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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Epidemiologic Trends of Dengue in U.S. Territories, 2010–2020
Reports on dengue cases in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. Includes data on dengue incidence, hospitalization, and mortality by territory, year, and age group.
Author(s): Kyle R. Ryff, Aidsa Rivera, Dania M. Rodriguez, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 72(4), 1-11
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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COVID-19 Mortality by Race and Ethnicity in US Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas, March 2020 to February 2022
Reviews COVID-19 mortality data for 977,018 adults between March 2020 and February 2022 to examine racial and ethnic disparities between various waves of the pandemic, particularly as it relates to rural or urban classification. Suggests policy changes to reduce mortality.
Author(s): Dielle J. Lundberg, Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, Ahyoung Cho, Rafeya Raquib, Elaine O. Nsoesie, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(5)
Date: 05/2023
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Frequently Asked Questions: CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Provides information related to COVID-19 flexibilities after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) that expired May 11, 2023. Addresses issues impacting Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and private insurance including concerns related to COVID-19 vaccines and treatment, telehealth, and more. Includes information about which changes have ended, as well as end dates for those that extend after the PHE.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Disparities in Implementing COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in Public Schools, United States, 2021–22 School Year
Reports on COVID-19 prevention strategies early in the 2021-22 school year and describes disparities in implementing strategies by school characteristics. Appendix includes data on specific strategies related to mask wearing and ventilation for city, suburban, town, and rural schools.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Sanjana Pampati, Catherine N. Rasberry, Zach Timpe, et al.
Citation: Emerging Infectious Diseases, 29(5), 937-944
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Hospice: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19
Outlines specific regulatory waivers and Medicare flexibilities for hospice providers issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes information on payments for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. Identifies whether each waiver or flexibility has been terminated, will end at the conclusion of the public health emergency, or has become permanent.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Home Health Agencies: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19
Outlines specific regulatory waivers and Medicare flexibilities for home health agencies issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes information on whether each waiver or flexibility has been terminated, will end at the conclusion of the public health emergency, or has become permanent.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The State of the World's Children 2023 - For Every Child, Vaccination: Regional Brief: East Asia and the Pacific
Explores reasons behind a sharp drop worldwide in routine vaccination coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers suggestions for steps to be taken for the protection of children's health. Features statistics on zero-dose and under-vaccinated children in East Asian and Pacific countries including Palau, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
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Implications of COVID-19 on Safety-Net Oral Health Services
Examines COVID-19 pandemic impacts on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and other safety-net dental providers. Describes the challenges safety-net providers face in delivering care to underserved and rural communities, and examines impacts on safety-net providers offering oral health services through mobile programs. Features statistics on FQHCs offering oral health services, with breakdowns by region.
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Simona Surdu, Theekshana Fernando, Sai Sindhura Gundavarapu, Alex Romero
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Best Practices for COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing
Summarizes findings of an environmental scan of testing and vaccination policies and programs serving people who are medically or socially at disproportionate risk for COVID-19 and related adverse outcomes. Identifies populations at disproportionate risk, including rural residents, and their barriers to COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccination, and routine vaccination. Describes programs that aim to overcome these barriers and increase access to testing and vaccination services. Discuss the implications of these programs' strategies and approaches for future pandemics and public health crises.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Challenges and Solutions for Disaster Behavioral Health in Rural and Remote Communities
Describes the scope and diversity of rural and remote populations across the nation, highlighting sources of strength and struggle, including the effects of stigma, for rural Americans and rural healthcare providers. Explores potential approaches to disaster behavioral health in rural and remote areas, including governmental and policy approaches, community-based approaches, and telemedicine.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center
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