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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services

Healing Tool - Pocket Guide for Addressing Behavioral Health Goals in Native Communities
Provides data and strategies for addressing mental health and substance use issues in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Discusses issues around stigma, medication-assisted treatment, and traditional healing practices, among other measures, for creating culturally competent care in tribal communities.
Author(s): Shirley M. Cain
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National American Indian and Alaska Native Addiction Technology Transfer Center
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Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and County Governments - A National Model Tailored for Local Mental Health and Substance Use Care
Discusses the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model and details how counties can deploy CCBHCs to address mental health and substance use issues in their communities. Breaks down the structure of CCBHCs and provides several state level examples.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of Counties, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Oversight Hearing: Business Meeting to consider S. 421, S. 789 & Oversight Hearing "Build Back Better: Water Infrastructure Needs for Native Communities"
Recording of an oversight hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to discuss the Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act of 2021 and hear testimony on its potential effect on the health and wellness of native communities. Features testimonies by representatives of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and Navajo Department of Water Resources.
Additional links: Amelia Flores Testimony, Jason John Testimony, Raymond Tsumpti Testimony, Valerie Nurr'Araaluk Davidson Testimony
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Tackling America's Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Through Primary Care Integration
Explores how primary and behavioral healthcare integration can overcome the unmet needs for mental health and substance use services. Discusses barriers to integrated care delivery. Offers policy recommendations to improve the integration of primary and behavioral healthcare services through enhanced payments, training, and technical assistance, and improving access to behavioral health providers for consultation and referral.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Behavioral Health Care in the Military Health System: Access and Quality for Remote Service Members
Explores the role geographic location plays in access to behavioral healthcare for service members through the Military Health System (MHS). Highlights the challenges of rural service members to access care for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorder through MHS. Breaks down data by age, sex, and remote versus non-remote location, among other measures.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Kimberly A. Hepner, Ryan Andrew Brown, Carol P. Roth, et al.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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COVID-19: Sustained Federal Action Is Crucial as Pandemic Enters Its Second Year
Discusses the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides an overview of federal actions on healthcare and economic policy areas through March 10, 2021, including data on vaccine administration and COVID-19 relief spending. Offers 28 new recommendations to federal agencies regarding public health, the economy, and program integrity that would improve the federal response.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis
Documentation of a March 23, 2021, House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on maternal health disparities. Discusses causes and possible policy options to reduce these disparities.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
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Post-Acute Care Trajectories for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries: Planned versus Actual Hospital Discharges to Skilled Nursing Facilities and Home Health Agencies
Examines care transitions among rural fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries following discharge from an acute care hospital. Compares planned and actual discharges to home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities. Discusses implications of these findings on rural healthcare policy and practice.
Author(s): Tracy M. Mroz, Lisa A. Garberson, C. Holly A. Andrilla, et al.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Hospitals Reported That the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Significantly Strained Health Care Delivery
Examines how the COVID-19 pandemic response impacted hospitals' capacity to care for patients, staff, and communities, based on a February 22-26, 2021 brief survey of hospital administrators. Includes discussion of challenges faced by rural hospitals related to hospital operations and rural access to vaccinations.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examining Our COVID-19 Response: An Update from Federal Officials
Recording of a March 18, 2021, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the federal response to COVID-19, including the development of public health guidance, equitable vaccine distribution, approaches to address vaccine hesitancy, and other steps necessary to end the pandemic.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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