Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Access to Rural Health Care – A Literature Review and New Synthesis
Reviews relevant literature to help clarify the meaning of access in the context of rural healthcare. Focuses on four dimensions of access including people, place, provider, and payment, and notes that changes in one dimension affects the others. Recommends that policymakers address all dimensions of access throughout the policymaking process to ensure best outcomes.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Andrew Coburn, Jennifer Lundblad, et al.
Date: 08/2014
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
Reviews relevant literature to help clarify the meaning of access in the context of rural healthcare. Focuses on four dimensions of access including people, place, provider, and payment, and notes that changes in one dimension affects the others. Recommends that policymakers address all dimensions of access throughout the policymaking process to ensure best outcomes.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Andrew Coburn, Jennifer Lundblad, et al.
Date: 08/2014
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Design and Model Pre-Test Evaluation Report
Reports on the experiences of 19 states that received federal support to work on state health care innovation plans focused on developing innovative healthcare delivery and payment models. Discusses rural concerns in these states, as well as strategies to address rural healthcare needs. Some topics addressed include patient-centered medical homes, accountable care organizations, workforce, broadband access, electronic health record adoption, and telehealth.
Date: 07/2014
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
view details
Reports on the experiences of 19 states that received federal support to work on state health care innovation plans focused on developing innovative healthcare delivery and payment models. Discusses rural concerns in these states, as well as strategies to address rural healthcare needs. Some topics addressed include patient-centered medical homes, accountable care organizations, workforce, broadband access, electronic health record adoption, and telehealth.
Date: 07/2014
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
view details
The Role of Community Health Centers in Assessing the Social Determinants of Health for Planning and Policy: The Example of Frontier New Mexico
Discusses the use of the Tool for Health and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) by a frontier-based community health center in New Mexico for evaluating and addressing social determinants of health.
Author(s): Sean Bruna, Lisa Cacari Stone, Susan Wilger, Jeremy Cantor, Carolina Guzman
Citation: Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 37(3), 258-268
Date: 07/2014
view details
Discusses the use of the Tool for Health and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) by a frontier-based community health center in New Mexico for evaluating and addressing social determinants of health.
Author(s): Sean Bruna, Lisa Cacari Stone, Susan Wilger, Jeremy Cantor, Carolina Guzman
Citation: Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 37(3), 258-268
Date: 07/2014
view details
Homelessness in Rural America
Discusses the unique needs and characteristics of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in rural America. Makes recommendation to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on ways to improve access to healthcare and other human services for America's rural homeless populations.
Date: 07/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
view details
Discusses the unique needs and characteristics of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in rural America. Makes recommendation to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on ways to improve access to healthcare and other human services for America's rural homeless populations.
Date: 07/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
view details
Affordable Care Act Plans and Premiums in Rural America
Discusses insurance premium pricing for rural populations following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, with a focus on rating area design to create adequate networks. Examines preliminary findings from a study focused on premium prices in rural Iowa and Nebraska. Offers recommendations to maximize the number of rural Americans who receive accessible, affordable health insurance.
Date: 07/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
view details
Discusses insurance premium pricing for rural populations following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, with a focus on rating area design to create adequate networks. Examines preliminary findings from a study focused on premium prices in rural Iowa and Nebraska. Offers recommendations to maximize the number of rural Americans who receive accessible, affordable health insurance.
Date: 07/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
view details
American Indian Health Policy: Historical Trends and Contemporary Issues
Discusses the past, present, and future development of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health policy. Identifies federal policy and legislation affecting Indian Health Service (IHS) funding and other federal funding that supports the healthcare received by AI/AN populations.
Author(s): Donald Warne, Linda Bane Frizzell
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 104(Suppl 3), 263–267
Date: 06/2014
view details
Discusses the past, present, and future development of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health policy. Identifies federal policy and legislation affecting Indian Health Service (IHS) funding and other federal funding that supports the healthcare received by AI/AN populations.
Author(s): Donald Warne, Linda Bane Frizzell
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 104(Suppl 3), 263–267
Date: 06/2014
view details
The Public Health Foundation of Health Services for American Indians & Alaska Natives
Documents the transformation and assimilation of community and public health programs providing federal healthcare services for American Indians/Alaska Natives from the 1800s to present time.
Author(s): Everett R. Rhoades, Dorothy A. Rhoades
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 104(Suppl 3), S278-S285
Date: 06/2014
view details
Documents the transformation and assimilation of community and public health programs providing federal healthcare services for American Indians/Alaska Natives from the 1800s to present time.
Author(s): Everett R. Rhoades, Dorothy A. Rhoades
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 104(Suppl 3), S278-S285
Date: 06/2014
view details
Developing an Agenda for Research about Policies to Improve Access to Healthy Foods in Rural Communities: A Concept Mapping Study
Identifies factors in accessing healthy, affordable food in rural areas of the U.S. and outlines a rural food policy research agenda.
Author(s): Donna B. Johnson, Emilee Quinn, Marilyn Sitaker, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 14, 592
Date: 06/2014
view details
Identifies factors in accessing healthy, affordable food in rural areas of the U.S. and outlines a rural food policy research agenda.
Author(s): Donna B. Johnson, Emilee Quinn, Marilyn Sitaker, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 14, 592
Date: 06/2014
view details
Public Transportation: Federal Role Key to Rural and Tribal Transit
Examines the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) funding, oversight, and other support for the rural transit program; changes in services, ridership, and costs since 2009; and challenges that rural and tribal transit providers face and possible actions to address them. FTA's Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program (rural transit program) is FTA's only dedicated grant program for rural and tribal transit.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2014
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Examines the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) funding, oversight, and other support for the rural transit program; changes in services, ridership, and costs since 2009; and challenges that rural and tribal transit providers face and possible actions to address them. FTA's Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program (rural transit program) is FTA's only dedicated grant program for rural and tribal transit.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2014
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2014
Includes chapters on synchronizing Medicare policy across payment models; improving risk adjustment; measuring quality of care; financial assistance for low-income beneficiaries; per beneficiary payment for primary care; site-neutral payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities and skilled nursing facilities; and measuring the effects of medication adherence for the Medicare population. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 06/2014
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Includes chapters on synchronizing Medicare policy across payment models; improving risk adjustment; measuring quality of care; financial assistance for low-income beneficiaries; per beneficiary payment for primary care; site-neutral payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities and skilled nursing facilities; and measuring the effects of medication adherence for the Medicare population. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 06/2014
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details