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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Racial and Ethnic and Rural Variations in the Use of Hybrid Prenatal Care in the US
Examines how factors of race/ethnicity, location, and telehealth restriction waivers during COVID-19 impact the uptake of hybrid prenatal care. Provides demographic breakdowns related to telehealth use of women during pregnancy and the COVID-19 public health emergency, with additional data on health conditions, U.S. region, and urban or rural residence.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Jiani Yu, Sayward E. Harrison, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(12)
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Texas Value-Based Payment and Quality Improvement Advisory Committee Recommendations to the 89th Texas Legislature
Identifies trends and provides policy recommendations related to value based care and quality improvement in Texas. Discusses rural healthcare access and workforce throughout and highlights key reports focusing on rural health.
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Domestic Violence in American Indian and Alaska Native Populations: A New Framework for Policy Change and Addressing the Structural Determinants of Health
Discusses the issue of domestic violence (DV) in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Analyzes historical structural determinants that impact DV, as well as how policy and funding can help prevent DV.
Author(s): Tassy Parker, Allyson Kelley, Lee Redeye, Marcello A. Maviglia
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 40
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Calendar Year (CY) 2015 Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Updates: Payment Rate Increases for RHCs and FQHCs Billing Under the All-Inclusive Rate System (AIR), and Urban and Rural Designations for FQHCs Billing Under the AIR
Provides updates for RHCs and FQHCs that are submitting claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services to Medicare beneficiaries.
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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2024 Nebraska Rural Poll Research Report: Economy and Trade Policy
Analyzes 2024 Nebraska Rural Poll results related to concerns over economic issues, household finances and income, and perceptions of economic policy.
Author(s): Heather Akin, Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, et al.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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Nurse Practitioner Race and Ethnicity and Interest in Independent Primary Care Practice and Serving Medicaid Enrollees
Surveyed California nurse practitioners (NPs) to determine the current practice and practice intentions following scope of practice regulation changes in California. Presents 2023 data showing rurality of NPs by amount of primary care offered and Medicaid patient caseload currently and those considering independent primary care practice, among other characteristics.
Author(s): Ulrike Muench, Amy Quan, Rosalind de Lisser, Timothy Bates, Joanne Spetz
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(12)
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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Wait Time Standards for Behavioral Health Network Adequacy
Presents findings from an environmental scan, key informant interviews, and case studies exploring efforts to measure and monitor provider networks through wait time standards. Describes how wait time standards can vary by provider type, service type, patient characteristics, and geographic region. Discusses challenges faced by state regulators in setting such standards. Includes rural references throughout.
Author(s): Anna Sommers, Elysha Theis, Kenneth Fassel, Brent Gibbons, Miku Fujita
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RTI International
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Health Center Program Scope of Project Policy Manual Draft for Comment
Presents updated policy guidance as to what constitutes the Health Center Program scope of project under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. Covers medically underserved populations, special medically underserved populations, and service area; required primary and additional health services; services provided via telehealth; sites; changes in scope of project; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care
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Evaluation of the Impact of the No Surprises Act on Health Care Market Outcomes: Exploring Pre-Implementation Trends - Second Annual Report
Provides an overview of the No Surprises Act, which aims to protect participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees in group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage from surprise medical bills. Updates key trends in factors that will be important to evaluate the effects of the No Surprises Act identified in the First Annual Report, including market consolidation and concentration, out-of-network billing, and potential surprise bills. Describes discussions with healthcare providers, private health plans and issuers, and patients regarding implementation and understanding of the No Surprises Act.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Investments: Fact Sheet
Provides an overview of Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) grant programs in Fiscal Year 2024. Summarizes and briefly describes funding awarded to support rural hospitals, address rural behavioral health, expand the rural health workforce, increase access to care, advance maternal health, and support rural health research and policy analysis.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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