Chronic diseases and conditions

Completed Projects

Access to Cancer Services for Rural Colorectal Cancer Medicare Patients: A Multi-State Study
Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Aging, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services, Medicare, Minority health
This study examined a comprehensive database to quantify the distance and access to four types of cancer services in a sample of rural, Medicare-insured, CRC patients of different racial and ethnic groups, and will inform future work designed to understand discrepancies in cancer service use by the rural elderly in different racial and ethnic groups.

Access to Physician Care for the Rural Medicare Elderly
Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Aging, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services, Medicare, Physicians, Poverty
This study described where Medicare beneficiaries in five states obtain their health care, how far they travel for that care, and the mix of physician specialties from which they obtain ambulatory care. Special attention was paid to beneficiaries who have dual Medicare-Medicaid status, who reside in poorer income areas, and who live in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Adequacy of Ambulatory Care among Rural African Americans with Congestive Heart Failure, Diabetes or Asthma
Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: African Americans, Chronic diseases and conditions, Minority health

Ambulatory Care and the Rural Elderly
Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Aging, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services

Assessment of Barriers to the Delivery of Medicare Reimbursed Diabetes Self-Management Education in Rural Areas
Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Medicare, Minority health

Burden of Asthma Among Rural Residents: A National Study
Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health disparities, Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics
This study uses data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to examine the prevalence of and trends in asthma�among rural residents by type of geographic location and by key risk factors.

Chronic Disease Management in Rural Areas
Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health promotion and disease prevention

Chronic Disease Management in Rural Areas: Examination of Medicare and Medicaid Managed Care Programs
Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Medicaid and S-CHIP, Medicare
The goal of this project was to advance knowledge of the use of DM to address chronic conditions among rural populations, analyzing information from participating health plans and providers about special challenges and effective strategies in DM initiatives targeting rural populations.

Chronic Illness and the Rural Informal Safety Net: The Case of Diabetes
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health insurance and the uninsured

Descriptive Analysis of the Health Status of a National Asbestos-Related Cohort
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services
A collaborative study to establish a more comprehensive understanding of the health status and health service needs of persons exposed to Libby asbestos is being conducted by nurse researchers at Montana State University College of Nursing and health care providers at the Center for Asbestos Related Disease in Libby, Montana. Results of the descriptive study will provide health care providers and policy makers a better understanding of the health effects and health care needs of exposed persons.

Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Hispanics
Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Cultural competency, Health disparities, Hispanics, Minority health
The project will examine the similarities and differences between rural and urban Hispanics and Caucasian adults diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Diabetes and Obesity: Is there a Rural-Urban Difference in the Burden?
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Obesity
Persons with diabetes are more likely to be obese, increasing the economic burden of diabetes related care. Purpose of this study is to examine if being overweight and obese places additional economic burden and if there is a rural-urban difference in this regard. It will help understand the health and economic consequences of diabetes and obesity epidemic on people's health.

Diabetes Burden and the Lack of Preventive Care in the Rural United States
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health disparities, Public health
The project is designed to determine if there are disparities in diabetes care provided to persons with diabetes residing in rural areas as compared to those in urban areas. Additionally, the project will examine diabetes related health care resource utilization with implications for improving care and reducing the economic burden.

Effect of Safety Net Providers on Ambulatory Care Sensitive Hospitalization Rates in Rural Counties
Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Health services, Poverty, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
This project will determine if the presence of a community health center or rural health clinic in a county reduces ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations for children, working age adults, and older adults.

Examining Recent Trends and Variation in Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions-related Hospital Expenditures of Rural Americans with Different Health Insurance Coverage and Status
Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health care financing, Health insurance and the uninsured, Health services
This study documents the national time-trend and regional variation of rural Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC)-related hospital expenditures by patient insurance coverage/status. The study will also compare the pattern of difference in the ACSC-related expenditures of rural patients with different insurance coverage/status by patient demographic and economic characteristics as well as hospital characteristics.

Examining the Magnitudes, Geographic Variations, and Determinants Of Expenditures Due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions in Rural Hospitals
Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health care financing, Hospitals and clinics
This project will document the magnitude of and variation in ambulatory care sensitive condition (ACSC) expenditures of rural hospitals and explore the relationships between rural hospital ACSC expenditure and its key determinants in the areas of population demand, health care system supply, and provider practice style.

Financing Rural Public Health Activities in Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Research center: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health care financing, Health promotion and disease prevention, Public health
This project describes the federal-state funding streams for selected local public health activities in the area of chronic disease prevention and health promotion, and assesses potential barriers to program implementation in less populated, local areas of a state.

Hospitalizations of Rural Children for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Children, Chronic diseases and conditions
This project uses state inpatient discharge data from six states, data from the Area Resource File and the AHRQ Pediatric Quality Indicators to examine Ambulatory Care Sensitive Condition admission rates for rural children.

National Study of Rural Medicaid Disease Management
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Medicaid and S-CHIP
This project will identify those states with Medicaid disease management (DM) programs that serve clients in rural areas; analyze the characteristics of the rural DM programs, and identify benefits, challenges and issues for Medicaid programs providing DM services in rural areas.

National Study of Rural-Urban Differences in Use of Home Oxygen for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: Are Rural Medicare Beneficiaries Disadvantaged?
Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Medicare
To understand disparities in care among rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries, data from Medicare's Durable Medical Equipment (DME) files were used to assess rural/urban variation in the home use of supplemental oxygen.

Pharmaceutical Data Validity in Estimating Rural Population Health
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Pharmacy and prescription drugs, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics
This project will allow for the quantification of variation in morbidity (via prescription use) across rural areas; identify locations that might be at risk for stunted economic development due to high levels of chronic illness in the working population; and potentially lead to the development of a valid and reliable measure of county-level rates of chronic illness using prescription data as a proxy.

Potential Cost Savings of Home Health Care for Rural Chronically Ill Elderly
Research center: Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Aging, Chronic diseases and conditions, Home health

Prevalence of Chronic Disease and the Degree of Rurality of American Indian Elders in a Nationally Representative Sample of 100 Tribes
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Aging, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Chronic diseases and conditions, Frontier health, Long term care, Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics
This project will determine if there are differences in prevalence of chronic disease in American Indian elders across age groups in urban vs. rural vs. frontier counties. Moderating factors of chronic disease will also be examined including health damaging behaviors, access to health care services and providers and degree of functional limitation.

Rural Quality Improvement Focus on Diabetes
Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Quality
This project focused specifically on diabetes care management and quality improvement programming in rural areas as a way to understand the adaptability and policy implications of using chronic care coordination and other models in a rural environment.

Rural Safety Net Provision and Hospital Care in 11 States
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services, Hospitals and clinics
This project evaluated whether access to primary care is more effective at improving health outcomes and reducing costs in rural than urban markets, and identified the characteristics of communities which contribute to improved health outcomes and reducing preventable hospitalizations. This research informs policy relating funding access provision through public clinics to reduce the burden of uncompensated or under-compensated care on financially strained rural hospitals.

Transitions in Care for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries with Diabetes
Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health disparities, Medicare, Minority health
Hospital readmission rates among persons with diabetes, as well as absolute admission rates, may be used to study health disparities among rural and minority populations. This project will use data from the Medicare Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse to explore residence- and race-based disparities in diabetes admission rates, effective transitions to outpatient care, and re-admission rates, to help guide rural policy-makers and health care providers.

U.S. Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions: A Rural/Urban Comparison
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Rural statistics and demographics
This project will assess trends, patterns, and predictors of hospitalizations for three ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, bacterial pneumonia, and pediatric asthma) among rural and urban residents in the United States. The study will involve the examination of 2003 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample data.

Urban and Rural Differences in Access to Care and Treatment for Medicare Beneficiaries with Cancer
Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services, Medicare, Quality
Little is known about the differences in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of care for cancer patients across urban and rural regions of the country. This study will extend our understanding of the challenge of providing high-quality cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries and how provider availability influences access to needed care in urban and rural areas.

Topics Centers Researchers Other Resources Search		Chronic diseases and conditions Completed Projects Access to Cancer Services for Rural Colorectal Cancer Medicare Patients: A Multi-State Study Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Aging, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services, Medicare, Minority health This study examined a comprehensive database to quantify the distance and access to four types of cancer services in a sample of rural, Medicare-insured, CRC patients of different racial and ethnic groups, and will inform future work designed to understand discrepancies in cancer service use by the rural elderly in different racial and ethnic groups. Access to Physician Care for the Rural Medicare Elderly Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Aging, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services, Medicare, Physicians, Poverty This study described where Medicare beneficiaries in five states obtain their health care, how far they travel for that care, and the mix of physician specialties from which they obtain ambulatory care. Special attention was paid to beneficiaries who have dual Medicare-Medicaid status, who reside in poorer income areas, and who live in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. Adequacy of Ambulatory Care among Rural African Americans with Congestive Heart Failure, Diabetes or Asthma Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: African Americans, Chronic diseases and conditions, Minority health Ambulatory Care and the Rural Elderly Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Aging, Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services Assessment of Barriers to the Delivery of Medicare Reimbursed Diabetes Self-Management Education in Rural Areas Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Medicare, Minority health Burden of Asthma Among Rural Residents: A National Study Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health disparities, Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics This study uses data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to examine the prevalence of and trends in asthma�among rural residents by type of geographic location and by key risk factors. Chronic Disease Management in Rural Areas Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health promotion and disease prevention Chronic Disease Management in Rural Areas: Examination of Medicare and Medicaid Managed Care Programs Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Medicaid and S-CHIP, Medicare The goal of this project was to advance knowledge of the use of DM to address chronic conditions among rural populations, analyzing information from participating health plans and providers about special challenges and effective strategies in DM initiatives targeting rural populations. Chronic Illness and the Rural Informal Safety Net: The Case of Diabetes Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health insurance and the uninsured Descriptive Analysis of the Health Status of a National Asbestos-Related Cohort Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services A collaborative study to establish a more comprehensive understanding of the health status and health service needs of persons exposed to Libby asbestos is being conducted by nurse researchers at Montana State University College of Nursing and health care providers at the Center for Asbestos Related Disease in Libby, Montana. Results of the descriptive study will provide health care providers and policy makers a better understanding of the health effects and health care needs of exposed persons. Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Hispanics Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Cultural competency, Health disparities, Hispanics, Minority health The project will examine the similarities and differences between rural and urban Hispanics and Caucasian adults diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Diabetes and Obesity: Is there a Rural-Urban Difference in the Burden? Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Obesity Persons with diabetes are more likely to be obese, increasing the economic burden of diabetes related care. Purpose of this study is to examine if being overweight and obese places additional economic burden and if there is a rural-urban difference in this regard. It will help understand the health and economic consequences of diabetes and obesity epidemic on people's health. Diabetes Burden and the Lack of Preventive Care in the Rural United States Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health disparities, Public health The project is designed to determine if there are disparities in diabetes care provided to persons with diabetes residing in rural areas as compared to those in urban areas. Additionally, the project will examine diabetes related health care resource utilization with implications for improving care and reducing the economic burden. Effect of Safety Net Providers on Ambulatory Care Sensitive Hospitalization Rates in Rural Counties Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Health services, Poverty, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) This project will determine if the presence of a community health center or rural health clinic in a county reduces ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations for children, working age adults, and older adults. Examining Recent Trends and Variation in Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions-related Hospital Expenditures of Rural Americans with Different Health Insurance Coverage and Status Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health care financing, Health insurance and the uninsured, Health services This study documents the national time-trend and regional variation of rural Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC)-related hospital expenditures by patient insurance coverage/status. The study will also compare the pattern of difference in the ACSC-related expenditures of rural patients with different insurance coverage/status by patient demographic and economic characteristics as well as hospital characteristics. Examining the Magnitudes, Geographic Variations, and Determinants Of Expenditures Due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions in Rural Hospitals Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health care financing, Hospitals and clinics This project will document the magnitude of and variation in ambulatory care sensitive condition (ACSC) expenditures of rural hospitals and explore the relationships between rural hospital ACSC expenditure and its key determinants in the areas of population demand, health care system supply, and provider practice style. Financing Rural Public Health Activities in Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Research center: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health care financing, Health promotion and disease prevention, Public health This project describes the federal-state funding streams for selected local public health activities in the area of chronic disease prevention and health promotion, and assesses potential barriers to program implementation in less populated, local areas of a state. Hospitalizations of Rural Children for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Children, Chronic diseases and conditions This project uses state inpatient discharge data from six states, data from the Area Resource File and the AHRQ Pediatric Quality Indicators to examine Ambulatory Care Sensitive Condition admission rates for rural children. National Study of Rural Medicaid Disease Management Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Medicaid and S-CHIP This project will identify those states with Medicaid disease management (DM) programs that serve clients in rural areas; analyze the characteristics of the rural DM programs, and identify benefits, challenges and issues for Medicaid programs providing DM services in rural areas. National Study of Rural-Urban Differences in Use of Home Oxygen for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: Are Rural Medicare Beneficiaries Disadvantaged? Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Medicare To understand disparities in care among rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries, data from Medicare's Durable Medical Equipment (DME) files were used to assess rural/urban variation in the home use of supplemental oxygen. Pharmaceutical Data Validity in Estimating Rural Population Health Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Pharmacy and prescription drugs, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics This project will allow for the quantification of variation in morbidity (via prescription use) across rural areas; identify locations that might be at risk for stunted economic development due to high levels of chronic illness in the working population; and potentially lead to the development of a valid and reliable measure of county-level rates of chronic illness using prescription data as a proxy. Potential Cost Savings of Home Health Care for Rural Chronically Ill Elderly Research center: Minnesota Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Aging, Chronic diseases and conditions, Home health Prevalence of Chronic Disease and the Degree of Rurality of American Indian Elders in a Nationally Representative Sample of 100 Tribes Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Aging, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Chronic diseases and conditions, Frontier health, Long term care, Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics This project will determine if there are differences in prevalence of chronic disease in American Indian elders across age groups in urban vs. rural vs. frontier counties. Moderating factors of chronic disease will also be examined including health damaging behaviors, access to health care services and providers and degree of functional limitation. Rural Quality Improvement Focus on Diabetes Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Quality This project focused specifically on diabetes care management and quality improvement programming in rural areas as a way to understand the adaptability and policy implications of using chronic care coordination and other models in a rural environment. Rural Safety Net Provision and Hospital Care in 11 States Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services, Hospitals and clinics This project evaluated whether access to primary care is more effective at improving health outcomes and reducing costs in rural than urban markets, and identified the characteristics of communities which contribute to improved health outcomes and reducing preventable hospitalizations. This research informs policy relating funding access provision through public clinics to reduce the burden of uncompensated or under-compensated care on financially strained rural hospitals. Transitions in Care for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries with Diabetes Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health disparities, Medicare, Minority health Hospital readmission rates among persons with diabetes, as well as absolute admission rates, may be used to study health disparities among rural and minority populations. This project will use data from the Medicare Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse to explore residence- and race-based disparities in diabetes admission rates, effective transitions to outpatient care, and re-admission rates, to help guide rural policy-makers and health care providers. U.S. Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions: A Rural/Urban Comparison Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Rural statistics and demographics This project will assess trends, patterns, and predictors of hospitalizations for three ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, bacterial pneumonia, and pediatric asthma) among rural and urban residents in the United States. The study will involve the examination of 2003 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample data. Urban and Rural Differences in Access to Care and Treatment for Medicare Beneficiaries with Cancer Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health services, Medicare, Quality Little is known about the differences in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of care for cancer patients across urban and rural regions of the country. This study will extend our understanding of the challenge of providing high-quality cancer care to Medicare beneficiaries and how provider availability influences access to needed care in urban and rural areas.