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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Emerging Strategies to Ensure Access to Health Care Services: Rural Hospital-Health Clinic Integration
Provides an overview of the benefits of sharing resources between rural hospitals and clinics, including Federally Qualified Health Centers. Offers suggestions for federal policy solutions and actions for hospital and health system to deploy.
Date: 08/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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2018 Rural Hospital and Clinic Financial Summit Report: Key Financial Success Indicators and Strategies
Identifies the indicators of financial success for hospitals and clinics, provides strategies to transition into value-based payment models, and includes success stories from Summit participants and resources necessary for hospitals and clinics. Includes a table showing Critical Access Hospital financial indicators medians for 2016.
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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2020 Census: Actions Needed to Address Challenges to Enumerating Hard-to-Count Groups
Examines the U.S. Census Bureau's plans for the 2020 Census to improve the count of hard-to-count groups, which includes people living in rural or geographically isolated areas, racial and ethnic minorities, people with mental and/or physical disabilities, and other groups. Discusses factors that make it challenging to count certain people, including difficulties related to locating, contacting, persuading, and interviewing.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Substance Use Disorder Treatment Policy Recommendations for the State of Wisconsin Final Report - July 2018
Reports on a statewide assessment to inform the Wisconsin Governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse regarding comprehensive, evidence-based, and sustainable treatment options for substance use disorder (SUD). Includes 18 policy recommendations. Identifies multiple barriers to accessing SUD treatment in rural and remote areas of Wisconsin.
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Pew Charitable Trusts
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The Intersection of Hepatitis, HIV, and the Opioid Crisis: The Need for a Comprehensive Response
Brief discusses the infectious diseases co-occurring with the opioid crisis and the need for comprehensive treatment. Details the relationship between opioid use disorder and HIV and hepatitis infection. Looks at barriers to care and presents suggestions to overcome them, such as increasing access to healthcare for low-income populations, among others.
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors
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Insuring Rural America: Health Insurance Challenges and Opportunities
Details a study focusing on the challenges of designing an insurance market that works in rural America. Looks at the needs of rural people and current health insurance policy.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Charlie Alfero, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Reducing Health Care Costs: Decreasing Administrative Spending
Presents testimony from the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) on reducing healthcare costs by decreasing administrative spending in hospitals. Includes policy recommendations. Features testimony from the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, a Harvard economics professor, and an economic advisor to the American Action Forum.
Additional links: Becky Hultberg Testimony
Author(s): Becky Hultberg, Matt Eyles, David M. Cutler, Robert A. Book
Date: 07/2018
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Primary Care: The Foundation for a High Performance Rural Health Care System
Describes elements of a robust rural primary care system. Discusses the development and maintenance of a high performance rural primary care system and workforce. Includes policy considerations and opportunities to address rural primary care and sustainability.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Charlie Alfero, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Both Rural and Urban SNAP Recipients Affected by Proposed Work Requirements
Presents work status data for rural and urban Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. Identifies those exempt from work requirements under current law who may face a new work requirement under proposed legislation, breaking out the current work hours of this group. Briefly discusses the scarcity and expense of child care.
Author(s): Jessica A. Carson
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Rural Aging: Health and Community Policy Implications for Reversing Social Isolation
Summarizes discussions from a stakeholder meeting regarding reversing social isolation among rural seniors. Highlights three objectives: a common understanding, actionable solutions, and awareness. Discusses the economic and health impacts of isolation for aging rural residents. Covers policy recommendations.
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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