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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: American Indian or Alaska Native

Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care among American Indians and Alaska Natives: Recent Trends and Key Challenges
Issue brief presenting data on rates of insurance coverage, Medicaid coverage, and access to healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) using American Community Survey data. Discusses the impacts of health disparities, coverage expansions under the Affordable Care Act, and state Medicaid expansions on AI/AN populations.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Unlocking Potential: A Call to Action: Collaborative Strategies for Rural Health and Economic Prosperities
Reports results of discussions with economic and community development practitioners in rural and Indigenous communities on the relationship between development, racial equity, and health equity. Identifies strategies related to program implementation and evaluation, cooperation, goal setting, communication, and more.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Traditional Food Security and Food Sovereignty in the Coastal Region of South-Central Alaska
Features a study on traditional food security and sovereignty for the Alutiiq and Eyak peoples of the Chugach Region of Alaska. Breaks down results by community food resources, diet and health, culture, organization and governance, food resources, and natural resources and environment. Makes recommendation on overcoming barriers and improving food systems.
Author(s): Joseph Nyholm, Amanda Walch, Leslie Redmond
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 83(1), 2359161
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Place-Based Strengths and Vulnerabilities for Mental Wellness Among Rural Minority Older Adults: An Intervention Development Study Protocol
Presents a study on access to mental healthcare for older minorities in rural areas. Explores some of the barriers specific to racial and ethnic minorities in rural areas. Uses data as the basis for an intervention focused on place-based disparities in depression.
Author(s): Elise Trott Jaramillo
Citation: BMJ Open, 14(6), e088348
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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"COVID Has Taken Its Toll on Us": The Pervasive Effects of COVID-19 on Programs Supporting Native People Who Have Experienced Human Trafficking
Examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities (VHTNC) recipients. Utilizes data from award recipients' performance progress reports (PPRs) as well as 2022-2023 interviews. Discusses issues such as project implementation, trafficking vulnerability, participant identification, collaboration, and service delivery, including those in rural and remote areas.
Author(s): Elizabeth Tibaduiza, Rebecca Pfeffer, Liat Weinstein, Christina Melander
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, RTI International
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Tribally-Led Mobile Outreach: Improving Access to Harm Reduction Services in One Rural Reservation Community
Presents a study on the efficacy of a tribally-run mobile outreach service to deliver opioid harm reduction information and services. Breaks down type of services offered, the organizational reach, and population served.
Author(s): Allyson Kelley, Kellie Webb, Katherine Hirchak, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1383729
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Oversight Hearing Titled, "Examining Public Safety and Justice Resources in Native Communities"
Recording of a hearing from U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs discussing federal resources for public safety in Native communities. Discusses drug-related crime, human trafficking, and violence and abuse. Includes testimony from Bryan Newland from the Department of the Interior, Patrice Kunesh from the Department of Health and Human Services, and Allison Randall from the Office of Violence Against Women. Captions included in the video player.
Additional links: Testimony of Allison Randall, Testimony of The Honorable Bryan Newland, Testimony of The Honorable Patrice Kunesh
Date: 05/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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A Look at the Latest Alcohol Death Data and Change Over the Last Decade
Describes findings from an analysis of 2012 to 2022 CDC WONDER data regarding trends in deaths caused by conditions directly attributable to alcohol consumption, also referred to as alcohol-induced deaths or alcohol deaths. Presents data on alcohol death rates in 2022 and over time by race and ethnicity, age, sex, state, and rurality. Discusses factors that may contribute to increases in alcohol deaths since 2012.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Annual Report To the Congress of the United States On Sanitation Deficiency Levels for Indian Homes and Communities: Fiscal Year 2022
Reports on sanitation deficiencies in tribal communities and describes efforts and priorities of the Indian Health Service to improve tribal water, sewer, and solid waste infrastructure. Includes data on estimated costs to address sanitation deficiencies, estimated health impacts, and healthcare costs avoided by infrastructure investment.
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Frontier Health Care: Ensuring Veterans' Access No Matter Where They Live
Recording of a May 15, 2024, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing regarding rural veterans' access to healthcare and efforts to address challenges to care. Covers rural staffing and recruitment, limited access to broadband, distance to healthcare providers, and more. Features testimony from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health, the Great Plains Veterans Services Center, the Government Accountability Office, and Disabled American Veterans.
Additional links: Alyssa M. Hundrup, Government Accountability Office - Testimony, Chauncey Parker, Great Plains Veterans Services Center - Testimony, Jon Retzer, Disabled American Veterans - Testimony, Peter Kaboli, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Rural Health - Testimony
Date: 05/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate
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