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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Supporting Children and Families Affected by the Opioid Epidemic - Emerging Policy Considerations
Explores the effect of the opioid crisis on children and their families and makes policy recommendations. Breaks down rural and urban differences in opioid use and access to behavioral healthcare and discusses the policy implications of those differences.
Author(s): Laudan Y. Aron, Sarah Benatar, Rebecca Peters
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Promoting Access to Care for Women of Reproductive Age with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Rural Communities
Report highlights the barriers to mental healthcare and substance use disorder treatment for rural women of reproductive age. Discusses continuity of care, access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and workforce shortages among other barriers. Presents recommendations, such as telehealth and care coordination, and provides program examples from different states.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Georgia Health Policy Center
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Income Disparities Widen the Gap in Oral Health of California Adults
Policy brief discussing associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and oral health in California adults using data from the 2017 and 2018 California Health Interview Surveys (CHIS). Describes barriers related to oral health education, literacy, access to care, and oral health screening for low-income populations. Related infographic offers a map of oral health differences by region, noting disparities in rural California counties and data on income and racial/ethnic population characteristics.
Additional links: Infographic
Author(s): Nadereh Pourat, Maria Ditter
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
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Meeting the Social Needs of Older Adults in Rural Areas
Discusses the risks of social isolation and loneliness among rural older adults. Details interventions to address this issue, as well as models that improve social connectedness for older adults.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: JAMA Health Forum
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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Limited Access to Health Data on American Indian and Alaska Natives Impedes Population Health Insights
Presents a study on the lack of data on the health of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Evaluates 8 different sets of population health data for AI/AN-specific data. Features an infographic outlining the findings.
Additional links: Infographic
Author(s): Tara L. Becker, Susan H. Babey, Riti Shimkhada, et al.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Ethical Principles for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, 2020
Discusses four ethical principles that will inform the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for the initial allocation of COVID-19 vaccine: maximizing benefits and minimizing harms; promoting justice; mitigating health inequities; and promoting transparency. The section on health inequities includes discussion of concerns for rural residents.
Author(s): Nancy McClung, Mary Chamberland, Kathy Kinlaw, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(47), 1782-1786
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Indian Health Service COVID-19 Pandemic Vaccine Plan
Highlights the Indian Health Service's plan for distributing the COVID-19 vaccination in Indian Country when it becomes available. Discusses the administration, distribution, and prioritization of the vaccine and features planning scenarios and facility planning resources.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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#RuralHealthChat: Examining Social Determinants of Health in Rural America
#RuralHealthChat discusses social determinants of health (SOD) in rural communities and how they contribute to rural health disparities. Features experts from the Rural Health Research Gateway, the American Hospital Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Mortality in Rural Areas: Insights from National Research and Community-Based Initiatives
Webinar recording discusses mortality rates in rural and urban areas, as well as the causes of rural mortality. Features presentations from representatives of the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug & Alcohol Commission.
Additional links: Audio Recording, PowerPoint Handout, Webinar Transcript
Date: 11/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Ensuring Health Across Rural Minnesota in 2030
Offers recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders on how to expand access to high-quality and inexpensive healthcare for rural communities in Minnesota. Covers trends in factors that may affect rural health, such as increased diversity, older populations, higher healthcare costs, lack of broadband, closures of healthcare facilities, and more. Discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated issues in rural communities.
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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