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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Critical Access Hospitals' Community Benefit Activities: An Updated Review
Examines community benefit data from a sample of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to understand how they are fulfilling their community benefit obligations, including related spending. Discusses how state Flex programs can help CAHs meet their community benefit obligations and the related Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements. Second of two briefs reporting project results.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Zachariah Croll, Lauren Zoll, Andrew F. Coburn
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Addressing the Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Rural America
Discusses the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its impact on rural America. Covers rural risk factors for COPD and healthcare disparities influencing rural COPD patients' ability to access care. Discusses ongoing federal COPD programs and offers policy recommendations and considerations to improve access to COPD care and treatments for individuals living in rural areas.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Assessing the Unintended Consequences of Health Policy on Rural Populations and Places
Explores health policies that have affected, or could potentially have affected, rural people, places, and providers, in ways that ran counter to policy intent. Examines 6 historical health policies and their effect on rural health systems. Includes a framework for analyzing policy impact on rural populations and places.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Charlie Alfero, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Federal Support for Graduate Medical Education: An Overview
Examines how federal programs support graduate medical education for physicians, including available data on funding and the number of physicians in training. Addresses how GME support is used to address physician shortages in rural areas, data available on program effectiveness, and data gaps.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Improving Oral Health Care Services in Rural America
Discusses the link between oral health and overall health and issues affecting oral health access in rural areas, including shortages of dental providers, differences in dental hygienist scope of practice by state, and insurance coverage. Provides an overview of federal efforts related to rural oral health and offers policy recommendations. Includes a summary of local perspectives from a site visit to Winnsboro Smiles Family Dentistry in rural South Carolina as part of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services meeting.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans
Updates the 2003 report, A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country, evaluating federal spending on Native American programs, including those related to healthcare, housing, education, infrastructure, criminal justice, and economic development. Provides policy recommendations addressing funding, tribal sovereignty, and data collection.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
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For California's Rural Seniors, Improving Oral Health Care Could Mean Better Health
Highlights data on California's oral health needs for rural seniors, how those needs can impact other health conditions, and offers recommendations for policymakers.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Families USA
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Medicare Fee-for-Service: Information on the Second Year of Nationwide Reduced Payment Rates for Durable Medical Equipment
Analyzes 2017 Medicare claims data to describe changes in the number of beneficiaries receiving and suppliers furnishing Medicare beneficiaries with rate-adjusted versus non-adjusted items in non-bid areas. Includes information on changes in rural and non-rural non-bid areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Red Flags and Warning Signs Ignored: Opioid Distribution and Enforcement Concerns in West Virginia
Report highlights a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce investigation into the opioid crisis in West Virginia. Examines the policies of the various drug distribution companies who shipped opioids into the state, as well as the effectiveness of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) oversight.
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Medicaid Work Requirements in Arkansas: Experience and Perspectives of Enrollees
Reports on focus groups with enrollees and providers regarding their perspectives of the Arkansas Works Medicaid waiver requirements. Covers enrollee awareness of the new requirements, the reporting process, impact on work activities, coverage losses, and more. Identifies challenges for rural areas.
Author(s): MaryBeth Musumeci, Robin Rudowitz, Barbara Lyons
Date: 12/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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