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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Association Between Population Mobility Reductions and New COVID-19 Diagnoses in the United States Along the Urban-Rural Gradient, February-April, 2020
Examines whether changes in population mobility are correlated with the rate of new COVID-19 cases in U.S. counties. Includes county-level maps with rural/urban comparisons.
Author(s): Xiaojiang Li, Abby Rudolph, Jeremy Mennis
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
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Influenza and Tdap Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women — United States, April 2020
Examines influenza and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) vaccination coverage among women pregnant during the 2019–20 influenza season. Includes data by location of residence for rural and nonrural areas.
Author(s): Hilda Razzaghi, Katherine E. Kahn, Carla L. Black, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(39), 1391-1397
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Supporting CAHs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Summary Results of a Survey of State Flex Coordinators
Summarizes key findings from a survey of State Flex Programs regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) between May 26 - July 2, 2020. Describes the type of support and assistance requested by CAHs, promising strategies State Flex Programs used to support CAHs, and how State Flex Programs are planning for CAH needs after the pandemic.
Author(s): John Gale, Zacharia Croll, Yvonne Jonk, Sara Kahn-Troster, Karen Pearson
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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2020 Public Health Ethics Forum: Ethical Dilemmas in Rural Health
Recorded webinars from the 2020 Public Health Ethics Forum focused on the theme: Ethical Dilemmas in Rural Health. Focuses on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, ethics related to barriers and access to rural healthcare services, physical determinants of health and environmental justice, and achieving health equity in rural areas. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Forum Part 2, Forum Part 3
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Incentivized Public Service Response to COVID-19 in Rural and Marginalized Urban Communities
Discusses the potential impact of how an incentivized public health service intervention could help recruit and retain healthcare professionals in rural and underserved communities. Provides strategies for creating a localized service program.
Author(s): Irene Torres, Daniel F. López-Cevallos, Fernando Sacoto
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), 1344-1345
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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September 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2020 meeting. Covers the coronavirus pandemic and Medicare, the context for Medicare payment policy, a mandated report on the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program, a mandated report on the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014's changes to the Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule, and a Congressional request on private equity and Medicare. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Cibola General Hospital Pushes Forward
Describes Cibola General Hospital's (CGH) progress as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project. CGH is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in Grants, New Mexico. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CGH, including the development of telehealth services.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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RHC Cost Reporting During COVID
Recording of a September 22, 2020, webinar covering cost reporting basics for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), including telehealth reporting, FTE and visit calculations, productivity waiver requests, provider relief fund payments, and cost report filing deadlines. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Willingness to Participate in At-Home HIV Testing Among Young Adults Who Use Opioids in Rural Appalachia
Explores a study on the willingness of people who use drugs to take at-home HIV tests in rural Appalachian Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant's age, gender, and syringe usage, among others.
Author(s): April M. Ballard, Regine Haardöerfer, Nadya Prood, et al.
Citation: AIDS and Behavior, 25, 699-708
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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Providing Menu and Shopping Toolkits to Improve Food Access and Security During a Pandemic
Describes menu and shopping list toolkits created by the University of Minnesota Extension to help consumers, rural grocery stores, and emergency food supply organizations achieve increased access to healthy food during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, blizzards, or other situations in which people must shelter at home. Menus contain items commonly found in food pantries and small rural grocery stores.
Author(s): Kelly Kunkel, Abby Gold, Betsy Johnson
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 10(1), 257-260
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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