Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Pharmacy and prescription drugs
MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2021
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, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation. Contains information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiary healthcare access, mortality, and service use. Presents an option for Medicare's coverage of telehealth beyond the public health emergency.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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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, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation. Contains information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiary healthcare access, mortality, and service use. Presents an option for Medicare's coverage of telehealth beyond the public health emergency.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Opioid and Substance Use Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals
Recording of a February 26, 2021, webinar discussing the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in addressing opioid use disorders (OUDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) in local systems of care. Provides a framework to support CAH opioid and substance use initiatives. Highlights examples of OUD and SUD activities taken by CAHs and offers lessons learned.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Recording of a February 26, 2021, webinar discussing the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in addressing opioid use disorders (OUDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) in local systems of care. Provides a framework to support CAH opioid and substance use initiatives. Highlights examples of OUD and SUD activities taken by CAHs and offers lessons learned.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Rural, Suburban, and Urban Differences in Chronic Pain and Coping Among Adults in North Carolina: 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Uses data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to assess rural, suburban, and urban differences in chronic pain severity, causes, and coping mechanisms used by adults in North Carolina. Provides data and statistics on chronic pain by rurality, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and other characteristics.
Author(s): Ann P. Rafferty, Huabin Luo, Kathleen L. Egan, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 18
Date: 02/2021
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Uses data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to assess rural, suburban, and urban differences in chronic pain severity, causes, and coping mechanisms used by adults in North Carolina. Provides data and statistics on chronic pain by rurality, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and other characteristics.
Author(s): Ann P. Rafferty, Huabin Luo, Kathleen L. Egan, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 18
Date: 02/2021
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Health System Challenges for Critical Access Hospitals: Findings from a National Survey of CAH Executives
Results of a 2019 survey of 174 respondents, examining challenges including uncompensated care, affordability of health insurance, patients seeking care beyond their local hospital, and prescription drug prices. Intended to help rural health policymakers in development of strategies to maintain Critical Access Hospital viability and access to healthcare in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharita Thomas, Kristie Thompson, Kathleen Knocke, George Pink
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Results of a 2019 survey of 174 respondents, examining challenges including uncompensated care, affordability of health insurance, patients seeking care beyond their local hospital, and prescription drug prices. Intended to help rural health policymakers in development of strategies to maintain Critical Access Hospital viability and access to healthcare in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharita Thomas, Kristie Thompson, Kathleen Knocke, George Pink
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Opioid-Related and Stimulant-Related Adult Inpatient Stays, 2012-2018
Presents statistics on inpatient hospital stays related to the dependence, misuse, and adverse effects of opioids and stimulants between 2012 and 2018. Examines data by patient characteristics, including age, sex, urban or rural location of residence, and income.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Presents statistics on inpatient hospital stays related to the dependence, misuse, and adverse effects of opioids and stimulants between 2012 and 2018. Examines data by patient characteristics, including age, sex, urban or rural location of residence, and income.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Pharmacy Vaccination Service Availability in Nonmetropolitan Counties
Data brief exploring the availability of pharmacies that might be able to provide vaccinations in rural areas. Features statistics and county-level maps showing availability in nonmetropolitan areas of all retail pharmacies, partner chain/franchise pharmacies, and pharmacies offering immunization services.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Data brief exploring the availability of pharmacies that might be able to provide vaccinations in rural areas. Features statistics and county-level maps showing availability in nonmetropolitan areas of all retail pharmacies, partner chain/franchise pharmacies, and pharmacies offering immunization services.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Rural Emergency Medical Service Providers Perceptions on the Causes of and Solutions to the Opioid Crisis: A Qualitative Assessment
Study examining the perspectives of rural emergency medical service (EMS) providers on key issues related to the opioid crisis, including prescription, ease of access to opioids, socioeconomic vulnerability, mental health, and lack of alternative treatment options. Discusses qualitative data taken from 123 surveys addressing perceived causes and solutions to the crisis.
Author(s): Heather Blue, Ashley Dahly, Susan Chhen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 12, 2150132720987715
Date: 01/2021
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Study examining the perspectives of rural emergency medical service (EMS) providers on key issues related to the opioid crisis, including prescription, ease of access to opioids, socioeconomic vulnerability, mental health, and lack of alternative treatment options. Discusses qualitative data taken from 123 surveys addressing perceived causes and solutions to the crisis.
Author(s): Heather Blue, Ashley Dahly, Susan Chhen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 12, 2150132720987715
Date: 01/2021
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A Demonstration Project: Assessing the Significance and Impact of Utilizing a Novel Telemedicine Application in the Delivery of Community Based Palliative Care in a Rural Seriously Ill Population
Describes a project that evaluated the integration of virtual pharmacy into a palliative care telehealth model in rural western North Carolina. Addresses the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of using a virtual pharmacist, the common drug-drug interactions in that setting, recommendations from a virtual pharmacist related to medication management, and patient-reported outcomes.
Author(s): Janet H. Bull
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Describes a project that evaluated the integration of virtual pharmacy into a palliative care telehealth model in rural western North Carolina. Addresses the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of using a virtual pharmacist, the common drug-drug interactions in that setting, recommendations from a virtual pharmacist related to medication management, and patient-reported outcomes.
Author(s): Janet H. Bull
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Testing a Coaching Program to Help Adults with Diabetes Living in Rural Alabama Take Their Medicine as Directed
Presents a study of a medication adherence initiative in rural Alabama targeting predominantly African American adults with diabetes. Discusses research methods, community engagement and participation, data drawn from the study, and provides materials from the initiative in the appendix.
Author(s): Lynn J. Andreae, Susan J. Andreae, Andrea L. Cherrington, Joshua S. Richman, Monika M. Safford
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
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Presents a study of a medication adherence initiative in rural Alabama targeting predominantly African American adults with diabetes. Discusses research methods, community engagement and participation, data drawn from the study, and provides materials from the initiative in the appendix.
Author(s): Lynn J. Andreae, Susan J. Andreae, Andrea L. Cherrington, Joshua S. Richman, Monika M. Safford
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
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Exploring the Role of Health Centers in Providing Medication-assisted Treatment
Examines the geographic areas that are most dependent on health centers for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. Compares statistics on DATA-waived providers and health centers with MAT patients across metropolitan, non-metropolitan, and rural health centers.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Examines the geographic areas that are most dependent on health centers for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. Compares statistics on DATA-waived providers and health centers with MAT patients across metropolitan, non-metropolitan, and rural health centers.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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