Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Drug Discount Program: Status of Agency Efforts to Improve 340B Program Oversight
Testimony before the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, U.S. Senate, describing the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) actions in response to the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) recommendations to improve the 340B program oversight. Covers GAO's ongoing work related to the 340B program and HRSA's efforts to implement the GAO's recommendations. includes information on 340B program participants, program structure, operation, and key requirements.
Additional links: Examining Oversight Reports on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, Full Report
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Testimony before the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, U.S. Senate, describing the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) actions in response to the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) recommendations to improve the 340B program oversight. Covers GAO's ongoing work related to the 340B program and HRSA's efforts to implement the GAO's recommendations. includes information on 340B program participants, program structure, operation, and key requirements.
Additional links: Examining Oversight Reports on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, Full Report
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Using Telehealth to Improve Home-Based Care for Older Adults and Family Caregivers
Describes consumer perspectives and policy concerns with telehealth. Includes examples of home telehealth strategies, potential benefits and challenges, and discussion of home telehealth coverage in federal and state programs, including the Veterans Health Administration, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Author(s): Winifred V. Quinn, Ellen O'Brien, Gregg Springan
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Describes consumer perspectives and policy concerns with telehealth. Includes examples of home telehealth strategies, potential benefits and challenges, and discussion of home telehealth coverage in federal and state programs, including the Veterans Health Administration, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Author(s): Winifred V. Quinn, Ellen O'Brien, Gregg Springan
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Compacts of Free Association: Actions Needed to Prepare for the Transition of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands to Trust Fund Income
Examines the use and roles of U.S. funds and programs in budgets of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and preparations for grant decreases. Appendix III shows compact grants supporting health and education in the FSM and RMI.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the use and roles of U.S. funds and programs in budgets of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and preparations for grant decreases. Appendix III shows compact grants supporting health and education in the FSM and RMI.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Changes in Hospital Utilization Three Years into Maryland's Global Budget Program for Rural Hospitals
Examines the impact of Maryland's global budget program for acute care hospitals, with a focus on Medicare beneficiaries served by rural hospitals. Compares changes in hospital use and hospital spending between the rural hospitals participating in the global budget program and a control group during a 3-year period. Discusses the policy implications for other states considering alternate payment models.
Author(s): Eric T. Roberts, Laura A. Hatfield, J. Michael McWilliams, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 37(4), 644-653
Date: 04/2018
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Examines the impact of Maryland's global budget program for acute care hospitals, with a focus on Medicare beneficiaries served by rural hospitals. Compares changes in hospital use and hospital spending between the rural hospitals participating in the global budget program and a control group during a 3-year period. Discusses the policy implications for other states considering alternate payment models.
Author(s): Eric T. Roberts, Laura A. Hatfield, J. Michael McWilliams, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 37(4), 644-653
Date: 04/2018
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Bridging Population Health & Behavioral Health in Rural New Mexico
Reports on regional forums held in New Mexico to prioritize strategies for improving behavioral health in rural areas of the state. Also offers definitions of population health from the forums.
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Innovation, New Mexico Public Health Institute
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Reports on regional forums held in New Mexico to prioritize strategies for improving behavioral health in rural areas of the state. Also offers definitions of population health from the forums.
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Innovation, New Mexico Public Health Institute
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Definitions of "Rural" in Texas Statutes and the Texas Administrative Code
Details the various definitions of rural used by the state of Texas. Features maps illustrating the counties considered rural by each definition.
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Texas Legislative Council
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Details the various definitions of rural used by the state of Texas. Features maps illustrating the counties considered rural by each definition.
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Texas Legislative Council
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Patterns of Opioid Prescribing in Minnesota: 2012 and 2015
Describes opioid prescription patterns among Minnesota residents with private or public insurance coverage in 2012 and 2015. Discusses opioid use in rural areas and provides statistics on the number of opioid prescriptions by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural settings. Includes insights and opportunities to inform policymakers on reducing the use and overuse of prescription opioids.
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Describes opioid prescription patterns among Minnesota residents with private or public insurance coverage in 2012 and 2015. Discusses opioid use in rural areas and provides statistics on the number of opioid prescriptions by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural settings. Includes insights and opportunities to inform policymakers on reducing the use and overuse of prescription opioids.
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Older Adult Housing: Future Collaborations on Housing and Health Services Should Include Relevant Agencies and Define Outcomes
Assesses the extent to which the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service collaborated to address the needs of older adults living in federally assisted housing.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Assesses the extent to which the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service collaborated to address the needs of older adults living in federally assisted housing.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Views from the Heartland: Prospects for Bipartisanship in Health Reform
Reports on the views and opinions of 27 state legislators serving on health, budget, or appropriations committees in Colorado and Kansas. Discusses Medicaid expansion in rural areas and highlights the importance of promoting quality healthcare and removing barriers to access in rural communities.
Author(s): David K. Jones
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Reports on the views and opinions of 27 state legislators serving on health, budget, or appropriations committees in Colorado and Kansas. Discusses Medicaid expansion in rural areas and highlights the importance of promoting quality healthcare and removing barriers to access in rural communities.
Author(s): David K. Jones
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Combating the Opioid Crisis: Improving the Ability of Medicare and Medicaid to Provide Care for Patients
Presents the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the role of Medicare and Medicaid in combating the opioid crisis. Features testimony from representatives of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Boston Medical Center, the Centene Corporation, Centerstone America, Geisinger Health System, and Magellan Healthcare.
Additional links: Mr. David Guth Testimony, Mr. Toby Douglas Testimony
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Presents the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the role of Medicare and Medicaid in combating the opioid crisis. Features testimony from representatives of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Boston Medical Center, the Centene Corporation, Centerstone America, Geisinger Health System, and Magellan Healthcare.
Additional links: Mr. David Guth Testimony, Mr. Toby Douglas Testimony
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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