Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Pharmacy and prescription drugs
Rural and Urban Pharmacy Presence – Pharmacy Deserts
Uses data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs to explore the number of counties with no pharmacy presence between January - June 2022. Compares pharmacy absence and the characteristics of counties with no retail pharmacy across noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan counties.
Author(s): Joanne Constantin, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Uses data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs to explore the number of counties with no pharmacy presence between January - June 2022. Compares pharmacy absence and the characteristics of counties with no retail pharmacy across noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan counties.
Author(s): Joanne Constantin, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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RHC COVID-19 Program Updates
Recording of an August 18, 2022, webinar discussing and answering questions about COVID-19 therapeutics, testing and mitigation, vaccine, and provider relief programs available to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of an August 18, 2022, webinar discussing and answering questions about COVID-19 therapeutics, testing and mitigation, vaccine, and provider relief programs available to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Increasing Access to Routine Child Immunizations: State Approaches for Increasing Pharmacy Enrollment in the VFC Program
Discusses how increasing pharmacy participation in the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) can promote access to childhood vaccinations and reduce disparities. Outlines steps states can take to identify and address barriers to enrollment, including examining reimbursement policies, aligning program requirements with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements, addressing common provider misconceptions about the VFC program, and addressing pediatrician concerns.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Discusses how increasing pharmacy participation in the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) can promote access to childhood vaccinations and reduce disparities. Outlines steps states can take to identify and address barriers to enrollment, including examining reimbursement policies, aligning program requirements with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements, addressing common provider misconceptions about the VFC program, and addressing pediatrician concerns.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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MiCare Champion Cast: How 340B Benefits Rural Michigan
Podcast that explains the 340B drug pricing program and its impact on rural Michigan. Presents a discussion with stakeholders from the Mackinac Straits Health System which includes a Critical Access Hospital, Rural Health Clinic, and other healthcare facilities.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Health & Hospital Association
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Podcast that explains the 340B drug pricing program and its impact on rural Michigan. Presents a discussion with stakeholders from the Mackinac Straits Health System which includes a Critical Access Hospital, Rural Health Clinic, and other healthcare facilities.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Health & Hospital Association
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BuchananCares Program: A Team-based Care Pilot Led by a Rural Community Hospital and Local Pharmacist
Describes BuchananCares, a collaboration among health professionals from the Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Buchanan General Hospital in rural Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Health. Designed to reduce patient readmissions and improve medication use for patients with COPD, diabetes, heart failure, and pneumonia.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Community Preventive Services Task Force
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Describes BuchananCares, a collaboration among health professionals from the Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Buchanan General Hospital in rural Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Health. Designed to reduce patient readmissions and improve medication use for patients with COPD, diabetes, heart failure, and pneumonia.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Community Preventive Services Task Force
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Prescribing Alzheimer's Disease Treatments by Provider Type and Geographic Region: A Comparison among Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants
Study examining prescriptions for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) medications by provider type and geographic regions, including non-metro and a range of metro settings. Analysis is based on commercial and Medicare supplemental claims data.
Author(s): Jenny Y. Park, David L. Veenstra, Christopher J. Wallick, Zachary A. Marcum
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 22, 522
Date: 06/2022
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Study examining prescriptions for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) medications by provider type and geographic regions, including non-metro and a range of metro settings. Analysis is based on commercial and Medicare supplemental claims data.
Author(s): Jenny Y. Park, David L. Veenstra, Christopher J. Wallick, Zachary A. Marcum
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 22, 522
Date: 06/2022
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2022
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Chapter 2 presents a report on access to care for beneficiaries in Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, or have multiple chronic conditions. Also includes chapters on alternative payment models, safety net providers, the cost of drugs covered under Medicare Part B, the accuracy of Medicare Advantage payments, the alignment of fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings, and segmentation in the stand-alone Part D plan market.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Chapter 2 presents a report on access to care for beneficiaries in Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, or have multiple chronic conditions. Also includes chapters on alternative payment models, safety net providers, the cost of drugs covered under Medicare Part B, the accuracy of Medicare Advantage payments, the alignment of fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings, and segmentation in the stand-alone Part D plan market.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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April 2022 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2022 meeting. Covers high prices of drugs covered under Medicare Part B, initial findings from MedPAC's analysis of Part D data on drug rebates and discounts, segmentation in the stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan market, leveraging Medicare policies to address social determinants of health, an approach to streamline and harmonize Medicare's portfolio of alternative payment models, and aligning fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2022 meeting. Covers high prices of drugs covered under Medicare Part B, initial findings from MedPAC's analysis of Part D data on drug rebates and discounts, segmentation in the stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan market, leveraging Medicare policies to address social determinants of health, an approach to streamline and harmonize Medicare's portfolio of alternative payment models, and aligning fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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2021 340B Health Annual Survey: 340B Continues to Support Essential Programs and Services in the Face of Significant Financial Stress on Hospitals
Summarizes the results of an October - December 2021 survey of 510 hospitals, including small and rural hospitals, that participate in the 340B drug pricing program. Describes how these hospitals utilize their savings from the 340B program to benefit patients. Discusses the importance of the program to Critical Access Hospitals, Disproportionate Share Hospitals, and other safety-net facilities. Explores the potential effects of additional cuts to the 340B program.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: 340B Health
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Summarizes the results of an October - December 2021 survey of 510 hospitals, including small and rural hospitals, that participate in the 340B drug pricing program. Describes how these hospitals utilize their savings from the 340B program to benefit patients. Discusses the importance of the program to Critical Access Hospitals, Disproportionate Share Hospitals, and other safety-net facilities. Explores the potential effects of additional cuts to the 340B program.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: 340B Health
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Epidemiology of Antibiotic Use and Drivers of Cross-Border Procurement in a Mexican American Border Community
Examines preference for antibiotics sourced from either Mexico or the U.S. for Mexican-American antibiotic users in Starr County, Texas since significant changes in prescription regulation in Mexico in 2010. Recruited 616 participants between March 2018 and March 2020 and followed their antibiotic sourcing and use for 1 year from recruitment. Lists associations with crossing the border to obtain antibiotics including health insurance status. Data showing preference for one country over another is broken down by sex, age, education level, insurance status, and more.
Author(s): Heather T. Essigmann, David A. Aguilar, William B, Perkison, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 832266
Date: 03/2022
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Examines preference for antibiotics sourced from either Mexico or the U.S. for Mexican-American antibiotic users in Starr County, Texas since significant changes in prescription regulation in Mexico in 2010. Recruited 616 participants between March 2018 and March 2020 and followed their antibiotic sourcing and use for 1 year from recruitment. Lists associations with crossing the border to obtain antibiotics including health insurance status. Data showing preference for one country over another is broken down by sex, age, education level, insurance status, and more.
Author(s): Heather T. Essigmann, David A. Aguilar, William B, Perkison, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 832266
Date: 03/2022
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