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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

The Future of Rural Health
Describes the state of the rural healthcare system and the opportunities for improvement with the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Discusses core concepts of providing primary care, basic mental health and oral health services, surgery and obstetric, pharmacy, eye and audiology services, public health, new models of care, workforce issues, and more.
Author(s): Charlie Alfero, Tommy Barnhart, Darrold Bertsch, et al.
Date: 02/2013
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Streamlining Telemedicine Licensure to Improve Rural America
Provides information and statistics to support advocacy for and efforts to implement telemedicine cross-state licensure to improve healthcare access in rural America. Includes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Jarod Giger, Mary DeVany
Date: 02/2013
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Recruitment and Training of Racial/Ethnic Health Professionals in Rural America
Provides information and statistics on the need for recruitment and training programs targeted specifically for racial and ethnic minority health professionals in rural America. Includes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Ann Chester, Angeline Bushy, Esther Forti, Kas Kasten, Sherron McKendall.
Date: 02/2013
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural America's Oral Health Care Needs
Provides an overview of rural America's oral healthcare needs. Includes recommendations for improving oral health in rural America.
Author(s): Anne Braswell, Nalo Johnson
Date: 02/2013
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural Hospital Participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program
Proposes modifications to the Medicare Shared Savings Programs (MSSP) and the Advanced Payment Program to help transform the healthcare delivery system in rural communities. Discusses expanding Medicare beneficiaries in rural communities from a single primary care provider to a Community Care Organization (CCO) with shared savings payments and providing early payments to CCOs to support infrastructure and chronic disease management.
Author(s): Lynn Barr
Date: 02/2013
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Elder Health in Rural America
Provides an overview of the interplay between rural communities and rural elder health. Discusses policy and practices. Covers recommendations for policy makers based on a systems approach, incorporating sustainability, best practice, quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Author(s): Rebecca M. Hartman, Florence M. Weierbach
Date: 02/2013
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural Women's Health
Provides information and statistics on the state of women's health in rural America and how legislation and national trends can affect women's health.
Author(s): Kevin J. Bennett, John E. Lopes Jr., Kathleen Spencer, Saskia van Hecke
Date: 01/2013
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Telehealth and Medicare: Payment Policy, Current Use, and Prospects for Growth
Examines growth in Medicare paid telehealth services by analyzing claims data matched to patient zip codes and provider characteristics. Includes a map of Medicare beneficiaries using telehealth by county of residence and analysis on the types of telehealth services provided.
Author(s): Matlin Gilman, Jeff Stensland
Citation: Medicare & Medicaid Research Review, 3(4)
Date: 2013
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Understanding and Addressing Barriers to Implementation of Environmental and Policy Interventions to Support Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in Rural Communities
Identifies policies being used in rural communities to promote wellness, physical activity, and healthy eating to combat obesity. Discusses barriers to implementation of these policies and strategies to overcome them.
Author(s): Ellen K. Barnidge, Catherine Radvanyi, Kathleen Duggan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 29(1), 97-105
Date: 2013
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Achieving Health Equity through Nursing Workforce Diversity: Eleventh Report to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Congress
Summarizes progress in nursing workforce over the past 10 years. Highlights Advanced Practice RNs who are independent care providers who often locate in underserved communities, the growth of online nursing education to rural communities, and recruiting and retaining nursing professionals in rural and underserved areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 2013
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice
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