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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Broadband

Broadband Data and Mapping: Background and Issues for the 116th Congress
Explores policy issues and challenges related to high-speed internet access, including federal agency roles in broadband mapping. Includes a section comparing urban and rural areas in terms of access to telecommunications and information technologies.
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Collaborating for Prosperity With American Indians and Alaska Natives: Rural Development Programs for Tribes, Tribal Families, Children, and Communities
Highlights the major USDA Rural Development (RD) programs and initiatives that support American Indians and Alaska Natives. Covers topics such as food security, housing, education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and infrastructure. Features success stories of how these programs have been used in tribal communities. Also includes contact information for the RD office in each state.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Oversight Hearing on "GAO Report on Tribal Access to Spectrum: Promoting Communications Services in Indian Country"
Presents the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing on the need for accelerating deployment of high-speed cable internet to improve tribal access to broadband services specifically licensed spectrum. Features testimony from representatives from Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. Chairperson Belinda Nelson, and Chief Technology Director for Santa Fe Indian School Kimball Sekaquaptewa.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Provider Shortages and Limited Availability of Behavioral Health Services in New Mexico's Medicaid Managed Care
Examines the supply and distribution of behavioral health providers and prescribers across New Mexico, with a focus on services available to Medicaid managed care enrollees. Includes data for rural and frontier counties. Discusses rural broadband connectivity challenges that impact the use of telehealth to address access. Offers policy recommendations. Findings are likely to be relevant to behavioral healthcare access in other states' rural and frontier counties.
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Greater Good Podcasts Rural Health Segment, Part 1: How Did We Get Here? Rural Health Challenges in America
Set of three podcast episodes featuring Erika Ziller and Yvonne Jonk of the Maine Rural Health Research Center discussing current rural health issues and challenges, as well as historical factors related to the current rural health system. Addresses rural aging and long-term care, dental care, health insurance coverage, and health-related impacts of growing up in a rural community. Also compares rural health in Maine, other parts of the U.S., and rural communities in other countries.
Additional links: Part 2: Growing Up Rural, Part 3: Rural Health in Maine and America vs. the World
Author(s): Carrie Wilshusen, Erika Ziller, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 09/2019
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center
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FCC Promoting Telehealth in Rural America: Report and Order
Provides a report and order regarding plans to reform the Rural Health Care Program and promote telehealth, including targeting funding to rural areas. Discusses plans to improve the Telecom Program's efficiency, transparency, and predictability; criteria for prioritizing rural areas for funding; how to increase rural participation in Healthcare Connect Fund Program Consortia and the effectiveness of competitive billing; and how to improve RHC Program administration, the application process, and program oversight. Includes the final rules governing the program and maps showing the rural area tiers for the program.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Selection Biases in Technology-based Intervention Research: Patients' Technology Use Relates to Both Demographic and Health-related Inequities
Details a study on selection bias in health research, specifically the patient characteristics of people with implantable cardioverter defibrillators who were not included in an intervention on the basis of their inability to access the internet or a computer. Looks at patient demographics, such as age, race, education, and rural status, among other measures.
Author(s): Tammy Toscos, Michelle Drouin, Jessica Pater, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(8-9), 835–839
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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Mobile Telehealth Units and Care Coordinators Improve Emergency Care Services for Rural Arizona Patients
Features an Arizona program focused on lowering ER readmissions through care coordination and EMS telehealth services. Explains how the telehealth services are provided via mobile telehealth units. Describes how care coordination helps meet the behavioral health needs of patients with chronic diseases.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Our Wireless Future: Building a Comprehensive Approach to Spectrum Policy
Recording of a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing focused on policies affecting access to wireless internet. Addresses access to wireless in rural tribal areas, spectrum for emergency operations, options for expanding rural broadband access, and uses for broadband access. Includes testimony from the Federal Communications Commission, MuralNet, Competitive Carriers Association, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and others.
Additional links: Julius P. Knapp Testimony, Mariel Triggs Testimony, Michael Calabrese Testimony, Peter Pitsch Testimony, Tim Donovan Testimony
Date: 07/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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Telehealth in Rural America
Policy brief focused on telehealth in the rural U.S. Addresses state and national policies related to insurance coverage of telehealth, infrastructure challenges such as broadband access, licensure issues, reimbursement, and other barriers to telehealth access.
Author(s): Windy Alonso, Elizabeth Crouch, Nicole Thorell
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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