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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Minutes, Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 14-16, 2016
Provides a summary of the 80th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The main meeting discussion focused on rural-relevant social determinants of health.
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Opioid Addiction: Laws, Regulations, and Other Factors Can Affect Medication-Assisted Treatment Access
Examines current federal laws and regulations related to the medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of opioid dependency, and discusses how these laws affect access to treatment, including in rural areas. Also explores other factors that affect access to treatment such as cost, insurance coverage, practitioner availability, and perceived value. Provides detailed descriptions about the uses and concerns of the three medications currently approved by the FDA for use in opioid MAT - methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Behavioral Health Among American Indian and Alaska Natives: An Overview
Describes Indian Health Service (IHS) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs designed to address behavioral health problems in the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population. Provides background information about risk factors, prevalence, and limited access to care.
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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How Migration Impacts Rural America
Identifies five migration patterns that impact rural counties: youth migration, rural exodus, retirement, destination, and university influence. Discusses how different migration patterns impact the need for services, including healthcare. Part of the publication series Population Trends in Post-Recession Rural America.
Author(s): Miranda N. Smith, Richelle L. Winkler, Kenneth M. Johnson
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Applied Population Laboratory
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Preparing Nurses for New Roles in Population Health Management
Report based on two meetings of the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice in 2016. Emphasizes changes in policy, legislation, and research to promote nursing's role in leading and practicing population health initiatives and addresses potential changes in nursing education to shift away from illness-focused acute care skills. Includes a section on population health in rural and underserved areas.
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice
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Findings from the Field: Medicaid Delivery Systems and Access to Care in Four States in Year Three of the ACA
Explores the experiences of four states that participated in Medicaid expansion as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Washington. Examines what each state is doing to transition, from outreach and enrollment activities, to improving delivery systems and access to care. Contains rural-specific content and information on how the states are dealing with the expanded Medicaid population. Addresses how Community Health Centers have responded to the Medicaid expansion.
Author(s): Samantha Artiga, Robin Rudowitz, Jennifer Tolbert, Julia Paradise, Melissa Majerol
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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EMS Leaders Speak
Five experts discuss emergency medical services in a changing rural healthcare delivery system. Topics addressed include EMS challenges and potential opportunities, such as community paramedicine and telehealth.
Author(s): Kevin McGinnis, Diane Calmus, Don Wood, Tom Nehring, Gary Wingrove
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Oklahoma Emergency Department Utilization: July 2012 through June 2015
Reports on emergency department use in Oklahoma to help guide the state's Medicaid program, SoonerCare. Includes rural/urban breakdowns and some discussion of rural challenges.
Author(s): Mercer Government Human Services Consulting
Date: 08/2016
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma Health Care Authority
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Test Year Two Annual Report
Second annual report detailing the findings of CMS's State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative, which tests the ability of the governments in six states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont, and Oregon - to accelerate health system transformation in the areas of delivery systems, payment models, information technology, workforce development, and more. Presents results from the second of three planned site visits to the states, including interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Connections made throughout to issues specifically affecting rural healthcare.
Date: 08/2016
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Rural-Urban Differences in Insurer Participation for Marketplace-Based Coverage
Policy brief examining differences between rural and urban counties in terms of the number of Federally Facilitated Marketplace insurers available to consumers in 2015 and showing variation in the composition of insurers serving counties, focusing on five insurers and ownership status. Features statistics with breakdowns by number of insurers in rural and urban counties, group affiliation, and ownership status.
Author(s): Jean Abraham, Coleman Drake, Jeffrey S. McCullough, Kosali Simon
Date: 08/2016
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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