Rural Health
Resources by Topic: COVID-19
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs): CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19
Outlines specific regulatory waivers and Medicare flexibilities for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes information on payments for telehealth services, COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and more. Identifies whether each waiver or flexibility was terminated, ended at the conclusion of the public health emergency, was extended, or became permanent.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Outlines specific regulatory waivers and Medicare flexibilities for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes information on payments for telehealth services, COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and more. Identifies whether each waiver or flexibility was terminated, ended at the conclusion of the public health emergency, was extended, or became permanent.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Mortality Among US Veterans Admitted to Community vs Veterans Health Administration Hospitals for COVID-19
Reviewed 64,856 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) elderly enrollees between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 to compare COVID-19 health outcomes for those admitted to VHA hospitals to those admitted to community hospitals. Discusses access to VHA hospitals for rural veterans. Makes recommendations for future COVID-19 surges and other pandemics.
Author(s): Michael E. Ohl, Kelly Richardson Miell, Brice F. Beck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
view details
Reviewed 64,856 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) elderly enrollees between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 to compare COVID-19 health outcomes for those admitted to VHA hospitals to those admitted to community hospitals. Discusses access to VHA hospitals for rural veterans. Makes recommendations for future COVID-19 surges and other pandemics.
Author(s): Michael E. Ohl, Kelly Richardson Miell, Brice F. Beck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
view details
Study of Telehealth Expansion and Payment Parity: Preliminary Report to the Minnesota Legislature 2023
Provides an overview of telehealth usage in Minnesota, with a focus on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth; issues of access, quality, satisfaction, and equity; payment parity; audio-only telehealth; and more. Includes 2021 Minnesota Health Access (MNHA) Survey data about telehealth satisfaction for various populations, including rural, as well as telehealth implications for rural areas.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
view details
Provides an overview of telehealth usage in Minnesota, with a focus on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth; issues of access, quality, satisfaction, and equity; payment parity; audio-only telehealth; and more. Includes 2021 Minnesota Health Access (MNHA) Survey data about telehealth satisfaction for various populations, including rural, as well as telehealth implications for rural areas.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
view details
Medical Assistants' Telehealth Roles and Skills in Primary Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Study examining the role of medical assistants (MAs) in providing primary care via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. 10 key informants from national and state primary care organizations were interviewed. Results include discussion about the variation in roles being dependent on organization size and rurality.
Author(s): Samantha W. Pollack, Susan M. Skillman, Tracy M. Mroz, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
view details
Study examining the role of medical assistants (MAs) in providing primary care via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. 10 key informants from national and state primary care organizations were interviewed. Results include discussion about the variation in roles being dependent on organization size and rurality.
Author(s): Samantha W. Pollack, Susan M. Skillman, Tracy M. Mroz, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
view details
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Patients in Western Pennsylvania: Rural–Urban Disparities
Examines the impact of COVID-19 and related concerns on cancer patients in rural and urban areas of Pennsylvania. Analyzes a sample of 1,980 patient surveys from August-December 2020 and March 2021 by patient perception of pandemic-related distress, cancer care, COVID-19 impact on personal health, and more. Includes rural versus urban data on COVID-19 concerns related to cancer care as well as demographic breakdowns.
Author(s): Kathryn Demanelis, Margaret Rosenzweig, Linda B. Robertson, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 34(7), 595-609
Date: 05/2023
view details
Examines the impact of COVID-19 and related concerns on cancer patients in rural and urban areas of Pennsylvania. Analyzes a sample of 1,980 patient surveys from August-December 2020 and March 2021 by patient perception of pandemic-related distress, cancer care, COVID-19 impact on personal health, and more. Includes rural versus urban data on COVID-19 concerns related to cancer care as well as demographic breakdowns.
Author(s): Kathryn Demanelis, Margaret Rosenzweig, Linda B. Robertson, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 34(7), 595-609
Date: 05/2023
view details
Vaccine Hesitancy and the Willingness to Recommend the COVID-19 Vaccine to Children in a Rural County on the United States-Mexico Border
Presents the results of a 2022 survey in Cochise County, Arizona evaluating the readiness of Latinx adults to recommend vaccinating children under 5 years and children 5 to 12 years of age. Discusses characteristics linked to support for COVID-19 vaccination of these two groups and other issues regarding the vaccination of children from these groups.
Author(s): Raghu D. Darisi, Audrey J. Buckland, Mario Morales, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 11
Date: 05/2023
view details
Presents the results of a 2022 survey in Cochise County, Arizona evaluating the readiness of Latinx adults to recommend vaccinating children under 5 years and children 5 to 12 years of age. Discusses characteristics linked to support for COVID-19 vaccination of these two groups and other issues regarding the vaccination of children from these groups.
Author(s): Raghu D. Darisi, Audrey J. Buckland, Mario Morales, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 11
Date: 05/2023
view details
COVID-19 Mortality by Race and Ethnicity in US Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas, March 2020 to February 2022
Reviews COVID-19 mortality data for 977,018 adults between March 2020 and February 2022 to examine demographic differences between various waves of the pandemic, particularly as it relates to rural or urban classification. Suggests policy changes to reduce mortality.
Author(s): Dielle J. Lundberg, Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, Ahyoung Cho, Rafeya Raquib, Elaine O. Nsoesie, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
view details
Reviews COVID-19 mortality data for 977,018 adults between March 2020 and February 2022 to examine demographic differences between various waves of the pandemic, particularly as it relates to rural or urban classification. Suggests policy changes to reduce mortality.
Author(s): Dielle J. Lundberg, Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, Ahyoung Cho, Rafeya Raquib, Elaine O. Nsoesie, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
view details
Frequently Asked Questions: CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Provides information related to COVID-19 flexibilities after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) that expired May 11, 2023. Addresses issues impacting Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and private insurance including concerns related to COVID-19 vaccines and treatment, telehealth, and more. Includes information about which changes have ended, as well as end dates for those that extend after the PHE.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Provides information related to COVID-19 flexibilities after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) that expired May 11, 2023. Addresses issues impacting Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and private insurance including concerns related to COVID-19 vaccines and treatment, telehealth, and more. Includes information about which changes have ended, as well as end dates for those that extend after the PHE.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Disparities in Implementing COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in Public Schools, United States, 2021–22 School Year
Reports on COVID-19 prevention strategies early in the 2021-22 school year and describes disparities in implementing strategies by school characteristics. Appendix includes data on specific strategies related to mask wearing and ventilation for city, suburban, town, and rural schools.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Sanjana Pampati, Catherine N. Rasberry, Zach Timpe, et al.
Citation: Emerging Infectious Diseases, 29(5), 937-944
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Reports on COVID-19 prevention strategies early in the 2021-22 school year and describes disparities in implementing strategies by school characteristics. Appendix includes data on specific strategies related to mask wearing and ventilation for city, suburban, town, and rural schools.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Sanjana Pampati, Catherine N. Rasberry, Zach Timpe, et al.
Citation: Emerging Infectious Diseases, 29(5), 937-944
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
The State of the World's Children 2023 - For Every Child, Vaccination: Regional Brief: East Asia and the Pacific
Explores reasons behind a sharp drop worldwide in routine vaccination coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers suggestions for steps to be taken for the protection of children's health. Features statistics on zero-dose and under-vaccinated children in East Asian and Pacific countries including Palau, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
view details
Explores reasons behind a sharp drop worldwide in routine vaccination coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers suggestions for steps to be taken for the protection of children's health. Features statistics on zero-dose and under-vaccinated children in East Asian and Pacific countries including Palau, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
view details