Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Preventing Rural Workforce by Design
Argues that the lack of primary care physicians in rural America could have been and can still be avoided. Discusses how policies aimed to attract recent graduates to primary healthcare, rather than specialty healthcare, can help address disparities between rural and urban healthcare.
Author(s): Robert Bowman, Michael Halasy
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 14(2), 2852
Date: 06/2014
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Argues that the lack of primary care physicians in rural America could have been and can still be avoided. Discusses how policies aimed to attract recent graduates to primary healthcare, rather than specialty healthcare, can help address disparities between rural and urban healthcare.
Author(s): Robert Bowman, Michael Halasy
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 14(2), 2852
Date: 06/2014
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Assessing Hmong Farmers' Safety and Health
Reports results of a pilot project examining agricultural-related safety and health concerns and challenges faced by Hmong refugees working on family-operated farms.
Author(s): A. B. de Castro, Jennifer Krenz, Richard L. Neitzel,
Citation: Workplace Health & Safety, 62(5), 178-185
Date: 05/2014
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Reports results of a pilot project examining agricultural-related safety and health concerns and challenges faced by Hmong refugees working on family-operated farms.
Author(s): A. B. de Castro, Jennifer Krenz, Richard L. Neitzel,
Citation: Workplace Health & Safety, 62(5), 178-185
Date: 05/2014
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Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for FQHCs; Changes to Contracting Policies for RHCs; and Changes to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Enforcement Actions for Proficiency Testing Referral
The final rule with comment period that implements the methodology and payment rates for a prospective payment system (PPS) for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) services beginning October 1, 2014, under Medicare Part B, in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Identifies the policy allowing Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to contract with nonphysician practitioners when statutory requirements for employment of nurse practitioners and physician assistants are met, and incorporated other technical changes to FQHC and RHC regulations. Changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 enforcement actions for proficiency testing referral are included.
Date: 05/2014
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The final rule with comment period that implements the methodology and payment rates for a prospective payment system (PPS) for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) services beginning October 1, 2014, under Medicare Part B, in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Identifies the policy allowing Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to contract with nonphysician practitioners when statutory requirements for employment of nurse practitioners and physician assistants are met, and incorporated other technical changes to FQHC and RHC regulations. Changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 enforcement actions for proficiency testing referral are included.
Date: 05/2014
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Minutes, Omaha, Nebraska, April 28-30, 2014
Provides a summary of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services meeting. Discusses challenges of the Affordable Care Act in rural areas, related marketplace and health insurance premiums research, and rural homelessness. Addresses some rural health challenges for Nebraska and Iowa.
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Provides a summary of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services meeting. Discusses challenges of the Affordable Care Act in rural areas, related marketplace and health insurance premiums research, and rural homelessness. Addresses some rural health challenges for Nebraska and Iowa.
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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HIV/AIDS in Rural America: Disproportionate Impact on Minority and Multicultural Populations
Overview of the impact of AIDS and HIV in rural areas. Summarizes the epidemiology of AIDS/HIV, including its impact on rural minority groups. Discusses the challenges rural areas face in preventing and treating AIDS. Includes policy recommendations.
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Overview of the impact of AIDS and HIV in rural areas. Summarizes the epidemiology of AIDS/HIV, including its impact on rural minority groups. Discusses the challenges rural areas face in preventing and treating AIDS. Includes policy recommendations.
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010: Impacts on Rural People, Places, and Providers: A Second Look
Addresses the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on rural communities with a focus on health insurance coverage, Medicare and Medicaid payment, quality and delivery system reform, public health, healthcare workforce, and long-term care.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Jennifer P. Lundblad, A. Clinton MacKinney, et al.
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Addresses the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on rural communities with a focus on health insurance coverage, Medicare and Medicaid payment, quality and delivery system reform, public health, healthcare workforce, and long-term care.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Jennifer P. Lundblad, A. Clinton MacKinney, et al.
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Telecommunications: Projects and Policies Related to Deploying Broadband in Unserved and Underserved Areas
Shares options for broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas. Identifies alternative approaches to expanding rural broadband and factors to consider when planning a broadband project. Identifies economic, legal, and policy issues. Describes FCC efforts to foster broadband deployment in unserved areas. Appendix includes brief case studies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Shares options for broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas. Identifies alternative approaches to expanding rural broadband and factors to consider when planning a broadband project. Identifies economic, legal, and policy issues. Describes FCC efforts to foster broadband deployment in unserved areas. Appendix includes brief case studies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Compendium of Priority Recommendations: March 2014
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 2014 edition include: improving quality assurance programs in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and updating location requirements and conditions of participation for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 03/2014
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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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 2014 edition include: improving quality assurance programs in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and updating location requirements and conditions of participation for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 03/2014
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2014
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03/2014
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03/2014
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Health Insurance Coverage of Low-Income Rural Children Increases and Is More Continuous Following CHIP Implementation
Compares insurance coverage of low-income children before and after the passage of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), with rural/urban comparisons. Addresses the uninsurance rate and health insurance continuity for low-income children in rural areas over time using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller
Date: 03/2014
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Compares insurance coverage of low-income children before and after the passage of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), with rural/urban comparisons. Addresses the uninsurance rate and health insurance continuity for low-income children in rural areas over time using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller
Date: 03/2014
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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