Over the years, there have been many studies on the effectiveness of the community health worker (CHW) in improving health outcomes. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the National Association of Community Health Workers recently published a summary of the research from the past 50 years. It focused on assessing effectiveness in improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs and bridging the gap in health disparities.
Report on CAH Hospital Compare Measures Released
The national Flex Monitoring Team (FMT) has released reports of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) performance and reporting rates on selected Hospital Compare measures, using data from 2018.
The Hospital Compare data in this report include several measures that are also measures for the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). Although the majority of CAHs report data on these measures to both Hospital Compare and MBQIP, the data in this report may differ from MBQIP reports because some CAHs only report data to one of these programs.
The national report may accessed here and state reports may be accessed via the links below. All FMT publications can also be found on the Flex website.
Child and Maternal Health in Rural Areas Lags the Nation, Highlighting Barriers to Access
February 25, 2020
One in five Americans lives in a rural area, including about 18 million women of reproductive age, but key indicators, including mortality figures, show that the health of mothers and children in these communities lags behind that of their urban peers and is worsening. Nationwide, child mortality rates have declined over the past decade, but recent research shows that improvement among infants and young children has been much slower in rural areas. To reverse these disparities and improve overall outcomes, government agencies at all levels, as well as health providers, policymakers, and communities, must combine their expertise and resources to identify effective solutions that address the complex drivers of health and well-being among mothers and their children.
When a Rural Maternity Unit Closes, Alternatives are Hard to Come By
Since 2013, at least nine maternity units across the state have closed and a 10th is slated to shutter in the coming months. Addressing this growing crisis requires a systems approach, providers in western and eastern North Carolina say.
Nursing Home Closures and Trends, June 2015–June 2019
Provides an overview of the causes and implications of 500 nursing home closures between June 2015 and June 2019. Examines the geographic distribution of these closures, including states in which closures are concentrated in rural areas. Explores nursing home closures in relation to occupancy rates, quality ratings, tax status, and the impact of Medicaid payment policies. Offers recommendations for policymakers and nursing homes.
Sponsoring organization: LeadingAge
Date: 02/2020
Qualifications of Neighborhood-Level Social Determinants of Health in the Continental United States
Results of a study examining 71,901 census tracts, to quantify the social determinants of health (SDOH) consisting of advantage, isolation, opportunity, and mixed immigrant cohesion. Features demographic statistics with breakdowns by 7 multidimensional neighborhood typologies, including Rural Affordable. Offers comparisons between SDOH in Chicago and the rest of the continental United States.
Author(s): Marynia Kolak, Jay Bhatt, Yoon Hong Park, Norma A. Padron, Ayrin Molefe
Location: JAMA Network Open, 3(1)
Date: 01/2020
From Kentucky to New York, Appalachia’s Hemp Industry is Growing Strong
Over a hundred years ago, hemp was a major commercial crop in Kentucky, and the Commonwealth was one of the nation’s leading hemp producers. By mid-century, Kentucky’s commercial hemp production market started to drop. Now, decades later, local businesses and entrepreneurs are driving initiatives to renew growth and production of the versatile crop. Hemp can be used to manufacture over 25,000 products from clothing and food to building materials and pharmaceuticals. A recent USDA report, found that Kentucky and Tennessee were among the top six states nationwide in hemp production, with many other Appalachian states not far behind.
Across the region, communities are seriously pursuing hemp. New York, for example, launched its Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot program in 2015, which allowed a limited number of education institutions to research and produce industrial hemp. With ARC support, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany County in partnership with the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board, regional New York State Farm Bureau, and other local partners are developing an integrated economic development strategy to position southwestern New York as an industrial hemp cluster economy. Included in the scope of work is research on storage, processing and marketing needs, and testing of different varieties of industrial hemp cultivars that will inform planting strategies for the region. The partnership is also planning for a Southern Tier Hemp Expo and Trade Show which will provide a networking opportunity for manufacturers, farmers and landowners interesting in the hemp industry. Over the next two years, these efforts are anticipated to serve 60 businesses, create 12 new businesses, as well as create 60 jobs.
Rural Mothers Face Physical and Mental Health Issues
A recent study out of Washington State University revealed how chronic depression impacts the lives of rural mothers and their children. Mothers with chronic depression experience more physical health issues, while also distrusting the health professionals who would treat them. They also struggle to manage their children’s health, often exacerbated by the lack of childcare options and loss of employment. Dr. Yoshie Sano, the lead author of the study, explains that “there’s a huge stigma around mental health, especially in rural areas.” When rural mothers are depressed, their family and community are also affected. It is essential to support the physical and mental health of rural mothers.
Projected Effects of New Hospital Price Transparency Rules
A recent Health Affairs blog detailed the short-term consequences of the hospital price transparency rule, which requires hospitals to disclose standard prices for procedures. The blog asserts that the rule may have severe repercussions for reimbursement rates for rural hospitals who are already battling insufficient reimbursement. The transparency rules take away the hospital’s negotiating power with private payers, who often pay a higher price to recover losses from public programs. As a result, rural hospitals may continue to lose revenue. Forty-seven percent of rural hospitals already operate in negative margins, prior to the implementation of the hospital price transparency rule. The final rule is expected to go into effect on January 1, 2021.
Healthy People 2020 Progress for Leading Causes of Death in Rural and Urban America: A Chartbook
This study from the Southwest Rural Health Research Center examines rural versus urban differences in how the U.S. is meeting the Healthy People 2020 mortality objectives for many of the leading causes of death. Overall, the findings indicate rural America is lagging behind urban America in achieving these objectives. Furthermore, key findings indicate men have been less likely than women to achieve these objectives, the rural South has seen less progress than other regions, and suicide mortality has increased across all levels of rurality.