Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Investing in Rural America: Bringing Progress and Economic Opportunity to Rural Communities
Provides an overview of the state of the rural economy, as well as policy proposals to revitalize rural communities. Chapter 4 covers rural infrastructure, including broadband, and chapter 7 discusses access to affordable healthcare in rural areas.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee Democrats
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Provides an overview of the state of the rural economy, as well as policy proposals to revitalize rural communities. Chapter 4 covers rural infrastructure, including broadband, and chapter 7 discusses access to affordable healthcare in rural areas.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee Democrats
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State Legislative Approach to Enumerating Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages: Lessons Learned in New Mexico
Describes the model developed in New Mexico (NM) as a result of the Health Care Work Force Data Collection, Analysis and Policy Act, initially enacted in 2011, to address behavioral health workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas, and the increased demand for services due to Medicaid expansion in the state. Highlights the purpose of the legislation, the development of a statewide workforce committee, policies implemented, lessons learned, and offers suggestions for other states considering legislation supporting behavioral health workforce initiatives.
Author(s): Deborah B. Altschul, Caroline A. Bonham, Martha J. Faulkner, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6S3), S220-S229
Date: 06/2018
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Describes the model developed in New Mexico (NM) as a result of the Health Care Work Force Data Collection, Analysis and Policy Act, initially enacted in 2011, to address behavioral health workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas, and the increased demand for services due to Medicaid expansion in the state. Highlights the purpose of the legislation, the development of a statewide workforce committee, policies implemented, lessons learned, and offers suggestions for other states considering legislation supporting behavioral health workforce initiatives.
Author(s): Deborah B. Altschul, Caroline A. Bonham, Martha J. Faulkner, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(6S3), S220-S229
Date: 06/2018
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Estimate of Federal Payment Reductions to Hospitals Following the ACA 2010-2028: Estimates and Methodology
Examines cumulative federal payment reductions to hospitals for 2010-2028. Addresses the impact of sequestration, changes in Medicare payments for bad debt including to Critical Access Hospitals, federal Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) allotments, and other legislation affecting hospital reimbursement.
Author(s): Allen Dobson, Joan DaVanzo, Randy Haught, Phap-Hoa Luu
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organizations: American Hospital Association, Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, Federation of American Hospitals
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Examines cumulative federal payment reductions to hospitals for 2010-2028. Addresses the impact of sequestration, changes in Medicare payments for bad debt including to Critical Access Hospitals, federal Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) allotments, and other legislation affecting hospital reimbursement.
Author(s): Allen Dobson, Joan DaVanzo, Randy Haught, Phap-Hoa Luu
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organizations: American Hospital Association, Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, Federation of American Hospitals
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Quantifying Disparities in Accessibility and Availability of Pediatric Primary Care across Multiple States with Implications for Targeted Interventions
Examines disparities in accessing pediatric primary care for rural and urban communities and children with public versus private insurance. Uses data on accessibility and availability for children in 7 states: California, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Discusses the policy implications of the findings both generally and for the states studied.
Author(s): Monica Gentili, Pravara Harati, Nicoleta Serban, Jean O'Connor, Julie Swann
Citation: Health Services Research, 53(3), 1458-1477
Date: 06/2018
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Examines disparities in accessing pediatric primary care for rural and urban communities and children with public versus private insurance. Uses data on accessibility and availability for children in 7 states: California, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Discusses the policy implications of the findings both generally and for the states studied.
Author(s): Monica Gentili, Pravara Harati, Nicoleta Serban, Jean O'Connor, Julie Swann
Citation: Health Services Research, 53(3), 1458-1477
Date: 06/2018
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Impact of Nurse Practitioner Practice Regulations on Rural Population Health Outcomes
Analyzes data from Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in eight Southeastern states to determine if clinical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries vary by level of practice autonomy that states grant to nurse practitioners (NPs).
Author(s): Judith Ortiz, Richard Hofler, Angeline Bushy, et al.
Citation: Healthcare, 6(2), 65
Date: 06/2018
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Analyzes data from Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in eight Southeastern states to determine if clinical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries vary by level of practice autonomy that states grant to nurse practitioners (NPs).
Author(s): Judith Ortiz, Richard Hofler, Angeline Bushy, et al.
Citation: Healthcare, 6(2), 65
Date: 06/2018
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Spurring Innovation: The Role of Child Health Policy
Identifies four target areas to improve child health: Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) delivery and payment reforms; consumer digital health; precision medicine in pediatrics; and addiction and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Provides recommendations to further develop child health research and policy. Discusses removing barriers and expanding access to telehealth services to deliver care to children living in rural areas, and the rural incidence of NAS.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: AcademyHealth
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Identifies four target areas to improve child health: Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) delivery and payment reforms; consumer digital health; precision medicine in pediatrics; and addiction and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Provides recommendations to further develop child health research and policy. Discusses removing barriers and expanding access to telehealth services to deliver care to children living in rural areas, and the rural incidence of NAS.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: AcademyHealth
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Drug Discount Program: Federal Oversight of Compliance at 340B Contract Pharmacies Needs Improvement
Focuses on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows certain facilities such as Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSHs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to purchase prescription and non-prescription medications at reduced cost. Describes financial arrangements participating facilities have with contract pharmacies, the extent to which they provide discounts on 340B drugs dispensed by contract pharmacies to low-income, uninsured patients, and examines the Health Resources and Services Administration's efforts to ensure compliance with 340B Program requirements at contract pharmacies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Focuses on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows certain facilities such as Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSHs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to purchase prescription and non-prescription medications at reduced cost. Describes financial arrangements participating facilities have with contract pharmacies, the extent to which they provide discounts on 340B drugs dispensed by contract pharmacies to low-income, uninsured patients, and examines the Health Resources and Services Administration's efforts to ensure compliance with 340B Program requirements at contract pharmacies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Veterans Health Administration: Steps Taken to Improve Physician Staffing, Recruitment, and Retention, but Challenges Remain
Highlights a report on the effectiveness of improvements made by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in the areas of staffing, recruitment, and retention. Discusses the successes and shortcomings of the VHA's interventions.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Highlights a report on the effectiveness of improvements made by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in the areas of staffing, recruitment, and retention. Discusses the successes and shortcomings of the VHA's interventions.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Evaluation of the Round Two Health Care Innovation Awards (HCIA R2): Third Annual Report
Summarizes the third year evaluation results of 38 Health Care Innovation Awards Round Two projects, one awardee of the original 39 having left the program in September 2016. Focuses on implementation effectiveness, developing payment models, planning for sustainability, and some preliminary work related to evaluating program impacts. Provides findings for the individual awardees, which include projects that serve rural areas.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica Policy Research
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Summarizes the third year evaluation results of 38 Health Care Innovation Awards Round Two projects, one awardee of the original 39 having left the program in September 2016. Focuses on implementation effectiveness, developing payment models, planning for sustainability, and some preliminary work related to evaluating program impacts. Provides findings for the individual awardees, which include projects that serve rural areas.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica Policy Research
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Opportunities and Challenges to Utilizing Telehealth Technologies in the Provision of Medication Assisted Therapies in the Medi-Cal Program
Describes advantages and barriers to using telehealth for delivery of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to California's Medicaid enrollees, especially those in rural and underserved areas. Includes recommendations for changes to California state laws in order to alleviate the challenges. Appendix C lists states allowing telehealth prescribing.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Describes advantages and barriers to using telehealth for delivery of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to California's Medicaid enrollees, especially those in rural and underserved areas. Includes recommendations for changes to California state laws in order to alleviate the challenges. Appendix C lists states allowing telehealth prescribing.
Date: 06/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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