Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Rural Telehealth and Healthcare System Readiness Measurement Framework: Final Report
Presents a performance measurement framework to guide quality and performance improvement for healthcare services delivered via telehealth in rural areas in response to disasters. Covers five domains — access to care and technology; costs, business models, and logistics; experience; effectiveness; and equity — rural-specific measurement issues, and potential solutions. Includes recommendations for rural telehealth measurement for time-sensitive emergencies, public health emergencies, and disasters.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Presents a performance measurement framework to guide quality and performance improvement for healthcare services delivered via telehealth in rural areas in response to disasters. Covers five domains — access to care and technology; costs, business models, and logistics; experience; effectiveness; and equity — rural-specific measurement issues, and potential solutions. Includes recommendations for rural telehealth measurement for time-sensitive emergencies, public health emergencies, and disasters.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Network Adequacy for Behavioral Health: Existing Standards and Considerations for Designing Standards
Summarizes findings from a technical expert panel and an environmental scan to examine federal and state network adequacy standards for behavioral health across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and commercial insurance. Presents considerations and principles for designing, monitoring, and enforcing additional behavioral health network adequacy standards.
Author(s): Katharine Bradley, Allison Wishon, Alexandra C. Donnelly, Amanda Lechner
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Summarizes findings from a technical expert panel and an environmental scan to examine federal and state network adequacy standards for behavioral health across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and commercial insurance. Presents considerations and principles for designing, monitoring, and enforcing additional behavioral health network adequacy standards.
Author(s): Katharine Bradley, Allison Wishon, Alexandra C. Donnelly, Amanda Lechner
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Funding for USDA Rural Broadband Programs
Provides an overview of funding included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) for two rural broadband-related programs: the ReConnect Program and the Rural Broadband Program. Compares administrative provisions and requirements for the ReConnect Program with requirements for previous rounds of funding.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of funding included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) for two rural broadband-related programs: the ReConnect Program and the Rural Broadband Program. Compares administrative provisions and requirements for the ReConnect Program with requirements for previous rounds of funding.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Examining Rural Hospital Bypass for Outpatient Services
Explores the drivers of rural hospital bypass for outpatient services and the relationship between hospital outpatient services and inpatient utilization. Examines demographic and market characteristics associated with bypass for outpatient services before and after inpatient admissions. Also analyzes how utilization for common outpatient services differs between Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Explores the drivers of rural hospital bypass for outpatient services and the relationship between hospital outpatient services and inpatient utilization. Examines demographic and market characteristics associated with bypass for outpatient services before and after inpatient admissions. Also analyzes how utilization for common outpatient services differs between Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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#RuralHealthChat: Digital Equity and the Health of Rural Americans
#RuralHealthChat discusses the role of digital equity in healthcare and the barriers to accessing digital tools faced by rural communities. Features experts from the National Rural Health Association, the American Telemedicine Association, and the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center, among others.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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#RuralHealthChat discusses the role of digital equity in healthcare and the barriers to accessing digital tools faced by rural communities. Features experts from the National Rural Health Association, the American Telemedicine Association, and the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center, among others.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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COVID-19 and the Rural Opioid Epidemic: Recommendations to Improve Health in Illinois
Examines the rural opioid epidemic in Illinois and offers policy recommendations to increase access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) centers, engaging populations involved with the criminal justice system, and expanding harm reduction services. Offers data on state opioid fatality rates with rural and urban comparisons and monthly mortality rates based on state Department of Public Health data. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the opioid epidemic.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: SIU Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development, SIU Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
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Examines the rural opioid epidemic in Illinois and offers policy recommendations to increase access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) centers, engaging populations involved with the criminal justice system, and expanding harm reduction services. Offers data on state opioid fatality rates with rural and urban comparisons and monthly mortality rates based on state Department of Public Health data. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the opioid epidemic.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: SIU Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development, SIU Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Southern Illinois University Medicine Department of Population Science and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
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Policies for Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality and Enhancing Equity in Maternal Health: A Review of the Evidence
Examines maternal health in relation to social determinants of health (SDOH), addressing disparities for Black, rural, veteran, and incarcerated mothers. Highlights environmental and healthcare issues, as well as strategies to improve maternal health outcomes through workforce initiatives, data collection, and policy changes.
Author(s): Jodie G. Katon, Daniel A. Enquobahrie, Kate Jacobsen, Laurie Zephyrin
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Examines maternal health in relation to social determinants of health (SDOH), addressing disparities for Black, rural, veteran, and incarcerated mothers. Highlights environmental and healthcare issues, as well as strategies to improve maternal health outcomes through workforce initiatives, data collection, and policy changes.
Author(s): Jodie G. Katon, Daniel A. Enquobahrie, Kate Jacobsen, Laurie Zephyrin
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Improving Methadone Access for Rural Communities in the USA: Lessons Learned from Covid-19 Adaptations and International Models of Care
Explores the effect of changes to methadone treatment protocols for opioid use disorder in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on access to treatment in rural areas. Discusses telehealth, dispensing schedules, and distribution models before and during the pandemic.
Author(s): Jamey J Lister, Holly H Lister
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(4)
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
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Explores the effect of changes to methadone treatment protocols for opioid use disorder in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on access to treatment in rural areas. Discusses telehealth, dispensing schedules, and distribution models before and during the pandemic.
Author(s): Jamey J Lister, Holly H Lister
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(4)
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
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Supporting Telehealth and Technology-Assisted Services for People Who Use Drugs: A Resource Guide
Offers policy, training, and planning resources for Substance Use Disorder treatment providers, harm reduction organizations, and others looking to implement telehealth and technology-assisted services to improve the health and wellness of people who use drugs. Discusses participant barriers to accessing technology, including rural-specific challenges, and describes rural initiatives among other case studies.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Offers policy, training, and planning resources for Substance Use Disorder treatment providers, harm reduction organizations, and others looking to implement telehealth and technology-assisted services to improve the health and wellness of people who use drugs. Discusses participant barriers to accessing technology, including rural-specific challenges, and describes rural initiatives among other case studies.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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MACPAC Response to Senate Finance Committee Request for Information on Behavioral Health
Summarizes the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) ongoing analysis of behavioral health in Medicaid and CHIP and offers policy recommendations. Discusses the behavioral health workforce; behavioral healthcare service delivery and access; mental health parity; telehealth; and improving access for children and youth. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Summarizes the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) ongoing analysis of behavioral health in Medicaid and CHIP and offers policy recommendations. Discusses the behavioral health workforce; behavioral healthcare service delivery and access; mental health parity; telehealth; and improving access for children and youth. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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