Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Mental Health Care in the United States: The Case for Federal Action
Bipartisan report summarizing findings from three Senate Finance Committee hearings and a request for information regarding challenges in the mental healthcare system. Describes the prevalence of behavioral health conditions in the United States, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and spending on behavioral health. Outlines key challenges across five cross-cutting areas: the behavioral health workforce; children, adolescents, and young adults; access to care, integration, and care coordination; mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) parity; and telehealth. Includes information on challenges facing rural and underserved communities.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Finance
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Bipartisan report summarizing findings from three Senate Finance Committee hearings and a request for information regarding challenges in the mental healthcare system. Describes the prevalence of behavioral health conditions in the United States, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and spending on behavioral health. Outlines key challenges across five cross-cutting areas: the behavioral health workforce; children, adolescents, and young adults; access to care, integration, and care coordination; mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) parity; and telehealth. Includes information on challenges facing rural and underserved communities.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Finance
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COVID-19 and the Rural Health Workforce: The Impact of Federal Pandemic Funding to Address Workforce Needs
Policy brief describing workforce challenges faced by rural healthcare delivery systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, and discussing how pre-pandemic financial instability in rural healthcare facilities may have contributed to these challenges. Discusses the availability of federal pandemic funding to address rural health workforce needs, the ability of rural facilities to access and utilize the funding, and the long-term needs of the rural health workforce and delivery system. Addresses telehealth solutions to workforce challenges, and funding sources for mental health needs of health professionals
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, Davis G. Patterson, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Policy brief describing workforce challenges faced by rural healthcare delivery systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, and discussing how pre-pandemic financial instability in rural healthcare facilities may have contributed to these challenges. Discusses the availability of federal pandemic funding to address rural health workforce needs, the ability of rural facilities to access and utilize the funding, and the long-term needs of the rural health workforce and delivery system. Addresses telehealth solutions to workforce challenges, and funding sources for mental health needs of health professionals
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, Davis G. Patterson, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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A Critical Review on the Complex Interplay between Social Determinants of Health and Maternal and Infant Mortality
Reports on a critical review of maternal and infant mortality literature to observe how social determinants of health relate to health issues for mothers and babies of various populations, distressed socioeconomic statuses, and rural geographies. Includes discussion about rural versus urban differences in maternal and infant mortality.
Author(s): Rada K. Dagher, Deborah E. Linares
Citation: Children, 9(3), 394
Date: 03/2022
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Reports on a critical review of maternal and infant mortality literature to observe how social determinants of health relate to health issues for mothers and babies of various populations, distressed socioeconomic statuses, and rural geographies. Includes discussion about rural versus urban differences in maternal and infant mortality.
Author(s): Rada K. Dagher, Deborah E. Linares
Citation: Children, 9(3), 394
Date: 03/2022
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Mental Health Care: Access Challenges for Covered Consumers and Relevant Federal Efforts
Explores the experiences of consumers with health insurance coverage in accessing timely and appropriate mental healthcare. Describes challenges accessing mental health services, including workforce shortages and broadband availability in rural areas. Identifies ongoing and planned federal efforts to address these challenges.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Explores the experiences of consumers with health insurance coverage in accessing timely and appropriate mental healthcare. Describes challenges accessing mental health services, including workforce shortages and broadband availability in rural areas. Identifies ongoing and planned federal efforts to address these challenges.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Consequences of Structural Urbanism: Urban–Rural Differences in Cancer Patients' Use and Perceived Importance of Supportive Care Services from a 2017–2018 Midwestern Survey
Examines health disparities in supportive cancer care based on data from 326 rural and urban Midwestern cancer patients from November 2017 to May 2018. Includes participant data broken down by rurality, age, sex, race, marital status, insurance status, and related cancer diagnosis. Discusses closures of healthcare services and limited resources in rural areas and their impact on healthcare access for cancer patients.
Author(s): Marquita W. Lewis-Thames, Patricia Fank, Michelle Gates, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6)
Date: 03/2022
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Examines health disparities in supportive cancer care based on data from 326 rural and urban Midwestern cancer patients from November 2017 to May 2018. Includes participant data broken down by rurality, age, sex, race, marital status, insurance status, and related cancer diagnosis. Discusses closures of healthcare services and limited resources in rural areas and their impact on healthcare access for cancer patients.
Author(s): Marquita W. Lewis-Thames, Patricia Fank, Michelle Gates, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6)
Date: 03/2022
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Veterans Health Care: Efforts to Hire Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
Describes efforts taken by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to promote the hiring of licensed professional mental health counselors (LPMHC) and marriage and family therapists (MFT) at Department of Veterans Affairs' facilities. Examines the extent to which VA medical facilities are employing LPMHCs and MFTs and how their recent employment compares with other mental health professions. Discusses considerations regarding the availability of LPMHCs and MFTs in rural communities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes efforts taken by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to promote the hiring of licensed professional mental health counselors (LPMHC) and marriage and family therapists (MFT) at Department of Veterans Affairs' facilities. Examines the extent to which VA medical facilities are employing LPMHCs and MFTs and how their recent employment compares with other mental health professions. Discusses considerations regarding the availability of LPMHCs and MFTs in rural communities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural Hospital Administrators' Beliefs About Safety, Financial Viability, and Community Need for Offering Obstetric Care
Examines beliefs about the financial viability and need for rural obstetric care based on surveys completed by 93 rural hospital administrators. Discusses the volume necessary to provide safe obstetric care, priorities related to local community need, and issues related to workforce and policy.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Lindsay K. Admon, Bridget L. Basile Ibrahim
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 3(3), e220204
Date: 03/2022
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Examines beliefs about the financial viability and need for rural obstetric care based on surveys completed by 93 rural hospital administrators. Discusses the volume necessary to provide safe obstetric care, priorities related to local community need, and issues related to workforce and policy.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Lindsay K. Admon, Bridget L. Basile Ibrahim
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 3(3), e220204
Date: 03/2022
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Use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder among US Adolescents and Adults with Need for Opioid Treatment, 2019
Results of a study to estimate use rates of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and to identify associations between MOUD and characteristics of people who may have needed treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Features statistics including characteristics of adolescents and adults with past-year OUD treatment need and likelihood of MOUD among adults who may have needed OUD treatment, with breakdowns by large metropolitan, small metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Pia M. Mauro, Sarah Gutkind, Erin M. Annunziato, Hillary Samples
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(3)
Date: 03/2022
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Results of a study to estimate use rates of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and to identify associations between MOUD and characteristics of people who may have needed treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Features statistics including characteristics of adolescents and adults with past-year OUD treatment need and likelihood of MOUD among adults who may have needed OUD treatment, with breakdowns by large metropolitan, small metropolitan, or nonmetropolitan location.
Author(s): Pia M. Mauro, Sarah Gutkind, Erin M. Annunziato, Hillary Samples
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(3)
Date: 03/2022
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Strengthening Federal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Programs: Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Issues
Presents a full committee hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discussing the current state of federal mental health and substance use disorder programs. Features testimonies from representatives of the Heath Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Additional links: Carole Johnson Testimony, Joshua A. Gordon Testimony, Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon Testimony, Nora D. Volkow Testimony
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Presents a full committee hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discussing the current state of federal mental health and substance use disorder programs. Features testimonies from representatives of the Heath Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Additional links: Carole Johnson Testimony, Joshua A. Gordon Testimony, Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon Testimony, Nora D. Volkow Testimony
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Parent Partners Provide Mentoring and Support in Rural Iowa
Features a statewide program in Iowa that pairs families whose children have been removed from the home with mentors with shared experience who have successfully navigated the state's Department of Human Services system. Describes the services that mentors provide: coaching, advocating, and connecting clients with community resources.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features a statewide program in Iowa that pairs families whose children have been removed from the home with mentors with shared experience who have successfully navigated the state's Department of Human Services system. Describes the services that mentors provide: coaching, advocating, and connecting clients with community resources.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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