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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

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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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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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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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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Utah's Physician Workforce, 2020
Study of Utah's physician workforce, based on a 2019 survey by the Utah Medical Education Council. Discusses supply and demand, demographics, geographic distribution, practice characteristics, projected supply and demand, and specialty profiles including primary care and specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Jared Staheli, Clark Ruttinger
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Utah Health Workforce Information Center
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November 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) November 2020 meeting. Covers the expansion of telehealth in Medicare, Medicare beneficiaries' access to care in rural areas, effects of pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates on Part D's risk adjustment, and improving competition among Part D's benchmark plans.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Testing Program
Recording of a November 16, 2020, webinar providing information about HRSA's allocation of funds to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) for COVID-19 testing and HRSA's RHC testing terms and conditions. Includes information on the RHC COVID-19 Reporting Portal, a list of frequently asked questions, and contact information for COVID-19 testing technical assistance. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Frontier Community Health Integration Project (FCHIP) Demonstration Evaluation: Final Evaluation Report
Presents findings from an evaluation of the Frontier Community Health Integration Project (FCHIP) Demonstration. Describes the three possible interventions, including their impact, progress and accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned. Identifies commonalities that emerged across the FCHIP interventions that may inform future demonstrations among rural healthcare providers.
Additional links: Findings At-A-Glance
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Rural Challenges, Strategies, and Recommendations to Advance Value-Based Payment and Care During and Beyond the COVID-19 Crisis
Describes the key challenges rural primary care and behavioral health providers have faced in delivering care since COVID-19, in addition to the policy changes implemented in response to those challenges. Offers state-level policy recommendations for improving rural primary care and behavioral health services.
Author(s): Angel Bourgoin, Jim Maxwell, Yvette Cho, Rachel Tobey
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net
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The Future of State Telehealth Policy
Provides an overview of state and federal telehealth flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses long-term considerations for governors regarding the impact of these flexibilities on healthcare delivery and payment and the appropriateness of these policies in the future.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association
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