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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Montana 2016 Suicide Mortality Review Team Report
Highlights findings and recommendations from the Montana Suicide Mortality Review Team based on an analysis of 555 suicides in Montana. Provides suicide and related data by county for youth, American Indian, and veteran populations.
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
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Rural Behavioral Health: Telehealth Challenges and Opportunities
Reviews the barriers to mental and substance use disorder treatment and services in rural communities. Presents ways telehealth can address these barriers and discusses the challenges in implementing telehealth services in rural areas. Addresses differences in state policies for telemedicine coverage through private insurance.
Citation: SAMHSA In Brief, 9(2)
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Exploring Data and Metrics of Value at the Intersection of Health Care and Transportation: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summarizes a June 2016 joint workshop focused on healthcare and transportation. Includes information on cross-sector collaboration to provide transportation in rural settings. Identifies data sources for understanding health-related transportation needs.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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ACO Investment Model, Rural Hospital Collaboration
Highlights how 3 rural Minnesota hospitals implemented the Accountable Care Organization Investment Model (AIM), which encourages coordinated care in rural areas through upfront and ongoing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) payments.
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Rural Health Services
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Rationalizing Rural Area Classifications for the Economic Research Service: A Workshop Summary
Summarizes an April 2015 workshop that explored the data, estimation, and policy issues related to rural classifications currently in use by the Economic Research Service (ERS): Rural Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCs), Urban Influence Codes (UICs), Rural Urban Community Area (RUCA) codes, and Frontier and Remote (FAR) codes.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on National Statistics
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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New Mexico – Sexual Violence Free: A Statewide Strategic Plan for the Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence 2015-2020
Describes a plan to prevent sexual violence across the state of New Mexico. Developed with input from experts and advocates on sexual violence prevention, community members, and service providers, the plan sets forth goals for collaboration among stakeholders to address prevention efforts for priority populations, including but not limited to African Americans, children, people with disabilities, LGBTQ, Native Americans, older adults, and people living in rural communities.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Theresa Cruz, Julia Meredith Hess, Leona Woelk, Samantha Bear
Date: 12/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Project ARCH: Initial Summary of Findings Relevant to the Choice Program
Provides an assessment of Project ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home), a congressionally legislated pilot program operated under the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Chief Business Office (CBO), and funded by the VHA Office of Rural Health (ORH). The focus of Project ARCH was to increase access to cost effective non-VA medical care. Results of this assessment may inform the implementation of the Veteran's Choice program.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Clint MacKinney, Fred Ullrich, et al.
Date: 12/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Delivery System Reform and Implications for Rural Communities
Policy brief discussing how rural healthcare providers can benefit from participating in delivery system reform (DSR) to be able to continue providing accessible, quality health services. Offers recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, such as requiring rural healthcare providers to participate in CMS quality programs and having CMS incorporate rural-relevant quality measures that are appropriate for rural healthcare providers.
Date: 12/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Child Poverty in Rural America
Policy brief describing the needs, challenges, and experiences of rural children and families living in poverty and how poverty affects their health. Offers recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop appropriate and integrated health and human service delivery programs and to create flexible grant opportunities that will reach children and families in need.
Date: 12/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Rural Medicare Advantage Plan Payment in 2015
Examines how changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) payment policy formula, which were implemented as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), are impacting MA plans and beneficiaries in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Leah Kemper, Abigail R. Barker, Timothy D. McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 12/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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