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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Pharmacy and prescription drugs

340B Drug Discount Program: Increased Oversight Needed to Ensure Nongovernmental Hospitals Meet Eligibility Requirements
Provides an overview of the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) review of 258 nongovernmental hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and their contracts with state and local governments. Evaluates the contracts to determine if they meet the eligibility requirement to serve low-income individuals. Outlines weaknesses in the Health Resources and Services Administration's review of the hospital contracts and offers six recommendations to improve the contract review process.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Comparison of Rural vs Urban Direct-to-Physician Commercial Promotion of Medications for Treating Opioid Use Disorder
Results of a cross-sectional county-level study using all reported direct-to-physician pharmaceutical payments from manufacturers of opioid use disorder medications from 2014-2017, as well as demographic and economic data from 3,140 counties. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural areas.
Author(s): Thuy Nguyen, Barbara Andraka-Christou, Kosali Simon, W. David Bradford
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 2(12)
Date: 12/2019
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Opioid-Related Hospitalization and Its Association With Chronic Diseases: Findings From the National Inpatient Sample, 2011-2015
Results of a study examining whether opioid-related hospitalization is associated with cancer, stroke, obesity, asthma, liver or spinal disease, and arthritis. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, Donglan Zhang, Heather M. Padilla, Sae Rom Chung
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 11/2019
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Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances among Office-Based Physicians, 2017
Examines rates of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS), with information by type of physician practice, including rural or urban location, practice size, practice ownership, physician specialty, and technology available. EPCS is mandated for Medicare Part D providers by 2021, through the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act.
Author(s): Sonal Parasrampuria, Martin Blanco, Wesley Barker
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Dismantling Buprenorphine Policy Can Provide More Comprehensive Addiction Treatment
Commentary focused on the impact buprenorphine prescribing policy has on access to opioid addiction treatment. Discusses the lack of providers waivered to prescribe buprenorphine in rural areas. Includes a map showing counties that lack providers who can prescribe medications for opioid use disorder.
Author(s): Alex E. Woodruff, Mary Tomanovich, Leo Beletsky, et al.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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Current Perceptions, Behaviors & Prevention Strategies of Prescription Opioid Misuse
Reports the findings of a survey of 379 rural Montanans about the perception of prescription opioid misuse in their communities. Offers data on opioid use behavior and accessibility, medication disposal options, and methods of distributing information about opioids to family, friends, and community members.
Author(s): Michelle Grocke, Barbara Allen, Wendy Stevens, Kristen Vardanega, Sandra Bailey
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Montana State University Extension
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Life-Saving Naloxone from Pharmacies
Describes the role naloxone plays in reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. Discusses the need for greater access to naloxone, particularly in rural areas, and highlights trends in opioid and naloxone prescribing. Includes links to related CDC resources.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Vital Signs: Pharmacy-Based Naloxone Dispensing — United States, 2012–2018
Reports on trends and characteristics of naloxone dispensing from retail pharmacies. Includes data for metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural counties on high-dose opioid and naloxone prescriptions. Also includes county-level maps of naloxone prescriptions per 100,000 people and naloxone prescriptions per 100 high-dose opioid prescriptions.
Author(s): Gery P. Guy Jr., Tamara M. Haegerich, Mary E. Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 68(31), 679-686
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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IHS Needs to Improve Oversight of Its Hospitals' Opioid Prescribing and Dispensing Practices and Consider Centralizing Its Information Technology Functions
Reports on a review of Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals with a focus on opioid prescriptions and dispensing, information technology (IT), and cybersecurity. Identifies deficiencies related to opioid policies and procedures and supports centralizing IHS IT systems.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Access to Primary Care Clinics for Patients With Chronic Pain Receiving Opioids
Results of a study of 194 Michigan primary care clinics, to assess their willingness to continue prescribing opioids to new patients and to determine whether this differs across payer types. Includes statistics on characteristics of clinics accepting new patients currently taking opioids, with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Pooja A. Lagisetty, Nathaniel Healy, Claire Garpestad, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 2(7)
Date: 07/2019
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