Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
State Strategies to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Rural Communities
Discusses the role of governors in addressing COVID-19 vaccine confidence, access, and uptake in rural communities. Presents three considerations for governors and state officials, examples of best and promising practices, and short- and long-term strategies for addressing challenges to vaccination efforts in rural areas.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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Discusses the role of governors in addressing COVID-19 vaccine confidence, access, and uptake in rural communities. Presents three considerations for governors and state officials, examples of best and promising practices, and short- and long-term strategies for addressing challenges to vaccination efforts in rural areas.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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Rural Residency Training as a Strategy to Address Rural Health Disparities: Barriers to Expansion and Possible Solutions
Identifies barriers rural communities face in developing and sustaining graduate medical education programs, and proposes potential solutions including regulatory fixes and legislative action. Includes definitions of key concepts and terminology in the Supplementary Data section.
Additional links: Supplementary Data
Author(s): Emily M. Hawes, Erin Fraher, Steven Crane, et al.
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 13(4), 461-465
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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Identifies barriers rural communities face in developing and sustaining graduate medical education programs, and proposes potential solutions including regulatory fixes and legislative action. Includes definitions of key concepts and terminology in the Supplementary Data section.
Additional links: Supplementary Data
Author(s): Emily M. Hawes, Erin Fraher, Steven Crane, et al.
Citation: Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 13(4), 461-465
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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Potential Implications of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant Surges for Rural Areas and Hospitals
Opinion piece highlighting features of rural healthcare systems that make it more difficult for those hospitals to withstand surges in COVID-19 cases. Suggests possible solutions for institutions, governments, and society as they navigate the potentially rural-dominant Delta variant phase.
Author(s): Sameer S. Kadri, Steven Q. Simpson
Citation: JAMA
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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Opinion piece highlighting features of rural healthcare systems that make it more difficult for those hospitals to withstand surges in COVID-19 cases. Suggests possible solutions for institutions, governments, and society as they navigate the potentially rural-dominant Delta variant phase.
Author(s): Sameer S. Kadri, Steven Q. Simpson
Citation: JAMA
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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The Swing Bed Program: Impacting Patients, Providers, and Community
Brief video overview of the swing bed program, which helps rural hospitals provide patient- and community-centric post-acute healthcare. Describes the history, related policy issues, early implementation, and evolution of the program.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Brief video overview of the swing bed program, which helps rural hospitals provide patient- and community-centric post-acute healthcare. Describes the history, related policy issues, early implementation, and evolution of the program.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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History of the Swing Bed: A Look Through the Rural Rearview Mirror
Reviews the history of the swing bed program, which helps rural hospitals serve patients and the community through provision of post-acute care. Shares insights from experts who describe early implementation and key program elements that have contributed to the program's success.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Reviews the history of the swing bed program, which helps rural hospitals serve patients and the community through provision of post-acute care. Shares insights from experts who describe early implementation and key program elements that have contributed to the program's success.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Understanding the Rural Swing Bed: More than Just a Reimbursement Policy
Provides an overview of the swing bed program and its role as a patient-centric post-acute care solution that helps rural hospitals serve their communities. Discusses the impact of the program, reimbursement, quality measures, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Provides an overview of the swing bed program and its role as a patient-centric post-acute care solution that helps rural hospitals serve their communities. Discusses the impact of the program, reimbursement, quality measures, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Not Your Mother's Healthcare: Surveying Consumer Experiences with Telehealth Services
Recording of an August 4, 2021, webinar on telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents results of a survey conducted between June 28-July 18, 2021, on telehealth utilization, patient satisfaction, and obstacles to accessing telehealth services. Includes data on rural and urban differences throughout. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Recording of an August 4, 2021, webinar on telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents results of a survey conducted between June 28-July 18, 2021, on telehealth utilization, patient satisfaction, and obstacles to accessing telehealth services. Includes data on rural and urban differences throughout. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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COVID-19: HHS's Collection of Hospital Capacity Data
Examines the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implementation of the HHS Project, which was launched in April 2020 to collect national and state-level hospital capacity data. Discusses reporting requirements and challenges, use of the data collected, and lessons learned regarding the collection of hospital capacity data during a public health emergency.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implementation of the HHS Project, which was launched in April 2020 to collect national and state-level hospital capacity data. Discusses reporting requirements and challenges, use of the data collected, and lessons learned regarding the collection of hospital capacity data during a public health emergency.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The Rural Emergency Hospital and Value-Based Care
Summarizes the new Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) legislation, outlines local considerations before REH conversion, and prepares stakeholders to comment when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services releases REH proposed rules for public input. Addresses questions regarding anticipated proposed rules and describes opportunities to inform REH rulemaking.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes the new Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) legislation, outlines local considerations before REH conversion, and prepares stakeholders to comment when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services releases REH proposed rules for public input. Addresses questions regarding anticipated proposed rules and describes opportunities to inform REH rulemaking.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Telebehavioral Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Analysis of Provider Experiences and Perspectives
Examines behavioral health provider perspectives on use of telebehavioral health before and during the pandemic, based on interviews with 31 behavioral health providers in Michigan. Describes how policy changes affected access to and use of behavioral health services, especially among rural residents. Includes statistics on provider characteristics, with breakdowns by urban or rural primary practice location.
Author(s): Victoria Schoebel, Caitlyn Wayment, Maria Gaiser, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 27(8), 947-954
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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Examines behavioral health provider perspectives on use of telebehavioral health before and during the pandemic, based on interviews with 31 behavioral health providers in Michigan. Describes how policy changes affected access to and use of behavioral health services, especially among rural residents. Includes statistics on provider characteristics, with breakdowns by urban or rural primary practice location.
Author(s): Victoria Schoebel, Caitlyn Wayment, Maria Gaiser, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 27(8), 947-954
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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