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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Benefit enrollment and application

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
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
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
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
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
Sponsoring organizations: Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate
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Ensuring Equitable Application of Interventions to Vulnerable Subpopulations in the Kentucky Consortium for Accountable Health Communities (KC-AHC)
Results of a study to assess the equity of the Kentucky Consortium for Accountable Health Communities model activities among dual enrollees, disabled people, and women. Uses data gathered from August 2018 to April 2021 in a largely-rural 29-county area in Appalachian Kentucky. Features statistics with breakdowns by year and by subpopulation.
Author(s): Jing Li, Jessica M. Clouser, Akosua Adu, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1/2), 38–56
Date: 04/2024
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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
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
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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North Carolina Medicaid Expansion: A Rural Perspective
Reports on expanded Medicaid coverage in rural North Carolina using state-level monthly enrollment data. Compares expansion enrollment in rural, suburban, and urban counties, and evaluates whether enrollment is associated with poverty at the county level.
Author(s): Dalton Bailey
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Center
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Child Nutrition Program Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, July 2020 through December 2021 School Meals Operations Study, Year 2 Report (Final)
Describes trends in Child Nutrition (CN) Program program participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 2020 through December 2021. Builds on a previous report that presents data on the number of meals served, operational and financial challenges of state agencies and local program operators, and the use of COVID-19 Child Nutrition nationwide waivers.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Liana Washburn, Veronica Severn, Brett Eiffes, et al.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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