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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Designation of Frontier Health Professional Shortage Areas
Discusses the frontier-specific health professional shortage area designation and the unique characteristics attributed to frontier areas that may contribute to a more fragile healthcare delivery system and a greater need for healthcare professionals. Includes policy recommendations supporting an appropriate designation, improved healthcare access, and assistance in recruiting healthcare providers.
Author(s): Susan Wilger, Charlie Alfero
Date: 04/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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The Value of the American Community Survey: Smart Government, Competitive Businesses, and Informed Citizens
Provides an overview of the American Community Survey (ACS) and how data from the ACS is used to inform decision-making. Discusses the importance of the ACS as a unique source of data on the demographic and economic characteristics of rural areas. Includes examples of how rural data from the ACS is used by federal agencies, academic researchers, state government, and rural communities.
Author(s): Regina Powers, David Beede, Rudy Telles, Jr.
Date: 04/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Commerce
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Intimate Partner Violence in Rural America
Policy brief examining rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) affecting women in rural areas. Discusses factors affecting IPV rates, including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), poverty, rural human services infrastructure, and rural healthcare. Offers policy recommendations to address rural IPV.
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations: March 2015
Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in OIG's 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 March 2015 edition include: Medicare payment policies and oversight mechanisms, face-to-face requirements for home health agencies, and strengthening fraud prevention in electronic health record (EHR) technology across all providers, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Community Health Centers: A 2013 Profile and Prospects as ACA Implementation Proceeds
Discusses the current and future role of rural and urban community health centers as an integral component in the provision of primary healthcare to accommodate the expansion of patients with health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Author(s): Peter Shin, Jessica Sharac, Zoe Barber, Sara J. Rosenbaum, Julia Paradise
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management
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Telehealth in Rural America
Discusses the use of telehealth in rural areas, related reimbursement challenges, and provides recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for improving healthcare access and quality through the use of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Evaluation of Hospital-Setting HCIA Awards: First Annual Report, Final
Evaluations of 10 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects undertaken in a hospital inpatient or emergency department. Covers projects that involved Critical Access Hospitals and other rural hospitals. Includes projects focused on improved care for sepsis and projects using remote electronic intensive care unit (eICU) services.
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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What Is the One Thing from the History of Rural Health That We Should Not Forget?
Features a panel of experts who discuss the history of rural health. Panelists include Tom Morris, Tim Size, Teryl Eisinger, Jan Probst, and Kristine Sande.
Author(s): Brandon Baumbach
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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A Critique of the Office of the Inspector General's Report on Swing Beds in Critical Access Hospitals
Evaluates the methods and data of a March 2015 report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, commenting on Medicare reimbursement policy for swing bed services in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Author(s): Kristin L. Reiter, G. Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2015
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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