This paper from the RUPRI Health Panel reviews Medicare and Medicaid demonstration projects, determining critical questions and opportunities for future policy.
NIH: Methamphetamine Overdose Deaths Rise Sharply Nationwide
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that, from 2011-2018, deaths more than quadrupled among non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaska Natives from 4.5 to 20.9 per 100,000 people. The U.S. average for people aged 25 – 54 increased from 1.3 to 7.3 per 100,000 people during that time period.
Supporting Immigrant Communities and Those with Limited English Proficiency During the Pandemic in Pennsylvania
In June 2020, immigrant community leaders and other stakeholders working directly with immigrant communities and those with limited English proficiency in Pennsylvania were invited to complete an online survey to help the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Office of Health Equity better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigrant/LEP communities in the Commonwealth.
The survey was developed by a working group addressing pandemic-related disparities specific to immigrant/LEP communities. This White Paper, published in November 2020, shares key findings from the survey and includes open-ended responses that provide more detail on the top pandemic-related challenges experienced by immigrant/LEP communities.
The GAO Releases a Report on Rural Hospital Closures and Reduced Access to Services
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study on the impact rural hospital closures have on their community. The study, which was conducted from January 2013 through February 2020, examined the effects of the 101 rural hospitals that closed during that time. Among other findings, the GAO discovered that over this time period, disparities in these rural communities were further exacerbated and the availability of physicians for patients declined significantly. Read the full study here.
CMS Updates SUD Data Book
On Jan. 19, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published an update to its Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Data Book for Congress. The data book uses 2018 Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) data. Notable findings include:
- Of the 55.9 million Medicaid beneficiaries with full or comprehensive benefits ages 12 and older, 4.6 million (8 percent) were treated for a SUD in 2018.
- 57 percent of beneficiaries treated for a SUD were diagnosed with tobacco use disorder and 30 percent had an opioid use disorder.
- Nearly half of beneficiaries (46 percent) treated for a SUD received emergency services (the most common SUD treatment service).
- 26 percent received at least one service in an outpatient or home- or community-based setting within 30 days of discharge.
‘Childcare Gap’ Greater in Rural Areas, Study Finds
By Olivia Weeks
For rural families, there is a 35% gap between childcare supply and potential need, compared to a 29% gap in urban areas.
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RAND: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Transforming the U.S. Mental Health System
The RAND Corporation is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that researches and analyzes public policy. In this report, RAND makes frequent reference to rural needs among 15 policy recommendations for reimbursement, workforce development, and telehealth services, among other topics.
HHS: Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) reports that, despite effective vaccines and treatment, “the nation faces unprecedented hepatitis A outbreaks, progress on preventing hepatitis B has stalled, and hepatitis C rates nearly tripled from 2011 to 2018.” The report identifies higher rates of substance use disorder, injection drug use, and homelessness as factors in the increase.
Barriers to Health Care Access for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries
This policy brief from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center presents findings from an online survey of rural health clinics describing barriers for Medicare patients in accessing healthcare services, and recommendations for how to improve access to care.
ACF Report on Child Maltreatment
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) reports on rates of children who are victims of neglect or abuse using data collected from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. In 2018, the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services recommended that federal policy include a strategy for awareness, research, and programs to address the health consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences for rural, tribal, and other at-risk populations.