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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Pharmacy and prescription drugs

MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2023
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services; Medicare Advantage (MA), including a mandated report comparing per enrollee spending in the MA program with that of traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare; and Medicare Part D.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Availability of Behavioral Health Providers and Services in Rural Areas, with Holly Andrilla
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Holly Andrilla, Deputy Director of the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on rural availability of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and counselors, as well as recent developments in access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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COVID-19 Booster Vaccination in Rural Community Pharmacies
Examines perceptions surrounding COVID-19 booster vaccinations in rural southeastern community pharmacies. Utilizes February-March 2022 survey data from 112 pharmacists part of the the Rural Research Alliance of Community Pharmacies (RURAL-CP) and analyzes number of pharmacies offering COVID-19 booster vaccinations, reasons for choosing versus not choosing vaccination, barriers to COVID-19 booster vaccinations, and more.
Author(s): Abigail Gamble, Tessa J. Hastings, Salisa C. Westrick, et al.
Citation: Vaccine, 41(5), 999-1002
Date: 01/2023
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Rural Americans' COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions and Willingness to Vaccinate against COVID-19 with Their Community Pharmacists: An Exploratory Study
Presents a study on the perceptions of rural people on the COVID-19 vaccine and their willingness to receive a vaccine from their community pharmacist. Bases findings on phone-based interviews with rural adults. Breaks down data by age, sex, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Alexis M. Koskan, Iris E. LoCoco, Casey L. Daniel, et al.
Citation: Vaccines, 11(1), 171
Date: 01/2023
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Challenges with Vaccination Data Hinder State and Local Immunization Program Efforts to Combat COVID-19
Presents results of a December 2021 survey of 56 state and local immunization programs regarding whether they receive individual-level COVID-19 vaccination data from Federal agencies and retail pharmacy partners. Discusses the impact of having incomplete individual-level vaccination data on reaching unvaccinated and vulnerable populations, including rural populations. Includes recommendations for the CDC to mitigate data gaps and ensure that state and local immunization programs are aware of existing tools to address vaccination campaign needs.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Telemedicine Use and Quality of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study of 1,768 clinicians treating 11,801 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), to examine the association between telemedicine adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and indicators of OUD treatment quality. Explores medications for OUD (MOUD) prescribing and OUD-related clinical events, including drug overdose, inpatient detoxification, and rehabilitation center stay. Features statistics including patient and clinician characteristics, with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, and rural location.
Author(s): Ruth Hailu, Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alisa B. Busch, Michael L. Barnett
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1)
Date: 01/2023
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Travel Times to Facilities Offering Oral Medication Therapy for COVID-19
Results of a study exploring accessibility of oral COVID-19 therapeutics across the United States, by examining travel times to places where these medications are available. Features a county-level map with shadings showing ranges of travel time by census tract.
Author(s): Peter A. Kahn, Xiaohan Ying, Walter S. Mathis
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2249810
Date: 01/2023
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Number of Health Care Facilities per 100,000 Rural and Urban (Pennsylvania) Residents
Provides statistics for Pennsylvania hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, skilled nursing facilities, pharmacies, physicians and dentists offices, and residential mental health/substance abuse facilities.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Experiences with Health Care Access, Cost, and Coverage: Findings from the 2022 KFF Women's Health Survey
Presents findings from the 2022 KFF Women's Health Survey of 5,145 women ages 18-64 who were asked about their health status, use of prescription medications, accessibility to healthcare, their selected care sites, check-ups, use of telemedicine, and health coverage and costs. Includes data on telehealth services provided by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Michelle Long, Brittni Frederiksen, Usha Ranji, Alina Salganicoff, Karen Diep
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Urban and Rural Spending Habits
A collection of charts showing changes in spending in urban and rural areas in 2019 compared to 2020. Includes data on healthcare expenditures, including medical supplies, medical services, health insurance, and prescription drugs. Also covers spending related to food, transportation, and more.
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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