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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Wisconsin Divided Ten Ways: A Review of Rural-Urban Classification Systems
Provides a high-level overview of core classification systems, and systems that are county-based, census tract-based, ZIP code-based, and municipal-based. Includes county-level maps with shadings indicating levels of population density, based on various definitions of the terms urban and rural.
Additional links: Appendix A - Wisconsin County Classifications, Appendix B - Wisconsin Census Tract Classifications, Appendix C - Wisconsin ZIP Code Classification, Appendix D - Municipal Classifications
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
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Integrating Oral and General Health Through Health Literacy Practices: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summary of panel discussions held December 6, 2018 in Washington, D.C. by the Roundtable on Health Literacy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Topics include health literacy, care integration, interventions for children, and development of a research agenda. Chapter 6 includes a discussion of provision of oral health services in urban versus rural settings.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Trends in Clinical Research Including Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Participants Funded by the US National Institutes of Health, 1992 to 2018
Study in which data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) system was used to find NIH-funded research focused on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations. Features statistics including dollar amounts allocated to research, and funding amounts provided to various projects and organizations, with breakdowns by select states plus the District of Columbia and Guam.
Author(s): Lan N. Doan, Yumie Takata, Kari-Lyn K. Sakuma
Citation: JAMA Network Open 2(7)
Date: 07/2019
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Immigrant Doctors Can Help Lower Physician Shortages in Rural America
Report highlighting physician shortages in rural areas and exploring pathways by which immigrants come to practice in those areas. Provides recommendations for state and federal policies that would better incorporate immigrant doctors into the effort to ease healthcare shortages in rural areas. Includes statistics on the number and percentage of International Medical Graduates who were resident physicians in the United States in 2017, with breakdowns by citizenship or visa status.
Author(s): Silva Mathema
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Vibrant and Healthy Kids: Aligning Science, Practice, and Policy to Advance Health Equity
Outlines steps needed to help at-risk children in urban and rural areas avoid negative outcomes and to reduce health disparities. Features statistics related to various factors that impact children's health, development, and wellbeing.
Additional links: Read Online, Report Highlights, Report Recommendations, Roadmap to Apply the Science of Early Development
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Solutions to Reduce Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in HHS Programs: OIG's Top Recommendations
Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in their view, would have the most substantial positive impact on Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Positive impact may refer to cost savings, program efficacy and efficiency, and/or quality improvement. Primary areas of interest in the July 2019 edition include: reforming the hospital wage index system, a quality program and disaster planning for Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals, and Medicaid payments for 340B drugs.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Markup of 26 Bills, Full Committee (July 17, 2019)
Recording of a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce markup session of 26 bills. Addresses bills reauthorizing the National Health Service Corps, funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers, Medicaid funding for the U.S. territories, and other health-related bills.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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Federal Highway Traffic Safety Policies: Impacts and Opportunities
Examines the impact of federal highway safety policies. Includes data on crashes, fatalities, seat belt use, motorcycle helmet use, alcohol use, and more. Provides some data and discussion related to rural drivers.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Our Wireless Future: Building a Comprehensive Approach to Spectrum Policy
Documents related to a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing focused on policies affecting access to wireless internet. Addresses access to wireless in rural tribal areas, spectrum for emergency operations, options for expanding rural broadband access, and uses for broadband access. Includes testimony from the Federal Communications Commission, MuralNet, Competitive Carriers Association, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and others.
Additional links: Hearing Recording, Julius P. Knapp Testimony, Mariel Triggs Testimony, Michael Calabrese Testimony, Peter Pitsch Testimony, Tim Donovan Testimony
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Support and Services at Home (SASH) Evaluation: SASH Evaluation Findings, 2010-2016
Evaluates the Support and Services at Home (SASH) program in Vermont, which provides support services and care coordination for older adults and people with disabilities in conjunction with affordable housing. Addresses Medicaid and Medicare expenditures, medication management, property management, challenges, and lessons learned. Identifies the percent of rural SASH host properties and differences for rural areas.
Additional links: Highlights
Author(s): Amy Kandilov, Vincent Keyes, Noƫlle Siegfried, et al.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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