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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Technology for health and human services

Broadband Access and Rural Transit: Bringing Connectivity to Rural Communities
Provides an overview of the importance of broadband access for economic development and transit operations. Discusses legislation, funding, and implementation to create broadband infrastructure in rural areas.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Transit Assistance Program
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Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration in Rural Health Facilities: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of the prevalence of mental illness and substance use disorders in rural areas. Discusses the role of rural primary care providers in treating these conditions. Outlines federal programs and resources to support behavioral health and primary care integration. Offers policy recommendations related to access to care; workforce recruitment and retention; telehealth, technology, and broadband; and reimbursement and sustainable revenue.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Behavioral Healthcare Organizations' Experiences Related to Use of Telehealth as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Study
Study examining the experiences of substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment service providers with telehealth based on surveys of 391 individuals on behalf of their organizations. Describes COVID-related experiences with telehealth, general telehealth experiences, and recommendations for continued telehealth delivery, including rural-specific insights and concerns.
Author(s): Abby Kisicki, Sara Becker, Michael Chaple, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22, 775
Date: 06/2022
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Tribal Broadband: National Strategy and Coordination Framework Needed to Increase Access
Provides an overview of federal programs that support the deployment of broadband infrastructure on tribal lands and the extent to which federal agencies focus on tribal issues related to broadband access. Discusses barriers tribes and providers face in accessing these federally-funded programs. Providers recommendations for the Executive Office of the President and the Department of Commerce to address tribal needs and engagement in a national broadband strategy.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Answering The Call: 988 - A New Vision for Crisis Response
Discuss three areas important to implementing the 988 mental health crisis response number and behavioral health crisis response: interagency collaboration, the behavioral health workforce, and financing. Offers policy recommendations for developing a comprehensive crisis response system. Discusses rural considerations and challenges throughout.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2022
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Discusses access to care, the oversight and transparency of managed care directed payments, access to vaccines for adult Medicaid beneficiaries, how Medicaid policy can be used to support the adoption of health IT among behavioral health providers, care integration for people who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, and advancing health equity in Medicaid. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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#RuralTalks Broadband and Infrastructure Highlights
A video compilation of clip highlights from the May 2022 #RuralTalks Broadband and Infrastructure Seminar. Discusses impacts of COVID-19, broadband, access, and infrastructure issues. Transcript available below description.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural LISC
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Health Care Professionals' Perspectives on Healthcare in Rural America
Presents results of a survey of over 10,000 healthcare professionals from December 2021 - March 2022. Explores the relationship between social determinants of health and providers' perceptions of health access, quality, and outcomes. Discusses providers' comfort levels, interest in, and perceptions of patient benefits from health technology. Compares survey results from rural and non-rural providers throughout.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Medscape, Walmart
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South Dakota Broadband Resource Guide
Report examines rural broadband access in South Dakota. Details rates of access across the state, discusses digital literacy, and provides community resources for expanding broadband access.
Author(s): Heidi Kolbeck-Urlacher
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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Emergency Management Resource Guide
An overview of features and functions of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (FirstNet), which agencies might use before, during, and after an emergency. Covers topics applicable for coordinating response in rural and remote areas or when an emergency operations center has been activated. Includes reference links and suggestions for obtaining additional information.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: FirstNet Authority
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