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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health
Describes the state of maternal health in the United States, including data and statistics on mortality and morbidity. Discusses risks to maternal health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, intimate partner violence, and more. Recommends strategies and actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can implement to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Healthy Women, Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Futures: Action Plan to Improve Maternal Health in America
Action plan outlining steps the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is taking to reduce maternal mortality and address disparities that endanger women before, during, and following pregnancy. Four main goals include: improving prevention and treatment services to promote positive health outcomes for every woman of reproductive age; prioritizing quality improvement efforts to support healthy pregnancies and births; improving postpartum health; and enhancing data and research to inform future interventions. Includes data and statistics on maternal health and morbidity, and addresses rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Dawn Alley, Andre Chappel, Nancy De Lew, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Case Study: Exploring Options to Deploy Capitated Payments to Enhance Primary Care in Rural Settings
Discusses the need for primary care services in rural areas. Provides an overview of healthcare delivery models that utilize capitated payments. Presents examples of capitated payment agreements aimed at increasing the use and quality of primary care services in rural communities, and offers lessons learned.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Colorado 2020 Strategic Action Plan on Aging
Discusses aging in Colorado and recommends strategies and approaches to promote healthy aging, access to health services, wellness, and community participation of older Coloradans. Mentions rural throughout. See chapter 8 for discussion of rural transportation and mobility management.
Author(s): Jarett Hughes
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Strategic Planning Group on Aging
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Buprenorphine Dispensing in an Epicenter of the U.S. Opioid Epidemic: A Case Study of the Rural Risk Environment in Appalachian Kentucky
Explores buprenorphine dispensing practices among pharmacists in rural, Appalachian Kentucky, highlighting issues related to buprenorphine dispensing hesitancy. Identifies themes from interviews with 14 pharmacists operating in 12 rural, Appalachian Kentucky counties and discusses dispensing risk environment. Reviews factors influencing hesitancy, including national and state-level drug policy, stigma, and continuing impacts of the opioid epidemic.
Author(s): Hannah LF Cooper, David H. Cloud, Patricia R. Freeman, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Drug Policy, 85, 102701
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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Indian Health 101: Fulfilling a Promise
Presents an overview of the Indian Health Service (IHS) including the legislative history and financial support for the development of IHS. Discusses health disparities and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 experienced by American Indians/Alaska Natives.
Author(s): Christopher D. Chavis
Date: 11/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Indian Health Board
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To Improve Rural Health Equity, Invest in Housing, Water, and Food Access
Discusses proven solutions state and federal policymakers can adopt to promote health equity in rural communities by focusing on investments in water, housing, and food access.
Author(s): Amanda Gold, Jorge Morales-Burnett, Corianne Payton Scally
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Utah's Physician Workforce, 2020
Study of Utah's physician workforce, based on a 2019 survey by the Utah Medical Education Council. Discusses supply and demand, demographics, geographic distribution, practice characteristics, projected supply and demand, and specialty profiles including primary care and specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Jared Staheli, Clark Ruttinger
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Utah Health Workforce Information Center
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November 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) November 2020 meeting. Covers the expansion of telehealth in Medicare, Medicare beneficiaries' access to care in rural areas, effects of pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates on Part D's risk adjustment, and improving competition among Part D's benchmark plans.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Testing Program
Recording of a November 16, 2020, webinar providing information about HRSA's allocation of funds to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) for COVID-19 testing and HRSA's RHC testing terms and conditions. Includes information on the RHC COVID-19 Reporting Portal, a list of frequently asked questions, and contact information for COVID-19 testing technical assistance. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 11/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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