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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Benefit enrollment and application

The Unique Impacts of U.S. Social and Health Policies on Rural Population Health and Aging
Examines how the Older Americans Act (OAA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) impact rural and urban communities differently. Includes discussion about policy efforts and the need to consider the context of place.
Author(s): Danielle C. Rhubart, Shannon M. Monnat, Leif Jensen, Claire Pendergrast
Citation: Public Policy & Aging Report, 31(1), 24-29
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
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Rural/Urban Disparities in Utilization of Medical Nutrition Therapy to the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population
Compares the utilization of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services by Medicare recipients in rural and urban areas in 2016. Includes data on MNT providers, service units, beneficiaries, and average utilization rate in rural and urban counties.
Author(s): Christian Rhudy, Eugene Shin, Jeffery Talbert
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Rural Libraries Help Communities Access Health Information
Features rural libraries in South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington that support population health in their communities by providing monthly programs and teaching patrons and staff how to access reliable health information online.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Examining Food Insecurity in the Rural United States: A Qualitative Study
Explores the difficulties families experience when trying to provide nutritious food to children, as well as related issues of food insecurity in 6 rural counties of the U.S. Discusses perceptions of food benefits, family circumstances, and participant suggestions to improve food access.
Author(s): Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, Lauri Andress, Carmen Byker-Shanks, et al.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Feeding America, No Kid Hungry
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Importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Rural America
Article examining the impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on rural communities, addressing rural-specific needs, challenges, and considerations related to program implementation. Describes rural health disparities and food access issues in rural areas, and the potential effects of changes to SNAP on rural participants.
Author(s): Lisa Harnack, Sruthi Valluri, Simone A. French
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(12), 1641-1645
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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Balancing the Risk Pool: Enrolling Young Adults and Other Hard to Reach Populations
Discusses strategies and methods targeted toward hard to reach populations, including rural residents, young adults, immigrants, and the self-employed. Focuses on balancing the health insurance risk pool. Covers statistics on marketplace consumers and breaks down uninsured rates by state using 2017 data.
Date: 07/2019
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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A Closer Look: Perspectives on the 2019 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period
Examines outreach and enrollment strategies and their effectiveness for the 2019 open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) related health insurance coverage. Addresses enrollment numbers, navigator funding, advertisement spending, the individual mandate repeal, and the impact of short-term plans. Identifies strategies used by navigators in rural areas.
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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SNAP Redemptions Contributed to Employment During the Great Recession
Discusses rural and urban Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and benefits paid during the Great Recession due to poverty and unemployment, particularly in high-poverty rural regions. Includes a map showing per capita SNAP redemptions by county for 2010. Examines the impact of SNAP redemptions on county employment during the recession for rural and urban counties.
Author(s): John Pender, Young Jo
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Impacts of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Redemptions on County-Level Employment
Examines the impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) redemptions on employment for nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties for 2001-2014. Discusses differences before, during, and after the Great Recession. Includes a map showing per capita SNAP redemptions by county for 2010.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): John Pender, Young Jo, Jessica E. Todd, Cristina Miller
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Understanding the County Role in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Describes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in terms of its role in the country's social safety-net and the ways counties help fund SNAP services to support low-income residents. Examines disparities in food insecurity between urban and rural areas, and features a county-level map showing food insecurity rates as of 2016. Also describes how SNAP supports local businesses and economies, and helps maintain food access in rural counties.
Date: 03/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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