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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Opportunities to Advance Complex Care in Rural and Frontier Areas
Examines obstacles rural and frontier healthcare organizations face in providing complex care based on interviews with experts around the U.S. Focuses on rural social determinants of health, workforce shortages, and rural community relationships. Includes examples of models related to community collaboration, care coordination, social determinants of health, the health workforce, technology, and payment.
Author(s): Jim Lloyd
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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An Update on the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis: One Year Later
Report details a one year update to the Trump Administration President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Highlighted the commission's accomplishments and examined its initial objectives. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: The White House
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Oversight Hearing on "The President's FY2020 Budget Request for Indian Programs"
Provides a recording of a U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget request for Indian programs, including the Indian Health Service. Includes testimony from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, National Congress of American Indians, and the National Indian Health Board.
Additional links: Chris Buchanan Testimony, Jefferson Keel Testimony, National Indian Health Board Testimony
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Statement of Chairman Ajit Pai, Federal Communications Commission: Hearing on the FCC's Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request
Offers a statement from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman on the 2020 FCC budget at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcomittee on Financial Services and General Government. Addresses federal investments in rural broadband and the rural healthcare program, the impact of those investments, and future plans.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Federal Communications Commission, Senate Committee on Appropriations
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National Security Subcommittee Hearing: Veteran and Active-Duty Military Suicides
Provides a recording of a U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on veteran and active-duty service member suicides. Addresses efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD) to prevent suicides as well as the roles of mental health and crisis support groups, local communities, and veterans advocacy organizations. Includes some discussion related to rural. Features testimonies from the Veterans Health Administration, National Director of Suicide Prevention, the U.S. Department of Defense Mental Health Programs and Defense Suicide Prevention Office, and RAND Corporation.
Additional links: Richard Stone Testimony
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Committee on Oversight and Reform, U.S. House of Representatives
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Medicare Physician Payment Reform After Two Years: Examining MACRA Implementation and the Road Ahead
Provides a recording of a U.S. Senate Committee on Finance hearing on physician payment reforms under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Features testimonies about what is working well and challenges faced, including provisions and challenges for small and rural practices. Contains testimonies from the American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Group Association, and Brookings Institution.
Additional links: American Medical Association Testimony, John Cullen Testimony, Scott Hines Testimony
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Finance
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Implementing the 21st Century Cures Act: Making Electronic Health Information Available to Patients and Providers, Part II
A recording of a hearing from the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act, which is intended to improve interoperability of electronic health records. Addresses requirements that would impact healthcare facilities, including rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals. Offers testimony from the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Center for Clinical Standards and Quality.
Additional links: Kate Goodrich Testimony
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs
Examines federal funding for water and wastewater treatment programs, including those specific to rural areas. Discusses the differences in funding mechanisms and how appropriations for discretionary spending has varied.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Review of the FY2020 Budget Request for the Indian Health Service
Provides a recording of a U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing and statements regarding the FY2020 budget request for the Indian Health Service. Discussions address budget justifications, information on IHS services provided, and plans for the FY2020 year, including additional funding for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C treatment and prevention.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
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Pain Management for People with Serious Illness in the Context of the Opioid Use Disorder Epidemic: Proceedings of a Workshop
Reports on a workshop with multiple stakeholders discussing pain management in the context of the opioid misuse epidemic. Reviews the opioid epidemic, how responses to it have affected people with serious illness and pain, the pain management needs of people with substance use disorder, policy responses, and next steps. Includes a few examples from rural areas and addresses some challenges specific to rural.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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