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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Navigating Geographical Disparities: Access to Obstetric Hospitals in Maternity Care Deserts and Across the United States
Examines disparities related to maternity care access by analyzing travel distances to obstetric care across the United States. Provides data to nearest obstetric hospital by census tract, with further breakdowns according to maternity care desert (MCD) designation, rurality, race/ethnicity, and travel time. Includes U.S. maps showing spatial clusters of distance and travel time to obstetric care.
Author(s): Jazmin Fontenot, Christina Brigance, Ripley Lucas, Ashley Stoneburner
Citation: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24, 350
Date: 05/2024
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Addressing Food Insecurity in Rural Primary Care: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Barriers and Facilitators
Examines food insecurity (FI) in rural areas and the barriers and facilitators to identifying FI during primary care visits. Provides interview feedback from rural New England primary care practitioners, focused on factors that impact screening for FI and potential interventions to address patient FI. Discusses difficulty of addressing FI in rural geographies, stigma in rural communities, and food resource options from local farms.
Author(s): Kayla E. Jordanova, Arvind Suresh, Chelsey R. Canavan, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 25, 163
Date: 05/2024
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New Medicare Behavioral Health Providers: Incorporating MHCs and MFTs Into Your RHC
Recording of a May 9, 2024, webinar discussing Medicare coverage of marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) effective January 1, 2024, and the implications for Rural Health Clinics. Describes skills and attributes of MFTs and MHCs and provides an overview of common mental health concerns for older adults. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Receipt of a Breathing Test in 26 States and the District of Columbia, 2017–2018
Examines prevalence of having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), having risk factors for COPD, and receiving a breathing test according to corresponding risk level. Analyzes 2017-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 26 states and the District of Columbia, with breakdowns according to sex, race/ethnicity, education, and large central metro, large fringe metro, medium metro, small metro, micropolitan, or rural (noncore) location.
Author(s): Kathleen B. Watson, Janet B. Croft, Anne G. Wheaton, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 05/2024
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Health Centers Serving Veterans: Improving Identification of Military Veteran Patient Characteristic
A recorded webinar that discusses how to more effectively screen veteran patients in health centers to understand needs and improve service delivery. Includes information on veteran screening methodology in rural health centers. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slides, Transcript
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Markup of H.R. 8261, H.R. 7931, H.R. 8245, H.R. 8244, H.R. 8235, and H.R. 8246
Recording of a May 8, 2024, House Ways and Means Committee markup of six bills regarding rural health. Legislation covers the extension of telehealth flexibilities, location requirements for Critical Access Hospitals in mountainous areas, the rural nursing home and physician workforce, and Rural Emergency Hospital eligibility.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee
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US Hospital Service Availability and New 340B Program Participation
Examines whether participation in the 340B Drug Pricing Program was associated with investment in hospital-based services among newly participating hospitals between 2012 and 2018. Compares the provision of profitable and unprofitable services between 1,074 hospitals newly participating in the 340B program and 1,078 hospitals that never participated in the program by hospital characteristics, including hospital ownership, rural versus urban location, community social vulnerability index, and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status.
Author(s): Kelsey M. Owsley, Romana Hasnain-Wynia, Ronica N. Rooks, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(5), e240833
Date: 05/2024
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Medicare Part D Enrollee Vaccine Use After Elimination of Cost Sharing for Recommended Vaccines in 2023
A report from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Research Series that provides data on Medicare Part D enrollees who received vaccinations after the IRA legislated in 2023 that adult vaccinations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) would be provided at no cost. Includes data breakdowns of total and type of vaccinations received and Medicare Part D enrollee demographic characteristics, such as state and urban versus rural/unknown location.
Author(s): Bisma A. Sayed, Yevgeniy Feyman, Kristen L. King, et al.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Challenges and Strategies in Expanding Non-Traditional Pregnancy-Related Services: Findings from a Survey of State Medicaid Programs
Presents Medicaid reimbursement information for non-traditional pregnancy-related services, such as doula care, childbirth and parenting classes, lactation support, and more. Includes commentary on service challenges in rural areas.
Author(s): Anna Mudumala, Kathleen Gifford, Usha Ranji, Elizabeth Hinton
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2021 Data: Race and Ethnicity
National data on traffic fatalities by race and ethnicity, based on data from official death certificates. Features statistics from 2017-2021 with breakdowns by vehicle type, restraint use, alcohol-impaired driving, speeding, and rural or urban location.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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