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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

The Future of Acute Hospital Care at Home
Describes the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) model and explores barriers to participation including rural-specific concerns. Offers current and future policy reform recommendations related to rural hospital participation and flexibilities.
Author(s): Lisa Harootunian, Kamryn Perry, Allison Buffett, et al.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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HHS Finalizes Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Rule - Impacts for RHCs
Recording of a July 15, 2024, webinar discussing the May 2024 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services final rule, Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities. Highlights sections of the rule most important to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and timelines for compliance. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Q&A Follow-Up
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Demonstration Program: Report to Congress, 2023
Provides an overview of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration. Describes changes in the quality of care during the first four years of the demonstration for states with available quality measures, as well as quality bonus payments states made to CCBHCs based on quality measure performance. Builds on findings on demonstration implementation, quality improvement, and costs outlined in previous evaluation reports, focusing on data collected since spring 2022.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica, RAND Corporation
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2024 National Telehealth Conference Summary Report
Offers a summary of the 2024 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National Telehealth Conference by conference session. Covers increasing access to tele-behavioral healthcare through interstate licensure, expanding access to telehealth services for underserved and low-income communities, and federal efforts for telehealth policy and innovation. Appendices include conference materials and resources.
Additional links: 2024 National Telehealth Conference Session Recordings
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Report to Congress: Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis in the United States: An Update from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Reports on efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve maternal health outcomes, including programs related to care delivery, access to care, and social factors influencing health. Presents data and discussion of maternal health trends, identifies key drivers, highlights relevant HHS programs and actions, and presents a framework to measure progress. Details rural access and outcome disparities and features rural-focused programs.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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New Mexico State-Tribal Collaboration Act Agency Report 2024
Summarizes collaboration between New Mexico state agencies and tribal nations regarding current public health priorities, including COVID-19, substance use disorder, maternal and child health, and cancer. Identifies resources available for American Indians from each New Mexico department and activities and funding for the fiscal year 2024, covering community health workers, cancer, diabetes, suicide prevention, and more.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Disability and Independence in Rural America: White Paper
Provides an overview of disability and independence in rural America. Describes disability prevalence in rural areas and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs for people with disabilities. Outlines key considerations for rural disability services, including access, Medicaid and Medicare coverage, workforce, and telehealth and technology. Highlights themes that emerged during the September 2023 National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Service (NACRHHS) meeting regarding areas for disability and independence policy improvement. Appendix A summarizes NACRHHS subcommittee site visits of two organizations serving rural Colorado residents.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Pain in the Nation 2024: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to race and metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Brandon Reavis
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Tribal Food Security: Opportunities Exist to Address Challenges in Federal Nutrition Programs
Explores issues related to tribal food security and whether federal nutrition programs meet tribal communities' needs. Describes American Indian/Alaska Native food insecurity rates and the food security challenges of tribal communities. Examines the extent to which select federal nutrition programs address tribal communities' needs and tribes' roles in administering these programs. Offers recommendations to Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the administration of the program and additional flexibilities to support tribes and states.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Transformation of the Clinical Trial Enterprise: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Summarizes findings from a literature review and expert interviews regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical trials. Explores ways that clinical trials that continued during the pandemic mitigated disruptions and lessons learned. Includes discussions regarding how decentralized clinical trials and digital health technologies reduce barriers for rural and underserved populations to enroll and participate in clinical trials.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Co-Bio Consulting, HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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