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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Pharmacy and prescription drugs

Sole Community Pharmacies and Part D Participation: Implications for Rural Residents
Describes the contracting patterns of sole rural community pharmacies in 16 states to assess the extent to which each pharmacy contracts with the most commonly used Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) available in their state.
Author(s): Victoria Freeman, Indira Richardson, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 02/2009
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Medicare Beneficiaries' Access to Pharmacy Services in Small Rural Towns: Implications of Contracting Patterns of Sole Community Pharmacies with Part D Plans
Describes pharmacy Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) contract patterns of sole rural pharmacies. Addresses PDP enrollment choices of Medicare Part D enrollees.
Author(s): Victoria A Freeman, Indira Richardson, Rebecca T. Slifkin
Date: 01/2009
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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The Association Between Rural Residence and the Use, Type, and Quality of Depression Care
Reports on the link between rurality and the preference for using pharmacotherapy, rather than psychotherapy, to treat depression among rural populations. Also examines whether individuals with depression in rural areas receive lower quality care than their urban counterparts due to the lack of mental health specialists in rural areas.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): John C. Fortney, Jeffrey S. Harman, Stanley Xu, Fran Dong
Date: 2009
Sponsoring organization: WICHE Center for Rural Mental Health Research
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Implementation of Telepharmacy in Rural Hospitals: Potential for Improving Medication Safety
Describes successful telepharmacy activities being implemented in rural hospitals and analyzes policy issues related to the implementation of telepharmacy projects in rural hospitals.
Additional links: Policy Brief, March 2009
Author(s): Michelle Casey, Walter Elias, Alana Knudson, Walter Gregg
Date: 12/2008
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Hospitals: Are You Missing out on Drug Savings?
Outlines the 340B Drug Pricing Program with a focus on cost saving capability for rural organizations.
Author(s): Andrea Radford, Rebecca Slifkin, Claudia Schur, Karen Cheung, Marianne Baernholdt
Citation: Healthcare Financial Management, 62(6), 82-85
Date: 06/2008
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Report to HRSA: Opportunities to Advance Clinical Pharmacy Services in Safety-Net Settings
Offers recommendations for how Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs such as the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) can improve the use of clinical pharmacists in safety net settings. Covers challenges for safety net providers and rural areas, including the difficulty of recruiting and retaining clinical pharmacists and Medicaid reimbursement.
Author(s): Suzanne Felt-Lisk, Todd Sorensen, Zandra Glenn, Margaret Colby, Christopher Fleming
Date: 01/2008
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica Policy Research
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Review of the Relationship between Medicare Part D Payments to Local, Community Pharmacies and the Pharmacies' Drug Acquisition Costs
Analyzes the relationship between Medicare Part D payments, excluding dispensing fees, to local, community pharmacies and the pharmacies' drug acquisition costs. Estimate Part D dispensing fees and compares them with Medicaid dispensing fees. Includes some data specific to rural pharmacies.
Date: 01/2008
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Rural Hospitals' Experience with the 340B Drug Pricing Program
Policy brief describing the results of surveys of rural hospitals participating in the 340B drug pricing program and of rural eligible but non-participating hospitals. Includes information on factors affecting participation in the program and the benefits and challenges of participation.
Author(s): Claudia Schur, Karen Cheung, Andrea Radford, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 09/2007
Sponsoring organizations: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Retail Pharmacy Participation in Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans in 2006
Discusses the extent to which retail pharmacies participate in Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs). Includes comparison of pharmacy participation rates among metropolitan and nonmetropolitan pharmacies.
Date: 06/2007
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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340B Drug Pricing Program: Results of a Survey of Participating Hospitals
Presents the results of a survey of pharmacy directors at rural hospitals buying discounted outpatient drugs through the 340B program. The purpose was to understand the perspectives of pharmacy directors on the 340B program in general, the financial impact of the program, and which specific program features presented barriers to its broader implementation.
Author(s): Claudia Schur, Karen Cheung, Andrea Radford, Rebecca Slifkin, Marianne Baernholdt
Date: 05/2007
Sponsoring organizations: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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