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Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Patterns of Opioid Prescribing in Minnesota: 2012 and 2015
Describes opioid prescription patterns among Minnesota residents with private or public insurance coverage in 2012 and 2015. Discusses opioid use in rural areas and provides statistics on the number of opioid prescriptions by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural settings. Includes insights and opportunities to inform policymakers on reducing the use and overuse of prescription opioids.
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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North Dakota Behavioral Health System Study Final Report, April 2018
Reports findings from the North Dakota Comprehensive Behavioral Health Systems Analysis, which includes a review of the existing behavioral health system, an analysis of utilization and payment patterns by payer source, and recommendations to improve the behavioral health system to meet the needs of the community. Discusses the benefits and challenges of providing behavioral health services in rural areas.
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Human Services Research Institute, North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
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The Veterans Choice Program (VCP): Program Implementation
Presents a report on the implementation of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Choice Program (VCP) as a way to increase access to care for veterans. Discusses veteran eligibility and care options within the program, provider participation, and the processing of payments.
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Views from the Heartland: Prospects for Bipartisanship in Health Reform
Reports on the views and opinions of 27 state legislators serving on health, budget, or appropriations committees in Colorado and Kansas. Discusses Medicaid expansion in rural areas and highlights the importance of promoting quality healthcare and removing barriers to access in rural communities.
Author(s): David K. Jones
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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The Association Between Nutrition Information Use and the Healthfulness of Food Acquisitions
Results of a study examining the effectiveness of federal nutrition information and education efforts, using data from the USDA's 2012-13 National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS). Features demographic statistics including percentage of FoodAPS respondents in rural areas, and the percentage of these rural respondents who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Author(s): Eliana Zeballos, Tobenna D. Anekwe
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Health Care in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: A Six-Month Check-Up After the Storms (Report)
Overview of the status of recovery after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, with emphasis on the condition of healthcare systems. Draws on interviews with key stakeholders and residents, and public reports.
Author(s): Samantha Artiga, Cornelia Hall, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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A Compass for Families: Head Start in Rural America
Report details the importance of Head Start programs to rural communities. Discusses the services Head Start provides for rural families, such as child care, connection to health services, and transportation, among others. Features county-level data and rural-urban comparisons.
Author(s): Rasheed Malik, Leila Schochet
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Market Characteristics Associated with Rural Hospitals' Provision of Post-Acute Care
Findings brief summarizing hospital- and market-level factors related to post-acute care (PAC) provided in rural hospitals from 2012-2015. Features statistics from 2012-2015 rural Medicare cost reports, PAC provision by census region in 2015, and percent of hospitals in frontier and remote areas in 2015 with breakdowns by type and PAC provision.
Author(s): Abby F. Hoffman, Randy K. Randolph, Alex R. Schulte, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Social Determinants of Health: Transforming the Buzz Phrase to a Rural Action Item
Discusses how rural healthcare organizations can use social risk assessments as a tool to improve population health. Highlights the work of two rural organizations, CommWell Health in North Carolina and Tift Regional Health System in Georgia, to assess social risks and address patients' social determinants of health (SDOH).
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rural and Urban Provider Market Share of Inpatient Post-Acute Care Services Provided to Rural Medicare Beneficiaries
Findings brief examining rural patients' access to rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, using claims data from January 2013 through March 2014. Features statistics including numbers of patient days and discharges and average length of stay, with breakdowns by type and location of facility and type of care.
Author(s): Alex R. Schulte, Denise A. Kirk, Randy K. Randolph, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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