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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Rural Behavioral Health: Telehealth Challenges and Opportunities
Reviews the barriers to mental and substance use disorder treatment and services in rural communities. Presents ways telehealth can address these barriers and discusses the challenges in implementing telehealth services in rural areas. Addresses differences in state policies for telemedicine coverage through private insurance.
Citation: SAMHSA In Brief, 9(2)
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Exploring Data and Metrics of Value at the Intersection of Health Care and Transportation: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summarizes a June 2016 joint workshop focused on healthcare and transportation. Includes information on cross-sector collaboration to provide transportation in rural settings. Identifies data sources for understanding health-related transportation needs.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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ACO Investment Model, Rural Hospital Collaboration
Highlights how 3 rural Minnesota hospitals implemented the Accountable Care Organization Investment Model (AIM), which encourages coordinated care in rural areas through upfront and ongoing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) payments.
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association Rural Health Services
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Rationalizing Rural Area Classifications for the Economic Research Service: A Workshop Summary
Summarizes an April 2015 workshop that explored the data, estimation, and policy issues related to rural classifications currently in use by the Economic Research Service (ERS): Rural Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCs), Urban Influence Codes (UICs), Rural Urban Community Area (RUCA) codes, and Frontier and Remote (FAR) codes.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on National Statistics
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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New Mexico – Sexual Violence Free: A Statewide Strategic Plan for the Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence 2015-2020
Describes a plan to prevent sexual violence across the state of New Mexico. Developed with input from experts and advocates on sexual violence prevention, community members, and service providers, the plan sets forth goals for collaboration among stakeholders to address prevention efforts for priority populations, including people living in rural communities.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Theresa Cruz, Julia Meredith Hess, Leona Woelk, Samantha Bear
Date: 12/2015
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Project ARCH: Initial Summary of Findings Relevant to the Choice Program
Provides an assessment of Project ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home), a congressionally legislated pilot program operated under the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Chief Business Office (CBO), and funded by the VHA Office of Rural Health (ORH). The focus of Project ARCH was to increase access to cost effective non-VA medical care. Results of this assessment may inform the implementation of the Veteran's Choice program.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Clint MacKinney, Fred Ullrich, et al.
Date: 12/2015
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Delivery System Reform and Implications for Rural Communities
Policy brief discussing how rural healthcare providers can benefit from participating in delivery system reform (DSR) to be able to continue providing accessible, quality health services. Offers recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, such as requiring rural healthcare providers to participate in CMS quality programs and having CMS incorporate rural-relevant quality measures that are appropriate for rural healthcare providers.
Date: 12/2015
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Child Poverty in Rural America
Policy brief describing the needs, challenges, and experiences of rural children and families living in poverty and how poverty affects their health. Offers recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop appropriate and integrated health and human service delivery programs and to create flexible grant opportunities that will reach children and families in need.
Date: 12/2015
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Travel Distance Study for Rural/Competitive Bid Area/Neither Rural nor CBA Census Tracts to Hospitals and Home Medical Equipment Suppliers: Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Measures rural populations' proximity to hospitals and home medical equipment suppliers in Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin in comparison with their urban counterparts.
Date: 12/2015
Sponsoring organization: University of Northern Iowa Geoinformatics Training, Research, Education, and Extension (GeoTREE) Center
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Grandfathered Tribal (GFT) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Training: Overview of Requirements and Policies
Provides a summary of the requirements and policies, effective January 1, 2016, for Indian Health Services (IHS), and tribal facilities and organizations when a change in status may allow the healthcare facility to become certified as a Grandfathered Tribal FQHC.
Date: 12/2015
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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