Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
CARES Act: Provisions to Help Rural Hospitals
Provides an overview of aspects of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act designed to support rural hospitals. Highlights provisions related to access to capital, Medicare payments, and telehealth, among others.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Provides an overview of aspects of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act designed to support rural hospitals. Highlights provisions related to access to capital, Medicare payments, and telehealth, among others.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers: COVID-19 Assistance
Provides an overview of the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (TRC Consortium). Describes the services and technical assistance the TRC Consortium provides to stakeholders implementing telehealth services in response to COVID-19. Includes a table listing each regional Telehealth Resource Center and their geographic jurisdictions.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (TRC Consortium). Describes the services and technical assistance the TRC Consortium provides to stakeholders implementing telehealth services in response to COVID-19. Includes a table listing each regional Telehealth Resource Center and their geographic jurisdictions.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Public Law 116-136: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020). Outlines telehealth flexibilities to support providers and enhance access to care during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Among other things, the CARES Act allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to serve as distant sites to provide telehealth services to patients in their homes during the public health emergency (PHE); establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP); extends the ability to order home health services to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse specialists; and provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the provision of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020). Outlines telehealth flexibilities to support providers and enhance access to care during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Among other things, the CARES Act allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to serve as distant sites to provide telehealth services to patients in their homes during the public health emergency (PHE); establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP); extends the ability to order home health services to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse specialists; and provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the provision of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Recruiting and Retaining Behavioral Health Workers in Rural America: A Toolkit for Action
Explores successful tactics and programs, and elements missing from many current efforts to recruit and retain behavioral health workers. Describes funding opportunities, pipeline programs, telehealth initiatives, innovative approaches to recruitment and retention, and legislative changes in 2019 that helped promote recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Nancy Baum, Jaque King
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health and Research Transformation, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Explores successful tactics and programs, and elements missing from many current efforts to recruit and retain behavioral health workers. Describes funding opportunities, pipeline programs, telehealth initiatives, innovative approaches to recruitment and retention, and legislative changes in 2019 that helped promote recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Nancy Baum, Jaque King
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health and Research Transformation, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Healthcare from Anywhere: Telehealth Use and Perceptions in Rural Michigan
Examines the current state of telehealth services in rural Michigan. Discusses state and local policies related to access to telehealth services, perceptions of telehealth services, and how these services are used by physicians. Identifies barriers rural Michigan healthcare providers and residents face in utilizing telehealth services. Presents recommendations that would increase access to telehealth services for rural Michigan residents. Includes an overview of the telehealth policy environment of all 50 states, with a focus on states with moderate or progressive telehealth policy environments.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Connected Nation, Michigan Health Endowment
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Examines the current state of telehealth services in rural Michigan. Discusses state and local policies related to access to telehealth services, perceptions of telehealth services, and how these services are used by physicians. Identifies barriers rural Michigan healthcare providers and residents face in utilizing telehealth services. Presents recommendations that would increase access to telehealth services for rural Michigan residents. Includes an overview of the telehealth policy environment of all 50 states, with a focus on states with moderate or progressive telehealth policy environments.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Connected Nation, Michigan Health Endowment
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Nursing Home Closures and Trends: June 2015 - June 2019
Provides an overview of the causes and implications of 500 nursing home closures between June 2015 and June 2019. Examines the geographic distribution of these closures, including states in which closures are concentrated in rural areas. Explores nursing home closures in relation to occupancy rates, quality ratings, tax status, and the impact of Medicaid payment policies. Offers recommendations for policymakers and nursing homes.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: LeadingAge
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Provides an overview of the causes and implications of 500 nursing home closures between June 2015 and June 2019. Examines the geographic distribution of these closures, including states in which closures are concentrated in rural areas. Explores nursing home closures in relation to occupancy rates, quality ratings, tax status, and the impact of Medicaid payment policies. Offers recommendations for policymakers and nursing homes.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: LeadingAge
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Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs
Describes 4 categories of health information technology and electronic health record (EHR)-related burdens for healthcare providers. Presents strategies and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders to reduce the burdens in each category. Includes brief notes on how these policy changes can be implemented with small and rural providers in mind.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Describes 4 categories of health information technology and electronic health record (EHR)-related burdens for healthcare providers. Presents strategies and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders to reduce the burdens in each category. Includes brief notes on how these policy changes can be implemented with small and rural providers in mind.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Impact of Medicaid Work Requirements on Hospital Finances
Explores the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 16 states. Provides a fact sheet on each state, including a section comparing the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements on rural hospitals' operating margins to all hospitals in the state.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Explores the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 16 states. Provides a fact sheet on each state, including a section comparing the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements on rural hospitals' operating margins to all hospitals in the state.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Availability of Naloxone at Rural Georgia Pharmacies, 2019
Research letter describing a study of 374 rural Georgia pharmacies. Examines pharmacists' awareness of the Georgia law allowing purchase of naloxone without a prescription, and availability and cost of the medicine.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Nguyen, Lauren R. Gilbert, Lauren Beasley, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(2)
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Research letter describing a study of 374 rural Georgia pharmacies. Examines pharmacists' awareness of the Georgia law allowing purchase of naloxone without a prescription, and availability and cost of the medicine.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Nguyen, Lauren R. Gilbert, Lauren Beasley, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(2)
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
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Are Rural Infants Benefiting from WIC Food Package Rule Changes? Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Behaviors
Examines if 2009 revisions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) changed breastfeeding and infant feeding practices among rural and urban WIC participants. Compares breastfeeding initiation rates and the age infants were introduced to solid foods in rural and urban areas. Discusses implications for future policies to promote breastfeeding and healthy infant feeding practices.
Author(s): Ariun Ishdorj, Hongyang Di, Elfreda Samman, Lisako McKyer
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Examines if 2009 revisions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) changed breastfeeding and infant feeding practices among rural and urban WIC participants. Compares breastfeeding initiation rates and the age infants were introduced to solid foods in rural and urban areas. Discusses implications for future policies to promote breastfeeding and healthy infant feeding practices.
Author(s): Ariun Ishdorj, Hongyang Di, Elfreda Samman, Lisako McKyer
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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