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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Characteristics of the Current Dental Assistant and Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary Workforces in Washington State
Results of a survey of 1,240 dental assistants (DAs) and 113 expanded function dental auxiliaries (EFDAs), to describe the supply, distribution, and characteristics of DAs and EFDAs in Washington. Features demographics, a county-level map showing numbers of registered DAs with Washington addresses per 100,000 population, and statistics on residence with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Samantha W. Pollack, Grace A. Guenther, Benjamin A. Stubbs, et al.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies, Washington Oral Health Workforce
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Alabama Health Professional Shortage Areas - Primary Care
County-level map with shadings showing geographic and low-income Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in Alabama.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Public Health
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A Closer Look at the Final Nursing Facility Rule and Which Facilities Might Meet New Staffing Requirements
Summarizes new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services's (CMS) nurse staffing requirements for nursing facilities outlined in the April 22, 2024, final rule. Analyzes Nursing Home Compare data from April 2024, which reflects nursing home staffing levels from December 2023, to explore the percentage of facilities that meet each of the new nurse staffing requirements. Presents data by nursing ownership status, rural and urban location, special focus facility status, and state.
Author(s): Priya Chidambaram, Alice Burns, Tricia Neuman, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Barriers to Buprenorphine Dispensing by Medicaid-Participating Community Retail Pharmacies
Analyzes rates at which pharmacies dispensing opioids also dispensed buprenorphine, utilizing 2016-2019 Medicaid claims data. Includes year-by-year comparisons of clinics by patient volume and rural or urban location.
Author(s): Patricia R. Freeman, Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Katherine A. Ahrens, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(5), e241077
Date: 05/2024
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Alabama Health Professional Shortage Areas - Mental Health
County-level map with shadings showing geographic and low-income Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in Alabama.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Public Health
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Tele-Behavioral Health Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19
Explores whether tele-behavioral healthcare was able to meet the demand for behavioral healthcare during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Examines behavioral healthcare and tele-behavioral healthcare use among Medicare beneficiaries in 2019 and 2020 by type of service and beneficiary characteristics, including urban and rural residence.
Author(s): Laura Jacobus-Kantor, Judith Dey, Emma Nye, et al.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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State Innovations to Advance Respite Care: Policy Strategies Shared at the State-Federal Respite Summit
Presents strategies utilized by states to improve access to and quality of respite care services for family caregivers. Strategies cover awareness and outreach, respite workforce education, and serving diverse populations. Highlights strategies from Colorado, North Dakota, and Oklahoma focused on rural areas.
Author(s): Kimberly Hodges, Ella Taggart, Salom Teshale
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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How Ohio Public Library Systems Respond to Opioid-Related Substance Use: A Descriptive Analysis of Survey Results
Reports on measures to deter substance use and prevent overdose in 56 Ohio public library systems, with comparisons of rural, town, suburban, and city library systems. Includes data on evidence of opioid use, response measures, and capacity to respond to opioid use.
Author(s): Patrick M. Schnell, Ruochen Zhao, Sydney Schoenbeck, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 1336
Date: 05/2024
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Examining the Dental Care Crisis in America: How Can We Make Dental Care More Affordable and More Available?
Recording of a May 16, 2024, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions hearing on the accessibility and affordability of dental care, including in rural areas. Features testimony from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.
Additional links: Myechia Minter-Jordan, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health - Testimony
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Rural Comprehensive Cancer Care: Qualitative Analysis of Current Challenges and Opportunities
Highlights a study aiming to understand the challenges in providing comprehensive cancer care in rural hospitals from the perspective of rural providers. Bases finding on interviews with 13 practitioners providing cancer care in rural hospitals in Iowa. Identifies strengths and barriers to providing cancer care in rural hospitals.
Author(s): Sydney Evans, Aaron T. Seaman, Erin C. Johnson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(4), 634-644
Date: 05/2024
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