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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Maternal Health in Rural America
White paper describing factors contributing to rural maternal health disparities, including financial barriers to providing obstetric services at rural hospitals, maternal health workforce shortages, access to care, and quality of care. Outlines policy considerations to increase access to maternal health services in rural areas.
Author(s): Hailey Waldman, Alexandra Zimmerman
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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A New Path Forward: A Progress Report on the Implementation of the Equity Commission's Recommendations - Update 2024
Reports on efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to advance equity in accordance with Equity Commission recommendations. Discusses the department's commitment to equitable service delivery, and describes updates to programs affecting farmers and ranchers, farmworkers, tribal communities, nutrition assistance, immigrants, rural development, healthcare access, and more.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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What Does It Mean to Be a Rural Emergency Hospital? Hear This Kansas CEO's Journey to An REH
Recording of a February 8, 2024, webinar discussing the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program. Provides an overview of the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services, and REH conversion timeline. Features a discussion with Jeff Bowman, Chief Executive Officer of South Central Kansas Medical Center, regarding the facility's conversion to REH status.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 02/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Housing Needs of Survivors of Human Trafficking Study
Assesses housing availability for human trafficking survivors who are or at risk of being homeless. Discusses resources available, policies that impact housing accessibility, barriers to housing, and best practices. Offers preliminary recommendations related to scaling services and technical assistance. Discusses needs for rural and tribal communities.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Closing the Coverage Gap: Policy Considerations for Public-Private Solutions to Expand Health Insurance in Georgia
Explores policy and funding considerations influencing the expansion of health insurance in Georgia, including current programs, population health and demographics, and Medicaid expansion models. Evaluates the suitability of the Arkansas "private option" expansion approach for Georgia, and discusses its implementation. Highlights rural concerns throughout.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Initiative
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Perspectives on APRN Prescribing of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Key Barriers Remain
Interviewed 76 healthcare and industry workers across 4 states to identify themes related to nurse practitioner (NP) scope of practice regulations for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Topics covered include access to care, rural needs, psychiatric NPs, and the nursing model of care. Discusses policy measures and other barriers to offering care.
Author(s): Susan A. Chapman, Leah Fraimow-Wong, Bethany J. Phoenix, Matthew Tierney, Joanne Spetz
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 157, 209215
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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ACP Consumer Survey
Survey of 5,317 Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) households to measure the impact of ACP participation on internet access and affordability. Includes rural breakdown of data and access to healthcare data.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Hearing on Examining Chronic Drug Shortages in the United States
Congressional hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives Ways & Means Committee discussing pharmaceutical drug shortages. Discusses cancer care, healthcare quality, the 340B program, supply and demand, reimbursement, and other policy measures. Witnesses include Dr. Stephen Schleicher discussing rural concerns. Captions available in video player.
Additional links: Dr. Stephen Schleicher Testimony
Date: 02/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee
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Health Industry Cybersecurity Strategic Plan
Presents a strategic plan for cybersecurity in the health industry, and provides supplementary materials. Identifies industry trends, cybersecurity goals, objectives, and measurable outcomes, and describes the significance of cybersecurity to healthcare delivery organizations. Suggests possibilities for implementation, industrial collaboration, and policy development. Includes discussion of rural health service providers.
Additional links: Full Strategic Plan (2024-2029)
Date: 02/2024
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) Cybersecurity Working Group
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The Health of US Primary Care: 2024 Scorecard Report — No One Can See You Now
Second annual scorecard exploring primary care in the United States across measures in four categories: access, financing, workforce/training, and research. Identifies five factors contributing to increased challenges in accessing primary care. The appendix includes data on the number and percentage of physician residents trained in an MUA, rural county, or both between the 2012-2013 and 2021-2022 academic years.
Additional links: Appendix, Full Report
Author(s): Yalda Jabbarpour, Anuradha Jetty, Hoon Byun, et al.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Milbank Memorial Fund, Robert Graham Center, The Physicians Foundation
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