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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Benefit enrollment and application

Food as Medicine Survey Findings: How Anti-Hunger Organizations Partner With Health Care Providers to Address Food Insecurity
Analyzes how anti-hunger organizations are partnering with healthcare providers and facilities to promote food security and connect patients with federal food assistance programs. Utilizes 2023/2024 quantitative and qualitative survey data from 56 respondents and provides characteristics of the respondent's organization; types of healthcare facilities involved; food assistance programs to which patients are referred; screening and referral process; and demographics of people served, such as race/ethnicity, age group, special populations, and geographic location of urban, suburban, or rural. Includes a case study of the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) and their use of mobile food delivery to reach rural populations.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Experiences Participating in Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Investigation in Vermont
Analyzes participant experiences with federal nutrition assistance programs during the COVID-19 period of July 2020 to September 2020 in Vermont. Utilizes qualitative and quantitative feedback to analyze program participation, food insecurity, perceived stress, and fruit and vegetable intake. Discusses rurality as a factor in food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): Emma H. Spence, Meredith T. Niles, Farryl Bertmann, Emily H. Belarmino
Citation: Nutrition Journal, 23, 74
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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USDA Summer Food Program with Administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service, Cindy Long
Podcast episode featuring Cindy Long, Administrator for the the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Discusses how the USDA FNS helps parents and caregivers raising families in rural and remote areas navigate nutrition assistance programs when school is out of session in the summer. Describes Summer Food Program eligibility and how to access program benefits.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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More Than 130,000 Households With Housing Vouchers Have Been Burdened by Child Care Costs Since 2017
A research brief that examines out-of-pocket costs of child care for families who receive housing vouchers. Includes state-by-state data as well as an interactive map that shows median childcare payment by county. Includes discussion about housing and childcare needs as well as recommended policy.
Author(s): Sara Shaw, Weilin Li, Sunny Sun, Edwin Crockett
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Child Trends
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A Look at Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies During the Unwinding of Continuous Enrollment and Beyond
Provides a detailed overview of state policies related to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Covers policies related to Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, enrollment, and renewal as of May 2024. Describes state actions to improve systems, processes, and communications during the unwinding of the COVID-19 pandemic-era Medicaid continuous enrollment requirements.
Author(s): Tricia Brooks, Jennifer Tolbert, Allexa Gardner, et al.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2022
Presents an overview of the SNAP Program eligibility requirements and benefit levels. Provides detailed tables showing comparisons in rural-urban areas. Coverage includes October 2021 through September 2022.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Mia Monkovic
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Veterans Affairs: Actions Needed to Improve Access to Care in the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States
Examines how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates the population of veterans in the U.S. territories and freely associated states (FAS) to inform resource allocation and outreach needs. Describes how the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) monitors veterans' use of and access to healthcare services at VHA facilities in the U.S. territories. Discusses challenges veterans face in accessing VHA services in the U.S. territories and FAS and VA efforts to address these challenges. Offers recommendations to the VA and Department of Defense to assess the data sources in its model for estimating the veteran population and its travel benefits policies for territory veterans.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Frontier Health Care: Ensuring Veterans' Access No Matter Where They Live
Recording of a May 15, 2024, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing regarding rural veterans' access to healthcare and efforts to address challenges to care. Covers rural staffing and recruitment, limited access to broadband, distance to healthcare providers, and more. Features testimony from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health, the Great Plains Veterans Services Center, the Government Accountability Office, and Disabled American Veterans.
Additional links: Alyssa M. Hundrup, Government Accountability Office - Testimony, Chauncey Parker, Great Plains Veterans Services Center - Testimony, Jon Retzer, Disabled American Veterans - Testimony, Peter Kaboli, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Rural Health - Testimony
Date: 05/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate
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Supporting Students Year-Round: New Options for Summer Benefits
A slide deck that provides information on non-congregate meals in rural areas and the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT). Discusses policy and program enrollment, food insecurity data, and summer meal program case studies.
Author(s): Carolyn Vega, Chris Bernard, Katie Raymond
Date: 04/2024
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Annual Insurance Update 2024: Health Insurance in Kansas
Reports on health insurance coverage across Kansas and nationwide, including 2009-2022 trends in coverage. Presents 2021 county-level data on uninsured rates by age group and urban/rural classification, as well as Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment by county.
Author(s): Angela S Wu, Kaci Cink, Cynthia Snyder, Wen-Chieh Lin
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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