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A research letter that examines long-term trends of National Health Services Corp (NHSC) physician and non-physician clinician distribution in rural versus urban areas. Utilizes the 2000-2020 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) NHSC Field Strength database to examine the percentage of NHSC primary care, mental health, and dental health clinicians practicing in rural and urban areas.

Recording of a November 18, 2024, webinar providing an overview of telehealth payment rates for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and other regulatory updates and potential changes for 2025. Covers Medicare vaccine reimbursement changes, the elimination of productivity standards, lab requirement changes, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services, telehealth regulations, and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series. -- National Association of Rural Health Clinics

Addresses childcare access and affordability in North Carolina, as well as factors that contribute to childcare challenges. Explores what is being done to address these challenges. Features statistics including percent of residents living in childcare deserts, with breakdowns by rural, urban, and suburban location, and a county-level map showing locations of childcare deserts. -- North Carolina Rural Center

A recorded webinar in which an expert panel discusses the issue of an aging populace in Minnesota alongside a decrease in skilled nursing care capacity. Focuses on regional supply and demand data, business models and facility closures, and policy to improve elder care in Minnesota. Transcript available below description. -- Center for Rural Policy and Development

Qualitative assessment of the perinatal system of care in Maine, based on information from interviews and rural focus groups. Includes information on perinatal health indicators and the perinatal workforce capacity, and offers recommendations for improvement. -- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Describes characteristics of doulas in Maine, their locations, the populations they serve, and what types of challenges Maine people face in accessing doulas' services. Includes information from online surveys conducted in 2023-2024. Mentions rural throughout. -- Maine Doula Coalition

Examines the process of converting Head Start funding/enrollment slots to Early Head Start services for pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. Analyzes case studies from 6 Head Start programs that converted enrollment slots in 2022 and 2023 and discusses motivation to convert slots based on program and community needs, including those in rural areas. -- Administration for Children and Families, MEF Associates, Urban Institute

Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2024. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements. -- Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center

Highlights a study on the wellbeing of rural veterans with service-connected disabilities or health conditions. Breaks down data by age, gender, and education, among other measures. Compares wellbeing scores with veterans without service-connected disabilities.

Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Overall Hospital Star Ratings posted on the CMS Care Compare website. Describes the methodology for the Overall Hospital Star Ratings, including information on measure selection, measure grouping, measure group scores and hospital scoring, and peer grouping and star rating assignment. Discusses the implications these ratings have on Critical Access Hospitals and other small rural hospitals. -- Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance (RQITA) Resource Center