Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Benefit enrollment and application
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
Type: Document
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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Assisting Rural Consumers
Offers information and guidance for Navigators and certified application counselors helping rural healthcare consumers. Covers rural-relevant considerations and policy updates regarding Federally-facilitated and State-based Marketplaces, Medicaid/CHIP, and Medicare. Outlines tips for assisters to address barriers to care and conducting outreach in rural areas.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Offers information and guidance for Navigators and certified application counselors helping rural healthcare consumers. Covers rural-relevant considerations and policy updates regarding Federally-facilitated and State-based Marketplaces, Medicaid/CHIP, and Medicare. Outlines tips for assisters to address barriers to care and conducting outreach in rural areas.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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2023 Maryland Hunger Profiles
Provides state- and county-level data on age of population, median household income, childhood and older adult poverty levels, and food program usage in Maryland. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access as well as strategies to end hunger in the state.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Hunger Solutions
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Provides state- and county-level data on age of population, median household income, childhood and older adult poverty levels, and food program usage in Maryland. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access as well as strategies to end hunger in the state.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Hunger Solutions
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Evaluation of Technology Modernization for SNAP Benefit Redemption Through Online Transactions: Final Evaluation Report
Examines operations of the online purchasing pilot (OPP) that allowed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers to redeem benefits online. Analyzes data from the pilot launch in April 2019 and through the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on online purchasing differences between urban and rural populations, frequency of use, and delivery options of participants.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Michele Mendelson, Ayesha Enver, Shannon Hitchcock, et al.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Examines operations of the online purchasing pilot (OPP) that allowed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers to redeem benefits online. Analyzes data from the pilot launch in April 2019 and through the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on online purchasing differences between urban and rural populations, frequency of use, and delivery options of participants.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Michele Mendelson, Ayesha Enver, Shannon Hitchcock, et al.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Iowa Community Action Association 2023 Annual Report
Provides information on the Iowa Community Action Association's 2023 impact related to housing assistance programs, disaster aid, and support to children and pregnant women through Head Start. Includes county-level map indicating local community action agencies.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Community Action Association
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Provides information on the Iowa Community Action Association's 2023 impact related to housing assistance programs, disaster aid, and support to children and pregnant women through Head Start. Includes county-level map indicating local community action agencies.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Community Action Association
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Medicare Switching: Patterns Of Enrollment Growth In Medicare Advantage, 2006–22
Analyzes enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) and traditional Medicare between 2006 and 2022 to identify trends in switching services. Discusses characteristics of those who switched including sex, race and ethnicity, age, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Lanlan Xu, W. Pete Welch, Steven Sheingold, Nancy De Lew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Citation: Health Affairs, 42(9)
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Analyzes enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) and traditional Medicare between 2006 and 2022 to identify trends in switching services. Discusses characteristics of those who switched including sex, race and ethnicity, age, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Lanlan Xu, W. Pete Welch, Steven Sheingold, Nancy De Lew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Citation: Health Affairs, 42(9)
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Medicare Advantage Enrollment, Plan Availability and Premiums in Rural Areas
Research brief analyzing Medicare Advantage enrollment, availability, and premiums in rural areas to identify trends since 2010. Offers rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Gabrielle Clerveau, Anthony Damico, Tricia Neuman
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Research brief analyzing Medicare Advantage enrollment, availability, and premiums in rural areas to identify trends since 2010. Offers rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Gabrielle Clerveau, Anthony Damico, Tricia Neuman
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Portfolio of Research in Welfare and Family Self-Sufficiency
Provides an overview of the efforts of the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation to support families and promote self-sufficiency. Focuses on capacity building, strategies to improve program/participant outcomes, knowledge building and communication, and related family welfare resources and publications. Discusses nuances of specific environments and human services in rural contexts.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Provides an overview of the efforts of the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation to support families and promote self-sufficiency. Focuses on capacity building, strategies to improve program/participant outcomes, knowledge building and communication, and related family welfare resources and publications. Discusses nuances of specific environments and human services in rural contexts.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Summer Food Service Program Integrity Study
Examines how state agencies and sponsors of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) administer programs, maintain oversight and integrity, identify challenges, and provide resources and training. Utilizes 2021 data from state SFSP agencies to analyze SFSP staffing, funding, and outreach; eligibility of sites; program training, technical assistance, and resources; meal counting and claiming; the monitoring of operations and turnover; and impact of COVID-19 on SFSP integrity. Includes data on rural versus urban SFSP experiences.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Lindsay Giesen, Alice Ann Gola, Maeve Gearing, et al.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Examines how state agencies and sponsors of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) administer programs, maintain oversight and integrity, identify challenges, and provide resources and training. Utilizes 2021 data from state SFSP agencies to analyze SFSP staffing, funding, and outreach; eligibility of sites; program training, technical assistance, and resources; meal counting and claiming; the monitoring of operations and turnover; and impact of COVID-19 on SFSP integrity. Includes data on rural versus urban SFSP experiences.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Lindsay Giesen, Alice Ann Gola, Maeve Gearing, et al.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Welfare and Family Self-Sufficiency Learning Agenda
Provides background and information on the development of the Welfare and Family Self Sufficiency Learning Agenda (WFSSLA) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Focuses on the structure of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), capacity building, and strategies for improving programs. Includes discussion on administering human services programs in rural contexts.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Provides background and information on the development of the Welfare and Family Self Sufficiency Learning Agenda (WFSSLA) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Focuses on the structure of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), capacity building, and strategies for improving programs. Includes discussion on administering human services programs in rural contexts.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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