Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Pharmacy and prescription drugs
2023 Rural Opioid and Stimulant Wellness Summit
Videos of presentations at the 2023 Rural Opioid and Stimulant Wellness Summit in Utah. Topics discussed include farmer mental health, adverse childhood experiences, equine-assisted therapy for veterans, pharmacology, person first language and stigma, harm reduction, peer support, complementary treatment options, and use of opioids and stimulants in Utah. Captions available in the video player.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Utah State University Extension
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Videos of presentations at the 2023 Rural Opioid and Stimulant Wellness Summit in Utah. Topics discussed include farmer mental health, adverse childhood experiences, equine-assisted therapy for veterans, pharmacology, person first language and stigma, harm reduction, peer support, complementary treatment options, and use of opioids and stimulants in Utah. Captions available in the video player.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Utah State University Extension
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October 2023 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) October 2023 meeting. Covers updates to Medicare payment rates for clinician services, staffing ratios and turnover rates in nursing facilities, an alternative method to establish Medicare payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and a work plan relating to generic drug prices under Medicare Part D. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) October 2023 meeting. Covers updates to Medicare payment rates for clinician services, staffing ratios and turnover rates in nursing facilities, an alternative method to establish Medicare payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and a work plan relating to generic drug prices under Medicare Part D. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Pharmacists Fill Needed Health Care Gap For Rural Americans
Profiles rural pharmacists and their experiences working in areas that have an increased burden of chronic disease and reduced healthcare access.
Author(s): Loren Bonner
Citation: Pharmacy Today
Date: 10/2023
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Profiles rural pharmacists and their experiences working in areas that have an increased burden of chronic disease and reduced healthcare access.
Author(s): Loren Bonner
Citation: Pharmacy Today
Date: 10/2023
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MedPAC Payment Basics
Series of briefs providing an of Medicare payment systems. Covers payments systems including Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, hospital acute inpatient services, and more.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Series of briefs providing an of Medicare payment systems. Covers payments systems including Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, hospital acute inpatient services, and more.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Will Availability of Over-the-Counter Narcan Increase Access?
Highlights state policies and recent research related to over-the-counter naloxone access. Includes information on the impact of rurality on access. Also discusses insurance coverage and impact of cost.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Highlights state policies and recent research related to over-the-counter naloxone access. Includes information on the impact of rurality on access. Also discusses insurance coverage and impact of cost.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Outpatient Prospective Payment System for FY 2024
Comment on the July 31, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payments for calendar year 2024. Includes discussions on extending the use of the hospital market basket to update ASC payment rates, a proposed quality measure for emergency department visits in Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), and more.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comment on the July 31, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payments for calendar year 2024. Includes discussions on extending the use of the hospital market basket to update ASC payment rates, a proposed quality measure for emergency department visits in Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), and more.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Physician Prospective Payment System for FY 2024
Comment on the August 7, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes discussions on payment rates for Medicare telehealth services; the Medicare Shared Savings Program, including regional adjustments; incorporating Medicare Advantage data into public reporting; and more.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comment on the August 7, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes discussions on payment rates for Medicare telehealth services; the Medicare Shared Savings Program, including regional adjustments; incorporating Medicare Advantage data into public reporting; and more.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Inflation Reduction Act Research Series: Medicare Enrollees' Use and Out-of-Pocket Expenditures for Drugs Selected for Negotiation under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
Provides an overview of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program established by the Inflation Reduction Act. Examines prescription drug use and out-of-pocket spending by Medicare Part D enrollees in calendar year 2022 for each of the first 10 drugs selected for price negotiations, which will be applicable in 2026. Includes data on the demographic characteristics of Medicare Part D enrollees taking each drug, including urban-rural status, as well as the number of enrollees and mean out-of-pocket spending on each drug by state.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program established by the Inflation Reduction Act. Examines prescription drug use and out-of-pocket spending by Medicare Part D enrollees in calendar year 2022 for each of the first 10 drugs selected for price negotiations, which will be applicable in 2026. Includes data on the demographic characteristics of Medicare Part D enrollees taking each drug, including urban-rural status, as well as the number of enrollees and mean out-of-pocket spending on each drug by state.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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PREVENT Pandemics Act (P.L. 117-328, Division FF, Title II)
Provides a section-by-section overview of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act), enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Describes the Continuing Education Support for Health Professionals Serving in Rural and Underserved Communities Program, which supports specialty training for primary care providers, as well as other rural-relevant provisions.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides a section-by-section overview of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act), enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Describes the Continuing Education Support for Health Professionals Serving in Rural and Underserved Communities Program, which supports specialty training for primary care providers, as well as other rural-relevant provisions.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Although IHS Allocated COVID-19 Testing Funds to Meet Community Needs, It Did Not Ensure That the Funds Were Always Used in Accordance with Federal Requirements
Presents results of an audit of Indian Health Service (IHS) funds for COVID-19 testing. Examines if 10 IHS Direct, Tribal, and Urban Indian Organizations (UIO) in the Great Plains Area Office allocated COVID-19 testing funds to meet community needs, the effectiveness of the funding allocation, and if the funding was used in accordance with federal requirements. Outlines recommendations to IHS, as well as IHS comments and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Office of the Inspector General's response.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Presents results of an audit of Indian Health Service (IHS) funds for COVID-19 testing. Examines if 10 IHS Direct, Tribal, and Urban Indian Organizations (UIO) in the Great Plains Area Office allocated COVID-19 testing funds to meet community needs, the effectiveness of the funding allocation, and if the funding was used in accordance with federal requirements. Outlines recommendations to IHS, as well as IHS comments and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Office of the Inspector General's response.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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