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Rural Health
Resources by State: American Samoa

Territory of American Samoa's Response and Action Plan to Combat the Coronavirus Pandemic
Comprehensive plan documenting American Samoa's response to COVID-19. Includes guidance and advisories, as well as an overview of the healthcare infrastructure and systems.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Samoa Government
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Intergovernmental Advisory Committee to the Federal Communications Commission Advisory Recommendation No: 2019-2 in the Matter of State, Local Tribal, and Territorial Regulatory and Other Barriers and Incentives to Telemedicine
Examines the technical infrastructure necessary for effective telemedicine delivery in state, territorial, tribal, and local (rural and urban) areas. Discusses the regulatory barriers including legislation, licensing, reimbursement, malpractice insurance, and privacy that obstruct its development and utilization, and offers recommendations addressing these barriers. Appendix A presents case studies of broadband and telehealth development in several states and territories.
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Federal Communications Commission, Intergovernmental Advisory Committee to the Federal Communications Commission
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Snapshot: Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Health
Fact sheet with statistics on uninsurance rates by ethnicity; health disparities by ethnicity, sex, and three types of cancer incidence rates; and rates of hepatitis B and HIV infection.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
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When Will the U.S. Territories Exhaust Federal Medicaid Funding?
Issue brief exploring the projected effects on healthcare expense funding in American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands if all sources of federal funding are allowed to expire in 2019. Features statistics for Medicaid funding and spending in the territories for fiscal year 2018, and sources of federal Medicaid funding and periods during which the funding is available.
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Strengthening Health Care in the U.S. Territories for Today and Into the Future
Provides a hearing of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health regarding healthcare issues in the U.S. territories with a focus on Medicaid. Addresses differences between state and territory Medicaid federal funding, health workforce shortages, the effects of recent hurricanes on healthcare, healthcare needs, prescription drug costs, and more. Includes testimony from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration, American Samoa State Agency, Guam Division of Public Welfare, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands State Medicaid Agency, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Human Services.
Additional links: Angela Avila Testimony, Maria Theresa Arcangel Testimony, Sandra King Young Testimony
Date: 06/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Medicaid in the Territories: Program Features, Challenges, and Changes
Issue brief examining key issues and trends in the Medicaid program for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, using findings drawn from a budget survey and interviews with Medicaid officials. Focuses on Medicaid financing, eligibility and enrollment, benefits, provider access and delivery systems, and the changes from fiscal years 2017 to 2019. Features statistics including Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program enrollment as of July 2016, and Medicaid funding and spending in these territories as of fiscal year 2017.
Author(s): Cornelia Hall, Robin Rudowitz, Kathleen Gifford
Date: 01/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Vital Signs: Zika-Associated Birth Defects and Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities Possibly Associated with Congenital Zika Virus Infection — U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States, 2018
Focuses on children one year of age or younger born in the U.S. territories and freely associated states whose mothers had laboratory evidence of confirmed or possible Zika virus infection during pregnancy and who had follow-up care reported. Reports data on Zika-associated birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities possibly associated with congenital Zika virus infection.
Author(s): Marion E. Rice, Romeo R. Galang, Nicole M. Roth, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(31), 858-867
Date: 08/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 2 Years — U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, April–October, 2016
Reports on estimated coverage for selected vaccines and doses by 2 years of age for children in five United States Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) jurisdictions: American Samoa, Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Author(s): Ashley Tippins, Neil Murthy, Mehreen Meghani, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(20), 579-584
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Zika in Babies in US Territories
Provides an overview of the Zika infection in pregnancy and its impact on babies. Focuses on babies born in American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Identifies what health departments, healthcare providers, and parents can do.
Additional links: Fact Sheet, Video
Date: 2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Pregnancy Outcomes After Maternal Zika Virus Infection During Pregnancy — U.S. Territories, January 1, 2016-April 25, 2017
Provides data on Zika virus infection in pregnant women and outcomes in their fetuses and infants in the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands and the U.S. freely associated states of Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands.
Author(s): Carrie K. Shapiro-Mendoza, Marion E. Rice, Romeo R. Galang, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 66(23), 615-621
Date: 06/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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