Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Finding Innovation and Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Rural Health Organizations Are Adapting Their Program Strategies
Summarizes a series of virtual peer learning sessions in response to COVID-19 for current Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, Rural Health Network Development, Small Healthcare Provider Quality Improvement, and Delta States Rural Development Network program grantees. Provides an overview of common themes that emerged from the sessions. Discusses the challenges and innovations made to implement rural health and public programs across six areas: community health workers, data collection and evaluation, virtual trainings, peer support services and recovery supports, telehealth utilization, and schools.
Additional links: Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Adjusting Approaches to Data Collection and Utilization, Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Peer Support and Recovery Services in a Virtual Environment, Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Strategies for Supporting Community by Maintaining Work With Schools, Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Taking Community Health Worker Practice Virtual, Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Using Telehealth in New and Improved Ways to Meet Emerging Needs, Guide for Planning and Hosting an Effective Virtual Meeting/Training Event
Author(s): Tanisa Adimu, John Butts, Coleman Tanner, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Summarizes a series of virtual peer learning sessions in response to COVID-19 for current Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, Rural Health Network Development, Small Healthcare Provider Quality Improvement, and Delta States Rural Development Network program grantees. Provides an overview of common themes that emerged from the sessions. Discusses the challenges and innovations made to implement rural health and public programs across six areas: community health workers, data collection and evaluation, virtual trainings, peer support services and recovery supports, telehealth utilization, and schools.
Additional links: Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Adjusting Approaches to Data Collection and Utilization, Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Peer Support and Recovery Services in a Virtual Environment, Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Strategies for Supporting Community by Maintaining Work With Schools, Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Taking Community Health Worker Practice Virtual, Adaptive Strategies for Rural Grantees Amid COVID-19: Using Telehealth in New and Improved Ways to Meet Emerging Needs, Guide for Planning and Hosting an Effective Virtual Meeting/Training Event
Author(s): Tanisa Adimu, John Butts, Coleman Tanner, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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COVID-19 and Rural Hospital Struggles
Recording of a May 14, 2020, webinar on healthcare delivery and financial challenges facing rural hospitals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Features leaders from health systems in Iowa, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show Transcript.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Recording of a May 14, 2020, webinar on healthcare delivery and financial challenges facing rural hospitals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Features leaders from health systems in Iowa, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show Transcript.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Integrating Rural into the New Reality of Healthcare
Discusses service consolidations implemented by healthcare systems to control costs, and examines the resulting cuts to rural healthcare services, especially in Minnesota. Offers recommendations to help policymakers respond to the negative effects of healthcare acquisitions and mergers on healthcare access in rural communities. Includes rural/urban comparisons on profit margins for hospitals, patient demographics, miles traveled for inpatient and outpatient services, and more.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Author(s): Kelly Asche, Marnie Werner
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Discusses service consolidations implemented by healthcare systems to control costs, and examines the resulting cuts to rural healthcare services, especially in Minnesota. Offers recommendations to help policymakers respond to the negative effects of healthcare acquisitions and mergers on healthcare access in rural communities. Includes rural/urban comparisons on profit margins for hospitals, patient demographics, miles traveled for inpatient and outpatient services, and more.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Author(s): Kelly Asche, Marnie Werner
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Virtually Possible: Using Telehealth to Bring Reproductive Health Care to Women with Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Maine
Describes a program implemented by a Maine family planning clinic, in which HIV counseling, contraception, and pregnancy testing and counseling were made available to women with opioid use disorder (OUD) through meetings with a community educator and through telehealth. Explores challenges in receiving OUD care in rural Maine and discusses findings.
Author(s): Terri-Ann Thompson, Katherine A. Ahrens, Leah Coplon
Citation: mHealth
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
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Describes a program implemented by a Maine family planning clinic, in which HIV counseling, contraception, and pregnancy testing and counseling were made available to women with opioid use disorder (OUD) through meetings with a community educator and through telehealth. Explores challenges in receiving OUD care in rural Maine and discusses findings.
Author(s): Terri-Ann Thompson, Katherine A. Ahrens, Leah Coplon
Citation: mHealth
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
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Process of Identifying Measures and Data Elements for the HRSA School-Based Telehealth Network Grant Program
Research brief describing measures used for a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) program designed to demonstrate how telehealth can expand access to and improve the quality of healthcare services offered in schools in rural, frontier, and underserved communities. Focuses on asthma, behavioral health, diabetes, healthy weight, and oral health. Features tables listing 27 measures and 40 data elements used for grantee evaluation.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Kimberley Fox, Kimberly Merchant, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Research brief describing measures used for a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) program designed to demonstrate how telehealth can expand access to and improve the quality of healthcare services offered in schools in rural, frontier, and underserved communities. Focuses on asthma, behavioral health, diabetes, healthy weight, and oral health. Features tables listing 27 measures and 40 data elements used for grantee evaluation.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Kimberley Fox, Kimberly Merchant, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Access to Medicare Part D Plans: A Comparison of Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas
Policy brief focusing on the types of Medicare Part D plans offered in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore locations. Offers comparisons between stand-alone plans and Medicare Advantage plans, in terms of premiums, benefits, and the manner in which these plans are offered.
Author(s): Mochamad Nataliansyah, Abiodun Salako, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller,
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Policy brief focusing on the types of Medicare Part D plans offered in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore locations. Offers comparisons between stand-alone plans and Medicare Advantage plans, in terms of premiums, benefits, and the manner in which these plans are offered.
Author(s): Mochamad Nataliansyah, Abiodun Salako, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller,
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Delivery of VA Telehealth Services During COVID-19
Provides an overview of veterans' access to telehealth services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the funding opportunities through the CARES Act and the Connected Care Pilot Program that aim to assist veterans with obtaining telehealth-related infrastructure during the pandemic.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of veterans' access to telehealth services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the funding opportunities through the CARES Act and the Connected Care Pilot Program that aim to assist veterans with obtaining telehealth-related infrastructure during the pandemic.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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America at a Glance: How Do Working-Age Adults with Travel-Limiting Disabilities Get Around?
Examines the travel behaviors, employment status, and health of rural and urban residents with travel-related disabilities. Explores the use of public transit and other transportation services by rural and urban residence.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Examines the travel behaviors, employment status, and health of rural and urban residents with travel-related disabilities. Explores the use of public transit and other transportation services by rural and urban residence.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Characteristics of Counties with the Highest Proportion of the Oldest Old
Policy brief examining the characteristics of communities having the greatest percent of residents ages 85 and older. Discusses documented differences in rural-urban locations in long-term care availability and caregiver supports. Includes a list of counties with the highest proportion of the oldest old, a county-level map with shadings showing proportions of the oldest old, and statistics on county characteristics, with breakdowns by highest-prevalence rural counties, all counties, rural counties, and noncore rural counties.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Megan Lahr, Jonathan Schroeder, Cody Tuttle, Samantha Mills
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief examining the characteristics of communities having the greatest percent of residents ages 85 and older. Discusses documented differences in rural-urban locations in long-term care availability and caregiver supports. Includes a list of counties with the highest proportion of the oldest old, a county-level map with shadings showing proportions of the oldest old, and statistics on county characteristics, with breakdowns by highest-prevalence rural counties, all counties, rural counties, and noncore rural counties.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Megan Lahr, Jonathan Schroeder, Cody Tuttle, Samantha Mills
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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What Is the Impact on Rural Area Residents When the Local Physician Leaves?
Results of a pilot study exploring challenges in access to care that result when rural communities lose a family physician. Based on interviews with 18 participants from 3 geographically distinct rural areas of Virginia who had experienced the loss of a family physician within the past 5 years.
Author(s): Paulius Mui , Martha M. Gonzalez, Rebecca Etz
Citation: Family Medicine, 52(5), 352-356
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
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Results of a pilot study exploring challenges in access to care that result when rural communities lose a family physician. Based on interviews with 18 participants from 3 geographically distinct rural areas of Virginia who had experienced the loss of a family physician within the past 5 years.
Author(s): Paulius Mui , Martha M. Gonzalez, Rebecca Etz
Citation: Family Medicine, 52(5), 352-356
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
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