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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

How Could Repealing Key Provisions of the Affordable Care Act Affect Community Health Centers and Their Patients?
Analyzes and estimates the potential effects of repealing certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), focusing primarily on the implications for community health centers located in medically underserved communities. Examines how each of the following actions may affect health centers and primary healthcare access: ending the Health Centers Fund, ending health insurance subsidies, and ending expanded Medicaid coverage.
Author(s): Sara J. Rosenbaum, Jessica Sharac, Thao-Chi Tran, et al.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management
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Prevention of Drug Use and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders in Rural Areas
Discusses the role and potential benefits of engaging rural communities in the treatment and prevention of substance use disorders. Includes a discussion of substance use problems in the rural context, and provides examples of useful tools and evidence-based strategies. Provides a list of additional resources, and a self-assessment tool designed to help identify needs, capacities, and strategies in your community.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
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Anticipating Economic Returns of Rural Telehealth
Discusses the quantifiable and nonquantifiable benefits of utilizing telehealth services in rural areas across the U.S. Provides tables showing estimated savings on travel expenses, lost wages, and hospital costs by state. Outlines some of the challenges facing telehealth and makes recommendations for future improvements. Links to a video showing the author presenting portions of the paper at a Foundation for Rural Service event.
Additional links: Video Presentation
Author(s): Rick Schadelbauer
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
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Roundtable Discussion on "Building Native America Together: Infrastructure Innovation and Improvements for the New Administration and Indian Country."
Provides a webinar recording of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), the House Committee on Natural Resources, and participating panelists, discussing infrastructure needs in Indian country. Focuses on healthcare, education, economic development, broadband, and other infrastructure needs.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2017
Provides an annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussions on Medicare payment policies that directly affect rural providers and beneficiaries. Analyses payment adequacy for home health, skilled nursing, long-term care hospitals, hospice, ambulatory surgical centers, and rehabilitation facilities.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Emerging Strategies to Ensure Access to Health Care Services: Indian Health Services Strategy
Outlines federal policy solutions and facility-level strategies to improve care coordination between Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities and other healthcare providers.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Health Care Innovation Awards (HCIA) Meta-Analysis and Evaluators Collaborative: Annual Report Year 2
Highlights key implementation and impact findings across 108 Health Care Innovation Awards (HCIA) grant recipients, based on work by 7 independent evaluators. Includes discussion of project experiences in rural areas.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Evaluation of Health Care Innovation Awards (HCIA): Primary Care Redesign Programs, Third Annual Report
Third annual evaluations for the Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects focused on primary care redesign, addressing a range of intervention models, target populations, and organizational settings. Presents findings on program impacts related to quality of care, service use, and medical spending. Includes projects serving rural areas.
Additional links: Addendum, August 2017
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica Policy Research
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Evaluation of the Health Care Innovation Awards: Community Resource Planning, Prevention, and Monitoring: Third Annual Report
Third annual evaluations of 24 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects focused on enhancing care coordination and healthcare access through the use of health information technology, care coordination/patient navigation, and health promotion and prevention services. Discusses awardees' progress and impact over the 3-year funding period from 2012 to 2015. Includes profiles of rural-focused projects, as well as projects serving rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Addendum, August 2017
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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What's Killing Our Children? Child and Infant Mortality among American Indians and Alaska Natives
Examines social, behavioral, and environmental factors to determine the root causes behind significant disparities in infant and childhood mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Addresses domestic violence, nutrition, tobacco and alcohol use, environmental degradation, unintentional injuries, and more. Provides policy recommendations to tribal and public health agencies.
Author(s): Teshia G. Arambula Solomon, Felina M. Cordova, Francisco Garcia
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
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