The American Hospital Association on Oct. 9 shared recommendations on rural healthcare access with the Health Resources and Services Administration.
The recommendations are in response to HRSA's request for public comment on how to measure and improve access to healthcare services in rural areas.
Four things to know about AHA's recommendations:
1. AHA said HRSA should reassess the definitions of "core" healthcare services over time to account for changes in care delivery.
2. When recommending healthcare services for a community, HRSA should consider the population's specific characteristics, needs and preferences.
3. AHA said the agency must use a "rural lens" when developing regulatory actions, not just when reviewing them.
4. The group also called on HRSA to consider changing several existing regulations that hinder access to healthcare. For example, the agency should allow providers to share treatment space to help fill care gaps, AHA said.
To view AHA's full set of recommendations, click here.
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