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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Obstacles Persist for Rural Patients to Access Hospice
Discusses challenges to delivering hospice care in rural areas. Highlights changes to allow providers at Rural Health Centers and Federal Qualified Health Centers to serve as attending physicians for hospice patients. Explores the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of hospice services, including the use of telehealth services and workforce concerns.
Author(s): Jim Parker
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Hospice News
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Broadband: FCC Is Taking Steps to Accurately Map Locations that Lack Access
Describes efforts by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop a location fabric, a geographically specific, granular dataset, representing existing and necessary broadband deployment sites. Presents findings from an examination of potential geographic data sources, surveys of 44 states and territories, and interviews with state and federal agency stakeholders. Discusses limitations related to the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of location data.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The United States Is Becoming More Racially Diverse – And so Is Rural America
Analyzes initial data from the 2020 Census on race and ethnicity in rural America. Compares changes in race and ethnicity in rural areas between 2000 through 2020. Offers maps of the top two most prevalent race or ethnicity groups by county in 2020. Includes 6 other maps showing county-level population data in 2010 and 2020 for the following: White non-Hispanic, Hispanic, Black, Native American, Asian, and multi-race populations.
Author(s): Lance George, Natasha Moodie, Keith Wiley, Elijah Asdourian, Evelyn Immonen
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Hyperlocal Covid-19 Testing and Vaccination Strategies to Reach Communities with Low Vaccine Uptake
Describes promising state and local strategies to promote equitable and accessible COVID-19 testing and vaccination programs among communities with low vaccination rates. Presents examples of how states and communities use existing infrastructure and modify strategies to meet community needs. Includes rural examples and highlights rural-focused strategies for vaccinations.
Author(s): Andrea Thoumi, Kamaria Kaalund, Christina Silcox, et al.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy
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Disparities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage Associated with Dual Eligibility or Eligibility for a Low-income Subsidy
Shares Medicare Advantage (MA) plan performance data for specific healthcare quality measures reported in 2019, which represents care received in 2018. Analyzes and compares the quality of clinical care for dual-eligible (DE) beneficiaries, those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for a Part D low-income subsidy (LIS) with the quality of care for beneficiaries who do not qualify as DE nor LIS by racial/ethnic groups and rural status.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Trajectory of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Over Time and Association of Initial Vaccine Hesitancy With Subsequent Vaccination
Assesses the association between baseline vaccine hesitancy and vaccine receipt at study follow-up, using data from 3,439 participants surveyed between August-December 2020 and again between March-April 2021. Also explores the validity of vaccine self-report. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Aaron J. Siegler, Nicole Luisi, Eric W. Hall, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(9)
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
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Association of Hospital Telestroke Adoption With Changes in Initial Hospital Presentation and Transfers Among Patients With Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks
Results of a study to assess whether implementation of telestroke services is associated with changes in where and how patients present with stroke symptoms, their decision to be transferred to another hospital, and to which hospitals they are transferred. Uses data from 593 hospitals that adopted telestroke from 2009-2016. Features statistics on hospital characteristics by telestroke status, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Jessica V. Richard, Andrew Wilcock, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(9)
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
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NADTC Best Practices Compendium
Highlights innovative programs, best practices, and lessons learned by 16 programs funded by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) between 2017-2019. Identifies common themes across the programs that serve as key considerations for communities that want to expand accessible transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities. Includes a section focused on rural transportation programs.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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Housing Affordability, Adequacy, and Access to the Internet in Homes of Medicaid Enrollees
Examines the housing adequacy, affordability, and internet access among Medicaid enrollees in 2019. Describes the impact of housing conditions on health, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses policy options for Medicaid programs to address housing challenges. Presents data by Medicaid enrollee demographic characteristics, including race/ethnicity, age, sex, and metro/non-metro status.
Author(s): Bradley Corallo
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Trends in Death Rates in Urban and Rural Areas: United States, 1999-2019
Examines national trends for age-adjusted death rates in urban and rural areas by sex. Includes data for the 10 leading causes of death in 2019 by urban and rural status.
Author(s): Sally C. Curtin, Merianne Rose Spencer
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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