Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report
Provides information on the use of federal nutrition programs in the summer of 2023, when COVID-19 waivers ended and normal operations resumed. Includes national and state findings, policy opportunities, and information about the the rural non-congregate meal option.
Author(s): Kelsey Boone, Crystal FitzSimons
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Provides information on the use of federal nutrition programs in the summer of 2023, when COVID-19 waivers ended and normal operations resumed. Includes national and state findings, policy opportunities, and information about the the rural non-congregate meal option.
Author(s): Kelsey Boone, Crystal FitzSimons
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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FY 2025 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Final Rule – CMS-1808-F
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2025 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the extension of the low-wage index hospital policy, a separate IPPS payment for small and independent hospitals to establish and maintain a buffer stock of essential medicines, the distribution of graduate medical education (GME) residency slots, updates to quality reporting programs, and more.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2025 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the extension of the low-wage index hospital policy, a separate IPPS payment for small and independent hospitals to establish and maintain a buffer stock of essential medicines, the distribution of graduate medical education (GME) residency slots, updates to quality reporting programs, and more.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Applying AI to Rural Health, with Jordan Berg
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Jordan Berg, Principal Investigator for the National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center. Focuses on applications of AI in rural healthcare, as well as how patient information in an AI system is safeguarded.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Jordan Berg, Principal Investigator for the National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center. Focuses on applications of AI in rural healthcare, as well as how patient information in an AI system is safeguarded.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Veterans Health Care: VA's Video Telehealth Access Program Would Benefit from Performance Goals and Measures
Describes programs implemented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to address veterans' barriers to accessing telehealth, with a focus on the Accessing Telehealth at Local Area Stations (ATLAS) Pilot Program. Examines telehealth performance and use data, veterans' satisfaction with VHA telehealth services, and VHA efforts to assess the quality of its telehealth services. Offers recommendations to the VHA regarding the development and use of performance goals and measures to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the ATLAS program.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes programs implemented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to address veterans' barriers to accessing telehealth, with a focus on the Accessing Telehealth at Local Area Stations (ATLAS) Pilot Program. Examines telehealth performance and use data, veterans' satisfaction with VHA telehealth services, and VHA efforts to assess the quality of its telehealth services. Offers recommendations to the VHA regarding the development and use of performance goals and measures to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the ATLAS program.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Effects of Affordable Care Act on Uninsured Hospitalization: Evidence from Texas
Examines the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Texas and its relationship to uninsured patient discharges. Analyzes 2011-2019 ACA Marketplace data with breakdowns according to patient race/ethnicity, age, sex, major diagnostic categories (MDCs), type of admission, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Nima Khodakarami, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: Health Services Research, 59(4)
Date: 08/2024
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Examines the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Texas and its relationship to uninsured patient discharges. Analyzes 2011-2019 ACA Marketplace data with breakdowns according to patient race/ethnicity, age, sex, major diagnostic categories (MDCs), type of admission, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Nima Khodakarami, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: Health Services Research, 59(4)
Date: 08/2024
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Federally Supported Projects and Programs for Wastewater, Drinking Water, and Water Supply Infrastructure
Provides an overview of federally-funded water infrastructure projects, including those in rural areas, as well as programs that provide community support for these types of projects and related activities. Includes information on the federal cost-share, average amount of assistance, fiscal year 2021 funding level, and fiscal year 2024 appropriations highlights for each program.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of federally-funded water infrastructure projects, including those in rural areas, as well as programs that provide community support for these types of projects and related activities. Includes information on the federal cost-share, average amount of assistance, fiscal year 2021 funding level, and fiscal year 2024 appropriations highlights for each program.
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Structural Determinants of Health: Hospitals' Unequal Capital Investments Drive Health Inequities
Examines hospitals' capital investments as a structural factor influencing disparities in patient safety and quality of care at hospitals in the United States. Analyzes topics including hospital economics, federal policy, funding, hospital infrastructure, and more. See Section 5 in particular for discussion of rural hospitals.
Author(s): Eileen Appelbaum, Emma Curchin, Rosemary Batt
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)
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Examines hospitals' capital investments as a structural factor influencing disparities in patient safety and quality of care at hospitals in the United States. Analyzes topics including hospital economics, federal policy, funding, hospital infrastructure, and more. See Section 5 in particular for discussion of rural hospitals.
Author(s): Eileen Appelbaum, Emma Curchin, Rosemary Batt
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)
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Expanding America's Bandwidth: Gaps in Rural and Underserved Communities
Discusses the availability of broadband, devices, and digital skills and their impact on communities. Describes barriers to connectivity among rural and underserved communities and the federal funding programs designated for infrastructure development and internet adoption.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
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Discusses the availability of broadband, devices, and digital skills and their impact on communities. Describes barriers to connectivity among rural and underserved communities and the federal funding programs designated for infrastructure development and internet adoption.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
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Innovative State Strategies for Rural Broadband: Case Studies from Colorado, Minnesota and Maine
Explores the roles of state broadband policy, local leadership, and private investment in expanding broadband coverage and infrastructure in rural areas. Presents case studies from Colorado, Maine, and Minnesota and describes how rural recipients leverage state and federal broadband funds, navigate financial and regulatory constraints, and develop innovative place-based solutions. Identifies unique challenges, lessons learned, and implications for broadband policy.
Author(s): Natassia A. Bravo, Mildred E. Warner
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Cornell University
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Explores the roles of state broadband policy, local leadership, and private investment in expanding broadband coverage and infrastructure in rural areas. Presents case studies from Colorado, Maine, and Minnesota and describes how rural recipients leverage state and federal broadband funds, navigate financial and regulatory constraints, and develop innovative place-based solutions. Identifies unique challenges, lessons learned, and implications for broadband policy.
Author(s): Natassia A. Bravo, Mildred E. Warner
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Cornell University
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Adverse Childhood Experiences: Health Care Utilization And Expenditures In Adulthood
Uses 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component data to estimate healthcare utilization and expenditures for adults with and without adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in addition to various health conditions and behaviors. Exhibit 1 includes prevalence and relative risk of various demographic and geographic factors by number of ACEs. Discusses policy implications of study findings.
Author(s): Thomas M. Selden, Didem M. Bernard, Sandra L. Decker, Zhengyi Fang
Citation: Health Affairs, 43(8)
Date: 07/2024
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Uses 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component data to estimate healthcare utilization and expenditures for adults with and without adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in addition to various health conditions and behaviors. Exhibit 1 includes prevalence and relative risk of various demographic and geographic factors by number of ACEs. Discusses policy implications of study findings.
Author(s): Thomas M. Selden, Didem M. Bernard, Sandra L. Decker, Zhengyi Fang
Citation: Health Affairs, 43(8)
Date: 07/2024
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