Publications, reports, and other documents on rural health and human services topics from a variety of sources, with information provided via the Rural Assistance Center Copyright 2010 Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/ Analysis finds prices for some commonly used brand-name drugs rising in 2010 for beneficiaries who reach the coverage gap (or "doughnut hole"), with increases since 2006 far exceeding the growth in inflation. -- Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/8055.pdf Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:14:06 CST http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/8055.pdf Includes the executive summary and full text of the National Broadband Plan, which began taking form in April 2009 and was finalized in March 2010. The plan makes recommendations to the FCC, the Executive Branch, Congress and state and local governments to ensure all consumers and industries in rural and urban America have access to affordable broadband computer networks. -- Federal Communications Commission http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:16:07 CST http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf Describes research performed that resulted in the development of Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) Tools, which assess the ability of rural communities to be conducive to physical activity. -- Maine Rural Health Research Center http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6WPG-4XDCHJK-2-3&_cdi=6990&_user=14204&_pii=S0091743509004745&_orig=search&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2010&_sk=999499999.8998&view=c&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkzk&md5=7963c61da14fd9a2521efd370efdb6e4&ie=/sdarticle.p Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:55:00 CST http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6WPG-4XDCHJK-2-3&_cdi=6990&_user=14204&_pii=S0091743509004745&_orig=search&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2010&_sk=999499999.8998&view=c&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkzk&md5=7963c61da14fd9a2521efd370efdb6e4&ie=/sdarticle.p Presents an assessment of the economic contribution of Ohios Community Health Centers (CHCs) to Ohio's economy, to urban and rural portions of the state and to each of the Ohio communities served by a CHC system in the state. -- http://www.odh.ohio.gov/ASSETS/70F1331D99D546B0BEC55A2CB2CE09D4/Economic%20Impact%20of%20Ohios%20CHCs2007.pdf Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:27:47 CST http://www.odh.ohio.gov/ASSETS/70F1331D99D546B0BEC55A2CB2CE09D4/Economic%20Impact%20of%20Ohios%20CHCs2007.pdf Summarizes the direct economic impact and total economic impact of hospitals, nursing homes, health care professionals, pharmacies, and other medical services for the state of Iowa. -- Iowa Hospital Association http://www.ihaonline.org/infoservices/econimpact/ei2-5.pdf Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:56:04 CST http://www.ihaonline.org/infoservices/econimpact/ei2-5.pdf Summarizes the January 2010 Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation conference where participants made recommendations to address issues concerning quality of and access to primary care across the country. -- Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation http://www.macyfoundation.org/documents/jmf_ChairSumConf_Jan2010.pdf Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:56:39 CST http://www.macyfoundation.org/documents/jmf_ChairSumConf_Jan2010.pdf Investigates participation in, and benefits received from, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or food assistance programs, before and after the legislation, for children in low-income households. -- USDA Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR92/ERR92.pdf Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:13:05 CST http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR92/ERR92.pdf A study addressing the research suggesting a link between the use of a professional interpreter during ED visits and higher levels of patient and provider satisfaction. -- Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/health/trained_interpreters_IB.pdf Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:08:52 CST http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/health/trained_interpreters_IB.pdf Discusses how the rates of employment loss and unemployment in the recent recession are about the same in metro and nonmetro areas, but based on previous recessions, nonmetro employment may recover more slowly. -- USDA Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/March10/Features/EconomicRecovery.htm Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:50:09 CST http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/March10/Features/EconomicRecovery.htm Describes the whole-county approach Iowa uses to designate areas as eligible for Rural Health Clinic certification. -- Iowa State Office of Rural Health http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/common/pdf/health_care_access/governors_designated_areas.pdf Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:41:06 CST http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/common/pdf/health_care_access/governors_designated_areas.pdf Examines the financial health of California CAHs by looking at their performance over the past six years and comparing it with all of the state's acute care hospitals on a number of measures. Also examines the before-and-after financial experience of hospitals that converted to CAH status in 2005. -- California HealthCare Foundation http://www.chcf.org/topics/download.cfm?pg=hospitals&fn=FinancialHealthCriticalAccessHospitals%2Epdf&pid=513402&itemid=134186 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:46:40 CST http://www.chcf.org/topics/download.cfm?pg=hospitals&fn=FinancialHealthCriticalAccessHospitals%2Epdf&pid=513402&itemid=134186 Analyzes emergency department (ED) utilization; identifies factors that can explain the reasons for high or low ED; and analyzes hospital discharge data to identify potentially preventable ED visits, most frequently seen diagnoses, and the correlation between the physician-to-population ration and ED use rates. Includes findings specific to both urban and rural areas of Maine. -- Muskie School of Public Service Institute for Health Policy http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/Publications/PHHP/Maine-Emergency-Department-Use.pdf Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:48:20 CST http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/Publications/PHHP/Maine-Emergency-Department-Use.pdf Explains the need for a regionally integrated rural human services system in order to address challenges many rural social services agencies face in delivering human services. -- Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Human Services Panel http://www.rupri.org/Forms/ServiceIntegration_Feb2010.pdf Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:40:49 CST http://www.rupri.org/Forms/ServiceIntegration_Feb2010.pdf NRHA's response to the Office of Minority Healths National Plan for Action includes suggested strategies to reduce health barriers and address health problems experienced by the minority population in rural areas. -- National Rural Health Association http://nrha.informz.net/NRHA/data/images/enewsmarch10omhcomments.pdf Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:52:14 CST http://nrha.informz.net/NRHA/data/images/enewsmarch10omhcomments.pdf A policy brief identifying the health status and health needs of the U.S. - Mexico border region. -- National Rural Health Association http://www.ruralhealthweb.org/index.cfm?objectid=F75C0DFB-3048-651A-FE27F5FE4C62A115 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:03:34 CST http://www.ruralhealthweb.org/index.cfm?objectid=F75C0DFB-3048-651A-FE27F5FE4C62A115 An overview of the challenges and characteristic in rural America that make HIV/AIDS prevention and care difficult. -- Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention http://www.indiana.edu/~aids/factsheets/factsheet23.pdf Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:41:54 CST http://www.indiana.edu/~aids/factsheets/factsheet23.pdf California Rural Legal Assistance advocates for designated colonias and those communities outside the border region that have similar infrastructure and housing problems. -- Housing Assistance Council http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/winter09.pdf#=15 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:18:41 CST http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/winter09.pdf#=15 Housing America Corporation describes its efforts providing housing assistance in the Arizona colonias communities of SanLuis, Somerton, Wellton and Quartzsite. -- Housing Assistance Council http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/winter09.pdf#page=13 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:06:57 CST http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/winter09.pdf#page=13 Describes how the community development organization created an innovative loan program to help improve housing conditions in this Texas colonia. -- Housing Assistance Council http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/winter09.pdf#page=9 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:58:01 CST http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/winter09.pdf#page=9 Describes how the Colonias Development Council assists residents of New Mexicos colonia communities to improve community infrastructure, face discrimination and meet food needs. -- Housing Assistance Council http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/winter09.pdf#page=7 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:26:16 CST http://www.ruralhome.org/storage/documents/winter09.pdf#page=7 Report makes payment update and policy recommendations for certain Medicare fee-for-service payment systems and the Medicare Advantage program. -- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Mar10_EntireReport.pdf Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:32:53 CST http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Mar10_EntireReport.pdf Discusses several programs, federal and state, that work to increase access to care in undeserved areas in Wyoming. -- Wyoming Office of Rural Health http://health.wyo.gov/Media.aspx?mediaId=8434 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:22:04 CST http://health.wyo.gov/Media.aspx?mediaId=8434 Describes how the economic stimulus funding impacted and will continue to impact community health centers in rural and urban areas. Addresses the potential challenge they may have to sustain and enhance programs and services initiated through stimulus funding. -- George Washington Department of Health Policy http://www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/departments/healthpolicy/dhp_publications/pub_uploads/dhpPublication_C41AE130-5056-9D20-3D65728F2361CFAF.pdf Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:25:01 CST http://www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/departments/healthpolicy/dhp_publications/pub_uploads/dhpPublication_C41AE130-5056-9D20-3D65728F2361CFAF.pdf Analyzes poverty in frontier America using a number of different methods including the Federal Poverty Line (FPL), HHS Poverty Guidelines, and the Basic Living Expenses methodology from the National Center of Children in Poverty. -- National Center for Frontier Communities http://frontierus.org/documents/Frontier%20Poverty.pdf Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:21:02 CST http://frontierus.org/documents/Frontier%20Poverty.pdf Describes how the census is conducted in rural areas, identifies some of the most difficult rural areas to count, and highlights what organizations are doing to ensure an accurate census count in rural America. -- Carsey Institute http://carseyinstitute.unh.edu/publications/IB_Ohare_Census_2010.pdf Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:47:43 CST http://carseyinstitute.unh.edu/publications/IB_Ohare_Census_2010.pdf An assessment of health manpower shortage based on budgeted staff positions and their vacancies in organizations throughout the state. -- Alaska Center for Rural Health http://nursing.uaa.alaska.edu/ACRH/index_downloads/workforce-report-2009_final2.pdf Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:58:32 CST http://nursing.uaa.alaska.edu/ACRH/index_downloads/workforce-report-2009_final2.pdf Institute of Medicine report on hypertension, which is high blood pressure. It is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Report is free to read online or may be purchased. -- Institute of Medicine http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12819 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:38:12 CST http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12819 Reports that at least one in five U.S. children go without annual dental care and 44 out of 50 states fail to meet at least six key benchmarks or policies to ensure access to preventive care. Addresses concerns in rural areas. -- Pew Charitable Trusts http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/Cost_of_Delay_web.pdf Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:25:13 CST http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/Cost_of_Delay_web.pdf Examines the key characteristics of the 17.1 million low-income uninsured adults who might gain health coverage through an expansion of the Medicaid program under health reform. -- Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8052.pdf Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:42:41 CST http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8052.pdf A summary of the current eHealth environment in California of relevance to California rural health providers and those that use the rural health care delivery system, identifies thebarriers and challenges associated with rural health providers successfully adopting eHealth technologies, the opportunities available to rural health providers to overcome these barriers and a discussion of the policy implications associated with these opportunities. -- California State Rural Health Association http://www.csrha.org/advocacy/alerts/csrha_ehealthreport.pdf Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:18:38 CST http://www.csrha.org/advocacy/alerts/csrha_ehealthreport.pdf