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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2019
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Addresses the Medicaid Prescription Drug Program and Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to safety-net hospitals, therapeutic foster care coverage, state efforts to improve Medicaid integrity, and challenges facing Medicaid in Puerto Rico.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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The Doctor is Out. Rising Student Loan Debt and the Decline of the Small Medical Practice
Provides a recording of a hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business regarding health profession school debt and the impact on specialization and practice decisions, particularly the reduction of sole practices in rural areas, and methods for addressing these issues. Includes testimony from representatives of the American Physical Therapy Association, American Association of Orthodontics, American College of Physicians, and American Enterprise Institute.
Additional links: Lauren Wiese Testimony, Sandra Norby Testimony, Tracey L. Henry Testimony, Video Recording
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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Broadband Deployment: Status and Federal Programs
Addresses the availability of broadband in rural, urban, and tribal areas of the U.S.; percent of households with broadband; and federal programs supporting broadband development and adoption.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Broadband Availability and Access in Rural Pennsylvania
Report details broadband access in rural Pennsylvania. Discussed broadband speed and the role it plays in rural telehealth services. Features a literature review and policy recommendations.
Author(s): Sascha D. Meinrath, Hannah Bonestroo, Georgia Bullen, et al.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Investing in America's Health Care
Recording of a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing on a wide variety of healthcare bills addressing funding for community health centers, teaching health centers, the National Health Service Corps, a tribal diabetes program, the National Quality Forum, Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments, and more. Includes testimony from Shasta Community Health Center, Vidant Health, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, Medicare Rights Center, and others.
Additional links: C. Dean Germano Testimony, Diana Autin Testimony, Fred Riccardi Testimony, Michael Waldrum Testimony, Thomas Barker Testimony
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Infectious Diseases Society of America Position Statement on Telehealth and Telemedicine as Applied to the Practice of Infectious Diseases
Position statement to educate members of the Infectious Diseases Society of America on telehealth and to promote use of this technology in clinical care, research, and education. Explores the potential to increase access to subspecialist care in rural areas, and describes reimbursement policies of private insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid, for telehealth services provided to patients in rural areas. Also describes HIPAA requirements for telehealth interactions and protected health information.
Author(s): Jeremy D. Young, Rima Abdel-Massih, Thomas Herchline, et al.
Citation: Clinical Infectious Diseases, 68(9), 1437-1443
Date: 05/2019
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A Closer Look: Perspectives on the 2019 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period
Examines outreach and enrollment strategies and their effectiveness for the 2019 open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) related health insurance coverage. Addresses enrollment numbers, navigator funding, advertisement spending, the individual mandate repeal, and the impact of short-term plans. Identifies strategies used by navigators in rural areas.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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Rural Access to Primary Care in New York State
Report highlights the state of primary care access across rural New York State. Discusses key issues and makes policy recommendations. Requires a no-cost registration to download report.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Primary Care Development Corporation
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Older Americans Act: HHS Could Help Rural Service Providers by Centralizing Information on Promising Practices
Focuses on services and resources authorized by the Older Americans Act to help older adults age in place in rural communities. Addresses challenges accessing home and community-based services in rural areas and information on strategies for addressing those challenges. Covers home-delivered meals, congregate meals, transportation, family caregiver services, case management, and homemaker services. Research included interviews with ACL officials, rural area agencies on aging (AAA) in 8 states, rural health experts, and stakeholder groups; a literature review; and site visits.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Leveraging Medicaid Financing and Coverage Benefits to Deliver PrEP Intervention Services
Shows how stakeholders in Medicaid agencies, Medicaid managed care organizations, and public health departments can identify barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication and clinical services, in an effort to prevent HIV. Includes a section on provision of PrEP through Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Centers, and through telehealth.
Author(s): Naomi Seiler
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: AcademyHealth
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