Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce

Confronting Rural America's Health Care Crisis
Offers policy recommendations to stabilize the rural healthcare infrastructure and ensuring local access to care. Discusses strategies to provide financial relief to rural providers, preserve obstetric services, expand telehealth services, and address workforce shortages. Includes brief references to policy actions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional links: Rural Hospital Transformation Models, Summary, The Case for Expanding Telehealth Services, July 2020
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center Rural Health Task Force
view details
Rural and Urban Differences in Primary Care Pain Treatment by Clinician Type
Explores the differences in opioid prescribing patterns of nurse practitioners and primary care physicians in both rural and urban areas. Also compares physical therapy referrals by location and clinician type.
Author(s): Hannah Neprash, Laura Barrie Smith, Shailendra Prasad, Bethany Sheridan, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Implications of an Aging Primary Care Physician Workforce in Kansas
Discusses issues related to an aging population and primary care physician (PCP) workforce as well as strategies to reduce physician workforce shortages, increase the number of statewide training opportunities, and implement recruitment and retention strategies. Provides data on the age and geographic distribution of PCPs in Kansas.
Author(s): Hina B. Shah, Sydney McClendon, Madison Hoover
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
view details
Hospital Experiences Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a National Pulse Survey March 23–27, 2020
Reports on hospitals' challenges and needs in responding to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Addresses access to testing, supplies, and equipment; workforce issues; facility capacity; the need for financial assistance; and information needs. Identifies strategies hospitals reported using the help protect staff and manage patient care. Includes information on rural hospitals' concerns.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
The Respiratory Therapist Workforce in the U.S.: Supply, Distribution, Education Pathways, and State Responses to Emergency Surges in Demand
An overview of the respiratory therapist workforce across the U.S. including their practice scope and settings, supply and distribution, education and credentialing, and work force capacity with an additional focus on the emergency related concerns of COVID-19.
Author(s): Susan M Skillman, Bianca K Frogner, Arati Dahal, Benjamin A Stubbs, Grace Guenther
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
view details
Public Law 116-136: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020). Outlines telehealth flexibilities to support providers and enhance access to care during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Among other things, the CARES Act allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to serve as distant sites to provide telehealth services to patients in their homes during the public health emergency (PHE); establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP); extends the ability to order home health services to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse specialists; and provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the provision of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
view details
March 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) March 2020 meeting. Covers Medicare Shared Savings Program vulnerabilities, the role of specialists in alternative payment models and accountable care organizations, incentives in Medicare Part D, the Medicare Advantage quality bonus program, and Medicare's end-stage renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system. Includes a discussion of ESRD payment adjustments for rural and low-volume providers.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Minnesota's Dentist Workforce, 2019
Provides an overview of Minnesota's dentist workforce using data from the Minnesota Board of Dentistry and the 2016-2017 Dentist Survey. Presents information on demographics, education, employment, and geographical distribution.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
view details
Minnesota's Licensed Practical Nurse Workforce, 2017-2018
Provides an overview of Minnesota's license practical nurse (LPN) workforce using data from the Minnesota Board of Nursing and the 2017-2018 LPN Workforce Survey. Presents information on demographics, education, employment, and geographic distribution by region.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
view details
Minnesota's Registered Nurse Workforce, 2020
Provides an overview of Minnesota's registered nurse workforce using data from the Minnesota Board of Nursing and the 2017-2018 Registered Nurse (RN) Workforce Survey. Presents information on demographics, education, employment, and geographical distribution by region.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
view details