The Congressional Research Service provides objective policy and legal analysis to committees and members of the U.S. House and Senate. For this report, researchers provide an overview of five maternal health programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), including the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program, a pilot program that aims to improve access to services in rural areas.
Hospital Utilization for Non-Traumatic Dental Conditions in Oregon from 2013 to 2015
Access to oral health benefits is a state by state issue – either the coverage is uneven or totally lacking – and can result in costly trips to the hospital for non-traumatic dental conditions. The DentaQuest Partnership took an in-depth look into Emergency Department (ED) visits specifically in Oregon for non-traumatic dental conditions, and found a need for multi-level solutions, such as teledentistry, to decrease ED utilization across the state. Read the study here.
The Burden of Out-of-Pocket Expenditures for Dental Care on Medicare-Enrolled Elderly and Disabled
The DentaQuest Partnership’s latest report is a continuation of compelling research about how out-of-pocket spending on health care presents challenges for patients on fixed incomes. The report findings show that Medicare recipients pay for at least 75% of dental costs out-of-pocket, contributing to financial strain and poor oral health. Read the report.
Depressed, Rural Moms Face Greater Health Challenges—and so Do Their Kids
The report summarizes research that found rural, low-income mothers with chronic depression were likely to experience more health problems and face challenges in dealing with their children’s behavioral problems. Discusses how physician distrust and stigma keep rural mothers from seeking mental health treatment.
Source: Washington State University
Working to Advance the Health of Rural Americans: An Update from the ABFM
This new report covers existing disparities between the health of rural and urban Americans, describes research from the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) on the role of Family Physicians (FPs) in improving rural healthcare delivery. Includes proposed solutions from the ABFM to maintain the presence of FPs in rural areas.
Source: Annals of Family Medicine
Article Links Teeth Brushing with Reduced Diabetes Risk
A new Korean national health database suggests frequent brushing may be a factor for decreasing the risk of new-onset diabetes. The presence of periodontal disease and increased number of missing teeth may be associated with decreased risk of occurrence of new on-set diabetes.
Report Explores Teledentistry in Rural Areas
A new report published in the National Conference of State Legislatures found that rural Americans are more likely to experience tooth decay than their urban counterparts. The report explores teledentistry as a solution to addressing the disparity and discusses states that have already introduced legislation to establish teledentistry and expand access to oral health services.
Community Health Worker Effectiveness Report
Pew Report Highlights Broadband Expansion in Appalachia
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that 21 million Americans lack broadband access. Broadband is a critical infrastructural component needed for business development, job creation, health care services, education, and more. Last week, the Pew Charitable Trusts released a 48-page analysis of state programs related to broadband improvements. The analysis mentioned ARC’s POWER Initiative and our commitment to connect broadband to other policy priorities such as economic development, transportation, and agriculture. The report also highlighted broadband expansion efforts in four Appalachian states – North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia – and how each is working to close connectivity gaps. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s (TNECD) Broadband Accessibility Grant Program, for example, has awarded more than $25 million to broadband support projects within 30 counties since 2018.
Similarly, in 2019 ARC’s POWER Initiative awarded more than $13 million to broadband projects in coal-impacted communities and we’re excited to continue this support. POWER is currently accepting applications for grant funding in fiscal year 2020. The application deadline is 5:00pm on March 27, 2020, via the POWER 2020 Application Portal. If you’d like to learn more about how to prepare a strong POWER application, watch these brief videos for some important tips!
Study Finds Charity Care Less Prevalent at Financially Sound Not-For-Profit Hospitals
Modern Healthcare reported on Feb. 18, 2020, that top earning not-for-profit hospitals provide less charity care than those with less healthy financials, according to a study published in JAMA. The study showed that for every $100 of net income, hospitals in the top earnings quartile provided $11.50 of charity care to uninsured patients and $5.10 to insured patients, compared to the hospitals in the third earnings quartile, which provided $72.30 of charity care to the uninsured and $40.90 to the insured. Read more.