Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
Arizona Rural and Public Health Policy Forum Session Recordings
Lists recorded sessions from the 2023 Arizona Rural & Public Health Policy Forum. Includes topics such as health equity, social determinants of health, tribal health, policy updates, information technology, healthcare cost, and more.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
view details
Lists recorded sessions from the 2023 Arizona Rural & Public Health Policy Forum. Includes topics such as health equity, social determinants of health, tribal health, policy updates, information technology, healthcare cost, and more.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
view details
Recommendations for Strengthening Iowa's Community-Based Services System: Final Evaluation Report
Provides an overview of Iowa's Medicaid home- and community-based services and programs, as well as the policies and procedures to access those services. Offers recommendations on three approaches that can improve equity, quality, efficiency, coordination, transparency, and accountability. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Mathematica, The Harkin Institute
view details
Provides an overview of Iowa's Medicaid home- and community-based services and programs, as well as the policies and procedures to access those services. Offers recommendations on three approaches that can improve equity, quality, efficiency, coordination, transparency, and accountability. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Mathematica, The Harkin Institute
view details
Building a Better Wisconsin: Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Wisconsinites - 2023 Governor's Health Equity Council Report
Provides an overview of the Wisconsin Governor's Health Equity Council 2023 recommendations which are focused on upstream health interventions related to the economic, social, and physical environment, with specific attention to health and community services, education and housing, justice, governance, and family-sustaining fiscal policy. Includes strategies specific to rural communities as well as county-level maps on health outcomes and percentage of children in poverty.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
view details
Provides an overview of the Wisconsin Governor's Health Equity Council 2023 recommendations which are focused on upstream health interventions related to the economic, social, and physical environment, with specific attention to health and community services, education and housing, justice, governance, and family-sustaining fiscal policy. Includes strategies specific to rural communities as well as county-level maps on health outcomes and percentage of children in poverty.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
view details