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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Pharmacy and prescription drugs

Rural–Urban Disparities in Access to Medicaid-Contracted Pharmacies in Washington State, 2017
Uses 2017 data to explore the relationship between rurality and Medicaid-contracted pharmacy access in Washington State. Includes rural/urban comparisons on zip-code characteristics, such as age, race/ethnicity, Medicaid-insured, and poverty.
Author(s): Janessa Graves, Demetrius Abshire, Megan Undeberg, Laura Forman, Solmaz Amiri
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
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Telepharmacy Rules and Statutes: A 3-Year Update for all 50 States
Surveys the legislative and administrative activity authorizing community-based telepharmacy. Includes a table identifying states that have permitted telepharmacy services through legislation, regulation, or waiver or pilot programs, and states with limitations, prohibitions, or no guidance on these services. Provides an overview of state rules and regulations that limit aspects of telepharmacy implementation. Explores areas for further research and evaluation, including the relationship between telepharmacy and rural pharmacy closures.
Author(s): Jason Semprini, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Major Depression, Treatment Receipt, and Treatment Sources among Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Adults
Results of a study to estimate and compare prevalence of depression, receipt of treatment, and sources of treatment for depression, including use of prescription drugs. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan residence.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2020
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and offers recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Includes chapters on value-based payment in Medicare, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), the Medicare Advantage quality bonus program, the impact of changes in the 21st Century Cures Act to risk adjustment for Medicare Advantage enrollees, Medicare Part D, separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system, and the Medicare end-stage renal disease prospective payment system. Examines the current payment policy for low-volume and rural dialysis facilities and proposes changes.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Regional Disparities in Qualified Health Plans' Prior Authorization Requirements for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in the United States
Results of a study examining differences in qualified health plans (QHPs) in the South, the Midwest, the West, and the Northeast, in terms of prior authorization requirements for combined tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine. Features statistics comparing 16,853 QHPs, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Kathleen A. McManus, Samuel Powers, Amy Killelea, Sebastian Tello-Trillo, Elizabeth Rogawski McQuade
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(6)
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
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Access to Medicare Part D Plans: A Comparison of Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas
Policy brief focusing on the types of Medicare Part D plans offered in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore locations. Offers comparisons between stand-alone plans and Medicare Advantage plans, in terms of premiums, benefits, and the manner in which these plans are offered.
Author(s): Mochamad Nataliansyah, Abiodun Salako, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller,
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Prevalence of Self-Reported Hypertension and Antihypertensive Medication Use by County and Rural-Urban Classification — United States, 2017
Examines self-reported prevalence of diagnosed hypertension and antihypertensive medication use. Includes data for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore (rural) areas. Also discusses geographic trends at the county level, with maps showing county-level hypertension prevalence and medication use. Highlights higher prevalence of hypertension in the Southeast, Appalachia, and the Great Plains.
Author(s): Claudine M. Samanic, Kamil E. Barbour, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(18), 533-539
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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April 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2020 meeting. Covers value-based payment in Medicare, challenges in maintaining and increasing savings from accountable care organizations, incentives in Medicare Part D, the Medicare Advantage quality bonus program, and Medicare's end-stage renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system. Includes a discussion of ESRD payment adjustments for rural and low-volume providers.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Community Pharmacies in Wisconsin
Map showing actively-licensed, community pharmacies in Wisconsin counties. Includes locations for chain pharmacies, independent pharmacies, and clinic/outpatient/HMO pharmacies based on data from October 2019.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organizations: University of Wisconsin Madison School of Pharmacy, Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
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March 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) March 2020 meeting. Covers Medicare Shared Savings Program vulnerabilities, the role of specialists in alternative payment models and accountable care organizations, incentives in Medicare Part D, the Medicare Advantage quality bonus program, and Medicare's end-stage renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system. Includes a discussion of ESRD payment adjustments for rural and low-volume providers.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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