Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
An Examination of Telehealth Policy Impacts on Initial Rural Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Patterns During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Explores changes in the patterns of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in western North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the impact of telehealth policy changes during the pandemic on the patient population seen for MOUD, access to MOUD services for rural patients, overall MOUD clinic volume, and changes to the provision of MOUD.
Author(s): Phillip M. Hughes, Genevieve Verrastro, Carriedelle Wilson Fusco, Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Bayla Ostrach
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 467-472
Date: 03/2021
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Explores changes in the patterns of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in western North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the impact of telehealth policy changes during the pandemic on the patient population seen for MOUD, access to MOUD services for rural patients, overall MOUD clinic volume, and changes to the provision of MOUD.
Author(s): Phillip M. Hughes, Genevieve Verrastro, Carriedelle Wilson Fusco, Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Bayla Ostrach
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 467-472
Date: 03/2021
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2021
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation. Contains information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiary healthcare access, mortality, and service use. Presents an option for Medicare's coverage of telehealth beyond the public health emergency.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation. Contains information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiary healthcare access, mortality, and service use. Presents an option for Medicare's coverage of telehealth beyond the public health emergency.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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2021 RHC Billing and Coding Update
Recording of a March 9, 2021, webinar providing an overview of coding and billing changes relevant to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Discusses guidelines for reporting COVID-19 immunizations and monoclonal antibody infusions, telehealth coding and billing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for COVID-19, and RHC lab billing and COVID test reporting. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: AMA Code & Guideline Changes, COVID Vaccine Log, Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a March 9, 2021, webinar providing an overview of coding and billing changes relevant to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Discusses guidelines for reporting COVID-19 immunizations and monoclonal antibody infusions, telehealth coding and billing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for COVID-19, and RHC lab billing and COVID test reporting. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: AMA Code & Guideline Changes, COVID Vaccine Log, Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Trends in Heart Failure-Related Cardiovascular Mortality in Rural Versus Urban United States Counties, 2011–2018: A Cross-Sectional Study
Study comparing rates of cardiovascular disease in rural and urban areas at the county level. Analyzes CDC WONDER data on heart failure deaths related to cardiovascular disease between 2011 and 2018, comparing population demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, risk factor prevalence, and physician density. Discusses issues of access to care in rural areas with high rates of heart failure.
Author(s): Jacob B. Pierce, Nilay S. Shah, Lucia C. Petito, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 16(3), e0246813
Date: 03/2021
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Study comparing rates of cardiovascular disease in rural and urban areas at the county level. Analyzes CDC WONDER data on heart failure deaths related to cardiovascular disease between 2011 and 2018, comparing population demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, risk factor prevalence, and physician density. Discusses issues of access to care in rural areas with high rates of heart failure.
Author(s): Jacob B. Pierce, Nilay S. Shah, Lucia C. Petito, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 16(3), e0246813
Date: 03/2021
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Video Telehealth Expands Care for Veterans with Multiple Sclerosis
Features a report on promising practices in providing access to care for rural veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) via video-based telehealth. Details the traditional barriers to care for MS patients in rural areas and how the video telehealth model can help patients overcome them.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Features a report on promising practices in providing access to care for rural veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) via video-based telehealth. Details the traditional barriers to care for MS patients in rural areas and how the video telehealth model can help patients overcome them.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Pennsylvania Mental Health Services for Victims of Sexual Assault and Rape: A Staff Study
Examines existing laws and services in Pennsylvania and offers recommendations to ensure that sexual assault victims receive quality, trauma-informed medical care. Includes recommendations to promote a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, increase the use of telehealth, and provide for a designation for hospitals, based on their ability to provide comprehensive sexual assault services. Features a section comparing availability of certified SANE nurses in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Llewellyn Hursh, Allison N. Kobzowicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Examines existing laws and services in Pennsylvania and offers recommendations to ensure that sexual assault victims receive quality, trauma-informed medical care. Includes recommendations to promote a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, increase the use of telehealth, and provide for a designation for hospitals, based on their ability to provide comprehensive sexual assault services. Features a section comparing availability of certified SANE nurses in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Llewellyn Hursh, Allison N. Kobzowicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Integrating Family and Friend Support, Information Technology, and Diabetes Education in Community-Centric Diabetes Self-Management
Study examining the impacts of community support on diabetes self-management in a rural island community in Hawaii based on a pilot program with 7 participants over a 9 month period. Describes the challenges of implementing diabetes self-management education programs in rural areas, access to dietitians and endocrinologists, and the potential for telehealth and health information technology to facilitate diabetes self-management.
Author(s): Christina Higa, Elizabeth J. Davidson, Joanne R. Loos
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(2), 261-275
Date: 02/2021
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Study examining the impacts of community support on diabetes self-management in a rural island community in Hawaii based on a pilot program with 7 participants over a 9 month period. Describes the challenges of implementing diabetes self-management education programs in rural areas, access to dietitians and endocrinologists, and the potential for telehealth and health information technology to facilitate diabetes self-management.
Author(s): Christina Higa, Elizabeth J. Davidson, Joanne R. Loos
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(2), 261-275
Date: 02/2021
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Society of Behavioral Medicine Statement on COVID-19 and Rural Health
Highlights the position of the Society of Behavioral Medicine on rural health disparities as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. Addresses shortages in rural health research, healthcare infrastructure, and other systemic disparities. Makes both short- and long-term recommendations to policymakers.
Author(s): Pamela Behrman, Marian L Fitzgibbon, Akilah Dulin, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(2), 625-630
Date: 02/2021
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Highlights the position of the Society of Behavioral Medicine on rural health disparities as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. Addresses shortages in rural health research, healthcare infrastructure, and other systemic disparities. Makes both short- and long-term recommendations to policymakers.
Author(s): Pamela Behrman, Marian L Fitzgibbon, Akilah Dulin, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(2), 625-630
Date: 02/2021
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Broadband Today: Rural America's Critical Connection
Report discussing the importance of broadband to connecting rural communities, including its role in rural businesses, telehealth access, education, and agriculture. Addresses the impacts of COVID-19 on remote work, telehealth delivery, and changes to business and consumer activity, and explores future steps for broadband funding and adoption in rural areas.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Foundation for Rural Service
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Report discussing the importance of broadband to connecting rural communities, including its role in rural businesses, telehealth access, education, and agriculture. Addresses the impacts of COVID-19 on remote work, telehealth delivery, and changes to business and consumer activity, and explores future steps for broadband funding and adoption in rural areas.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Foundation for Rural Service
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Trends in Use of Telehealth Among Health Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 26–November 6, 2020
Describes trends in telehealth visits at Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)–funded health centers over a 20-week period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes data on telehealth visits and COVID-19 case levels for urban compared to rural health centers. Discusses barriers to telehealth in rural areas.
Author(s): Hanna B. Demeke, Sharifa Merali, Suzanne Marks, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(7), 240-244
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Describes trends in telehealth visits at Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)–funded health centers over a 20-week period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes data on telehealth visits and COVID-19 case levels for urban compared to rural health centers. Discusses barriers to telehealth in rural areas.
Author(s): Hanna B. Demeke, Sharifa Merali, Suzanne Marks, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 70(7), 240-244
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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