Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Recruiting and Retaining Behavioral Health Workers in Rural America: A Toolkit for Action
Explores successful tactics and programs, and elements missing from many current efforts to recruit and retain behavioral health workers. Describes funding opportunities, pipeline programs, telehealth initiatives, innovative approaches to recruitment and retention, and legislative changes in 2019 that helped promote recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Nancy Baum, Jaque King
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health and Research Transformation, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Explores successful tactics and programs, and elements missing from many current efforts to recruit and retain behavioral health workers. Describes funding opportunities, pipeline programs, telehealth initiatives, innovative approaches to recruitment and retention, and legislative changes in 2019 that helped promote recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Nancy Baum, Jaque King
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health and Research Transformation, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Healthcare from Anywhere: Telehealth Use and Perceptions in Rural Michigan
Examines the current state of telehealth services in rural Michigan. Discusses state and local policies related to access to telehealth services, perceptions of telehealth services, and how these services are used by physicians. Identifies barriers rural Michigan healthcare providers and residents face in utilizing telehealth services. Presents recommendations that would increase access to telehealth services for rural Michigan residents. Includes an overview of the telehealth policy environment of all 50 states, with a focus on states with moderate or progressive telehealth policy environments.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Connected Nation, Michigan Health Endowment
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Examines the current state of telehealth services in rural Michigan. Discusses state and local policies related to access to telehealth services, perceptions of telehealth services, and how these services are used by physicians. Identifies barriers rural Michigan healthcare providers and residents face in utilizing telehealth services. Presents recommendations that would increase access to telehealth services for rural Michigan residents. Includes an overview of the telehealth policy environment of all 50 states, with a focus on states with moderate or progressive telehealth policy environments.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Connected Nation, Michigan Health Endowment
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Nursing Home Closures and Trends: June 2015 - June 2019
Provides an overview of the causes and implications of 500 nursing home closures between June 2015 and June 2019. Examines the geographic distribution of these closures, including states in which closures are concentrated in rural areas. Explores nursing home closures in relation to occupancy rates, quality ratings, tax status, and the impact of Medicaid payment policies. Offers recommendations for policymakers and nursing homes.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: LeadingAge
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Provides an overview of the causes and implications of 500 nursing home closures between June 2015 and June 2019. Examines the geographic distribution of these closures, including states in which closures are concentrated in rural areas. Explores nursing home closures in relation to occupancy rates, quality ratings, tax status, and the impact of Medicaid payment policies. Offers recommendations for policymakers and nursing homes.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: LeadingAge
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Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs
Describes 4 categories of health information technology and electronic health record (EHR)-related burdens for healthcare providers. Presents strategies and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders to reduce the burdens in each category. Includes brief notes on how these policy changes can be implemented with small and rural providers in mind.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Describes 4 categories of health information technology and electronic health record (EHR)-related burdens for healthcare providers. Presents strategies and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders to reduce the burdens in each category. Includes brief notes on how these policy changes can be implemented with small and rural providers in mind.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Impact of Medicaid Work Requirements on Hospital Finances
Explores the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 16 states. Provides a fact sheet on each state, including a section comparing the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements on rural hospitals' operating margins to all hospitals in the state.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Explores the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 16 states. Provides a fact sheet on each state, including a section comparing the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements on rural hospitals' operating margins to all hospitals in the state.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Availability of Naloxone at Rural Georgia Pharmacies, 2019
Research letter describing a study of 374 rural Georgia pharmacies. Examines pharmacists' awareness of the Georgia law allowing purchase of naloxone without a prescription, and availability and cost of the medicine.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Nguyen, Lauren R. Gilbert, Lauren Beasley, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(2)
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Research letter describing a study of 374 rural Georgia pharmacies. Examines pharmacists' awareness of the Georgia law allowing purchase of naloxone without a prescription, and availability and cost of the medicine.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Nguyen, Lauren R. Gilbert, Lauren Beasley, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(2)
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Are Rural Infants Benefiting from WIC Food Package Rule Changes? Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Behaviors
Examines if 2009 revisions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) changed breastfeeding and infant feeding practices among rural and urban WIC participants. Compares breastfeeding initiation rates and the age infants were introduced to solid foods in rural and urban areas. Discusses implications for future policies to promote breastfeeding and healthy infant feeding practices.
Author(s): Ariun Ishdorj, Hongyang Di, Elfreda Samman, Lisako McKyer
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Examines if 2009 revisions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) changed breastfeeding and infant feeding practices among rural and urban WIC participants. Compares breastfeeding initiation rates and the age infants were introduced to solid foods in rural and urban areas. Discusses implications for future policies to promote breastfeeding and healthy infant feeding practices.
Author(s): Ariun Ishdorj, Hongyang Di, Elfreda Samman, Lisako McKyer
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Telehealth Use among Rural Individuals with Disabilities
Presents a review of literature on telehealth use by people with disabilities in rural areas, covering research published in the period 2000-2019. Identifies benefits, limitations, and challenges, including barriers associated with regulation and funding, and identifies areas for further study. Includes discussion of reports and position papers as well as evidence-based studies.
Author(s): Keith M Christensen, Jill Bezyak
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rocky Mountain ADA Center (RMADAC)
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Presents a review of literature on telehealth use by people with disabilities in rural areas, covering research published in the period 2000-2019. Identifies benefits, limitations, and challenges, including barriers associated with regulation and funding, and identifies areas for further study. Includes discussion of reports and position papers as well as evidence-based studies.
Author(s): Keith M Christensen, Jill Bezyak
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rocky Mountain ADA Center (RMADAC)
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Vermont Rural Health Task Force Workforce Subcommittee Report
Provides an overview of the state of the healthcare workforce in Vermont. Describes actions taken to date by providers, the government, and non-profit organizations to combat workforce challenges in the state. Offers additional policy solutions to meet the healthcare workforce demand in Vermont.
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Health Services Task Force, State of Vermont: Green Mountain Care Board
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Provides an overview of the state of the healthcare workforce in Vermont. Describes actions taken to date by providers, the government, and non-profit organizations to combat workforce challenges in the state. Offers additional policy solutions to meet the healthcare workforce demand in Vermont.
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Health Services Task Force, State of Vermont: Green Mountain Care Board
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State Telehealth Medicaid Fee-For-Service Policy: A Historical Analysis of Telehealth: 2013-2019
Examines national and state-by-state trends in Medicaid fee-for-service policies regarding telehealth between 2013-2019. Highlights changes in expanded telehealth and telemedicine definitions, modalities that are reimbursed, and geographic limitations. Provides graphs and national maps throughout to supplement reported trends.
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Examines national and state-by-state trends in Medicaid fee-for-service policies regarding telehealth between 2013-2019. Highlights changes in expanded telehealth and telemedicine definitions, modalities that are reimbursed, and geographic limitations. Provides graphs and national maps throughout to supplement reported trends.
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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