Rural Health Research Gateway

This issue guide describes the risks rural healthcare facilities face related to cyberattacks and identifies cybersecurity tools and resources available to help prepare and respond. https://ow.ly/EP5s50U9ieG Rural Health Information Hub #ruralhealth #cybersecurity

Rural residents were significantly more likely than their urban counterparts to have experienced problems paying medical bills (12.2% vs 10.0%) and inability to pay medical bills (8.3% vs 6.0%). https://ow.ly/va3750U86pt University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center #ruralhealth

From the 2036 physician supply predictions: 6% shortage in urban, but 56% in rural. This historical review leads up to new federal funding and policies that could change this geographic maldistribution of physicians. https://ow.ly/cNkI50U9hcF Rural Health Information Hub #ruralhealth

Among reproductive age women enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP with pregnancy-related service use in 20 states in 2018, 1 in 25 had a pregnancy-related visit to an RHC. For those living in rural areas, this was approximately 1 in 11. https://ow.ly/wNEo50U867F #ruralhealth

??Rural Health Research Alert?? "Triad Program Perspectives on Preventing and Addressing Elder Abuse in Rural Communities" Elder abuse is a widespread issue and rural communities face unique risks to preventing, identifying, and addressing it. This brief shares results from key informant interviews with representatives of rural Triads (multi-sectoral community-based partnerships that address elder abuse) to illuminate rural-specific dimensions of this issue. Key Findings: ? Challenges to preventing and addressing elder abuse included themes related to education and awareness, outreach and engagement, limited resources and services, reporting issues, isolation, stigma, and systemic barriers. ? Criteria for successful interventions from rural Triads include the integration of elder abuse programming, community collaboration, older adult engagement, and elder abuse infrastructure. View and subscribe: https://ow.ly/kRXp50U9eV8 University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center #ruralhealth

This topic guide shares funding opportunities, and provides resources and information on healthcare access in rural America, including details on barriers to care, facility closures, and strategies to improve access to care. https://ow.ly/7vzt50U6kOr Rural Health Information Hub #ruralhealth

According to new research from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, rural residents are not significantly more likely to be worried about their medical bills than their urban counterparts, but they are more likely to have trouble paying them. https://ow.ly/L0Zb50U85Jm The Daily Yonder #ruralhealth

The RUPRI Health Panel, consisting of six of the foremost rural health experts from across the country, is celebrating 30 years of nonpartisan policy analysis. https://ow.ly/Fi2K50U6jRU RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis Rural Health Information Hub #ruralhealth

??Rural Health Research Alert?? "Understanding the Impact of Medical Debt in Rural Communities: Perspectives From Rural Hospital Administrators" Medical debt, or individual debt that incurs due to health care and related costs, is pervasive across the U.S. and is a well-documented burden on access to care and overall well-being. However, less is known about the impact of medical debt on hospitals and patients in the context of rural communities. This policy brief presents findings from key informant interviews with nine administrators representing rural hospitals in seven states (AR, CA, IL, TX, VT, WA, and WV). Using content analysis of interview data, researchers share findings around hospital and community-level implications of medical debt, and policies that may help or hinder this issue. Key Findings: ? Rural hospital administrators from seven states identified uninsurance and underinsurance, existing community sociodemographics, and emergency room usage as key factors contributing to medical debt. ? Hospital administrators discussed hospital and patient-level consequences of medical debt. At the hospital, these included financial burdens, challenges with insurers, and cutting/shifting services or supports. For patients, this meant an exacerbating impact on everyday life, including delays and difficulty accessing care. ? Hospital administrators offered recommendations for policy changes to improve the financial health of rural residents and hospitals. These highlighted a general need to consider the impact of legislation on rural hospitals to avoid unintended consequences, as well as addressing low Medicaid reimbursement rates and challenges with Medicare Advantage. View and subscribe: https://ow.ly/Bbfu50U6ccy University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center #ruralhealth

National Rural Health Day is coming one week early at Gateway! Join us on November 14th, with the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, for an update on access to maternity care in rural communities. And follow the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) for more National Rural Health Day events and activities! Register: https://ow.ly/yQSW50TTB3o #ruralhealth