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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Reaching the Unheard: Overcoming Challenges in Health Research with Hard-to-Reach Populations
Analyzes strategies to engage hard-to-reach populations in health research. Discusses two case studies focused on specific issues in health research: breast cancer screening among rural and urban Mexican women in Illinois and mental health needs of Afghan refugees in Oklahoma. Provides reflection on issues such as cultural competency, language used in research, cultural identity and representation of research staff, choosing appropriate research sites, and more.
Author(s): Venera Bekteshi, Munjireen Sifat, Darla E. Kendzor
Citation: International Journal for Equity in Health, 23, 61
Date: 03/2024
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Ready or Not 2024: Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism
Report explores the readiness of state public health systems to respond to emergencies, such as diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism. Focuses on measures such as hospital safety scores, vaccination rates, and water system maintenance, among others. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Matt McKillop, Rhea K. Farberman, Dara Alpert Lieberman
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Evaluation of the USDA Summer EBT Demonstrations: Lessons Learned From More Than a Decade of Research
Reports results of the Summer EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) demonstration project, 2015-2018 and 2019-2022. Describes Summer EBT use patterns, nutritional value, and effect on childhood food insecurity. Identifies strategies for better program planning, implementation, and administration. Discusses program operation and challenges in tribal organizations and rural communities.
Additional links: 2015-2018 Evaluation, 2019-2022 Evaluation, Summary
Author(s): René Nutter, Ayesha Enver, Maria Boyle, et al.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2024
Reports on three aspects of Medicaid of interest to Congress: 1) improving the Medicaid beneficiary experience through Medical Care Advisory Committees (MCACs) and federal government actions to aid states, 2) increasing the transparency and improving the monitoring of the denials and appeals process in Medicaid managed care, and 3) reviewing hospital payment policy for the nation's safety-net hospitals. Chapter 3 examines the relationship between disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments to states and the number of uninsured individuals, the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs, and the number of hospitals with high levels of uncompensated care that also provide essential community services. Table 3-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy: Mandated Report: Rural Emergency Hospitals: Chapter 15
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Discusses the evolution of Medicare's support for rural hospitals through payment policies and the impact of declining inpatient volumes on rural hospitals' financial sustainability. Describes the characteristics of hospitals that converted to REH status in 2023, the first year of the designation.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2024
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 Medicare fee-for-service payment systems, Medicare Advantage (MA), and Medicare Part D. Includes two mandated reports on special needs plans for beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Southern Rural Development Center 2023 Annual Report: Empowering Partnerships for Community Development
Offers an overview of activities and accomplishments of the Southern Rural Development Center in 2023. Discusses organization infrastructure updates, training, regional collaborations, community development, research, and healthcare
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Spatial and Temporal Analysis of HIV Clinical Outcomes in Florida Reveals Counties with Persistent Racial and Ethnic Disparities During 2012-2019
Analyzes health and treatment disparities among White, Hispanic, and Black people with HIV in Florida, covering viral suppression and immune reconstitution, impact of social and ecological factors, geographic variation, and changes over time. Utilizes 2012-2019 Florida Department of Health Ryan White program enrollee data. See Supplemental Table 1 for county-by-county data on risk of non-suppression among Black versus Non-Black people with HIV.
Author(s): Shannan N Rich, Yiyang Liu, Rebecca Fisk-Hoffman, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 749
Date: 03/2024
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Acceptability and Feasibility of a Mobile Behavioral Economic Health Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Use in Adults in Rural Areas
Presents results of a remotely-delivered alcohol use reduction pilot program focused on promoting use of behavioral economic strategies and participation in alternative activities among 75 rural people with at-risk alcohol use. Discusses the viability of service delivery via mobile phones and other internet-enabled devices to rural and remote areas.
Author(s): Natalie D. Bayrakdarian, Erin E. Bonar, Isabelle Duguid, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 100225
Date: 03/2024
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2023 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report: Chartbook on Patient Safety
Summarizes trends in healthcare quality across 28 measures of patient safety. Presents findings for four settings of care: ambulatory care, home health, hospitals, and nursing homes. Highlights differences in maternal morbidity and mortality measures by rurality.
Author(s): Barbara Barton, Darryl Gray, Cecilia Hahn, et al.
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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