Draft 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan
A draft guide for federal health information technology (HIT) activities. Identifies current healthcare challenges and opportunities related to HIT. Explains how the federal government intends to use HIT to promote health; enhance care delivery; build a secure, data-driven system; and develop an interoperable HIT infrastructure. Includes discussion of rural needs and opportunities related to HIT. The public comment period on the draft ends on March 18, 2020.
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details

Challenges in Providing Substance Use Disorder Treatment to Child Welfare Clients in Rural Communities
Provides an overview of the unique challenges rural communities face serving parents with substance abuse issues, including provider shortages, limited access to health insurance, transportation and technological barriers, and lack of routine cross-systems collaboration with the child welfare system. Offers strategies to overcome these challenges in rural communities.
Author(s): Elizabeth Clary, Christina Ribar, Elizabeth Weigensberg
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
view details

Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in Pennsylvania
Presents an overview of child sexual abuse and exploitation in Pennsylvania. Highlights specific issues in rural areas and compares rural and urban areas in the state. Details conclusions and makes policy recommendations.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Sarah A. Font, Sheridan Miyamoto, Casey N. Pinto
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details

Second Evaluation Report: Next Generation Accountable Care Organization Model Evaluation
Reports on the impact of the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization model in 2016 and 2017, with information on the full sample of 46 participating NGACOs. Provides information on the models' impact on gross and net Medicare spending. The appendices include data on community characteristics, including rurality.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
view details

Public Transportation: Enhanced Federal Information Sharing on Coordination Could Improve Rural Transit Services
Report details the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) efforts in improving rural public transit coordination and identifies areas for improvement. Highlights some of the challenges affecting the FTA's ability to effectively coordinate transportation for rural and tribal areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details

Telehealth: An Opportunity for State and Territorial Health Agencies to Improve Access to Needed Health Services
Reports results from a 2019 telehealth capacity survey of state and territorial health agencies. Identifies strategies these agencies can take to advance state use of telehealth related to infrastructure, collaboration, and policy.
Author(s): Alexandra Kearly, Janet Oputa, Paris Harper-Hardy
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 26(1), 86-90
Date: 2020
Type: Document
view details

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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details

Health Care Workforce: Views on Expanding Medicare Graduate Medical Education Funding to Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
Describes the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) program. Provides an overview of current federal funding for physician, nurse practitioner (NP), and physician assistant (PA) training. Explores the potential benefits and challenges of expanding the Medicare GME program to include funding for graduate NP and PA training.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details

Indian Health Service Has Strengthened Patient Protection Policies but Must Fully Integrate Them into Practice and Organizational Culture
Explores and evaluates the current patient protection policies of the Indian Health Service (IHS) and makes recommendations. Focuses on the IHS policies implemented to prevent child sexual abuse by providers and staff.
Author(s): Joanne M. Chiedi
Date: 12/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details

Supportive Services and Caregiving for Older Rural Adults from the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Webinar recording discusses the support and caregiving services older adults in rural areas. Highlights policy recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services.
Additional links: Audio Recording, PowerPoint Handout, Webinar Transcript
Date: 12/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details