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Rural Health
Resources by State: Puerto Rico

Migration to the US among Rural Puerto Ricans Who Inject Drugs: Influential Factors, Sources of Support, and Challenges for Harm Reduction Interventions
Details a study of the migration patterns of rural people who inject drugs (PWID) from Puerto Rico to the United States. Breaks down data by age, gender, and HIV and HCV status among other measures.
Author(s): R. Abadie, P. Habecker, C. Gelpi-Acosta, K. Dombrowski
Citation: BMC Public Health, 19, 1710
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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A Shrinking Primary Care Workforce in Puerto Rico
Discusses Puerto Rico's aging primary care workforce and concerns about the number of healthcare professionals who have left the island following the 2017 hurricane and the relatively low recruitment and retention rate for graduates of Puerto Rico's residency programs. Features statistics showing primary care physician age distribution in Puerto Rico compared with the rest of the United States in 2018.
Author(s): Elizabeth Wilkinson, David Killeen, Gabriel José Pérez-López, Yalda Jabbarpour
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Robert Graham Center
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Assessing Indoor Environmental Control Practices by Race/Ethnicity Among Children With Asthma in 14 US States and Puerto Rico, 2013-2014
Results of a study measuring the association between race/ethnicity and practices such as use of air filters or pillow covers, using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Asthma Call-back Survey Child Questionnaire. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by a group of 14 states and Puerto Rico.
Author(s): Faye M. Rozwadowski, Ginger L. Chew, Hatice S. Zahran, Melissa L. Santorelli
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
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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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Disaster Response: HHS Should Address Deficiencies Highlighted by Recent Hurricanes in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Examines the federal public health and medical services response in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico following the 2017 hurricanes, Irma and Maria. Identifies shortcomings of the response and provides recommendations to improve future response efforts.
Additional links: Full report
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Emergency Management: FEMA's Disaster Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Describes the disaster recovery efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in response to hurricane damage, including damage to hospitals and infrastructure. Discusses grant funding and recovery office establishment, and addresses the challenges in implementing the public assistance program.
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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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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Mandated Report - Medicaid in Puerto Rico
Chapter 5 of the semi-annual Report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. Analyzes Puerto Rico's Medicaid program and factors affecting its future. Features statistics including selected health indicators for Puerto Rico compared with U.S. mainland states, projected Medicaid benefit spending for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, and Medicaid spending in Puerto Rico by year and source of funds for FYs 2011-2019.
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2019
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Addresses the Medicaid Prescription Drug Program and Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to safety-net hospitals, therapeutic foster care coverage, state efforts to improve Medicaid integrity, and challenges facing Medicaid in Puerto Rico.
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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