Maine Rural Health Research Center
News Archive
Recent Presentations 2011
2011 National Rural Health Association Annual Meeting
- Health Care Access and Use Among the Rural Uninsured. Presented by Erika Ziller.
- How Does the Rural Food Environment Affect Low-Income Children's Health Food Consumption and Obesity Rates? Presented by David Hartley. Co-authors: Nath Anderson, Kimberley Fox, and Jennifer Lenardson.
- Patterns of Mental Health Treatment in American Children. Presented by Samantha Neuwirth. Co-author, Nathaniel Anderson.
- Practical Community Health Needs Assessment and Engagement Strategies. Presented by John Gale.
- Provision of Long Term Care Services by CAHs: Are Things Changing? Presented by Zachariah Croll.
- Rural Issues in Implementing ACA Coverage and Insurance Reform Strategies. Presented by Andy Coburn. Co-author, Erika Ziller.
Ron Nelson Loses Battle to Cancer
June 2011
It is with sadness that we note the death of Ron Nelson on June 11, 2011. He brought a tremendous wealth of experience and enthusiasm about rural health care and Rural Health Clinics to our Expert Work Group. His wisdom and guidance will be missed.
Recent Presentations 2010
2010 National Rural Health Association Annual Meeting
- Mental Health Services in Rural Health Clinics. Presented by John Gale.
- Practical Primary Care and Behavioral Health Integration Strategies for Rural Providers. Presented by John Gale and David Lambert.
- Models for Quality Improvement in Critical Access Hospitals: Role of the Flex Program. Presented by Andrew Coburn.
- Understanding the Community Benefit Activities of Critical Access Hospitals. Presented by John Gale.
Other Presentations 2010
- Chronic Conditions, Access to Care, and the Rural Uninsured. Poster presentation at AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting; 2010, June 27; Boston, MA. Ziller, E., Coburn, A., & Lenardson, J.
- Moving Toward Standards: PPACA Provisions Affecting Non-Profit Rural Hospitals. Presented by John Gale at the Oregon Small and Rural Hospital Summit; 2010, May 7; Salem, OR.
- Access to Mental Health Services and Family Impact of Rural Children With Mental Health Needs. Poster presentation at the National Rural Health Association Annual Meeting. Won "Best Research Poster" award.
RHRC colleagues win "Best Research Poster" Award at National Conference
May 2010
Rural Health Research Center colleagues (including Jennifer Lenardson, Erika Ziller, David Lambert, Melanie Race, and Anush Yousefian Hansen) were nationally recognized for their work on "Access to Mental Health Services and Family Impact of Rural Children with Mental Health Needs" at the 2010 National Rural Health Association Annual Conference in Savannah, GA, May 18-21. Their findings showed that a greater proportion of rural families of children with mental health needs spend six or more hours coordinating their child's care each week than do urban families, and rural children are less likely to receive all needed mental health care. For more information on this study, please contact Jennifer Lenardson at jlenardson@usm.maine.edu.
Recent Presentations
2009 National Rural Health Association Annual Meeting
- Yousefian, A., Race, M., Lambert, D., & Hartley, D. (2009, May 6). Role of local jails in the mental health system.
- Gale, J. & Davis, L. (2009, May 7). Statewide mental and behavioral health initiatives.
- Ziller, E. (2009, May 7). Access to rural mental health services: Service use, out-of-pocket costs, and the implications for mental health parity.
Other Recent Presentations
- Ziller, E.C. (2009, June 29). Changes in Rural Health Insurance Coverage, 1997-2005. Presented at the Academy Health Annual Research Meeting, Chicago, IL.
- Yousefian, A. (2009, February 20). An Environmental Assessment Instrument for Rural Communities: Development of the Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) Tools. Presented at the Sixth Active Living Research Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.
- Coburn, A.F. & Ziller, E.T. (2008, September 23). The Underinsured in Rural America: The Root of the Problem and Possible Solutions. Presented at The Second National Congress on the Un and Under Insured, Washington, DC.
Recent Publications
2009
- Ziller, E., & Coburn, A.F. (2009, February). Rural coverage gaps decline following public health insurance expansion. (Research & Policy Brief).
- Lambert, D., Ziller, E.C., & Lenardson, J.D. (2009, January). Rural children don't receive the mental health care they need. (Research & Policy Brief).
- Ziller, E.C., Anderson, N., & Coburn, A.F. (2008, November). Rural adults face "parity" problems and other barriers to appropriate medical care. (Research & Policy Brief).
Rapid Response on Rural Health Reform
July 2009
The federal Office of Rural Health Policy has asked the Maine Rural Health Research Center to act as a "Rapid Response Center" and provide timely research to support pressing issues surrounding the health care reform initiatives and their impact on rural America. Erika Ziller and Andy Coburn have co-authored two Research & Policy Briefs: one on public health insurance expansion, and the other on reform options for private health insurance in rural areas.
Read more about Rapid Response on Rural Health Reform.
Profile of Rural Health Insurance Coverage: A Chartbook
Released June 16, 2009
- Download Profile of Rural Health Insurance Coverage: A Chartbook
- Download Research & Policy Brief (July 2009)
Co-authors Jennifer Lenardson, Erika Ziller, Andy Coburn, and Nath Anderson have provided a profile of the health insurance coverage and needs of rural persons under the age of 65, describing the risk of uninsurance facing rural residents and the characteristics of the uninsured in rural areas. Analyses of the data reveal a greater proportion of rural residents than urban residents who are uninsured or covered through public sources, especially among those living in remote areas. Health system reform efforts should consider differences in amount and type of health insurance coverage for those living in rural and urban areas. Learn more about the Chartbook.
Active Living Webinar: Friday, June 12, 2009
Please join us for a web-based seminar to increase the skills of researchers and practitioners in measuring rural environments for physical activity. The webinar on Active Living in Rural Communities: Measuring Rural Environments for Physical Activity will explore the extent that modifications to active living theory, methods and interventions are necessary for use in rural communities and discuss the Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) Tools. Seminar participants will learn how to use these tools in their rural communities.
Rapid Response on Rural Health Reform
April 2009
The federal Office of Rural Health Policy has asked the Maine Rural Health Research Center to act as a "Rapid Response Center" and provide timely research to support pressing issues surrounding the health care reform initiatives and their impact on rural America. Learn more about Rapid Response on Rural Health Reform.
Rural Center Staff Present Issue Briefs at State Legislative Policy Forum
February 2009
Andrew Coburn, John Gale, David Lambert, and Jennifer Lenardson prepared and presented research briefs to members of the Maine legislature on January 30th as part of the Legislative Policy Forum on Health Care. Read more about the staff presentations to the legislature.
Hartley Appointed to National Advisory Panel
November 25, 2008
Professor David Hartley has been appointed by Secretary Mike Leavitt of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. This 21-member panel of nationally recognized experts provides recommendations on rural health and human services issues to the secretary. Read more about Hartley's appointment.
Consortium Receives Award to Evaluate the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
October 2008
The Rural Health Research Centers at the Universities of Minnesota, North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Southern Maine are the recipients of a 5-year cooperative agreement award from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to continue to monitor and evaluate the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program. Learn more about the Consortium's award.
Federal Grant Award
The Maine Rural Health Research Center is one of 6 national rural health research centers awarded a 4-year grant by the federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP). These Centers constitute the Rural Health Research Center (RHRC) Program which is administered by ORHP.