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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by State: Washington

Use of Apprenticeship to Meet Demand for Medical Assistants in the U.S.
Reports findings from a study of registered medical assistant (MA) apprenticeship programs in 12 states. Discusses the workforce needs these programs may help address, including workforce needs in rural communities. Describes the programs and discusses challenges with starting and maintaining MA apprenticeship programs.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Andrew D. Jopson, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Toolkit: State Strategies to Support Older Adults Aging in Place in Rural Areas
Describes state initiatives helping older rural adults age in place by supporting services allowing them to remain in their homes. Strategies are focused around building the workforce, increasing access to services in rural areas, and addressing social determinants of health. Includes examples of programs that have already been implemented as well as emerging ideas from several states across the country.
Author(s): Neva Kaye, Kristina Long
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Academy for State Health Policy, National Organizations of State and Local Officials
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Medicaid: Efforts to Identify, Predict, or Manage High-Expenditure Beneficiaries
Describes strategies used in 7 states to manage beneficiaries' healthcare costs while ensuring quality care, and lists resources the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides to help states identify, predict, and manage high-expenditure beneficiaries. Discusses effects of social determinants of health and staff shortages in rural areas. Includes statistics for Medicaid expenditures among beneficiaries enrolled only in Medicaid, for fiscal years 2009-2011.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Case Study: Eastern Washington
Results of a field study focused on the Empire Health Foundation, a private, rural health funder with a service area of 7 counties, including 14 Native American tribes on 3 reservations. Part of the Rural Philanthropic Analysis series.
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Campbell University Office of Rural Philanthropic Analysis
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In Support of Family Caregivers: A Snapshot of Five States
Examines policies developed in Washington State, Minnesota, Hawaii, Tennessee, and Maine to support family caregivers, including those in rural areas. Features demographic characteristics of the states profiled, state expenditures by the Administration for Community Living in FY2016 on older adults and caregivers, and data on state Medicaid policies affecting these groups.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Jennifer Aufill, Julia Burgdorf, Jennifer Wolff
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Milbank Memorial Fund, The John A. Hartford Foundation
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Increasing Rural Nurses' Awareness of a Statewide Health Information Resource: An Educational Outreach Initiative
Reports on strategies designed to promote awareness and usage of HEALWA among rural health professionals in Washington state, including the use of a librarian position. HEALWA is a virtual resource library of evidence-based health information that can be accessed by health practitioners across the state.
Author(s): Kathryn Vela, Tania Bardyn
Citation: Journal of the Medical Library Association, 107(2), 244-250
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
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Cross-Agency Approaches to Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment: National Recommendations
Provides recommendations on how state agencies can work together to prevent and treat substance use disorder, including engaging with state offices of rural health. Offers examples from 8 states and emphasizes state efforts related to opioid misuse disorder.
Date: 03/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Strengthening Medicaid Long-term Services and Supports in an Evolving Policy Environment: A Toolkit for States
Shares strategies states can use to reform their long-term services and supports (LTSS) framework, focusing on improving LTSS in two key areas: rebalancing LTSS to increase the proportion of LTSS provided in community-based settings and integrating LTSS with physical and behavioral health services through managed care. Uses case studies to provide examples of each strategy, and discusses rural considerations throughout.
Additional links: Brief for Legislators, Summary of Reforms
Author(s): Stephanie Anthony, Arielle Traub, Sarah Lewis, et al.
Date: 03/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Mujeres Fuertes y Corazones Saludables, a Culturally Tailored Physical Activity and Nutrition Program for Rural Latinas: Findings from a Pilot Study
Provides an overview of a pilot study of a culturally-tailored group-based nutrition education and physical activity program for rural Latinas in Washington state. Discusses the challenges of recruiting and retaining rural Latinas in a lifestyle program, including limited individual resources, changing contact information, and lack of trust.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin, Cynthia K. Perry, Emma Solanki, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(4), 630
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
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Offering Palliative Care in Rural Communities
Video introducing palliative care and how it is provided in a rural community. Discusses challenges to providing high quality palliative care with rural areas and the healthcare setting that can offer palliative care.
Date: 02/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Office of Rural Health
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