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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

America at a Glance: Social Isolation and Loneliness During the First Wave of COVID-19
Explores how COVID-19 and related stay-at-home orders contributed to feelings of social isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities. Compares feelings of social isolation and loneliness among urban and rural groups before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the possible impact of technological accommodations on these feelings.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Rural-Urban Differences among Older Adults
Chartbook describing characteristics of older adults in rural counties, and differences in demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, healthcare access and use, and health characteristics among urban and rural older adults. Features statistics including veteran status, racial and ethnic composition, percentage of older adults living alone, financial insecurity, health plan enrollment, health conditions, and disability status.
Author(s): Cody Tuttle, Jill Tanem, Megan Lahr, et al.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Alcoholic Beverage: An Elixir, and Yet a Poison?
Examines health messages related to alcohol from federal agencies and the journal literature. Features a Missouri cardiologist who reviews the science on alcohol use and its impact on health and well-being.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Alcohol Use Disorder: Addressing Stigma and Treatment Access in Rural America
Examines alcohol use and misuse in rural America. Features the work of healthcare providers in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico. Discusses stigma, treatment access, and recovery. Addresses the impact of COVID-19 on treatment access, including the use of telehealth.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Home Health Prospective Payment System for CY 2021
Comments on a June 30, 2020, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments addressing the use of technology under the Medicare home health benefit and changes to geographic area delineations.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural–Urban Disparities in Access to Medicaid-Contracted Pharmacies in Washington State, 2017
Uses 2017 data to explore the relationship between rurality and Medicaid-contracted pharmacy access in Washington State. Includes rural/urban comparisons on zip-code characteristics, such as age, Medicaid-insured, and poverty.
Author(s): Janessa Graves, Demetrius Abshire, Megan Undeberg, Laura Forman, Solmaz Amiri
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 08/2020
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National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2019
Reports on vaccination coverage among U.S. adolescents by age for ages 13 through 17 and overall for 2018 and 2019. Also includes data on vaccination coverage by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residence and poverty status. Includes nonmetro data related to the following vaccines: Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis), MenACWY (quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate), HPV (human papillomavirus), MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and varicella.
Author(s): Laurie D. Elam-Evans, David Yankey, James A. Singleton, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(33), 1109-1116
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Living at Home in Rural America: Improving Accessibility for Older Adults and People with a Disability
Information on current federal resources, programs, and initiatives intended to improve home safety and accessibility for rural older adults and people with disabilities. Supports the Rural Health Strategy, launched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2018 to improve health care in rural America by leveraging partnerships on the federal, regional, state, and local levels.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Community Living, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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COVID-19 Among American Indian and Alaska Native Persons — 23 States, January 31–July 3, 2020
Examines the cumulative incidence in 23 states of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people, compared with rates from other groups. Discusses possible causes for the elevated incidence of COVID-19 in AI/AN populations.
Author(s): Sarah M. Hatcher, Christine Agnew-Brune, Mark Anderson, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(34), 1166-1169
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Addressing Opioid Use in Rural Communities: Examples from Critical Access Hospitals
Highlights strategies adopted by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to combat opioid use in their communities. Describes lessons learned from the featured CAHs regarding the development and implementation of projects targeting opioid use. Identifies ways that State Flex Programs and State Offices of Rural Health can support the efforts of CAHs in addressing opioid use in their communities. Provides list of opioid-related resources for CAHs and State Flex Programs.
Author(s): John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Karen Pearson, Nathan First
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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