment and application

Results of USDA's Food and Nutrition Service-Administered School Food Authority Survey III on Supply Chain Disruption and Student Participation
Analyzes supply chain disruptions impacting school nutrition assistance programs during the 2023-2024 school year. Utilizes survey data from School Food Authorities (SFAs) to examine school meal applications and eligibility, reported supply chain challenges, impacts on school food operations, food and labor costs, student participation, strategies to address supply chain issues, and more. Includes data breakdowns according to SFA size and urban, suburban, or rural location.
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Comparing Models That Integrate Obstetric Care and WIC on Improved Program Enrollment During Pregnancy: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
A study protocol that outlines the potential impact of linking women who are receiving obstetric care directly with the Women, Infants, and Children's (WIC) Program. Discusses plans to recruit 240 low-income, rural, pregnant patients from Pennsylvania and analyze WIC usage, social determinants of health, health status, and more.
Author(s): Kirstie M. Herb Neff, Kelsey Brandt, Alex R. Chang, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 3393
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T): Rapid Cycle Evaluation of Seven Interventions (Summary)
Examines interventions to improve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program operations and delivery. Analyzes text messaging strategies to increase program enrollment, with examples from rural areas.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Trends in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates: Fiscal Year 2020 and Fiscal Year 2022
Presents information on eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) alongside actual participation in SNAP. Presents information on households, children, elderly, refugees, low-income families, persons with disabilities, and other groups enrolled in the program. Tables A.3 and B.3 show rural versus urban participation.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Alma Vigil, Nima Rahimi
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Beneficiary and Clinician Perspectives on Medicare and Other Issues: Findings from 2024 Focus Groups in Select States
Summarizes findings from 24 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and June 2024, including three virtual focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, organization of care, and prescription drugs.
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Minnesota Chartbook Section 5: Public Health Insurance Programs
Provides information on public insurance programs in Minnesota, including Medicare, Medical Assistance (Medicaid), and MinnesotaCare. Includes data on enrollment, spending, distribution of enrollees, and enrollee location by region and county.
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Nationwide Availability of and Enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans With Exclusively Aligned Enrollment
Explores the availability and enrollment of dual-eligible special needs plans (D-SNPs) with exclusively aligned enrollment, in which the beneficiary can receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits through the same plan or affiliated plans within the same organization. Analyzes 2021-2022 beneficiary data and examines D-SNP plan availability and enrollment according to beneficiary demographics, health status, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Kenton J. Johnston, Michelle Hendricks, Megha Dabas, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(10)
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
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The 2024 State of Poverty in Ohio Report
Provides an overview of poverty in Ohio, with a focus on childhood poverty, family impacts, food security, healthcare access, and more. Includes county-level data on poverty rates, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)-approved vendors, and maternity care access.
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies
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Assessing SNAP Participants' Fitness for Work: Final Report
Examines how assessments are made and implemented regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements. Discusses variations of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) across 4 case study states: Georgia, Maryland, Texas, and Wisconsin. Includes SNAP applicant characteristics and determinations for work requirements by demographic information and urbanicity of metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural. Provides feedback from rural SNAP staff regarding difficulties assessing SNAP participants' fitness for work.
Additional links: Appendices, Summary
Author(s): Chrissy Steigelman, Irma CastaƱeda, Jackie Kauff, Katherine Allison-Clark, Johnny Willing
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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National- and State-Level Estimates of WIC Eligibility and Program Reach in 2022: Final Report, Volume 1
Compares eligibility versus participation in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits in 2022 using Community Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS-ASEC), American Community Survey (ACS), and National Vital Statistics data. Discusses trends over time for infants and pregnant women as well as by breastfeeding status, race and ethnicity, Medicaid participation, and urbanicity. Includes state and regional comparisons.
Additional links: Appendices, Summary
Author(s): Courtenay Kessler, Andrew Bryant, Kate Munkacsy, Kelsey Farson Gray
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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