Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Rural Nonprofit Hospital Community Benefit and Financial Assistance Spending: A Call for Greater Reporting Transparency
Examines the variation in community benefit and financial assistance spending among rural nonprofit hospitals that filed group returns in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Analyzes 2021 nonprofit hospital tax data to explore whether group filers' community benefit spending differed from individual nonprofit hospital filers. Discusses potential implications of policy recommendations that would require nonprofit hospitals to file individual tax returns.
Author(s): Hannah MacDougall, Melissa Latcham, Erica Eliason
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41, e12914
Date: 01/2025
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Examines the variation in community benefit and financial assistance spending among rural nonprofit hospitals that filed group returns in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Analyzes 2021 nonprofit hospital tax data to explore whether group filers' community benefit spending differed from individual nonprofit hospital filers. Discusses potential implications of policy recommendations that would require nonprofit hospitals to file individual tax returns.
Author(s): Hannah MacDougall, Melissa Latcham, Erica Eliason
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41, e12914
Date: 01/2025
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Assessing the Feasibility of Creating a National Behavioral Health Workforce Database
Results of a project to determine the feasibility of developing a database of behavioral health providers and practices that offers up-to-date information to support research, policymaking, and public access. Identifies key elements, including demographics, licensure, education, and practice details. Includes information on databases focused on rural health.
Author(s): Frances Jiménez, Nicole Gauthreaux, Courtney Segal, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Results of a project to determine the feasibility of developing a database of behavioral health providers and practices that offers up-to-date information to support research, policymaking, and public access. Identifies key elements, including demographics, licensure, education, and practice details. Includes information on databases focused on rural health.
Author(s): Frances Jiménez, Nicole Gauthreaux, Courtney Segal, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Maximizing the Value of Remote Patient Monitoring
Provides a brief description of the remote patient monitoring landscape. Discusses four areas policymakers could focus on to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of remote patient monitoring.
Author(s): Maya Sandalow, Julia Harris
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Provides a brief description of the remote patient monitoring landscape. Discusses four areas policymakers could focus on to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of remote patient monitoring.
Author(s): Maya Sandalow, Julia Harris
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Implementation of Mobile Medication Units: Findings from a Qualitative Study
Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force: Redesigning the Health Care Delivery System to Better Meet the Needs of Youth
Presents policy recommendations from 50 experts and thought leaders regarding how to maximize the potential of the U.S. healthcare system to better serve youth with behavioral health needs. Covers the behavioral health workforce, transparency and compliance with existing screening and treatment requirements, promoting integrated primary care and behavioral health services in pediatric settings, the needs of youth with the highest acuity behavioral health needs, and strengthening crisis and stabilization systems. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents policy recommendations from 50 experts and thought leaders regarding how to maximize the potential of the U.S. healthcare system to better serve youth with behavioral health needs. Covers the behavioral health workforce, transparency and compliance with existing screening and treatment requirements, promoting integrated primary care and behavioral health services in pediatric settings, the needs of youth with the highest acuity behavioral health needs, and strengthening crisis and stabilization systems. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Medical Debt and Its Impact on Rural Patients and Providers, with Carrie Henning-Smith
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carrie Henning-Smith, Co-Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on the prevalence of and difficulties caused by medical debt for both rural patients and providers.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Carrie Henning-Smith, Co-Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center. Focuses on the prevalence of and difficulties caused by medical debt for both rural patients and providers.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Telehealth Evolution in California: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities
Reports on trends in telehealth policy, financing, implementation, and use in California, and provides recommendations to increase telehealth access. Discusses rural barriers to telehealth access.
Author(s): Natasha Arora, Maggie Jones
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: California Health Care Foundation
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Reports on trends in telehealth policy, financing, implementation, and use in California, and provides recommendations to increase telehealth access. Discusses rural barriers to telehealth access.
Author(s): Natasha Arora, Maggie Jones
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: California Health Care Foundation
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Housing Issues in the 118th Congress
Provides an overview of housing-related policy issues considered by the 118th Congress, including rural and Native American housing programs.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of housing-related policy issues considered by the 118th Congress, including rural and Native American housing programs.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Resources: A Guide for Rural Communities
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs and services for rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters, as well as programs that support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Includes information on technical assistance providers to help rural planning and recovery efforts.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs and services for rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by disasters, as well as programs that support long-term planning and recovery efforts. Includes information on technical assistance providers to help rural planning and recovery efforts.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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State of Georgia House of Representatives Study Committee on Cancer Care Access: Final Report
Reports on cancer care access in Georgia, providing an overview of testimony from organizations, agencies, and providers involved with cancer care and offering policy recommendations to improve access to quality cancer care and improve the supply of the oncology care workforce in the state. Discusses rural areas throughout.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Georgia House Committee on Cancer Care Access, State of Georgia House of Representatives
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Reports on cancer care access in Georgia, providing an overview of testimony from organizations, agencies, and providers involved with cancer care and offering policy recommendations to improve access to quality cancer care and improve the supply of the oncology care workforce in the state. Discusses rural areas throughout.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organizations: Georgia House Committee on Cancer Care Access, State of Georgia House of Representatives
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