Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Substance Use Disorder: Reliable Data Needed for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Program
Reviews what is known about the number of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities and services, overall treatment capacity, and barriers to expanding capacity. Describes the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG), State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis (STR) and State Opioid Response (SOR) programs, and examines how seven states utilized these programs. Evaluates the data used to assess the effectiveness of these programs, and offers recommendations to improve the reliability of data collected on individuals served by the SABG program.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Reviews what is known about the number of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities and services, overall treatment capacity, and barriers to expanding capacity. Describes the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG), State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis (STR) and State Opioid Response (SOR) programs, and examines how seven states utilized these programs. Evaluates the data used to assess the effectiveness of these programs, and offers recommendations to improve the reliability of data collected on individuals served by the SABG program.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Drug Pricing Program: HHS Uses Multiple Mechanisms to Help Ensure Compliance with 340B Requirements
Examines the Health Services and Research Administration's (HRSA) oversight of covered entities' compliance with 340B Program requirements. Describes the 340B Program, the HRSA audit process, and findings from audits conducted between 2012-2019. Discusses additional efforts by HRSA to promote compliance and identify noncompliance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the Health Services and Research Administration's (HRSA) oversight of covered entities' compliance with 340B Program requirements. Describes the 340B Program, the HRSA audit process, and findings from audits conducted between 2012-2019. Discusses additional efforts by HRSA to promote compliance and identify noncompliance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Strengthening the Entry-Level Health Care Workforce: Finding a Path
Examines gaps in the existing healthcare workforce, challenges facing entry-level healthcare workers (EHCW), current EHCW training programs and contexts where training programs are used effectively, and strategies and policy opportunities to strengthen the EHCW. Includes rural references throughout and case studies for programs in rural Alaska and Washington. Provides an interactive inventory of existing policies and programs that support EHCW training, recruitment, and retention.
Additional links: Entry-Level Health Care Workforce: Information and Programs Visualization Tool
Author(s): Shira H. Fischer, Ryan K. McBain, Laura J. Faherty, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Examines gaps in the existing healthcare workforce, challenges facing entry-level healthcare workers (EHCW), current EHCW training programs and contexts where training programs are used effectively, and strategies and policy opportunities to strengthen the EHCW. Includes rural references throughout and case studies for programs in rural Alaska and Washington. Provides an interactive inventory of existing policies and programs that support EHCW training, recruitment, and retention.
Additional links: Entry-Level Health Care Workforce: Information and Programs Visualization Tool
Author(s): Shira H. Fischer, Ryan K. McBain, Laura J. Faherty, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Indian Health Service: Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Provider Misconduct and Substandard Performance
Evaluates Indian Health Service (IHS) oversight of policies related to provider misconduct and substandard performance. Provides recommendations for the director to IHS to implement to address inconsistencies in oversight across IHS areas and facilities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Evaluates Indian Health Service (IHS) oversight of policies related to provider misconduct and substandard performance. Provides recommendations for the director to IHS to implement to address inconsistencies in oversight across IHS areas and facilities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Improve Maternal Health
Describes the state of maternal health in the United States, including data and statistics on mortality and morbidity. Discusses risks to maternal health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, intimate partner violence, and more. Recommends strategies and actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can implement to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Describes the state of maternal health in the United States, including data and statistics on mortality and morbidity. Discusses risks to maternal health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, intimate partner violence, and more. Recommends strategies and actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can implement to improve maternal health and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Healthy Women, Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Futures: Action Plan to Improve Maternal Health in America
Action plan outlining steps the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is taking to reduce maternal mortality and address disparities that endanger women before, during, and following pregnancy. Four main goals include: improving prevention and treatment services to promote positive health outcomes for every woman of reproductive age; prioritizing quality improvement efforts to support healthy pregnancies and births; improving postpartum health; and enhancing data and research to inform future interventions. Includes data and statistics on maternal health and morbidity, and addresses rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Dawn Alley, Andre Chappel, Nancy De Lew, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Action plan outlining steps the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is taking to reduce maternal mortality and address disparities that endanger women before, during, and following pregnancy. Four main goals include: improving prevention and treatment services to promote positive health outcomes for every woman of reproductive age; prioritizing quality improvement efforts to support healthy pregnancies and births; improving postpartum health; and enhancing data and research to inform future interventions. Includes data and statistics on maternal health and morbidity, and addresses rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Dawn Alley, Andre Chappel, Nancy De Lew, et al.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Case Study: Exploring Options to Deploy Capitated Payments to Enhance Primary Care in Rural Settings
Discusses the need for primary care services in rural areas. Provides an overview of healthcare delivery models that utilize capitated payments. Presents examples of capitated payment agreements aimed at increasing the use and quality of primary care services in rural communities, and offers lessons learned.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Discusses the need for primary care services in rural areas. Provides an overview of healthcare delivery models that utilize capitated payments. Presents examples of capitated payment agreements aimed at increasing the use and quality of primary care services in rural communities, and offers lessons learned.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Buprenorphine Dispensing in an Epicenter of the U.S. Opioid Epidemic: A Case Study of the Rural Risk Environment in Appalachian Kentucky
Explores buprenorphine dispensing practices among pharmacists in rural, Appalachian Kentucky, highlighting issues related to buprenorphine dispensing hesitancy. Identifies themes from interviews with 14 pharmacists operating in 12 rural, Appalachian Kentucky counties and discusses dispensing risk environment. Reviews factors influencing hesitancy, including national and state-level drug policy, stigma, and continuing impacts of the opioid epidemic.
Author(s): Hannah LF Cooper, David H. Cloud, Patricia R. Freeman, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Drug Policy, 85, 102701
Date: 11/2020
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Explores buprenorphine dispensing practices among pharmacists in rural, Appalachian Kentucky, highlighting issues related to buprenorphine dispensing hesitancy. Identifies themes from interviews with 14 pharmacists operating in 12 rural, Appalachian Kentucky counties and discusses dispensing risk environment. Reviews factors influencing hesitancy, including national and state-level drug policy, stigma, and continuing impacts of the opioid epidemic.
Author(s): Hannah LF Cooper, David H. Cloud, Patricia R. Freeman, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Drug Policy, 85, 102701
Date: 11/2020
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Indian Health 101: Fulfilling a Promise
Presents an overview of the Indian Health Service (IHS) including the legislative history and financial support for the development of IHS. Discusses health disparities and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 experienced by American Indians/Alaska Natives.
Author(s): Christopher D. Chavis
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Indian Health Board
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Presents an overview of the Indian Health Service (IHS) including the legislative history and financial support for the development of IHS. Discusses health disparities and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 experienced by American Indians/Alaska Natives.
Author(s): Christopher D. Chavis
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Indian Health Board
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To Improve Rural Health Equity, Invest in Housing, Water, and Food Access
Discusses proven solutions state and federal policymakers can adopt to promote health equity in rural communities by focusing on investments in water, housing, and food access.
Author(s): Amanda Gold, Jorge Morales-Burnett, Corianne Payton Scally
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Discusses proven solutions state and federal policymakers can adopt to promote health equity in rural communities by focusing on investments in water, housing, and food access.
Author(s): Amanda Gold, Jorge Morales-Burnett, Corianne Payton Scally
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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