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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Specialty care

Qualitative Analysis of Cancer Care Experiences among Rural Cancer Survivors and Caregivers
Examines cancer survivors and caregivers' perceptions toward cancer care in rural Nebraska. Discusses perceptions of community health status, sources of cancer information, cancer diagnosis, care coordination, provider communication and organizational support, and barriers to care, based on focus group data from 20 participants.
Author(s): Kendra L. Ratnapradipa, Jordan Ranta, Krishtee Napit, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 876-885
Date: 04/2022
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March 2022 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) March 2022 meeting. Covers findings from MedPAC's annual beneficiary and clinician focus groups, Medicare payment policies to support safety-net providers, opportunities to strengthen the geriatric workforce, integrating episode-based payment with population-based payment, and improving Medicare Advantage risk adjustment. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Consequences of Structural Urbanism: Urban–Rural Differences in Cancer Patients' Use and Perceived Importance of Supportive Care Services from a 2017–2018 Midwestern Survey
Examines health disparities in supportive cancer care based on data from 326 rural and urban Midwestern cancer patients from November 2017 to May 2018. Includes participant data broken down by rurality, age, sex, race, marital status, insurance status, and related cancer diagnosis. Discusses closures of healthcare services and limited resources in rural areas and their impact on healthcare access for cancer patients.
Author(s): Marquita W. Lewis-Thames, Patricia Fank, Michelle Gates, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6)
Date: 03/2022
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Measure Applications Partnership 2021-2022 Considerations for Implementing Measures in Federal Programs: Clinician, Hospital, and Post-Acute Care Long-Term Care
Reviews the 44 pre-rulemaking quality measures the National Quality Forum's Measure Applications Partnership (MAP) considered during the 2021-2022 cycle. Discusses measures for clinician programs, hospital and setting-specific programs, and post-acute care/long-term care programs. Highlights the MAP Rural Health Workgroup's support or determination of the suitability of each measure for rural providers.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Caregiver Experiences with Accessing Sickle Cell Care and the Use of Telemedicine
Study examining barriers to pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) care and perceptions of telemedicine by caregivers in the Midwest based on interviews with 16 caregivers of 15 children with SCD. Discusses mental health and stress issues related to care, as well as geographic and financial barriers, and the impact of telemedicine on access to care.
Author(s): Seethal A. Jacob, Roua Daas, Anna Feliciano, Julia E. LaMotte, Aaron E. Carroll
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22, 239
Date: 02/2022
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Rural Health Research Recap: Opioid Use Disorder and Treatment: Rural-Urban Comparisons
Summary of research on opioid use disorder (OUD) among youth, young adults, and pregnant women, the impact of OUD on hospitals and emergency departments, and the use of buprenorphine and partial psychiatric hospitalization programs as treatment for OUD. Features statistics including population-adjusted emergency department rates per 100 people from 2005-2016 and opioid-related emergency room visit rates per 100,000 people in 2006 and 2013, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Per Ostmo
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Pandemic Increases Pressure on Rural Hospitals & Communities: Vulnerability, Health Inequity and Staffing Crisis Amplified in Pandemic's Third Year
Examines the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Discusses disparities between rural and urban communities and communities with hospitals vulnerable to closure. Describes the benefits of COVID-19 relief funding on rural hospitals and how scheduled reimbursement cuts and staffing shortages could impact hospitals' financial stability. Also discusses how staffing shortages impact access to obstetrics and chemotherapy care in rural areas.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Geographic Disparities in Access to Specialty Care Programs for Early Psychosis in Washington State
Presents a study on the accessibility by neighborhood characteristics to mental health services in areas served by the Community Mental Health Block grant in Washington State. Compares neighborhood characteristics by metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural/small town areas, such as the rate of African American and Hispanic residents, the rate of population aged 15-40, and the rate of socioeconomic neighborhood deprivation.
Author(s): Oladunni Oluwoye, Solmaz Amiri, Gordon Kordas, et al.
Citation: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 49, 5-12
Date: 01/2022
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Exceptional Survival Among Kentucky Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: Appalachian Versus Non-Appalachian Populations
Explores a study on rates of exceptional survival (5 years or more post-diagnosis) of stage IV lung cancer patients in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky. Breaks down data by insurance type, treatment type, and length of survival, among other measures.
Author(s): Vira Pravosud, Nathan L. Vanderford, Bin Huang, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(1), 14-27
Date: 01/2022
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January 2022 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) January 2022 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services, physician and other health professional services, outpatient dialysis services and improving the ESRD payment system, skilled nursing facility services, home health agency services, long-term care hospital services, inpatient rehabilitation facility services, hospice services, and ambulatory surgical center services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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