Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs
Describes 4 categories of health information technology and electronic health record (EHR)-related burdens for healthcare providers. Presents strategies and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders to reduce the burdens in each category. Includes brief notes on how these policy changes can be implemented with small and rural providers in mind.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Describes 4 categories of health information technology and electronic health record (EHR)-related burdens for healthcare providers. Presents strategies and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders to reduce the burdens in each category. Includes brief notes on how these policy changes can be implemented with small and rural providers in mind.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Impact of Medicaid Work Requirements on Hospital Finances
Explores the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 16 states. Provides a fact sheet on each state, including a section comparing the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements on rural hospitals' operating margins to all hospitals in the state.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Explores the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 16 states. Provides a fact sheet on each state, including a section comparing the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements on rural hospitals' operating margins to all hospitals in the state.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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How to Better Support Small Physician-led Accountable Care Organizations: Recent Program Updates, Challenges, and Policy Implications
Describes the strategies of successful small physician-led Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Discusses how policy changes contribute to the opportunities and challenges for these ACOs. Explores how "ACO Enablers" aid small ACOs in participating in risk-bearing models. Includes a brief discussion of how the ACO Investment Model program supported ACOs in rural and underserved areas with access to capital.
Author(s): Jonathan Gonzalez-Smith, Hannah Crook, Elizabeth Singletary, William Bleser, Robert Saunders
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Describes the strategies of successful small physician-led Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Discusses how policy changes contribute to the opportunities and challenges for these ACOs. Explores how "ACO Enablers" aid small ACOs in participating in risk-bearing models. Includes a brief discussion of how the ACO Investment Model program supported ACOs in rural and underserved areas with access to capital.
Author(s): Jonathan Gonzalez-Smith, Hannah Crook, Elizabeth Singletary, William Bleser, Robert Saunders
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Availability of Naloxone at Rural Georgia Pharmacies, 2019
Research letter describing a study of 374 rural Georgia pharmacies. Examines pharmacists' awareness of the Georgia law allowing purchase of naloxone without a prescription, and availability and cost of the medicine.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Nguyen, Lauren R. Gilbert, Lauren Beasley, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(2)
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Research letter describing a study of 374 rural Georgia pharmacies. Examines pharmacists' awareness of the Georgia law allowing purchase of naloxone without a prescription, and availability and cost of the medicine.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Nguyen, Lauren R. Gilbert, Lauren Beasley, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(2)
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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There's No Place Like Home: Home Health Care in Rural America
Recording of testimony by providers of rural home health care and representatives of home health and hospice organizations, in a hearing held by the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging on February 12, 2020. Addresses challenges including workforce shortages and limitations in Medicare coverage for needed services.
Additional links: Testimony of Francis Adams, Testimony of Leigh Ann Howard, Testimony of Warren Hebert, Testimony of William A. Dombi
Date: 02/2020
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
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Recording of testimony by providers of rural home health care and representatives of home health and hospice organizations, in a hearing held by the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging on February 12, 2020. Addresses challenges including workforce shortages and limitations in Medicare coverage for needed services.
Additional links: Testimony of Francis Adams, Testimony of Leigh Ann Howard, Testimony of Warren Hebert, Testimony of William A. Dombi
Date: 02/2020
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
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Defense Health Care: Plans Needed to Ensure Implementation of Required Elements for TRICARE's Managed Care Support Contracts
Report highlights the Government Accountability Office recommendations for the implementation of changes to the Department of Defense's TRICARE managed support contracts that were required by Congress. Evaluates the specific improvements relating to healthcare delivery and touches on their importance in rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Report highlights the Government Accountability Office recommendations for the implementation of changes to the Department of Defense's TRICARE managed support contracts that were required by Congress. Evaluates the specific improvements relating to healthcare delivery and touches on their importance in rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural Health Predictions: Q&A with Alan Morgan
An interview with National Rural Health Association (NRHA) CEO Alan Morgan. Focuses on NRHA's work on rural health issues and shares rural health predictions for 2020.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An interview with National Rural Health Association (NRHA) CEO Alan Morgan. Focuses on NRHA's work on rural health issues and shares rural health predictions for 2020.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Are Rural Infants Benefiting from WIC Food Package Rule Changes? Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Behaviors
Examines if 2009 revisions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) changed breastfeeding and infant feeding practices among rural and urban WIC participants. Compares breastfeeding initiation rates and the age infants were introduced to solid foods in rural and urban areas. Discusses implications for future policies to promote breastfeeding and healthy infant feeding practices.
Author(s): Ariun Ishdorj, Hongyang Di, Elfreda Samman, Lisako McKyer
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Examines if 2009 revisions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) changed breastfeeding and infant feeding practices among rural and urban WIC participants. Compares breastfeeding initiation rates and the age infants were introduced to solid foods in rural and urban areas. Discusses implications for future policies to promote breastfeeding and healthy infant feeding practices.
Author(s): Ariun Ishdorj, Hongyang Di, Elfreda Samman, Lisako McKyer
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Health Disparities in Rural America: Current Challenges and Future Solutions
Describes health risks experienced by rural people and the problems they face in accessing healthcare in shortage areas, and offers possible solutions. Includes a map showing Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas by county, and a list of states allowing full practice authority for nurse practitioners as of 2019.
Author(s): Theresa Capriotti, Tiffany Pearson, Lillian Dufour
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Clinical Advisor
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Describes health risks experienced by rural people and the problems they face in accessing healthcare in shortage areas, and offers possible solutions. Includes a map showing Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas by county, and a list of states allowing full practice authority for nurse practitioners as of 2019.
Author(s): Theresa Capriotti, Tiffany Pearson, Lillian Dufour
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Clinical Advisor
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Variation in Use of Home Health Care among Fee-for-Service Medicare Beneficiaries by Rural-Urban Status and Geographic Region: Assessing the Potential for Unmet Need
County-level analysis of home health care use by Medicare beneficiaries in 2013. Explores characteristics of beneficiaries and their communities. Features statistics with breakdowns by geographic region and 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): Tracy M. Mroz, Lisa A. Garberson, Jennifer L. Wong, et al.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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County-level analysis of home health care use by Medicare beneficiaries in 2013. Explores characteristics of beneficiaries and their communities. Features statistics with breakdowns by geographic region and 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): Tracy M. Mroz, Lisa A. Garberson, Jennifer L. Wong, et al.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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