Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
What's Killing Our Children? Child and Infant Mortality among American Indians and Alaska Natives
Examines social, behavioral, and environmental factors to determine the root causes behind significant disparities in infant and childhood mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Addresses domestic violence, nutrition, tobacco and alcohol use, environmental degradation, unintentional injuries, and more. Provides policy recommendations to tribal and public health agencies.
Author(s): Teshia G. Arambula Solomon, Felina M. Cordova, Francisco Garcia
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Examines social, behavioral, and environmental factors to determine the root causes behind significant disparities in infant and childhood mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Addresses domestic violence, nutrition, tobacco and alcohol use, environmental degradation, unintentional injuries, and more. Provides policy recommendations to tribal and public health agencies.
Author(s): Teshia G. Arambula Solomon, Felina M. Cordova, Francisco Garcia
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Community Health Workers: Recommendations for Bridging Healthcare Gaps in Rural America
Policy brief reviewing research findings on community health worker (CHW) integration, and how CHWs can help bridge healthcare gaps in rural communities. Also reviews various state policies related to CHWs, identifies a number of care settings where CHWs are working in rural areas, and makes policy recommendations to support the continued integration of CHWs into the rural healthcare delivery system.
Author(s): Kailyn Dorhauer Mock, Tracy Morton, Prisci Quijada, Julie St. John
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief reviewing research findings on community health worker (CHW) integration, and how CHWs can help bridge healthcare gaps in rural communities. Also reviews various state policies related to CHWs, identifies a number of care settings where CHWs are working in rural areas, and makes policy recommendations to support the continued integration of CHWs into the rural healthcare delivery system.
Author(s): Kailyn Dorhauer Mock, Tracy Morton, Prisci Quijada, Julie St. John
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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A Rural-Urban Comparison of Hospitals Participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program
Examines the history and progression of electronic health record (EHR) usage in rural hospitals across the U.S. Seeks to explain why rural hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), tend to lag behind their urban counterparts in EHR adoption, and makes policy recommendations for improving the meaningful use of EHRs in rural hospitals.
Author(s): Jan Eberth, Sharita R. Thomas
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Examines the history and progression of electronic health record (EHR) usage in rural hospitals across the U.S. Seeks to explain why rural hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), tend to lag behind their urban counterparts in EHR adoption, and makes policy recommendations for improving the meaningful use of EHRs in rural hospitals.
Author(s): Jan Eberth, Sharita R. Thomas
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Treating the Rural Opioid Epidemic
Policy brief reviewing the barriers to implementing effective, high-quality treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues in rural areas. Includes policy recommendations for addressing these issues, focusing on access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) and funding for rural mental health infrastructure.
Author(s): Christine Hancock, Heidi Mennenga, Nikki King, et al.
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief reviewing the barriers to implementing effective, high-quality treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues in rural areas. Includes policy recommendations for addressing these issues, focusing on access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) and funding for rural mental health infrastructure.
Author(s): Christine Hancock, Heidi Mennenga, Nikki King, et al.
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Evaluation of the Medication Management (MM) Health Care Innovation Awardees: Third Annual Report
Evaluations of 6 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects focused on medication management programs, including programs serving rural areas.
Additional links: Addendum, June 2017
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Acumen, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Westat
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Evaluations of 6 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects focused on medication management programs, including programs serving rural areas.
Additional links: Addendum, June 2017
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Acumen, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Westat
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Getting Started with the Quality Payment Program: An Overview of MIPS for Small, Rural, and Underserved Practices
Provides a webinar recording discussing the effects of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) on small, rural, and underserved practices. Includes sections on eligibility, participation, reporting, performance categories, and submission and scoring methods. Outlines specific eligibility requirements for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and provides a checklist for preparing and participating in MIPS.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript, Webinar Playlist by Section
Date: 02/2017
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides a webinar recording discussing the effects of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) on small, rural, and underserved practices. Includes sections on eligibility, participation, reporting, performance categories, and submission and scoring methods. Outlines specific eligibility requirements for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and provides a checklist for preparing and participating in MIPS.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript, Webinar Playlist by Section
Date: 02/2017
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Third Annual Report: HCIA Disease-Specific Evaluation
Findings from the third year for 18 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects targeting patient populations with specific diseases. Provides information on program effectiveness based on Medicare and Medicaid claims data and awardee-collected data. Includes projects that serve a variety of rural areas and address conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain. Approaches discussed include care coordination, education, and telehealth.
Additional links: Addendum, June 2017
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Findings from the third year for 18 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects targeting patient populations with specific diseases. Provides information on program effectiveness based on Medicare and Medicaid claims data and awardee-collected data. Includes projects that serve a variety of rural areas and address conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain. Approaches discussed include care coordination, education, and telehealth.
Additional links: Addendum, June 2017
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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HCIA Complex/High-Risk Patient Targeting: Third Annual Report
Third annual evaluations of Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects focused on patients with medically complex conditions at high risk for hospitalization, re-hospitalization, emergency department visits, or nursing home stays. Presents program effectiveness findings based on Medicare and Medicaid claims data, surveys, site visits, and interviews. Several projects serve rural areas, offering caregiver education and support, telehealth services, and various care coordination approaches.
Additional links: Addendum, April 2017
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Third annual evaluations of Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects focused on patients with medically complex conditions at high risk for hospitalization, re-hospitalization, emergency department visits, or nursing home stays. Presents program effectiveness findings based on Medicare and Medicaid claims data, surveys, site visits, and interviews. Several projects serve rural areas, offering caregiver education and support, telehealth services, and various care coordination approaches.
Additional links: Addendum, April 2017
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Changes in Individual and Small Group Behavioral Health Coverage Following the Enactment of Parity Requirements: Final Report
Examines the impact of extending parity protections for behavioral health coverage in 2014 to individual and small group plans, requiring them to cover behavioral health treatments at the same level as medical/surgical services. Addresses additional barriers for rural areas, such as network adequacy and shortages of psychiatrists.
Author(s): Alexander J. Cowell, Shivaani Prakash, Alan Barnosky, Brendan Wedehase, Allison Briggs
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines the impact of extending parity protections for behavioral health coverage in 2014 to individual and small group plans, requiring them to cover behavioral health treatments at the same level as medical/surgical services. Addresses additional barriers for rural areas, such as network adequacy and shortages of psychiatrists.
Author(s): Alexander J. Cowell, Shivaani Prakash, Alan Barnosky, Brendan Wedehase, Allison Briggs
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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A Community Partnership to Respond to the Heroin and Opioid Abuse Epidemic
Discusses the community response to heroin and opioid abuse in rural Carlton County, Minnesota. Details the county's collaboration with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and St. Louis County to form the Carlton County Drug Abuse Task Force.
Author(s): Laura C. Palombi, Joe Vargo, Laura Bennett, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 33(1), 110-113
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
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Discusses the community response to heroin and opioid abuse in rural Carlton County, Minnesota. Details the county's collaboration with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and St. Louis County to form the Carlton County Drug Abuse Task Force.
Author(s): Laura C. Palombi, Joe Vargo, Laura Bennett, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 33(1), 110-113
Date: 01/2017
Type: Document
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