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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Teledentistry Helps Provide the Right Care at the Right Time
Presents a report on the best uses of teledentistry. Discusses the use of teledentistry for dental triage, follow-up care, and in place of in-person visits for patients with less access to care, such as those in rural areas.
Author(s): Lisa J. Heaton, Madhuli Thakkar-Samtani, Caroline D. McLeod, Eric P. Tranby
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Medicare: Information on Geographic Adjustments to Physician Payments for Physicians' Time, Skills, and Effort
Provides an overview of the work geographic practice cost indices (GPCI), which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services uses to adjust Medicare physician payments to account for differences in the costs of providing care across various geographic locations. Examines the extent to which the work GPCI accounts for geographic variation in physician earnings and how Medicare payments could change under potential modifications to the work GPCI.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Mental Health in Rural Areas
Policy position paper focused on mental health in rural areas. Discusses barriers and policy recommendations regarding the availability, access, and acceptability of mental health care in rural communities.
Author(s): Brenda Mack, Heather Whetsell, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion: Critical Factors for EMS Support
Policy position paper focused on emergency medical services (EMS) in communities with hospitals converting to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status. Outlines barriers to EMS delivery in rural areas including funding, workforce, and community engagement and support. Includes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Julie Bosak, Jed Hansen
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural Public Health: Improving the Health and Well-Being of Rural Populations
Policy position paper focused on public health activities in rural areas and the rural public health infrastructure. Offers policy recommendations that could improve rural public health outcomes.
Author(s): Brady Beecham, Vicki Brooks, Alanti McGill
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Toward a Sustainable and Diversified Rural Health Workforce
Policy position paper focused on the rural health workforce. Provides an analysis of rural healthcare workforce data as well as federal and state policy levers related to the healthcare workforce. Offers policy recommendations and identifies areas for future analysis.
Author(s): Alison Coates, Whitney Zahnd, Courtney Burgin
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Structural Factors That Impact Rural Life Expectancy
Policy position paper focused on challenges to improving life expectancy in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to address health outcomes in rural populations.
Author(s): Bryan Price, Elizabeth Ruen, Wade Swenson
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rural Health Clinics
Policy position paper providing an overview of Rural Health Clinics. Offers policy recommendations regarding access to care, RHC reimbursement, and programmatic updates.
Author(s): Kelly Braun, Trent Bourland
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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County-Level Variation in Cirrhosis-Related Mortality in the US, 1999-2019
Reviews cirrhosis mortality rates in the U.S. based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER database for 1999-2019. Analyzes data according to sex, race and ethnicity, and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan categories. Includes discussions of health disparities as related to metro categories.
Author(s): Audrey Y. Ha, Michael H. Le, Linda Henry, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(2)
Date: 02/2022
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2021 FTA Section 5310 Compendium
Provides an overview of the Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program, which is designed to support the specialized transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities. Discusses the role of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) using Section 5310 funding to develop and manage accessible transportation programs. Includes case studies and examples of how AAAs used Section 5310 funding, including programs serving rural residents.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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