Calendar of events covering telehealth in Hawaii and surrounding territories, rural initiatives, telehealth conferences, and more from the Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center and partner organizations. -- Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center

Podcast that explains the 340B drug pricing program and its impact on rural Michigan. Presents a discussion with stakeholders from the Mackinac Straits Health System which includes a Critical Access Hospital, Rural Health Clinic, and other healthcare facilities. -- Michigan Health & Hospital Association

Study examining contraceptive use by women aged 18-49 in rural areas, comparing overall rates of contraceptive use to those of women who use opioid and/or non-opioid injection drugs. Analyzes data from the Rural Opioids Initiative (ROI) and the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). Discusses the study's implications for access to services, targeted interventions, and testing for infectious diseases.

Policy brief examining differences in self-rated health by sexual orientation and rural or urban location. Includes statistics from the National Health Interview Survey, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and the Health Information National Trends Survey. -- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Brief presenting data from the FAIR Health Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker on changes in telehealth utilization, diagnoses, and procedure codes at the national and regional level between January 2020 and March 2022. Notes shifts in telehealth utilization during specific seasons and connects those shifts to changes in COVID-19 infection rates. -- FAIR Health

Examines nonmetropolitan health insurance coverage in 2018 among working age adults (26-64 years old) who are self-employed, otherwise employed, unemployed, and those not in the labor force. Includes a bar chart showing metro compared to nonmetro coverage by employment status for the following types of health insurance: none, employer-based, direct-purchase, and public. -- USDA Economic Research Service

Study examining the risk of rural hospital closure for independent hospitals and hospitals affiliated with other facilities or a health system. Analyzes 2007-2019 data from the American Hospital Association, Irving Levin Associates, and the University of North Carolina Sheps Center representing a national cohort of rural hospitals. Notes financial stability for affiliated and independent hospitals as well as policy interventions to support hospitals at risk of closure.

Profiles Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), and Appalachian Regional Healthcare System (ARHS) in western North Carolina. Describes how ARHS secured an exemption from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to build Appalachian Regional Behavioral Health (ARBH) Hospital nearby without losing CAH status. Discusses the impact of the CMS exemption on financial sustainability and emergency department wait times. -- American Hospital Association

Map showing levels of economic distress in Appalachian counties based on unemployment rates, income, and poverty levels. Includes interactive map, downloadable maps and data files, and data report. -- Appalachian Regional Commission

An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Dr. Elizabeth Crouch, director of the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, discussing insights on rural adverse and positive childhood experiences based on her research. -- Rural Health Information Hub