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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Veterans

Associations Between Stopping Prescriptions for Opioids, Length of Opioid Treatment, and Overdose or Suicide Deaths in US Veterans: Observational Evaluation
Highlights a study on the correlation between halting treatment for opioid use disorder, length of treatment, and death from overdose or suicide among Veterans Health Administration patients. Breaks down data by age, sex, and rural status among other factors.
Author(s): Elizabeth M Oliva, Thomas Bowe, Ajay Manhapra, et al.
Citation: BMJ, 2020: m283
Date: 2020
Type: Document
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Buyback Program of Unused Prescription Opioids in US Rural Communities, 2017–2018
Describes a buyback intervention that was designed to encourage rural, ambulatory surgery patients to return unused prescription opioids to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. Provides data on patient characteristics as well as percent of opioids prescribed and returned during 2017 and 2018. Includes implications for public health.
Author(s): Jean Liu, Julie Franklin, Frank Gesek, Joseph Anderson
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), 1318-1324
Date: 2020
Type: Document
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Improving Behavioral Health Screening & Access to Treatment for Veterans in Community Care
Describes a partnership between Veterans Rural Health Resource Center in Iowa City, Iowa; the Iowa Primary Care Association; and the Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa. Provides an overview of Phase I of the collaboration, which focused on implementing a new screening process at 4 rural FQHCs to properly identify all veterans seeking care. Discusses the broader impact of this initiative and next steps.
Date: 2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa, Iowa Primary Care Association, Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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The VA MISSION Act of 2018: A Potential Game Changer for Rural GME Expansion and Veteran Health Care
Describes features of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018, including expansion of graduate medical education (GME) to rural areas, modernization of facilities, and financial aid for providers willing to accept VA assignments in shortage areas. Explores ways in which the MISSION Act can promote more effective and efficient care programs for veterans in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Anthony P. Albanese, Edward T. Bope, Karen M. Sanders, Marjorie Bowman
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 36(1), 133-136
Date: 2020
Type: Document
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Behavioral Health in Rural America: Challenges and Opportunities
Examines the prevalence of behavioral health disorders in rural populations with an emphasis on high-risk populations. Discusses access to behavioral health services in rural areas, and the barriers associated with the provision of prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Highlights programs and policy strategies known to demonstrate improvements in behavioral health systems, and offers policy recommendations for change supporting improved outcomes in rural populations.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): John Gale, Jaclyn Janis, Andrew Coburn, Hanna Rochford
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Veterans Health Care: Services for Substance Use Disorders, and Efforts to Address Access Issues in Rural Areas
Identifies and compares the differences in the number of veterans, and the expenditures for veterans receiving substance use disorder (SUD) services, and specialty SUD services in rural and urban areas. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies were reviewed, interviews were conducted with agency officials, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data from 2014 to 2018 was analyzed to develop the report.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Oversight Hearing on "Recognizing the Sacrifice: Honoring a Nation's Promise to Native Veterans" & Legislative Hearing to Receive Testimony on S. 1001 & S. 2365
Presents the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing on the Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act and the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act. Features testimony from representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, and the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes.
Date: 11/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Disability in America: Veterans with Disabilities (2017)
Displays the disability rate among veterans on the county level using data from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS).
Date: 10/2019
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
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Subcommittee on Health Oversight Hearing: Native Veterans' Access to Healthcare
Discusses the current state of healthcare access for Native American veterans. Features testimonies from representatives from the National Indian Health Board, the National Congress of American Indians, and the Alaska Native Health Board, among others.
Additional links: Witness Testimonies
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Impact of Rural Residence on Kidney Transplant Rates Among Waitlisted Candidates in the VA Transplant Programs
Details a study on the role rurality plays in kidney transplantation access among veterans. Breaks down data of waitlisted veterans by age, sex, and location, among other measures. Compares rates veterans and non-veterans for reference.
Author(s): Amy O'Shea, Carrie L. Franciscus, Peter J. Kaboli, Roberto S. Kalil
Citation: Transplantation, 103(9), 1945-1952
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
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