Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Persistent Gaps in SNAP Benefit Adequacy across the Rural-Urban Continuum
Report examining gaps in the adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to cover the cost of a meal across the rural-urban continuum using the USDA's Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCs). Discusses characteristics of the counties with the largest gaps and addresses the policy implications of the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) update to SNAP.
Author(s): Olivia Fiol, Elaine Waxman, Craig Gunderson
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Report examining gaps in the adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to cover the cost of a meal across the rural-urban continuum using the USDA's Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCs). Discusses characteristics of the counties with the largest gaps and addresses the policy implications of the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) update to SNAP.
Author(s): Olivia Fiol, Elaine Waxman, Craig Gunderson
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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The Impact of Aging Baby Boomers in Rural America
Policy brief discussing the impact of the increasing proportion of the population turning 65 years old on rural communities. Offers policy recommendations for addressing barriers rural older adults face accessing healthcare and social services.
Author(s): Sarah Huling, Elizabeth Crouch, Whitney Zahnd
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief discussing the impact of the increasing proportion of the population turning 65 years old on rural communities. Offers policy recommendations for addressing barriers rural older adults face accessing healthcare and social services.
Author(s): Sarah Huling, Elizabeth Crouch, Whitney Zahnd
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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How States Use ARPA Funds to Support Telehealth, Technology and Data Infrastructure
Interactive map displaying how states used a one-time increase in the federal medical assistance program (FMAP) for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) through March 31, 2022, to support telehealth service delivery, technology-based innovations, and data infrastructure building opportunities.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Interactive map displaying how states used a one-time increase in the federal medical assistance program (FMAP) for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) through March 31, 2022, to support telehealth service delivery, technology-based innovations, and data infrastructure building opportunities.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Critical Access Hospitals' Initial Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Use of Federal Funding and Regulatory Flexibilities
Explores how Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) used federal relief funding and regulatory waivers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through August 2020. Summarizes results of a survey of CAH executives in eight states. Discusses the sources of federal funding CAHs received and the types of regulatory waivers and flexibilities these CAHs used.
Author(s): Ira Moscovice, Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Nathan Bean, Keelia Silvis
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Explores how Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) used federal relief funding and regulatory waivers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through August 2020. Summarizes results of a survey of CAH executives in eight states. Discusses the sources of federal funding CAHs received and the types of regulatory waivers and flexibilities these CAHs used.
Author(s): Ira Moscovice, Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Nathan Bean, Keelia Silvis
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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COVID-19: HHS Agencies' Planned Reviews of Vaccine Distribution and Communication Efforts Should Include Stakeholder Perspectives
Discusses the perspectives of state and local health officials in four states and 12 national stakeholder organizations regarding federal COVID-19 vaccine distribution and education programs. Examines how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Services and Research Administration (HRSA) plan to evaluate vaccine implementation efforts. Offers recommendations for CDC and HRSA to obtain input from and share lessons learned with key stakeholders. Includes information on the Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Program and the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses the perspectives of state and local health officials in four states and 12 national stakeholder organizations regarding federal COVID-19 vaccine distribution and education programs. Examines how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Services and Research Administration (HRSA) plan to evaluate vaccine implementation efforts. Offers recommendations for CDC and HRSA to obtain input from and share lessons learned with key stakeholders. Includes information on the Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Program and the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Youth Homelessness: HUD and HHS Could Enhance Coordination to Better Support Communities
Discusses how the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Health and Human Services (HHS) coordinate programs that serve youth experiencing homelessness. Describes local communities' coordination of HUD and HHS grant programs and examines challenges communities reported facing in serving youth through these programs through interviews with agency officials and programs that serve youth experiencing homelessness, including programs in rural areas. Offers 10 recommendations for HUD and HHS to improve services for youth experiencing homelessness.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses how the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Health and Human Services (HHS) coordinate programs that serve youth experiencing homelessness. Describes local communities' coordination of HUD and HHS grant programs and examines challenges communities reported facing in serving youth through these programs through interviews with agency officials and programs that serve youth experiencing homelessness, including programs in rural areas. Offers 10 recommendations for HUD and HHS to improve services for youth experiencing homelessness.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The State of Nutrition in America 2021
Video of testimony presented to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry on Nov. 2, 2021. Discusses nutrition insecurity, nutrition-related health disparities, and diet-related disease, including ways in which this affects those who are low-income, rural, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and other racial or ethnic minorities. Includes links for transcripts.
Additional links: Testimony by Angela Odoms-Young, Cornell University, Testimony by Angela Rachidi, American Enterprise Institute, Testimony by Dariush Mozaffarian, Tufts School of Medicine, Testimony by Donald Warne, University of North Dakota, Testimony by Patrick Stover, Texas A&M University
Author(s): Dariush Mozaffarian, Angela Odoms-Young, Donald Warne, Patrick Stover, Angela Rachidi
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
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Video of testimony presented to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry on Nov. 2, 2021. Discusses nutrition insecurity, nutrition-related health disparities, and diet-related disease, including ways in which this affects those who are low-income, rural, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and other racial or ethnic minorities. Includes links for transcripts.
Additional links: Testimony by Angela Odoms-Young, Cornell University, Testimony by Angela Rachidi, American Enterprise Institute, Testimony by Dariush Mozaffarian, Tufts School of Medicine, Testimony by Donald Warne, University of North Dakota, Testimony by Patrick Stover, Texas A&M University
Author(s): Dariush Mozaffarian, Angela Odoms-Young, Donald Warne, Patrick Stover, Angela Rachidi
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Summary, Washington, D.C., October 25-27, 2021
Summarizes the 89th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held virtually. Presents an overview of national and Arizona perspectives on the meeting's two areas of focus: behavioral health and primary care integration in rural America and the Rural Emergency Hospital designation.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Summarizes the 89th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held virtually. Presents an overview of national and Arizona perspectives on the meeting's two areas of focus: behavioral health and primary care integration in rural America and the Rural Emergency Hospital designation.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Rural Emergency Hospital: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Describes the development of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation in response to rural hospital closures and issues accessing emergency care. Lists statutory requirements for hospitals wishing to become an REH, and offers policy recommendations related to participation conditions, quality reporting, reimbursement, and emergency medical transfer agreement.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Describes the development of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation in response to rural hospital closures and issues accessing emergency care. Lists statutory requirements for hospitals wishing to become an REH, and offers policy recommendations related to participation conditions, quality reporting, reimbursement, and emergency medical transfer agreement.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Recruitment and Retention Issues for Counselors in Rural Pennsylvania Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs
Results of a study of Pennsylvania substance use disorder (SUD) counselors and directors of treatment programs and clinics, to assess the characteristics of treatment counselors in rural Pennsylvania counties and how those characteristics relate to recruitment and retention issues. Also examines how well higher education institutions in rural counties prepare those entering the profession, and analyzes the effectiveness of state-level incentives, like the student loan repayment program, to attract potential SUD counselors. Features statistics on counselors' characteristics and duties, and client characteristics.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Jennifer Murphy
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Results of a study of Pennsylvania substance use disorder (SUD) counselors and directors of treatment programs and clinics, to assess the characteristics of treatment counselors in rural Pennsylvania counties and how those characteristics relate to recruitment and retention issues. Also examines how well higher education institutions in rural counties prepare those entering the profession, and analyzes the effectiveness of state-level incentives, like the student loan repayment program, to attract potential SUD counselors. Features statistics on counselors' characteristics and duties, and client characteristics.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Jennifer Murphy
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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