Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Rural Hospitals: Community Cornerstones Facing Perilous Threats to Care
Infographic presenting data regarding the importance of rural hospitals to their communities. Includes information on workforce and financial challenges experienced by rural hospitals, as well as the impact of hospital closures on access to care. Provides recommendations on actions to support rural hospitals and communities.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Infographic presenting data regarding the importance of rural hospitals to their communities. Includes information on workforce and financial challenges experienced by rural hospitals, as well as the impact of hospital closures on access to care. Provides recommendations on actions to support rural hospitals and communities.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Examining Health Care Workforce Shortages: Where Do We Go From Here?
Recording of a February 16, 2023, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions hearing on healthcare provider shortages. Includes discussion of shortages in rural areas, including rural nurses. Features testimonies by representatives of the University of New England, Meharry Medical College, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Ochsner Health, and Dartmouth College.
Additional links: Douglas Staiger, Dartmouth College - Testimony, James E.K. Hildreth, Sr., Meharry Medical College - Testimony, James Herbert, University of New England - Testimony, Leonardo Seoane, Ochsner Health - Testimony
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Recording of a February 16, 2023, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions hearing on healthcare provider shortages. Includes discussion of shortages in rural areas, including rural nurses. Features testimonies by representatives of the University of New England, Meharry Medical College, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Ochsner Health, and Dartmouth College.
Additional links: Douglas Staiger, Dartmouth College - Testimony, James E.K. Hildreth, Sr., Meharry Medical College - Testimony, James Herbert, University of New England - Testimony, Leonardo Seoane, Ochsner Health - Testimony
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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State-Based Recommendations to Support Rural Ambulance Agencies
Discusses challenges faced by rural ambulance agencies and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. Identifies state-based policy opportunities to support rural ambulance agencies. Covers EMS as an essential service, professional management, EMS zones, and standby costs.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Alva O. Ferdinand, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Discusses challenges faced by rural ambulance agencies and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. Identifies state-based policy opportunities to support rural ambulance agencies. Covers EMS as an essential service, professional management, EMS zones, and standby costs.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Alva O. Ferdinand, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Factors Contributing to Reductions in Patient Wait Times at Indian Health Service Emergency Department Facilities: A Mixed-Methods Assessment
Presents findings of a mixed-methods assessment of the change in emergency department wait times at Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities before and after the announcement of wait time standards in 2019. Describes challenges to providing timely access to emergency and primary care, strategies to overcome these challenges, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wait times.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Presents findings of a mixed-methods assessment of the change in emergency department wait times at Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities before and after the announcement of wait time standards in 2019. Describes challenges to providing timely access to emergency and primary care, strategies to overcome these challenges, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wait times.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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VA Mental Health: Additional Action Needed to Assess Rural Veterans' Access to Intensive Care
Report examines the rate at which the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Intensive Mental Health Care programs were being utilized in rural areas. Highlights the difference in the utilization rate of the inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health programs for both rural and urban veterans. Makes suggestions for how the VHA can improve these rates going forward.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Report examines the rate at which the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Intensive Mental Health Care programs were being utilized in rural areas. Highlights the difference in the utilization rate of the inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health programs for both rural and urban veterans. Makes suggestions for how the VHA can improve these rates going forward.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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2023 Stability of the Rural Health Safety Net: State and National Data Tables
Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies such as sequestration and bad debt reimbursement on rural hospital revenues, jobs, and gross domestic product. Presented at the February 2023 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies such as sequestration and bad debt reimbursement on rural hospital revenues, jobs, and gross domestic product. Presented at the February 2023 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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The Black Lung Program, the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, and the Excise Tax on Coal: Background and Policy Options
Information on black lung disease and benefits under the federal black lung program. Examines Black Lung Disability Trust Fund revenues, including coal excise tax, and discusses policy options that could improve the fiscal outlook of the Trust Fund. Features statistics including black lung benefit costs, number of beneficiaries, coal excise tax collections, and Trust Fund debt, with breakdowns by year.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Information on black lung disease and benefits under the federal black lung program. Examines Black Lung Disability Trust Fund revenues, including coal excise tax, and discusses policy options that could improve the fiscal outlook of the Trust Fund. Features statistics including black lung benefit costs, number of beneficiaries, coal excise tax collections, and Trust Fund debt, with breakdowns by year.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Arkansas Health Workforce Projections: 2021-2035
Report outlining the current non-physician healthcare workforce shortages in Arkansas, projections through 2035, and recommendations to address supply and demand issues. Recommendations include discussion of the workforce pipeline, retention, exploring models of care, distribution of workforce, data collection, and policy. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Hospital Association
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Report outlining the current non-physician healthcare workforce shortages in Arkansas, projections through 2035, and recommendations to address supply and demand issues. Recommendations include discussion of the workforce pipeline, retention, exploring models of care, distribution of workforce, data collection, and policy. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Hospital Association
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Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages (ACICBL) Meeting Minutes, January 19-20, 2023
Summarizes the Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages (ACICBL) meeting held on January 19-20, 2023. Includes presentations and discussions on the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the National Caregiver Strategy, age-friendly public health systems, the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program, and Title VII mental and behavioral health education and training programs. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary Community-Based Linkages
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Summarizes the Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages (ACICBL) meeting held on January 19-20, 2023. Includes presentations and discussions on the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the National Caregiver Strategy, age-friendly public health systems, the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program, and Title VII mental and behavioral health education and training programs. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary Community-Based Linkages
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Childcare Need and Availability in Rural Areas: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Presents the findings from the 90th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services examining the availability and accessibility of childcare services in rural communities. Provides recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on actions supporting rural childcare. Discusses the efforts of the American Rescue Plan Act funding, and the effects of COVID-19 and the Public Health Emergency on childcare access and availability.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Presents the findings from the 90th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services examining the availability and accessibility of childcare services in rural communities. Provides recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on actions supporting rural childcare. Discusses the efforts of the American Rescue Plan Act funding, and the effects of COVID-19 and the Public Health Emergency on childcare access and availability.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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