Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Roundtable Discussion: Examining the Role of Telehealth during COVID-19 and Beyond
Video recording of an August 6, 2020, discussion on telehealth policies and impacts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and key considerations for the future of telehealth policy. Examines rural topics throughout, including access to broadband and using RHCs and FQHCs as originating site providers for telehealth services. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee
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Video recording of an August 6, 2020, discussion on telehealth policies and impacts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and key considerations for the future of telehealth policy. Examines rural topics throughout, including access to broadband and using RHCs and FQHCs as originating site providers for telehealth services. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee
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Medicaid and CHIP in Puerto Rico
Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Puerto Rico. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and Puerto Rico spending.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Puerto Rico. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and Puerto Rico spending.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Summary, July 30, 2020
Summarizes the 88th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held virtually. Includes a discussion of the rural response to COVID-19.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Summarizes the 88th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held virtually. Includes a discussion of the rural response to COVID-19.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Responding to Behavioral Health Needs in Rural America
Presentation slides discussing behavioral health issues and needs in rural America. Describes approaches to enhance behavioral health service delivery and implications for public policy.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Presentation slides discussing behavioral health issues and needs in rural America. Describes approaches to enhance behavioral health service delivery and implications for public policy.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Advocacy in New Hampshire Procures More Funding for Provider Recruitment
Describes how the New Hampshire Health Care Workforce Coalition lobbied for state legislation to increase the annual budget for the State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) to enhance recruitment of healthcare providers. SLRP activities include securing hospitalists for Critical Access Hospitals, Medicaid school psychologists, and other healthcare professionals; developing loan repayment programs for dentists and behavioral health providers; and more.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Describes how the New Hampshire Health Care Workforce Coalition lobbied for state legislation to increase the annual budget for the State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) to enhance recruitment of healthcare providers. SLRP activities include securing hospitalists for Critical Access Hospitals, Medicaid school psychologists, and other healthcare professionals; developing loan repayment programs for dentists and behavioral health providers; and more.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Experiences of Community Health Centers in Expanding Telemedicine
Presents an overview of the experiences of nine health centers in California that received funding to increase their telemedicine services. Describes barriers to implementing and sustaining expanded services, including reimbursement policies and other regulatory restrictions. Includes recommendations for health centers and policymakers to promote the use of telehealth services.
Author(s): Lori Uscher-Pines, Jessica Sousa, Alina I. Palimaru, et al.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Presents an overview of the experiences of nine health centers in California that received funding to increase their telemedicine services. Describes barriers to implementing and sustaining expanded services, including reimbursement policies and other regulatory restrictions. Includes recommendations for health centers and policymakers to promote the use of telehealth services.
Author(s): Lori Uscher-Pines, Jessica Sousa, Alina I. Palimaru, et al.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Evidence Briefing: Tackling the Digital Divide & Telehealth Access for Low-Income Californians
Recording of a July 28, 2020 briefing that features a panel of health care providers discussing strategies to improve access to broadband internet and telehealth services in California. Offers perspectives from a Federally Qualified Health Center and a VA health system that serve rural California residents. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the Subscribe tab, then selecting Open Transcript.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: California Initiative for Health Equity and Action
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Recording of a July 28, 2020 briefing that features a panel of health care providers discussing strategies to improve access to broadband internet and telehealth services in California. Offers perspectives from a Federally Qualified Health Center and a VA health system that serve rural California residents. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the Subscribe tab, then selecting Open Transcript.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: California Initiative for Health Equity and Action
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Medicare Beneficiary Use of Telehealth Visits: Early Data from the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines changes in Medicare in-person primary care visits and the use of telehealth services at the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Discusses how Medicare telehealth flexibilities implemented in response to COVID-19 impacted access to these services. Compares the percentage of primary care telehealth visits between rural and urban providers. Includes a county-level map displaying the percentage of primary care visits conducted via telehealth services in April 2020.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines changes in Medicare in-person primary care visits and the use of telehealth services at the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Discusses how Medicare telehealth flexibilities implemented in response to COVID-19 impacted access to these services. Compares the percentage of primary care telehealth visits between rural and urban providers. Includes a county-level map displaying the percentage of primary care visits conducted via telehealth services in April 2020.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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CDC COVID-19 Response Health Equity Strategy: Accelerating Progress Towards Reducing COVID-19 Disparities and Achieving Health Equity
Provides an overview of the CDC strategy to improve health outcomes for populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including people living in rural and frontier areas, racial and ethnic minorities, and other populations. Describes four priorities: expanding the evidence base; addressing testing, contact tracing, isolation, healthcare, and recovery; supporting essential and frontline workers to prevent transmission of COVID-19; and developing an inclusive workforce to address the diverse U.S. population.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Provides an overview of the CDC strategy to improve health outcomes for populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including people living in rural and frontier areas, racial and ethnic minorities, and other populations. Describes four priorities: expanding the evidence base; addressing testing, contact tracing, isolation, healthcare, and recovery; supporting essential and frontline workers to prevent transmission of COVID-19; and developing an inclusive workforce to address the diverse U.S. population.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Rural Healthcare Surge Readiness
Resources for rural healthcare systems preparing for and responding to a COVID-19 surge. Includes resources for emergency medical services, inpatient and hospital care, ambulatory care, and long-term care settings. Addresses a wide range of topics including healthcare operations, space, supplies, funding, and more.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: COVID-19 Healthcare Resilience Working Group
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Resources for rural healthcare systems preparing for and responding to a COVID-19 surge. Includes resources for emergency medical services, inpatient and hospital care, ambulatory care, and long-term care settings. Addresses a wide range of topics including healthcare operations, space, supplies, funding, and more.
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: COVID-19 Healthcare Resilience Working Group
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