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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Emergency Department Visit Rates by Selected Characteristics: United States, 2019
Describes emergency department visit rates in 2019 using data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Presents data by selected patient characteristics including metropolitan statistical area status, age, sex, race and ethnicity, and health insurance status.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Exploring Perceived Risk for COVID-19 and Its Role in Protective Behavior and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Qualitative Study after the First Wave
Presents a study on the perceived risk of COVID-19 among rural Kentuckians during the first wave of the pandemic. Explores attitudes about protective behavior and vaccine hesitancy. Bases conclusions on interviews conducted by phone between July 3rd and July 24th of 2020.
Author(s): Naomi J. Patterson, Valerie A. Paz-Soldan, Richard Oberhelman, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 503
Date: 03/2022
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2022
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Telehealth Has Played an Outsized Role Meeting Mental Health Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Explores usage of telehealth for physical and mental health outpatient visits between March 2019 and August 2021. Figure 3 shows use of mental health and substance use telehealth visits versus other outpatient telehealth visits, with rural versus urban comparisons. Includes a discussion about payment models for telehealth via private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Author(s): Justin Lo, Matthew Rae, Krutika Amin, et al.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Health Status of New Mexico 2020
Slide deck providing regional and rural-urban comparisons of income, education level, healthcare coverage, health status, health behaviors, chronic conditions, substance use, mental health, and more based on various New Mexico Department of Health datasets.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Tribal Epidemiology Centers: HHS Actions Needed to Enhance Data Access
Provides an overview of the history and roles of tribal epidemiology centers (TECs). Describes the ability of TECs to access and use state and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) epidemiological data and examines factors that impact TECs' access and use of HHS data. Offers recommendations to clarify the data available to TECs and to develop guidance on the TEC data request process.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Between Urban and Rural Counties — United States, December 14, 2020–January 31, 2022
Examines COVID-19 vaccination disparities between urban and rural people 5 years of age and older. Discusses factors that may have contributed to vaccination disparities, including healthcare access, views about COVID-19 specifically, and vaccine hesitancy more generally. Provides data based on a 6-level urban-rural classification and a 2-level urban-rural classification, with vaccination coverage by sex, age group, and state. Also includes data on vaccine series completion and receipt of a booster or additional dose.
Author(s): Ryan Saelee, Elizabeth Zell, Bhavini Patel Murthy, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(9), 335-340
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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COVID-19 and Alabama's Black Belt
Issue brief examining COVID-19 impacts on the Black Belt region of Alabama and rural Alabama in general, highlighting health outcome disparities. Addresses chronic diseases affecting residents of the Black Belt, access to primary care physicians, and policy recommendations to support healthcare in the region.
Author(s): Emily Grace Corley, Garrett Till, Sean O'Brien, Stephen G. Katsinas, Nathaniel J. Bray
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: The University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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Delaware All HPSA Designations
Map showing the Primary Care, Mental Health, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers in Delaware.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Delaware Health Statistics Center
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Oklahoma Health Professional Shortage Areas: Dental Scores
County-level map of Oklahoma showing Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores and denoting low-income and high needs geographic HPSAs.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State Department of Health
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