Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Delivery of VA Telehealth Services During COVID-19
Provides an overview of veterans' access to telehealth services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the funding opportunities through the CARES Act and the Connected Care Pilot Program that aim to assist veterans with obtaining telehealth-related infrastructure during the pandemic.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of veterans' access to telehealth services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the funding opportunities through the CARES Act and the Connected Care Pilot Program that aim to assist veterans with obtaining telehealth-related infrastructure during the pandemic.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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COVID-19's Current Impact on Rural Healthcare Delivery: Q&A with Brock Slabach
An interview with Brock Slabach, the National Rural Health Association's Senior Vice President for Member Services. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 on rural healthcare facilities, policy changes impacting rural providers, collaboration among rural communities to help share solutions, and the use of telehealth during the pandemic.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An interview with Brock Slabach, the National Rural Health Association's Senior Vice President for Member Services. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 on rural healthcare facilities, policy changes impacting rural providers, collaboration among rural communities to help share solutions, and the use of telehealth during the pandemic.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility PPS for FY 2021
Comments on an April 21, 2020, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2021. Includes comments on the adoption of the Office of Management and Budget's geographic area delineations to determine wage index values.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on an April 21, 2020, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2021. Includes comments on the adoption of the Office of Management and Budget's geographic area delineations to determine wage index values.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural-Urban Residence and Mortality among Three Cohorts of U.S. Adults
Reports on a study to address gaps in what is known of the rural-urban mortality disparity by analyzing time-to-event birth cohorts using data from the 1997-2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) linking deaths through December 2011. Results of this study may identify potential policy and practice interventions to reduce the disparity in rural-urban mortality.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jennifer D. Lenardson, Katherine Ahrens M.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Reports on a study to address gaps in what is known of the rural-urban mortality disparity by analyzing time-to-event birth cohorts using data from the 1997-2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) linking deaths through December 2011. Results of this study may identify potential policy and practice interventions to reduce the disparity in rural-urban mortality.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jennifer D. Lenardson, Katherine Ahrens M.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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The State of Broadband Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presents the May 13, 2020, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on maintaining and expanding high-speed and reliable broadband access during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Examines the impact of CARES Act funding directed to support broadband initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels. Testimonies include discussion of challenges and policy options for broadband access in rural areas.
Additional links: Competitive Carriers Testimony, NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association Testimony, Public Knowledge Testimony, USTelecom - The Broadband Association Testimony
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
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Presents the May 13, 2020, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on maintaining and expanding high-speed and reliable broadband access during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Examines the impact of CARES Act funding directed to support broadband initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels. Testimonies include discussion of challenges and policy options for broadband access in rural areas.
Additional links: Competitive Carriers Testimony, NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association Testimony, Public Knowledge Testimony, USTelecom - The Broadband Association Testimony
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
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Details on HHS' Distribution of Emergency Funds to Hospitals with High COVID-19 Admissions and Rural Providers
An overview of the methodologies the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services used to distribute COVID-19-related funding to hospitals with high numbers of COVID-19 admissions, rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and health centers. Includes a comparison of the terms and conditions of the different CARES Act funding programs.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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An overview of the methodologies the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services used to distribute COVID-19-related funding to hospitals with high numbers of COVID-19 admissions, rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and health centers. Includes a comparison of the terms and conditions of the different CARES Act funding programs.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Considerations for Defining Rural Places in Health Policies and Programs
Highlights key questions to be considered when evaluating a definition of rural that is most appropriate for a specific policy or program. Discusses the principles needed to drive rural definitions and the current challenges of changing rural definitions. Provides an overview of common rural definitions in use, and offers options for the development of new definitions and adjustments to current definitions.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, Alana Knudson, Jennifer P. Lundblad, A. Clinton MacKinney, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Highlights key questions to be considered when evaluating a definition of rural that is most appropriate for a specific policy or program. Discusses the principles needed to drive rural definitions and the current challenges of changing rural definitions. Provides an overview of common rural definitions in use, and offers options for the development of new definitions and adjustments to current definitions.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, Alana Knudson, Jennifer P. Lundblad, A. Clinton MacKinney, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Older Americans Act: Nutrition Services Program
Provides an overview of the Nutrition Services Program authorized under the Older Americans Act. Describes the administration of the Nutrition Services Program, its funding, service delivery, program participation, and program evaluation. Includes brief rural references throughout.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Nutrition Services Program authorized under the Older Americans Act. Describes the administration of the Nutrition Services Program, its funding, service delivery, program participation, and program evaluation. Includes brief rural references throughout.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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COVID-19 and the Indian Health Service
Discusses how the Indian Health Service (IHS) has been impacted by COVID-19. Describes concerns some tribes have, including the IHS testing capacity for COVID-19, workforce shortages, and lost revenue at IHS facilities. Outlines federal funding efforts to enhance the IHS COVID-19 response.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Discusses how the Indian Health Service (IHS) has been impacted by COVID-19. Describes concerns some tribes have, including the IHS testing capacity for COVID-19, workforce shortages, and lost revenue at IHS facilities. Outlines federal funding efforts to enhance the IHS COVID-19 response.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Medicare Primer
A general overview of the Medicare program. Describes the program's history, eligibility criteria, covered services, provider payment systems, and program administration, and financing. Includes information specific to rural areas.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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A general overview of the Medicare program. Describes the program's history, eligibility criteria, covered services, provider payment systems, and program administration, and financing. Includes information specific to rural areas.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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