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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report
Examines maternal morbidity and mortality in Illinois between 2018 and 2020. Identifies statewide patterns in maternal health and discusses factors that influence maternal health outcomes and disparities. Explores data by demographics, including race, age, and rural county residence. Presents policy recommendations aimed at preventing maternal morbidities and mortalities.
Additional links: Summary
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Department of Public Health
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Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in United States Nutrition Programs: A Scoping Review
Highlights disparities in diet-related disease and food insecurity among disadvantaged groups and provides a scoping review of federal, state, and local food nutrition programs that address equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Analyzes 46 sources describing EDI strategies focused on issues such as program design, food justice and access, workforce needs, and more. Includes programs that work with rural populations.
Author(s): Bailey Houghtaling, Mayra Crespo-Bellido, Shelly Palmer, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, No Kid Hungry
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New Mexico Health Care Workforce Committee: 2023 Annual Report
Provides detailed data at the county level, comparing New Mexico's healthcare workforce to national benchmarks. Discusses rural and frontier area shortages, health workforce migration trends, potential solutions for solving the state's workforce issues (including in rural areas), and updates on previous recommendations. Includes a special focus on the behavioral health workforce, and appendices include gap analyses of New Mexico healthcare professions by county.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
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Bringing the Doctor to the Patients: Cardiology Outreach to Rural Areas
Analyzed 30 year cardiologist rural outreach travel data from Iowa to determine factors impacting outreach decision-making and the impact on rural access to cardiology care. Discusses cardiologist distribution, predicted impacts of reduction in workforce, and policy measures to increase access to care, particularly for the most at risk rural outreach sites.
Author(s): J. Jason Bell, Sanghak Lee, Thomas Gruca
Citation: Journal of Marketing, 88(1)
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
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Assisting Rural Consumers
Offers information and guidance for Navigators and certified application counselors helping rural healthcare consumers. Covers rural-relevant considerations and policy updates regarding Federally-facilitated and State-based Marketplaces, Medicaid/CHIP, and Medicare. Outlines tips for assisters to address barriers to care and conducting outreach in rural areas.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Rural Hospital Experiences in the Colorado Hospital Transformation Program
Provides an overview of the Colorado Hospital Transformation Program (CO HTP), a 5-year program that ties Medicaid supplemental payments to hospitals' ability to meet performance targets through September 2026. Describes the experiences of three Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and explores how CO HTP impacts rural hospitals. Covers planning and community engagement, quality of care, and healthcare costs.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Partnering with Faith-Based Organizations to Improve Health and Equity
Provides a discussion among faith-based leaders in Wisconsin and Minnesota regarding their work collaborating with public health partners to promote social, economic, and racial justice. Includes strategies specific to rural areas and churches that assist in bridging cultural divides and creating impactful health policy for all citizens.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Presenter Biographies, Resource Guide
Date: 10/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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Health Information Workforce: Survey Results on Workforce Challenges and the Role of Emerging Technologies
Presents results of an August 2023 survey of health information professionals on workforce challenges and the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the health information workforce. Describes challenges for recruiting and retaining health information professionals, factors that influence turnover, and the impacts of understaffing on healthcare quality and reimbursement. Discusses the future outlook for the health information profession and offers policy recommendations to enhance workforce development. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Health Information Management Association, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Key Informant Perspectives on Rural Housing and Health
Summarizes findings from interviews with key informants from 27 national organizations and federal agencies regarding rural-specific barriers to housing and identifies three themes: availability, age and quality of housing stock, and affordability. Describes impacts of rural housing challenges on health. Discusses policy recommendations for addressing housing-related issues to improve rural health.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Katie Rydberg, Madeleine Pick, Mariana Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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First-Ever Rural Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Compensation Survey
Recording of an October 11, 2023, webinar discussing results of a January 2023 survey of rural hospitals regarding physician and advanced-practice provider compensation. Presents results for primary care and specialty care providers by provider type, hospital system affiliation, and region. Highlights factors that influence compensation and nurse practitioner practice environments by state. Transcript available in the video description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 10/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Association, Stroudwater Associates
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