Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Accessing Clean Water Infrastructure Assistance: Small, Rural, Disadvantaged, and Underserved Communities
Recording of a November 8, 2023, hearing exploring how the Clean Water State Revolving Fund can help address wastewater infrastructure challenges faced by small, rural, and underserved communities. Features testimony from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership; Nueces River Authority; and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division.
Additional links: John Byrum, Nueces River Authority - Testimony, Olga Morales-Pate, Rural Community Assistance Partnership - Testimony, Shellie R. Chard, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality - Testimony
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
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Recording of a November 8, 2023, hearing exploring how the Clean Water State Revolving Fund can help address wastewater infrastructure challenges faced by small, rural, and underserved communities. Features testimony from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership; Nueces River Authority; and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division.
Additional links: John Byrum, Nueces River Authority - Testimony, Olga Morales-Pate, Rural Community Assistance Partnership - Testimony, Shellie R. Chard, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality - Testimony
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
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HHS is Taking Action to Strengthen Primary Care
Describes the importance of primary care to improving access to healthcare, the health and well-being of individuals and communities, and health equity. Discusses challenges facing primary care and outlines actions taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address these challenges. Covers primary care payment, workforce, access, health information technology, and research and practice improvement support.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Describes the importance of primary care to improving access to healthcare, the health and well-being of individuals and communities, and health equity. Discusses challenges facing primary care and outlines actions taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address these challenges. Covers primary care payment, workforce, access, health information technology, and research and practice improvement support.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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A Catchment and Location-Allocation Analysis of Mammography Access in Delaware, US: Implications for Disparities in Geographic Access to Breast Cancer Screening
Examines breast cancer disparities and screening access in representative urban and rural counties in Delaware. Analyzes demographic makeup of population, availability of transportation, and sites for mammography and breast imaging. Includes maps of screening locations and travel times to available facility as well as recommendations for additional facilities in areas with geographic or racial screening disparities.
Author(s): Jessica L. Webster, Neal D. Goldstein, Jennifer P. Rowland, Catherine M. Tuite, Scott D. Siegel
Citation: Breast Cancer Research, 25, 137
Date: 11/2023
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Examines breast cancer disparities and screening access in representative urban and rural counties in Delaware. Analyzes demographic makeup of population, availability of transportation, and sites for mammography and breast imaging. Includes maps of screening locations and travel times to available facility as well as recommendations for additional facilities in areas with geographic or racial screening disparities.
Author(s): Jessica L. Webster, Neal D. Goldstein, Jennifer P. Rowland, Catherine M. Tuite, Scott D. Siegel
Citation: Breast Cancer Research, 25, 137
Date: 11/2023
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Is Taking Action to Strengthen Primary Care
Commentary describing challenges facing primary care in the United States and actions the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking to address these challenges and strengthen primary care.
Author(s): Rachel Levine, R. Burciaga Valdez, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, et al.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Commentary describing challenges facing primary care in the United States and actions the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking to address these challenges and strengthen primary care.
Author(s): Rachel Levine, R. Burciaga Valdez, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, et al.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Improving Maternity Care for Indigenous Populations
Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Tina Pattara-Lau, M.D., maternal and child health consultant with the Indian Health Service Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, and Johnna Nynas, M.D., obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. Describes common disparities and systemic barriers Indigenous people experience in maternity care and ways hospitals and healthcare organizations can address these challenges and provide culturally-focused care.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode featuring a discussion with Tina Pattara-Lau, M.D., maternal and child health consultant with the Indian Health Service Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, and Johnna Nynas, M.D., obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. Describes common disparities and systemic barriers Indigenous people experience in maternity care and ways hospitals and healthcare organizations can address these challenges and provide culturally-focused care.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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National Rural Health Day and a Behavioral Health Community Star, with Tammy Norville and Jason Lillich
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Tammy Norville, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) CEO, and Jason Lillich, Executive Director of Three Rivers Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Center, a 2023 National Rural Health Day Community Star. Focuses on the origins of National Rural Health Day and the ongoing importance of behavioral health and substance use services for rural communities.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Tammy Norville, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) CEO, and Jason Lillich, Executive Director of Three Rivers Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Center, a 2023 National Rural Health Day Community Star. Focuses on the origins of National Rural Health Day and the ongoing importance of behavioral health and substance use services for rural communities.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Public Health Preparedness: Building and Maintaining Infrastructure beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
Describes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding programs that support public health infrastructure and preparedness at the state and local levels. Examines challenges identified by officials across 12 jurisdictions and 10 stakeholder groups regarding building and maintaining the public health and preparedness infrastructure. Appendix III profiles the 12 selected jurisdictions, notes the rurality of each jurisdiction, and outlines examples of projects funded by CDC awards.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding programs that support public health infrastructure and preparedness at the state and local levels. Examines challenges identified by officials across 12 jurisdictions and 10 stakeholder groups regarding building and maintaining the public health and preparedness infrastructure. Appendix III profiles the 12 selected jurisdictions, notes the rurality of each jurisdiction, and outlines examples of projects funded by CDC awards.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Evaluation of the Medicare Care Choices Model: Fifth and Final Annual Evaluation Report
Evaluates the Medicare Care Choice Model (MCCM), which tests whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive services without forgoing payment for treatment of their terminal conditions improved their quality of life and care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced Medicare expenditures. Describes the characteristics of participating hospices and withdrawal of providers over time; beneficiaries who were referred to, eligible for, and enrolled in MCCM; services provided and the quality of service delivery; transitions from MCCM to the Medicare hospice benefit; beneficiary outcomes and effects across subgroups; and key findings. Includes information on rural provider and beneficiary participation in the model and compares rural and urban beneficiary outcomes.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Participant Experience & Evaluation Results Video
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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Evaluates the Medicare Care Choice Model (MCCM), which tests whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive services without forgoing payment for treatment of their terminal conditions improved their quality of life and care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced Medicare expenditures. Describes the characteristics of participating hospices and withdrawal of providers over time; beneficiaries who were referred to, eligible for, and enrolled in MCCM; services provided and the quality of service delivery; transitions from MCCM to the Medicare hospice benefit; beneficiary outcomes and effects across subgroups; and key findings. Includes information on rural provider and beneficiary participation in the model and compares rural and urban beneficiary outcomes.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Participant Experience & Evaluation Results Video
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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Identifying a Consensus Set of EMS Agency Licensure Elements and Definitions to Support Rural EMS Data Collection
Discusses gaps in data on rural emergency medical service (EMS) agencies and systems of care. Summarizes findings from a review of state EMS agency licensing applications and discussions from a panel of rural EMS experts. Identifies a consensus set of core EMS licensure elements and definitions for consideration by state EMS authorities in order to enhance licensure application processes and align data collection efforts with other states.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Karen Pearson
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Discusses gaps in data on rural emergency medical service (EMS) agencies and systems of care. Summarizes findings from a review of state EMS agency licensing applications and discussions from a panel of rural EMS experts. Identifies a consensus set of core EMS licensure elements and definitions for consideration by state EMS authorities in order to enhance licensure application processes and align data collection efforts with other states.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Karen Pearson
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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The Opioid Crisis in the Pandemic Era
Analyzes trends in opioid use during the 2019-2021 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides information on the history of the opioid crisis and mortality rates by age, race/ethnicity, type of opioid, state, and urbanicity, including non-metro, small/medium metro, and large metro.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Analyzes trends in opioid use during the 2019-2021 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides information on the history of the opioid crisis and mortality rates by age, race/ethnicity, type of opioid, state, and urbanicity, including non-metro, small/medium metro, and large metro.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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