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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions

State Medicaid Telehealth Policies Before and During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Examines state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Discusses issues and opportunities for optimizing telehealth, including equity considerations for rural and lower-income communities.
Author(s): Rose C. Chu, Christie Peters, Nancy De Lew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Leveraging Quality Measurement to Improve Rural Health, Telehealth, and Healthcare System Readiness: Final Environmental Scan Report
Presents the results of an environmental scan of literature related to barriers and facilitators of rural telehealth for healthcare system readiness, as well as a scan of quality measures relevant to rural telehealth during emergencies. Summarizes policies and practices related to telehealth and the healthcare system, with a focus on federal policy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Evolving Roles of Rural Hospitals: Evidence from Pandemic Experiences
Slides presented at the 2021 Southern Legislative Conference annual meeting. Presents data on the spread of COVID-19 in rural communities over time and compares confirmed COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 deaths in urban and rural counties in the southern states. Highlights how state policies can invest in and support rural hospitals.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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COVID-19: Continued Attention Needed to Enhance Federal Preparedness, Response, Service Delivery, and Program Integrity
Discusses the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides an overview of federal actions on healthcare and economic policy areas through mid-June 2021, including data on vaccine administration and COVID-19 relief spending. Offers 15 new recommendations to federal agencies regarding public health, the economy, and program integrity that would improve the federal response.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Unintentional Drowning Deaths Among Children Aged 0-17 Years: United States, 1999-2019
Reports on accidental drowning deaths using National Vital Statistics System data, including rates of drowning by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and rural and urban location.
Author(s): Merianne Rose Spencer, Holly Hedegaard, Margaret Warner
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Remote Patient Monitoring Helps Rural Patients Recover at Home
Features Essentia Health's remote patient monitoring program, which allows patients to recover at home while still having access to medical attention. Describes how the program was used to treat COVID-19 patients, with plans to continue the program to treat other chronic diseases.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Most Frequent Principal Diagnoses for Inpatient Stays in U.S. Hospitals, 2018
Presents data on the most frequent principal diagnoses among nonmaternal, nonneonatal inpatient hospital stays. Uses the 2018 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to describe the number of stays, mean cost per stay, and aggregate costs. Examines the distribution of stays for the most common diagnoses by patient and hospital characteristics, including rurality.
Author(s): Kimberly W. McDermott, Marc Roemer
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Collaboration and Flexibility Are Cornerstones of LifePoint Health's Vaccination Efforts
Describes how LifePoint Health, a healthcare organization focused on small, rural, and growing communities in 29 states, is promoting and administering COVID-19 vaccines. Discusses communication and technological strategies as well as community partnerships developed to increase vaccination rates.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Acceptability of Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccination Among Adolescents and Parents of Adolescents — United States, April 15–23, 2021
Reports on intent for COVID-19 vaccination among unvaccinated adolescents age 13-17 and the parents of those age 12-17, as well as vaccination receipt for adolescents age 16–17 years. Includes information by location for metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas.
Author(s): Aaron M. Scherer, Amber M. Gedlinske, Andrew M. Parker, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(28), 997-1003
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2): Public Health, Medical Supply Chain, Health Services, and Related Provisions
Provides an overview of the provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that relate to public health; behavioral health; medical supply chain; and health-related workforce, services, and support. Includes information related to funding for the National Health Service Corps and Nurse Corps, funding for graduate medical education, and emergency rural development grants for rural healthcare providers.
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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