Public Health Preparedness: COVID-19 Medical Surge Experiences and Related HHS Efforts
Discusses the medical surge challenges of eight hospitals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how healthcare coalitions have supported the hospitals' efforts. Identifies challenges related to staffing, supplies, space, and information, as well as challenges unique to rural hospitals. Describes Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) programs and activities to support medical surge readiness.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details

State Telehealth Policy: Summary and Findings from the Summer 2022 Webinar Series
Offers a summary of presentations included in the Center for Connected Health Policy's (CCHP) Summer 2022 webinar series. Covered topics include telehealth in school-based programs, licensure, private payer telehealth laws, and telehealth policies for substance use disorder treatment.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details

MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Home Health Prospective Payment System for CY 2023
Comments on a June 23, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments regarding the collection of data on the use of telecommunications technology under the Medicare home health benefit and quality measure stratification as a tool to address healthcare disparities and advance health equity.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details

Reimagining and Reinvesting in Rural Hospital Markets
Examines the hospital infrastructure needed in rural areas and how rural hospitals can be financed. Discusses current issues related to rural hospital services and how public health policy and infrastructure can impact the health of rural citizens.
Author(s): Caitlin Carroll, Arrianna Planey, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
view details

2022 Key Rural Measures: An Updated List of Measures to Advance Rural Health Priorities
Report updating a list of key rural measures focused on rural access to care originally outlined in A Core Set of Rural-Relevant Measures and Measuring and Improving Access to Care: 2018 Recommendations from the MAP Rural Health Workgroup. Identifies 17 measures to add to the 2018 list of rural measures, including items related to behavioral and mental health, substance use, infectious disease, access to care, and equity and social determinants of health. Discusses remaining gaps in measurement topic areas.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details

Federal Student Loan Repayment Programs for Behavioral Health Service Providers
Provides an overview of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-administered federal student loan repayment programs available to behavioral health providers. Addresses program components, benefits, Congressional appropriations for these programs for fiscal year 2022, and policy issues for Congress to consider.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details

National Research Action Plan on Long COVID
Provides a comprehensive research strategy to inform the national response to Long COVID's impacts. Addresses research needs focused on Long COVID causes and consequences, underlying biological mechanisms, effective therapies, and services and supports for people experiencing Long COVID, including those living in rural areas.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details

Behavioral Health Equity for All Communities: Policy Solutions to Advance Equity Across the Crisis Continuum
Identifies overarching strategies to enhance cultural responsiveness and promote equity in behavioral health services across the crisis continuum of care. Discusses how inadequate access to high-quality and culturally responsive behavioral health care has a direct effect on both the frequency and the outcomes of behavioral health emergencies. Describes levers states can use to advance culturally responsive care, including how rural partnerships can ensure that equity strategies will serve the community effectively.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
view details

Federally Supported Projects and Programs for Wastewater, Drinking Water, and Water Supply Infrastructure
Provides an overview of federally-funded water infrastructure projects, including those in rural areas, as well as programs that provide communities support for these types of projects and related activities. Includes information on the federal cost-share, average amount of assistance, fiscal year 2021 funding level, and fiscal year 2022 funding request for each program.
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People who Inject Drugs Accessing Harm Reduction Services in a Rural American State
Results of a study exploring how changes made in Maine during the pandemic affected access to harm reduction services, including basic services such as shelter, syringe service programs, safe drug supply, low barrier buprenorphine treatment, and peer support. Based on interviews with 36 stakeholders comprising people who inject drugs, community partners, and healthcare providers.
Author(s): Kinna Thakarar, Michael Kohut, Rebecca Hutchinson, et al.
Citation: Harm Reduction Journal, 19(80)
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
view details