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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

COVID-19 Response: Broadband Funding for Tribes, Tribal Colleges and Universities, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service
Identifies indirect and direct broadband funding for American Indian tribes, tribal colleges and universities, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service authorized in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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COVID-19: Sustained Federal Action Is Crucial as Pandemic Enters Its Second Year
Discusses the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides an overview of federal actions on healthcare and economic policy areas through March 10, 2021, including data on vaccine administration and COVID-19 relief spending. Offers 28 new recommendations to federal agencies regarding public health, the economy, and program integrity that would improve the federal response.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates for Influenza and Pneumonia, by Urbanization Level and Sex — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2019
Bar chart showing influenza and pneumonia death rates for urban and rural counties overall, for males, and for females.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(12), 456
Date: 03/2021
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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COVID-19 in 2021: Pressure Continues on Hospital Margins
Examines the potential effect of COVID-19 on hospital operating margins in 2021. Explores optimistic and pessimistic scenarios for hospital margins as a whole, for hospitals with negative margins, and for rural hospitals.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Kaufman, Hall & Associates, LLC
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Hospitals Reported That the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Significantly Strained Health Care Delivery
Examines how the COVID-19 pandemic response impacted hospitals' capacity to care for patients, staff, and communities, based on a February 22-26, 2021 brief survey of hospital administrators. Includes discussion of challenges faced by rural hospitals related to hospital operations and rural access to vaccinations.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examining Our COVID-19 Response: An Update from Federal Officials
Recording of a March 18, 2021, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the federal response to COVID-19, including the development of public health guidance, equitable vaccine distribution, approaches to address vaccine hesitancy, and other steps necessary to end the pandemic.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Rural Death Rates from COVID-19 Surpassed Urban Death Rates in Early September 2020
Chart showing weekly COVID-19 death rates per 100,000 adults, comparing urban and rural communities. Discusses higher death rates in rural areas in early September 2020, addressing factors impacting the increase.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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CHWs At Work: Making a Difference for Oklahoma's Marshallese Community
Highlights an Oklahoma program that uses community health workers (CHWs) for outreach to the Marshallese community in a three-county area. Provides a brief history and overview of the Marshallese population and discusses the health concerns the CHWs address.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Grantee Directory: Rural Tribal COVID-19 Response Program, 2020
Provides contact information and brief project descriptions for the 57 tribal grantees funded under the Rural Tribal COVID-19 Response Grant Program in the 2020-2022 funding cycle. Activities supported by this funding include COVID-19 testing, telehealth implementation, personal protective equipment and supplies, and hiring and training healthcare providers.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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An Examination of Telehealth Policy Impacts on Initial Rural Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Patterns During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Explores changes in the patterns of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in western North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the impact of telehealth policy changes during the pandemic on the patient population seen for MOUD, access to MOUD services for rural patients, overall MOUD clinic volume, and changes to the provision of MOUD.
Author(s): Phillip M. Hughes, Genevieve Verrastro, Carriedelle Wilson Fusco, Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Bayla Ostrach
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 467-472
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
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