Rural health policy resources related to rural health and human services, with information provided by the Rural Assistance Center Copyright 2008 Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/ruralhp/ Chapel Hill NC June 2, 2008 -- Office of Rural Health Policy http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-9010.htm Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:44:01 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-9010.htm The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced that they are extending the comment period for the Proposed Rule: Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas, with a new closing date of May 29, 2008. http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/shortage/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:47:15 CST http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/shortage/ On February 29, 2008, HHS published a notice of proposed rulemaking, "Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas" (73 FR 11232), to revise and consolidate the criteria and processes for designating medically underserved populations (MUPs) and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). HHS provided a 60-day public comment period, with written comments to be received on or before April 29, 2008. HHS and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have received requests for an extension of the comment period. In consideration of these requests, HHS is extending the comment period an additional 30 days, with a new closing date of May 29, 2008. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1167.htm Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:46:36 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1167.htm Provides State Offices of Rural Health with a toolkit for accessing and utilizing national, databases that are readily available, free, and have useful rural information. -- National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health http://rho.arizona.edu/Resources/Toolkit/default.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:05:46 CST http://rho.arizona.edu/Resources/Toolkit/default.html Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report. (Large file) -- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Mar08_EntireReport.pdf Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:52:30 CST http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Mar08_EntireReport.pdf Results of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation request that the Institute of Medicine convene a committee to recommend methods to better identify the most effective health care services. This report provides a blueprint for a national clinical effective assessment program. -- Institute of Medicine http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=25351&c=EMC-CA140 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:06:16 CST http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=25351&c=EMC-CA140 Summary of a June 26, 2007 meeting to identify ways to improve the translation and dissemination of U.S.-Mexico border health research produced in the United States so as to maximize its use by decisionmakers in health policy and practice. -- Office of Rural Health Policy http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/border/dallasmeeting.htm Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:55:25 CST http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/border/dallasmeeting.htm One of eight Rural Health Research Centers funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy. Works to identify rural health problems through policy-relevant analyses, geographic and graphical presentation of data, and information dissemination. Focuses on rural hospitals and healthcare delivery organizations and access. http://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/research_programs/rural_program/ Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:18:29 CST http://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/research_programs/rural_program/ NRHA magazine focusing on human-interest stories and successful rural programs. -- National Rural Health Association http://www.nrharural.org/go/left/publications/rural-roads Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:17:46 CST http://www.nrharural.org/go/left/publications/rural-roads Offers research of projects to improve rural health, statistics, and mathematical models. Provides summaries of recently published rural health research. Provides links to author, subject and abstract indexes. -- National Rural Health Association http://www.nrharural.org/go/left/publications/the-journal-of-rural-health Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:07:33 CST http://www.nrharural.org/go/left/publications/the-journal-of-rural-health Final report of the First National Rural Assembly. Covered Demographic Transitions; A Changing Rural Economy; Investment and Resource Distribution; Community Institutions and Civic Leadership; and Environmental Challenges. -- W.K. Kellogg Foundation http://www.wkkf.org/DesktopModules/WKF.00_DmaSupport/ViewDoc.aspx?fld=PDFFile&CID=274&ListID=28&ItemID=5000402&LanguageID=0 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:10:00 CST http://www.wkkf.org/DesktopModules/WKF.00_DmaSupport/ViewDoc.aspx?fld=PDFFile&CID=274&ListID=28&ItemID=5000402&LanguageID=0 Supports public participation in the Federal decision-making process by allowing users to view and submit comments on proposed and final regulations. http://www.regulations.gov Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:09:31 CST http://www.regulations.gov Identifies key policy issues and questions concerning the impact of MedicareAdvantage (MA) in rural areas. -- Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel http://www.rupri.org/Forms/HealthPanelBrief3.pdf Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:21:02 CST http://www.rupri.org/Forms/HealthPanelBrief3.pdf Information concerning the National Rural Health Association's advocacy efforts to support rural health. -- National Rural Health Association http://www.nrharural.org/go/left/policy-and-advocacy/policy-and-advocacy-overview Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:54:09 CST http://www.nrharural.org/go/left/policy-and-advocacy/policy-and-advocacy-overview Provides access to Code of Federal Regulations' health related provisions, including Medicare and Medicare. -- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration http://www.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/cfrassemble.cgi?title=200642 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:51:15 CST http://www.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/cfrassemble.cgi?title=200642 Provides information and resources from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy related to ORHP's rural health policy work. -- Office of Rural Health Policy http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/policy/ Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:47:51 CST http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/policy/ Contains links to the speaker presentations at the ORHP All Programs Conference, August 27-29, 2007 in Washington, DC. -- Office of Rural Health Policy https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=125699 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:34:09 CST https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=125699 Examines the impact of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) provisions on rural hospital payments. Present the effect of eight MMA provisionson Medicare inpatient and outpatient payments to traditional (non-CAH) hospitals. Summarizes the MMA changes to Critical Access Hospital (CAH) payment policies discussed in MedPAC's interim report. Examines the effects of higher payments on hospital costs. -- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission http://www.medpac.gov/publications/congressional_reports/Dec06_Rural_hospital_mandated_report.pdf Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:46:45 CST http://www.medpac.gov/publications/congressional_reports/Dec06_Rural_hospital_mandated_report.pdf Describes five strategies for effective dissemination and expanded use of rural healthservices research and discusses the infrastructure needed to enhance rural health research dissemination. -- Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel http://www.rupri.org/Forms/Health_Panel_Aug07.pdf Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:11:46 CST http://www.rupri.org/Forms/Health_Panel_Aug07.pdf Annual report of the work of the federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) for Fiscal Year 2005. Includes information on ORHP's budget, policy activities, special projects, grant programs, and staff. -- Office of Rural Health Policy http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/pub/AnnualReport.htm Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:02:57 CST http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/pub/AnnualReport.htm Describes the changing beneficiary profilein Medicare and its implications for the program. Examines approaches to promote greater efficiencyin the Medicare program. Includes discussion of Medicare Advantage (MA), the wage index, and Medicare coverage of drugs. -- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Jun07_EntireReport.pdf Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:53:31 CST http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Jun07_EntireReport.pdf Provides summaries of current and completed rural health research projects and related publications addressing the topic of health policy, produced by the Office of Rural Health Policy's funded rural health research centers. -- Rural Health Research Gateway http://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/topics/100000041/ Wed, 02 May 2007 13:19:04 CST http://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/topics/100000041/ Provides decision makers with timely, objective, and expert analysis of the implications of policy for rural health. http://www.rupri.org/panelandnetworkviewer.php?id=9 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:18:02 CST http://www.rupri.org/panelandnetworkviewer.php?id=9 Provides an overview of rural definitions and their policy implications. Discusses the factors that should be considered in selecting among rural definitions. -- Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel http://www.rupri.org/Forms/RuralDefinitionsBrief.pdf Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:15:23 CST http://www.rupri.org/Forms/RuralDefinitionsBrief.pdf Describes advocacy and other efforts taken by the American Hospital Association and its Section for Small or Rural Hospitals in 2006 to address the needs of rural hospitals. -- American Hospital Association http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2007/pdf/2006ruralannualreport.pdf Thu, 22 Mar 2007 09:05:14 CST http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2007/pdf/2006ruralannualreport.pdf Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Examines three key topics in health and human services and their effects in rural areas: Medicare Advantage in Rural Communities, Head Start in Rural Communities, and Substance Abuse in Rural America. Includes recommendations to address these topics. -- National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/NACReport2007.pdf Fri, 16 Mar 2007 10:42:06 CST ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/NACReport2007.pdf Provides access to all of the research and findings of the Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Health Research Centers. Covers current and completed research projects and publications resulting from those projects. Includes information about the research centers and individual researchers. http://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/ Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:28:13 CST http://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/ Offers a conceptual framework to support effective use of health services research in state health policymaking. Provides practical lessons and communication strategies. Includes a case study of Massachusetts' health care reform legislation. -- Commonwealth Fund http://www.cmwf.org/usr_doc/Meyer_towardmoreeffectiveusestatepolicymaking_980.pdf Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:00:00 CST http://www.cmwf.org/usr_doc/Meyer_towardmoreeffectiveusestatepolicymaking_980.pdf Information, resources, and frequently asked questions related to rural health disparities. -- Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/disparities/ Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:00:00 CST http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/disparities/ A monthly selection of recent publications, such as technical reports, conference proceedings, and other material produced by organizations and government agencies that conduct health care policy analysis and research. -- Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kaiseredu.org/picks/health_policy_picks.aspx Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 CST http://www.kaiseredu.org/picks/health_policy_picks.aspx