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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

CMS Framework for Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities
Report outlines the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plan for improving health equity and health outcomes across the U.S. for rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. Details a 6 priority framework emphasizing the application of a community-informed geographic lens; the collection and use of standardized data; support for healthcare professionals; the optimization of medical and communication technology; the expansion of access to comprehensive healthcare coverage, benefits, and services and supports; and innovation and value-based care. Highlights examples of activities CMS is undertaking in support of each priority and recent CMS efforts that align with each priority.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Advancing Rural Health Equity: Fiscal Year 2022 Year in Review
Summarizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities in fiscal year 2022 to advance health equity for people living in rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. Covers 10 priority focus areas: Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare, Marketplace, the rural health workforce, payment and delivery system models and demonstrations, long-term services and supports, maternal health, mental health and substance use disorders, quality, and COVID-19.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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2022 Rural-Urban Disparities in Health Care in Medicare
Examines rural/urban differences in the quality of healthcare received by Medicare beneficiaries in 2021, with breakdowns by race and ethnicity. Focuses on patient experience and clinical care measures, including screening for and management of health conditions and medication-related issues.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Provides a comprehensive summary and data analysis of healthcare quality and access in the U.S. Addresses access to healthcare, patient safety, person-centered care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, and care affordability. Includes a discussion of rural hospital closures and the impact on the distance required to access selected healthcare services.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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A Global Equity Model (GEM) for the Advancement of Community Health and Health Equity
Provides an overview of existing and emerging payment systems and their roles in promoting community health and health equity. Proposes a global payment model for health systems' inpatient, emergency department (ED), and outpatient sites of care with community health and health equity as its organizing features. Includes information on the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, the ACO REACH model, and other rural-relevant payment models.
Author(s): Anaeze C. Offodile II, Jason B. Gibbons, Samantha Murrell, Donna Kinzer, Joshua M. Sharfstein
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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The Path to Coordinated Federal Leadership to Strengthen Primary Health Care
Discusses the potential of a Secretary's Council on Primary Care within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Describes primary care's role in addressing policy challenges related to health equity, payment, workforce training, pandemic recovery and resilience, the opioid crisis, and mental health. Offers recommendations to include and strengthen high-quality primary care as part of a long-term vision of a high-value healthcare system. Includes rural references throughout.
Author(s): Robert L. Phillips Jr., Christopher Koller, Alice Hm Chen
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Rethinking Rurality: Using Hospital Referral Regions to Investigate Rural-Urban Health Outcomes
Examines the relationship between the proportion of rural population served in each of the 306 hospital referral regions (HRRs) and health outcomes, healthcare spending and utilization, and access to and quality of primary care. Explores whether mortality differences in HRRs are associated with differences in price-adjusted Medicare reimbursements, quality of primary care, and access to primary care.
Author(s): Lucy Skinner, Sandra Wong, Carrie Colla
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1312
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
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Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them
Issue brief examining racial disparities in access to maternal and infant healthcare, noting disparities in rural communities. Presents data from various sources on birth risks and outcomes, infant mortality, teen pregnancy, and other maternal health topics by race/ethnicity, including American Indian and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander populations.
Author(s): Latoya Hill, Samantha Artiga, Usha Ranji
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Ohio 2023-2026 State Plan on Aging
Highlights the state's health, equity, and justice goals for aging Ohioans. Notes priorities in the areas of community conditions, healthy living, access to care, social connectedness, population health, and preserving independence including those of particular importance to rural or Appalachian residents.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Department of Aging
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Rural and Urban Differences in Care Provided by Home Health Agencies in the United States: A Review of the Literature
Explores the differences in care outcomes for rural and urban home health agencies (HHAs). Discusses some of the barriers faced by rural HHAs, such as overcoming long distances, increased costs, and workforce limitations, among others.
Author(s): Denise D. Quigley, Ashley M. Chastain, Jung A. Kang, et al.
Citation: The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, 23(10), 1653.e1-1653.e13
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
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