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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Not Your Mother's Healthcare: Surveying Consumer Experiences with Telehealth Services
Recording of an August 4, 2021, webinar on telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents results of a survey conducted between June 28-July 18, 2021, on telehealth utilization, patient satisfaction, and obstacles to accessing telehealth services. Includes data on rural and urban differences throughout. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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COVID-19: HHS's Collection of Hospital Capacity Data
Examines the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implementation of the HHS Project, which was launched in April 2020 to collect national and state-level hospital capacity data. Discusses reporting requirements and challenges, use of the data collected, and lessons learned regarding the collection of hospital capacity data during a public health emergency.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The Rural Emergency Hospital and Value-Based Care
Summarizes the new Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) legislation, outlines local considerations before REH conversion, and prepares stakeholders to comment when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services releases REH proposed rules for public input. Addresses questions regarding anticipated proposed rules and describes opportunities to inform REH rulemaking.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Montana State Rural Health Plan
Plan to shape the development of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program in Montana. Includes information on trends, challenges, and methods to ensure access to quality healthcare across the state. Features updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
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Examining Child Food Insecurity in Rural America
Discusses challenges and barriers related to child food security in rural areas, with a focus on the impact of COVID-19, data exhibiting child food needs, and policy that can help close food access gaps. Transcript available below description.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Leveraging Evidence-Based Policies to Improve Health, Control Costs, and Create Health Equity
Explores healthcare access for various populations, including people living in rural communities. Discusses strategies and policies focused on access to healthcare, economic mobility, affordable housing, safe learning environments for young adults and children, and health-promoting excise taxes.
Author(s): Adam Lustig, Marilyn Cabrera
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Telehealth, COVID-19 and Looking Ahead
Discusses COVID-19 telehealth policy flexibilities that may be made permanent through legislation or other state-level action as of July 2021. Offers a map indicating states where legislation seeks to make policy changes permanent, presents an overview of specific policy flexibilities, and discusses state-level approaches, including temporary extensions of policy changes and non-legislative action.
Author(s): Jack Pitsor
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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DATA 2000 Waiver Training Payment Program
Recording of a July 29, 2021, webinar providing technical assistance for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) applying for the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) Waiver Training Payment Program. Identifies organizations' eligibility to apply for payments and discusses the application process and requirements. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Medicaid and Housing Partnerships: A Resource for Local Health Departments
Explores how local health departments (LHDs) in rural areas can utilize Medicaid managed care levers to address homelessness and housing security issues. Summarizes results from a gap analysis and readiness assessment which identified key opportunities to help prepare 3 LHDs in rural North Carolina counties for the transition to Medicaid-managed care. Identifies action steps for these counties to strengthen housing supports that can also inform similar initiatives in other states.
Author(s): Matthew Ralls, Kathy Moses, Rob Houston
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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State Medicaid Telehealth Policies Before and During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Examines state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Discusses issues and opportunities for optimizing telehealth, including equity considerations for rural and lower-income communities.
Author(s): Rose C. Chu, Christie Peters, Nancy De Lew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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