Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Access
Enhancing Rural Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of issues related to opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural areas. Discusses access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), MOUD workforce, telehealth to support access to MOUD, and Medicaid 1115 demonstrations that address OUD. Offers policy recommendations related to regulatory barriers, reimbursement flexibility, workforce, and service site expansion to increase access to MOUD in rural areas.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Provides an overview of issues related to opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural areas. Discusses access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), MOUD workforce, telehealth to support access to MOUD, and Medicaid 1115 demonstrations that address OUD. Offers policy recommendations related to regulatory barriers, reimbursement flexibility, workforce, and service site expansion to increase access to MOUD in rural areas.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Assessing the Needs of Rural Families Affected by the Opioid Crisis: Issue Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Explores the considerations for addressing social determinants of health that influence opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of community efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural areas, with a focus on prevention efforts in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Discusses youth and family prevention and well-being; stigma; adverse childhood experience; school-based health centers and youth and family resource centers; access to stable housing, food, and other social supports; the importance of trusted community resources for support; and workforce. Offers recommendations related to reducing stigma and promoting the enhanced utilization of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to help rural communities address OUD and substance use disorders.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Explores the considerations for addressing social determinants of health that influence opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of community efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural areas, with a focus on prevention efforts in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Discusses youth and family prevention and well-being; stigma; adverse childhood experience; school-based health centers and youth and family resource centers; access to stable housing, food, and other social supports; the importance of trusted community resources for support; and workforce. Offers recommendations related to reducing stigma and promoting the enhanced utilization of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to help rural communities address OUD and substance use disorders.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Farmworker Health Network: 2024 Key Resources for Agricultural Worker Health
Highlights several resources on agricultural worker health, including a toolkit to encourage ag worker participation on health center boards and model programs to address specific health conditions. Provides a summary for each resource and links to more information on each sponsoring program's website.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc., Health Outreach Partners, MHP Salud, Migrant Clinicians Network, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Center for Farmworker Health
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Highlights several resources on agricultural worker health, including a toolkit to encourage ag worker participation on health center boards and model programs to address specific health conditions. Provides a summary for each resource and links to more information on each sponsoring program's website.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc., Health Outreach Partners, MHP Salud, Migrant Clinicians Network, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Center for Farmworker Health
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Impact of a Diabetic Retinal Exam Screening Program on Quality Measure Gaps at a Family Medicine Practice
Examines access to diabetic retinal exams and the impact of their availability on quality measures at a rural family medicine center in southwestern Pennsylvania. Includes data on diabetic retinal screenings and associated factors related to exam access.
Author(s): Michael Hair, Alexandra Tardugno, Alyssa Greenaway, Chelse Wisenor, Autumn Stewart-Lynch
Citation: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 65(1)
Date: 01/2025
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Examines access to diabetic retinal exams and the impact of their availability on quality measures at a rural family medicine center in southwestern Pennsylvania. Includes data on diabetic retinal screenings and associated factors related to exam access.
Author(s): Michael Hair, Alexandra Tardugno, Alyssa Greenaway, Chelse Wisenor, Autumn Stewart-Lynch
Citation: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 65(1)
Date: 01/2025
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Delivering Broadband from Beginning to "End"
Describes the process, timeline, and challenges of designing and implementing a reliable and robust broadband network in rural areas.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Foundation for Rural Service, NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
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Describes the process, timeline, and challenges of designing and implementing a reliable and robust broadband network in rural areas.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Foundation for Rural Service, NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program
Offers comments in response to a December 10, 2024, proposed rule regarding policy and technical changes to the Medicare Advantage program for contract year 2026. Discusses transparency and access to pharmacy services and prescription drugs, network adequacy, notice to providers, and more.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Offers comments in response to a December 10, 2024, proposed rule regarding policy and technical changes to the Medicare Advantage program for contract year 2026. Discusses transparency and access to pharmacy services and prescription drugs, network adequacy, notice to providers, and more.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Comparative Outcomes Following Randomization to a Pilot Facebook-Based HIV Prevention Intervention Among Appalachian Women Involved in the Criminal Legal System
Results of a study to determine whether enhancing an HIV prevention intervention with additional modules improves service access for Appalachian women following release from jail. Uses data from surveys conducted between 2019-2022.
Author(s): Megan F. Dickson, Erika Pike, Michele Staton
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 81-96
Date: 01/2025
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Results of a study to determine whether enhancing an HIV prevention intervention with additional modules improves service access for Appalachian women following release from jail. Uses data from surveys conducted between 2019-2022.
Author(s): Megan F. Dickson, Erika Pike, Michele Staton
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 81-96
Date: 01/2025
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Ten Things to Know about Texas Rural Hospitals
Fact sheet on rural hospitals' role in supporting access to care and economic health in Texas, with additional data on rural hospital closures and support for hospital operations. Includes a map of rural Texas hospitals by county, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs).
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals
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Fact sheet on rural hospitals' role in supporting access to care and economic health in Texas, with additional data on rural hospital closures and support for hospital operations. Includes a map of rural Texas hospitals by county, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs).
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals
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How Medicaid Helps Your State
Offers fact sheets for 50 states and D.C. on Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) participation. Includes percent of children and adults covered by Medicaid or CHIP in rural areas of each state.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Offers fact sheets for 50 states and D.C. on Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) participation. Includes percent of children and adults covered by Medicaid or CHIP in rural areas of each state.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Current Attitudes and Barriers Among Appalachian Patients Towards Orthopaedic Surgery
Describes challenges faced by southern West Virginia rural residents in accessing orthopedic care, due to geographic and socioeconomic barriers. Uses data from 132 electronic surveys collected from patients during an appointment with their primary care provider at an affiliated outreach clinic.
Author(s): Dylan Smith, Justin B. West, Wade Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 67-80
Date: 01/2025
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Describes challenges faced by southern West Virginia rural residents in accessing orthopedic care, due to geographic and socioeconomic barriers. Uses data from 132 electronic surveys collected from patients during an appointment with their primary care provider at an affiliated outreach clinic.
Author(s): Dylan Smith, Justin B. West, Wade Smith, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(4), 67-80
Date: 01/2025
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