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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Changes in Insurance Coverage in Rural Areas under the ACA: A Focus on Medicaid Expansion States
Analyzes the change in uninsured rates in rural areas of states that participated in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion. Includes a graph showing percentage change by state from 2013 to 2015 identifying which political party held the governorship, and a table that converts each states' percentage to number of people.
Date: 05/2017
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Medical Barriers to Nursing Home Care for Rural Residents
Explores challenges faced by rural people seeking placement in nursing homes, especially those with behavioral or psychiatric conditions, complex care needs, dementia, or obesity, and identifies possible solutions through policy changes. Uses data from telephone interviews with 23 discharge planners from rural hospitals in Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Michelle Casey, Shailendra Prasad, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 05/2017
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Federal Health Centers: An Overview
Explains the Federal Health Center program, with information relating to the statutory authority, program requirements, funding, location, patient populations, health outcomes, and more. Also discusses the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation, and how this designation affects Medicare and Medicaid payment levels.
Date: 05/2017
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Towards the Development of a National Strategic Plan for Graduate Medical Education: 23rd Report
Recommends changes in graduate medical education to address issues including low numbers of medical students from rural backgrounds and sparse supply of physicians in most rural areas.
Author(s): Candice Chen, Kennita R. Carter, Joan Weiss, Ray Bingham, Andrew Sanderson
Date: 04/2017
Sponsoring organization: Council on Graduate Medical Education
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Projected Financial Losses Experienced by Community Health Centers under a Scenario of Major Cuts in Key Sources of Federal Funding: 2018-2022
Simulates the potential financial impacts on health centers and communities if the following congressional proposals are implemented: cuts to federal funding for Medicaid expansion, cuts to federal funding for Marketplace subsidies, and expiration of the Community Health Centers Fund. Also assesses the implications for other state and federal programs that may be required to help fill the resulting service and funding gaps.
Author(s): Avi Dor, Eric Luo, Ali Moghtaderi, Anne Rossier Markus
Date: 04/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management, RCHN Community Health Foundation
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Public and Individual Health Insurance Trends in Rural Minnesota: Enrollment During Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
Report focuses on rural Minnesotans' enrollment in non-employer provided insurance coverage as impacted by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) since 2010. Includes a discussion of Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare increases as well as the individual market. Data and statistics by county type (entirely rural, small town/rural mix, urban/small town/rural, entirely urban) also provided.
Date: 04/2017
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Finance in Rural and Urban Hospitals
Summary of the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the insurance coverage rates and reimbursement methods in rural hospitals in Minnesota. Includes a discussion of public and private insurance programs, uncompensated care, and operating margins. Includes data and statistic comparisons for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), other rural hospitals, and urban hospitals.
Date: 04/2017
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Health Care Access in Rural Minnesota: Results from the Minnesota Health Access Survey
Examines healthcare access in rural Minnesota before and after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), with a particular focus on insurance coverage rates. Includes data and statistics for affordability of insurance, availability of care, and demographics across the state.
Date: 04/2017
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Rural Community Violence: An Untold Public Health Epidemic
Policy brief examining the prevalence and nature of violent crime in rural communities across the U.S. Discusses the problem in a public health context. Also provides a series of policy recommendations aimed at reducing violence in rural areas.
Author(s): Brandy Dawson
Date: 04/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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The Role of Medicaid in Rural America
Uses data from the 2013-2015 American Community Survey to examine the role of Medicaid in rural areas, and discuss how potential expansions or cuts could affect rural healthcare. Highlights the importance of Medicaid for many rural residents who are often faced with limited access to insurance and providers, longer travel times, and greater health needs when compared to their urban counterparts. Includes several charts and graphs to illustrate important statistics and demographic comparisons.
Author(s): Julia Foutz, Samantha Artiga, Rachel Garfield
Date: 04/2017
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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