Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Hospice Care Index Technical Report
Provides an overview of the Hospice Care Index (HCI), a new Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) quality measure. Presents data and descriptive trends for the overall index score and each of the ten claims-based indicators that make up the HCI using Medicare claims data from fiscal years 2019-2021. Includes comparisons of hospices by the number of claims, decade of certification, ownership, facility type, region, and urban/rural location.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Hospice Care Index (HCI), a new Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) quality measure. Presents data and descriptive trends for the overall index score and each of the ten claims-based indicators that make up the HCI using Medicare claims data from fiscal years 2019-2021. Includes comparisons of hospices by the number of claims, decade of certification, ownership, facility type, region, and urban/rural location.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Firearm Safety in Rural America
Policy brief describing the prevalence of firearm-related injuries and death in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to mitigate the risk of rural firearm injury and death.
Author(s): Eneka Lamb, Ada Pariser, Andy Fosmire
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief describing the prevalence of firearm-related injuries and death in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to mitigate the risk of rural firearm injury and death.
Author(s): Eneka Lamb, Ada Pariser, Andy Fosmire
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People who Inject Drugs Accessing Harm Reduction Services in a Rural American State
Results of a study exploring how changes made in Maine during the pandemic affected access to harm reduction services, including basic services such as shelter, syringe service programs, safe drug supply, low barrier buprenorphine treatment, and peer support. Based on interviews with 36 stakeholders comprising people who inject drugs, community partners, and healthcare providers.
Author(s): Kinna Thakarar, Michael Kohut, Rebecca Hutchinson, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 19(80)
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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Results of a study exploring how changes made in Maine during the pandemic affected access to harm reduction services, including basic services such as shelter, syringe service programs, safe drug supply, low barrier buprenorphine treatment, and peer support. Based on interviews with 36 stakeholders comprising people who inject drugs, community partners, and healthcare providers.
Author(s): Kinna Thakarar, Michael Kohut, Rebecca Hutchinson, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 19(80)
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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USDA Resource Guide for American Indians and Alaska Natives 2022
Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding and support programs available to American Indian and Alaska Native communities and tribal governments. Includes sections on agricultural and nutritional tools, business and community development, telecommunications and broadband, housing, and federal grant applications.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Provides an overview of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding and support programs available to American Indian and Alaska Native communities and tribal governments. Includes sections on agricultural and nutritional tools, business and community development, telecommunications and broadband, housing, and federal grant applications.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Engaging Tribal Populations to Improve Oral Health Care Access in Arizona
Report discusses tribal oral healthcare and proposes strategies to improve access for American Indian communities in Arizona. Highlights the federally-recognized tribes in the state and details the status of oral healthcare in the Indian Health Service (IHS) system.
Author(s): Ella Roth, Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Report discusses tribal oral healthcare and proposes strategies to improve access for American Indian communities in Arizona. Highlights the federally-recognized tribes in the state and details the status of oral healthcare in the Indian Health Service (IHS) system.
Author(s): Ella Roth, Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for Rural Emergency Hospitals and Critical Access Hospital CoP Updates
Comments on July 2022 Federal Register proposed rule regarding staffing requirements for rural emergency hospitals (REHs). Discusses whether proposed staffing requirements are sufficient to ensure access to emergency care.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on July 2022 Federal Register proposed rule regarding staffing requirements for rural emergency hospitals (REHs). Discusses whether proposed staffing requirements are sufficient to ensure access to emergency care.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Defining Rural America: The Consequences of How We Count
Discusses several federal definitions of rural and the implications of using different definitions. Compares how U.S. Census Bureau and Office Management and Budget (OMB) characterize rural America. Offers principles on how to choose which definition to use to describe rural areas.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Discusses several federal definitions of rural and the implications of using different definitions. Compares how U.S. Census Bureau and Office Management and Budget (OMB) characterize rural America. Offers principles on how to choose which definition to use to describe rural areas.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities: Federal Programs Provide Support for Preventing Falls, but Program Reach is Limited
Provides an overview of nine federal programs designed to provide evidence-based falls prevention, home assessments, or home modifications for older adults and adults with disabilities. Explores what federal agencies know about how these programs affect participants' health and to what extent agencies coordinate their efforts and provide consumer information. Includes data on the estimated percentage of falls among adults with disabilities by demographic characteristics and identifies programs serving rural communities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of nine federal programs designed to provide evidence-based falls prevention, home assessments, or home modifications for older adults and adults with disabilities. Explores what federal agencies know about how these programs affect participants' health and to what extent agencies coordinate their efforts and provide consumer information. Includes data on the estimated percentage of falls among adults with disabilities by demographic characteristics and identifies programs serving rural communities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Increasing Access to Routine Child Immunizations: State Approaches for Increasing Pharmacy Enrollment in the VFC Program
Discusses how increasing pharmacy participation in the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) can promote access to childhood vaccinations and reduce disparities. Outlines steps states can take to identify and address barriers to enrollment, including examining reimbursement policies, aligning program requirements with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements, addressing common provider misconceptions about the VFC program, and addressing pediatrician concerns.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Discusses how increasing pharmacy participation in the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) can promote access to childhood vaccinations and reduce disparities. Outlines steps states can take to identify and address barriers to enrollment, including examining reimbursement policies, aligning program requirements with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements, addressing common provider misconceptions about the VFC program, and addressing pediatrician concerns.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Types of Rural and Urban Hospitals and Counties Where They Are Located
Offers a snapshot of the types of rural and urban hospitals and the counties where they are located. Presents data on the number and percent of acute care hospitals and average daily census by hospital type, special payment designation, and county size. Includes descriptions of Medicare special payment designations for hospitals.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Offers a snapshot of the types of rural and urban hospitals and the counties where they are located. Presents data on the number and percent of acute care hospitals and average daily census by hospital type, special payment designation, and county size. Includes descriptions of Medicare special payment designations for hospitals.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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