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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

CMS Pandemic Plan
Guide to help CMS prepare for, respond to, and recover from current and future pandemic threats. Addresses policy responses related to waivers and flexibilities. Includes some information specific to rural healthcare providers, healthcare facilities, and residents.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Opportunities in Medicaid and CHIP to Address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
Describes services and supports that can be covered by Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) to address social determinants of health (SDOH). Discusses federal authorities and other opportunities that states can utilize to address SDOH through Medicaid and CHIP, including through Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). Appendix B highlights examples of services and supports and the corresponding federal authorities that could be used to cover each.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan for the United States: A Roadmap to Elimination 2021-2025
Functions as a comprehensive roadmap for federal and other stakeholders to decrease and ultimately eliminate viral hepatitis cases, prevent new infections, and enhance treatment and care in the U.S. Provides information on Hepatitis A, B, and C, including the number of reported and estimated cases from 2010-2018, current challenges, priority populations, and more.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Mental Health Systems Solutions Explorer
Interactive tool offering evidence-based solutions to increase mental healthcare utilization, increase access to care, and establish a continuum of care. Contains examples of each solution in practice. Solutions can be filtered to view those specifically of interest to rural communities.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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How to Transform the U.S. Mental Health System: Evidence-based Recommendations
Discusses evidence-based strategies to promote mental healthcare utilization, improve access to care, and establish a continuum of care. Offers 15 recommendations to improve mental healthcare, including policies regarding reimbursement, workforce growth, and digital and telehealth services, among other topics. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report, Research Brief: Transforming Mental Health Care in the United States
Author(s): Ryan K. McBain, Nicole K. Eberhart, Joshua Breslau, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Statewide Stay‐At‐Home Directives on the Spread of COVID‐19 in Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Counties in the United States
Explores the rate of COVID-19 cases by county in states with stay-at-home directives and attempts to chart their effectiveness in slowing the spread of the disease. Compares rates in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties.
Author(s): Ge Lin, Tonglin Zhang, Ying Zhang, Quanyi Wang
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 222-223
Date: 01/2021
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Telehealth Policies Impacting Federally Qualified Health Centers in Face of COVID‐19
Provides an overview of changes to federal, California Medicaid, and private insurer telehealth policies in response to COVID-19. Discusses opportunities and limitations Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics may face in expanding telehealth services. Offers recommendations for removing barriers for providers in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Miku Sodhi
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 158-160
Date: 01/2021
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Ethics and Economic Growth in the Age of COVID-19: What is a Just Society to Do?
Explores the differences between public health and economic decision-making approaches. Discusses how rural communities and rural healthcare infrastructure will benefit from funding increases in response to COVID-19.
Author(s): Peter E. Hilsenrath
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 146-147
Date: 01/2021
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Producing Insecurity: Healthcare Access, Health Insurance, and Wellbeing among American Indian Elders
Analyzes the results of 96 surveys and interviews with American Indian elders aged 55 and older in U.S. Southwest to determine their perception of fear and doubt regarding interactions with healthcare providers and IHS facilities, and the costs of healthcare services and health insurance.
Author(s): Jaramillo, E.T., Willging, C. E.
Citation: Social Science & Medicine, 268
Date: 2021
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California State Plan on Aging 2021-2025
Offers a 5-year plan for California's Department of Aging (CDA) outlining priorities and objectives, including the state's response to older adults in rural areas. Appendices offer data on the population 60+, specifying minority, non-minority, low-income, geographically isolated, and Medi-Cal eligible elders.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: California Health and Human Services Agency
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