Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Sexually Transmitted Infections - Adopting a Sexual Health Paradigm
Highlights the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across the U.S. Discusses how different populations are disproportionately affected. Details how the barriers to healthcare access in rural areas, particularly rural American Indian reservations, can affect the rates of STIs. Makes policy recommendations to address these disparities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Highlights the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across the U.S. Discusses how different populations are disproportionately affected. Details how the barriers to healthcare access in rural areas, particularly rural American Indian reservations, can affect the rates of STIs. Makes policy recommendations to address these disparities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
High and Rising Mortality Rates Among Working-Age Adults
Identifies key drivers of increasing death rates and disparities in working-age mortality from 1990-2017 and examines modifiable risk factors that could alleviate poor health and widening health inequalities in the working-age population. Makes recommendations for future research and data collection, and explores potential policy implications. Mentions rural throughout. Features statistics on trends in working-age mortality by age, sex, race/ethnicity, cause of death, and geography.
Author(s): Committee on Rising Midlife Mortality Rates and Socioeconomic Disparities
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Identifies key drivers of increasing death rates and disparities in working-age mortality from 1990-2017 and examines modifiable risk factors that could alleviate poor health and widening health inequalities in the working-age population. Makes recommendations for future research and data collection, and explores potential policy implications. Mentions rural throughout. Features statistics on trends in working-age mortality by age, sex, race/ethnicity, cause of death, and geography.
Author(s): Committee on Rising Midlife Mortality Rates and Socioeconomic Disparities
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details
Health Services and Primary Care Research Study
Presents the results of a study in 36 rural primary care practices, including rural health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Clinics, comparing Medicare Fee for Service behavioral therapy for obesity delivered to individual clients in clinics to in-clinic group visits delivered by clinical providers; and phone-based group visits delivered by a centralized provider. Participants included 1407 adults from rural areas over a 24 month period with a goal to identify the most effective therapy for rural settings.
Author(s): Peter Mendel, Courtney A. Gidengil, Andrada Tomoaia-Cotisel, et al.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details
Presents the results of a study in 36 rural primary care practices, including rural health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Clinics, comparing Medicare Fee for Service behavioral therapy for obesity delivered to individual clients in clinics to in-clinic group visits delivered by clinical providers; and phone-based group visits delivered by a centralized provider. Participants included 1407 adults from rural areas over a 24 month period with a goal to identify the most effective therapy for rural settings.
Author(s): Peter Mendel, Courtney A. Gidengil, Andrada Tomoaia-Cotisel, et al.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details
The Unique Impacts of U.S. Social and Health Policies on Rural Population Health and Aging
Examines how the Older Americans Act (OAA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) impact rural and urban communities differently. Includes discussion about policy efforts and the need to consider the context of place.
Author(s): Danielle C. Rhubart, Shannon M. Monnat, Leif Jensen, Claire Pendergrast
Citation: Public Policy & Aging Report, 31(1), 24-29
Date: 12/2020
view details
Examines how the Older Americans Act (OAA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) impact rural and urban communities differently. Includes discussion about policy efforts and the need to consider the context of place.
Author(s): Danielle C. Rhubart, Shannon M. Monnat, Leif Jensen, Claire Pendergrast
Citation: Public Policy & Aging Report, 31(1), 24-29
Date: 12/2020
view details
Public Law 116–260: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
Text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 (December 27, 2020). Section 125 establishes the Rural Emergency Hospital designation. Section 127 makes changes to direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect GME payments to teaching hospitals that train residents in Rural Training Programs.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
view details
Text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 (December 27, 2020). Section 125 establishes the Rural Emergency Hospital designation. Section 127 makes changes to direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect GME payments to teaching hospitals that train residents in Rural Training Programs.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
view details
Preparing Nurse Faculty, and Addressing the Shortage of Nurse Faculty and Clinical Preceptors: Seventeenth Annual Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Congress
Presents policy and programmatic recommendations to address the nurse faculty shortage, improve the education and training of nurses, and strengthen the nursing profession. Discusses some of the persistent underlying causes of the faculty and preceptor shortage, examines past efforts from both government agencies and private organizations to bolster the nurse faculty, and explores the differences between states in nurse educational role requirements.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice
view details
Presents policy and programmatic recommendations to address the nurse faculty shortage, improve the education and training of nurses, and strengthen the nursing profession. Discusses some of the persistent underlying causes of the faculty and preceptor shortage, examines past efforts from both government agencies and private organizations to bolster the nurse faculty, and explores the differences between states in nurse educational role requirements.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice
view details
December 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2020 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on expanding the post-acute care transfer policy to hospice, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, physician and other health professional services, hospice services, and a status report and benchmark policy option on the Medicare Advantage program. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2020 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on expanding the post-acute care transfer policy to hospice, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, physician and other health professional services, hospice services, and a status report and benchmark policy option on the Medicare Advantage program. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Rural Housing Symposium: Recovery Through Resiliency
Video recording of the 2020 Rural Housing Conference that covers discussions on long-term trends and recent changes in rural housing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic impacts, recovery pathways, and policy collaboration on a variety of topics to build rural resiliency. Includes 7 sessions available for viewing. Transcript available below description.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
view details
Video recording of the 2020 Rural Housing Conference that covers discussions on long-term trends and recent changes in rural housing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic impacts, recovery pathways, and policy collaboration on a variety of topics to build rural resiliency. Includes 7 sessions available for viewing. Transcript available below description.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
view details
Equitable Recovery and Resilience in Rural America
Reports on geographic, economic, and cultural diversity in rural America, addressing issues of equity, health disparities, and economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers recommendations for local and federal action related to broadband internet access, small business development, and collaboration to support rural economic vitality and equity.
Author(s): Brian Dabson
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
view details
Reports on geographic, economic, and cultural diversity in rural America, addressing issues of equity, health disparities, and economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers recommendations for local and federal action related to broadband internet access, small business development, and collaboration to support rural economic vitality and equity.
Author(s): Brian Dabson
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
view details
Rural Health Clinics Modernization Policy Explained
Recording of a webinar (updated December 31, 2020) providing an overview of statutory revisions to the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) payment methodology. Explains the impact of the changes on both capped and uncapped RHCs. Includes information on telehealth reimbursement for RHCs. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Bill Finerfrock, Nathan Baugh
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Recording of a webinar (updated December 31, 2020) providing an overview of statutory revisions to the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) payment methodology. Explains the impact of the changes on both capped and uncapped RHCs. Includes information on telehealth reimbursement for RHCs. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Bill Finerfrock, Nathan Baugh
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details