Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Ethical Principles for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, 2020
Discusses four ethical principles that will inform the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for the initial allocation of COVID-19 vaccine: maximizing benefits and minimizing harms; promoting justice; mitigating health inequities; and promoting transparency. Includes discussion of concerns for rural residents.
Author(s): Nancy McClung, Mary Chamberland, Kathy Kinlaw, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(47), 1782-1786
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Discusses four ethical principles that will inform the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for the initial allocation of COVID-19 vaccine: maximizing benefits and minimizing harms; promoting justice; mitigating health inequities; and promoting transparency. Includes discussion of concerns for rural residents.
Author(s): Nancy McClung, Mary Chamberland, Kathy Kinlaw, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(47), 1782-1786
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Informing Health Care Workforce Policy by Leveraging Data: A Toolkit for States
Describes how healthcare workforce data can be used to address questions regarding access to care. Discusses three key considerations for states to improve their healthcare workforce data collection practices. Includes examples from states that utilized data to inform policy.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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Describes how healthcare workforce data can be used to address questions regarding access to care. Discusses three key considerations for states to improve their healthcare workforce data collection practices. Includes examples from states that utilized data to inform policy.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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Health Care Delivery System Reform: Six Policy Imperatives
Presents six recommendations for healthcare delivery system reform in order to improve quality, advance equity, and increase the affordability of healthcare in the United States. Includes specific policy recommendations for small and rural providers throughout.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Presents six recommendations for healthcare delivery system reform in order to improve quality, advance equity, and increase the affordability of healthcare in the United States. Includes specific policy recommendations for small and rural providers throughout.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Rethinking Rural Health: FY 2020 Year in Review
Provides an overview of Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) programs and activities that have affected rural health and healthcare in fiscal year 2020. Focuses on nine priority areas: COVID-19, maternal health, Medicare Advantage (MA) and the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM), quality improvement, practitioner engagement, patient empowerment and person-centered care, Medicare and Medicaid payment and policy, models and demonstrations, and telehealth.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) programs and activities that have affected rural health and healthcare in fiscal year 2020. Focuses on nine priority areas: COVID-19, maternal health, Medicare Advantage (MA) and the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM), quality improvement, practitioner engagement, patient empowerment and person-centered care, Medicare and Medicaid payment and policy, models and demonstrations, and telehealth.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Comment Letter on HHS Report to Congress on Telehealth for Pediatric SUD
Reviews the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report, Reducing Barriers to Furnishing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services Using Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Pediatric Populations Under Medicaid: Final Report. Covers the role of telehealth in mitigating the shortage of behavioral health providers and expanding behavioral health services to children covered by Medicaid. Discusses the need for additional research on telehealth in Medicaid, information sharing between states, and addressing barriers to technology.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Reviews the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report, Reducing Barriers to Furnishing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services Using Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Pediatric Populations Under Medicaid: Final Report. Covers the role of telehealth in mitigating the shortage of behavioral health providers and expanding behavioral health services to children covered by Medicaid. Discusses the need for additional research on telehealth in Medicaid, information sharing between states, and addressing barriers to technology.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Indian Health Service: Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Federal Facilities' Decision-Making About the Use of Funds
Reports on how the Indian Health Service (IHS) oversees federally operated healthcare facilities' decision-making process regarding the use of funds. Discusses the degree to which IHS officials consider the needs of the communities in reviewing facilities' scope of services. Includes recommendations to improve IHS's oversight to ensure that spending targets patient needs.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Reports on how the Indian Health Service (IHS) oversees federally operated healthcare facilities' decision-making process regarding the use of funds. Discusses the degree to which IHS officials consider the needs of the communities in reviewing facilities' scope of services. Includes recommendations to improve IHS's oversight to ensure that spending targets patient needs.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Healthcare: A Key Challenge in Alabama's Black Belt
Issue brief examining healthcare access in Alabama's Black Belt region compared to national trends. Covers hospital beds in relation to population, rural hospital closures, COVID-19 strain, and policy impacts.
Author(s): Emily Jacobs, Hunter Whann, Emily Grace Corley, Jonathan Bowen, Noel Keeney
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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Issue brief examining healthcare access in Alabama's Black Belt region compared to national trends. Covers hospital beds in relation to population, rural hospital closures, COVID-19 strain, and policy impacts.
Author(s): Emily Jacobs, Hunter Whann, Emily Grace Corley, Jonathan Bowen, Noel Keeney
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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Bringing Lawyers onto the Health Center Care Team to Promote Patient & Community Health
Discusses the role of health center medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) to address social determinants of health. Offers information and tools for health centers, primary care associations, and other organizations to start, strengthen, and sustain an MLP. Describes how to develop screening, referral, and service delivery workflows; how integrating legal services can support health center workforce development; and types of projects MLPs can engage in to help health centers address social determinants of health and health equity at a policy level.
Author(s): Kate Marple. Mallory Curran, Ellen Lawton, Danielle Rahajason
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership
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Discusses the role of health center medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) to address social determinants of health. Offers information and tools for health centers, primary care associations, and other organizations to start, strengthen, and sustain an MLP. Describes how to develop screening, referral, and service delivery workflows; how integrating legal services can support health center workforce development; and types of projects MLPs can engage in to help health centers address social determinants of health and health equity at a policy level.
Author(s): Kate Marple. Mallory Curran, Ellen Lawton, Danielle Rahajason
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership
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SHIP Pricing Transparency Guide
Supports Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) coordinators as they work to meet hospital price transparency rules. Provides an overview of the basics and history of price transparency regulations, key terms, eligibility, exemptions, and key components of the final rule. Includes resources, a list of shoppable services, and a template for work plan implementation.
Additional links: Price Transparency Webinar, Sample Price Transparency Work Plan
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Eide Bailly LLP, National Rural Health Resource Center
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Supports Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) coordinators as they work to meet hospital price transparency rules. Provides an overview of the basics and history of price transparency regulations, key terms, eligibility, exemptions, and key components of the final rule. Includes resources, a list of shoppable services, and a template for work plan implementation.
Additional links: Price Transparency Webinar, Sample Price Transparency Work Plan
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Eide Bailly LLP, National Rural Health Resource Center
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Telecommunications: FCC Should Enhance Performance Goals and Measures for Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas
Examines the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) high-cost program's performance goals and measures and how they align with leading practices to enable the effective use of performance information. The high-cost program is designed to promote broadband deployment in areas that are not currently served by broadband. Discusses three key challenges the program faces in meeting its goals. Provides recommendations to the Chairman of the FCC to improve performance goals and measures and increase transparency.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) high-cost program's performance goals and measures and how they align with leading practices to enable the effective use of performance information. The high-cost program is designed to promote broadband deployment in areas that are not currently served by broadband. Discusses three key challenges the program faces in meeting its goals. Provides recommendations to the Chairman of the FCC to improve performance goals and measures and increase transparency.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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