Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center
Sun Apr 24 04:42:31 EDT 2011
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services Meeting Minutes, Washington, D.C February 23-25, 2011 - Discusses the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, part of the Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Rural Health Policy. Meeting included the following topics: the creation of Health Insurance Exchanges, the Early Childhood and Maternal Home Visitation Program and Community-Based Care Transitions Grant. -- National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services

Medicares Accountable Care Organization Regulations: How Will Medicare Beneficiaries who Reside in Medically Underserved Communities Fare? - Examines impact of ACO rule on medically underserved areas. -- George Washington University Department of Health Policy

After Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools - Evidence-based programs for school districts and private school associations designed to address serious childhood and adolescent distress and prevent suicide. -- Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Building Our Understanding: Culture Insights Communicating with Hispanic/Latinos - Addresses effective strategies of health communication with Latino/Hispanic audiences. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Renewable Power Opportunities for Rural Communities - Summary and guide to assist rural utilities investing in a renewable electricity generation project and for policymakers considering how to encourage such investments. -- U.S. Department of Agriculture

Understanding the Rural Food Environment: Perspectives of Low-income Parents - Describes barriers rural, low-income families face to access quality, affordable, and healthful food. Concludes that remedies used in urban areas will not help to fix the problem of food deserts in rural areas. --

Montana Meth Project: Graphic Ad Campaign Helps Reduce Meth Use - Highlights the Montana Meth Project, which is trying to keep rural teens off drugs and reduce crime. -- National Rural Health Association

The Opportunities and Challenges for Rural Hospitals in an Era of Health Reform - Examines the challenges, including financial and workforce resources, facing rural hospitals as they implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. -- American Hospital Association

The ACO Toolkit - Provides a path forward for the implementation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) for a diverse range of health care provider groups across the country. -- National Association of Community Health Centers

The Program Managers Guide to Evaluation, Second Edition - Explains what program evaluation is and its importance. Discusses conducting an evaluation, interpreting the results, reporting the findings and using the evaluation to improve programs. -- Administration for Children and Families

March 2011: Growth in PPOs Dominates the Rural MA Market in 2011 - Outlines Medicare Advantage enrollment numbers and trends for March 2011. -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis

General Surgery in Rural Minnesota - Describes the practice of general surgery, key elements of successful models, and barriers to the availability of rural surgical services in Minnesota. -- Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care

Use of Health Information Technology in Support of Patient-Centered Medical Homes Is Low Among Non-metropolitan Family Medicine Practices - Discusses the concept of a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) and examines if physician practices, especially non-metropolitan primary care practices, are ready to become PCMHs. -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis

Keeping Your Hospital Property Smoke-Free: Successful Strategies for Effective Policy - Describes strategies to assist hospitals, both rural and urban, with the implementation and enforcement of a smoke-free policy. -- Joint Commission

Proposed Rules for Accountable Care Organizations Participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program: What Do They Say? - Summary of the proposal of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a Medicare Shared Savings Program that will allow a new form of health care provider, the accountable care organization, to participate in the Medicare program. -- Commonwealth Fund

Achieving Accountable Care: Are We on the Right Path? - Analysis of how the proposed rules for the new Medicare Shared Savings Program of the Affordable Care Act recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) achieves the aims of better health, better care, lower costs and remains responsive to the needs of health care organizations, payers, and patients. -- Commonwealth Fund

State Office of Rural Health Directory and SORH Profile Survey Results Summary - Contains a directory of the state offices of rural health across the United States and results of a survey of those state offices. -- National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health

2011 State Physician Workforce Data Release - Presents an update of Figures and Tables 1 and 2 of the 2009 State Physician Workforce Data Book. A fully updated 2011 book will be released in late fall 2011. -- Association of American Medical Colleges

The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health - Discusses transforming the nursing profession to meet the need for improving health care system. Chapters 3 and 4 discuss rural nursing practices and education. -- Institute of Medicine

Advancing Oral Health in America - Discusses the challenges facing the current oral health system, the connection between oral health and overall health, and how to improve oral health care. Chapters 2 and 3 discuss the oral health system in rural settings. -- Institute of Medicine

The 2011 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Services Issues - Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Includes chapters focused on rural childhood obesity, place-based initiatives for rural early childhood development, and rural implications of accountable care organizations and payment bundling. Includes recommendations to address these issues. Includes appendices regarding June 2010 and September 2010 site visits. -- National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services

Continuity of Care for Suicide Prevention and Research - Report offers recommendations for the ongoing care of patients at risk for suicide who have been treated in rural or urban emergency departments and hospitals. -- Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Rethinking Federal Investments in Rural Transportation: Rural Considerations Regarding Reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act - Report shows that a variety of transportation investments - including transit, vanpools, walking and biking paths, roads and highways - are critical to the economic development and well-being of our nation's smaller communities and rural areas. -- Rural Policy Research Institute

Provision of Long Term Care Services by Critical Access Hospitals: Are Things Changing? - Discusses trends in access to post-acute and long term care (LTC) services in rural areas and the roles Critical Access Hospitals play. -- Flex Monitoring Team

Home Health Prospective Payment System: Payment System Fact Sheet Series - Provides education on the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) including background information and consolidated billing requirements, coverage of HH services, elements of the HH PPS, and additional requirements. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Health Professional Shortage Area (Fact Sheet) - Provides an overview of the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) payment system and general requirements. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

USDA's Self Help Housing Program Supports Rural Minority Homeownership - Identifies how USDAs Section 502 direct loan and 523 self-help programs have successfully improved rural minority homeownership. -- Housing Assistance Council

Place-based Policies and Public Health: The Road to Healthy Rural People and Places - Identifies how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) can influence the determinants of health and contribute to the prosperity, equity, sustainability, and livability of rural places. -- Rural Policy Research Institute

On the Road to Better Value: State Roles in Promoting Accountable Care Organizations - Highlights key areas in which states have played a role in supporting the development of the ACO model. Provides state and national policymakers with information that can stimulate further innovation. Includes rural examples. -- Commonwealth Fund

Rural Housing Programs That Work - Special edition of Rural Voices highlights rural housing programs (USDA RD Sections 502 & 523) that work. Articles focus on expanding homeownership, promoting affordability, creating jobs and stabilizing families and communities. -- Housing Assistance Council