Mariana Story Tuttle, MPH

• Current Projects - (4)
• Completed Projects - (5)
• Publications - (4)

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Current Projects - (4)

• Extent and Coverage of Rural PACE Services
  Supporting independent living and aging in place for rural residents is more important than ever. This project will provide information on the extent and coverage of rural Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) programs, along with insights into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by PACE programs operating in rural areas.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Aging, Disabilities, Healthcare access, Home health, Social determinants of health
  
• Geographic and Socio-Demographic Correlates of Medical Debt Among Rural Residents
  Medical debt is widespread and impacts financial well-being and access to care. While research suggests that medical debt is higher among rural residents compared to urban residents, more work is needed to conclusively demonstrate rural/urban differences in medical debt and within-rural risk factors for greater medical debt by geography and socio-demographic characteristics.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Healthcare access, Poverty, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health
  
• Postpartum Morbidity and Mortality and Health Care Utilization in Rural vs. Urban Communities
  Using 2006-2018 data from the National Health Interview Survey linked to the National Death Index through 2019, this project will examine postpartum mortality among rural and urban residents. We will also evaluate differences in health, health care utilization, and barriers to care across rural and urban communities.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Healthcare access, Maternal health, Medicaid and CHIP, Mental and behavioral health, Private health insurance, Social determinants of health, Uninsured and underinsured, Women
  
• Rural-Urban Differences in Access to and Quality of Care for People With Disabilities
  The purpose of this project is to identify rural-urban differences in access to and quality of health care services for people with disabilities. Results from this project will help inform policy to improve access to and quality of care for this growing population in rural areas.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Aging, Disabilities, Healthcare access, Quality, Social determinants of health
  

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Completed Projects - (5)

• Evaluating the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program
  This project identified factors that facilitate and impede success of Rural Health Network Development grantees, based on discussions with grantees from the 2019 cohort and surveys of prior grantees dating back more than 10 years, as well as with technical assistance providers.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Health services, Healthcare access, Healthcare financing, Networking and collaboration, Public health, Quality
  
• Evaluating the Rural HIV/AIDS Planning Grant Program
  The Rural HIV/AIDS Planning Grant program is administered by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to plan and develop healthcare networks designed to address HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in states disproportionately impacted by the virus. This project identified factors that facilitate and impede success of such planning efforts.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Care management, Chronic diseases and conditions, Healthcare access, Networking and collaboration
  
• Housing as a Social Determinant of Rural Health
  The purpose of this project was to identify rural/urban and within-rural differences in housing quality and its relationship to health and disability status, especially for individuals living in poverty. We also identified rural-specific housing issues and innovative policy solutions to address housing challenges in order to improve rural health.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Disabilities, Environmental and agricultural health, Poverty, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health
  
• Rural/Urban Differences in Postpartum Health Insurance, Healthcare Use, and Health Outcomes
  The purpose of this project was to identify rural/urban differences in health insurance, healthcare use, and health outcomes among postpartum individuals, and to describe policy-relevant implications or strategies to improve insurance coverage, receipt of recommended healthcare, and, ultimately, health outcomes among rural residents who give birth.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Healthcare access, Healthcare financing, Hospitals and clinics, Legislation and regulation, Maternal health, Medicaid and CHIP, Private health insurance, Women
  
• Safe Obstetric Care Access for All Rural Residents: Minimum Standards for Clinical, Workforce, and Financial Viability of Rural Obstetric Units
  The goal of this project was to analyze data from rural hospitals to understand the criteria by which hospitals and communities assess their need and capacity for obstetric care access in rural counties and to describe effective ways to operationalize minimum standards for clinical safety and financial viability for rural obstetric units.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Healthcare access, Hospitals and clinics, Maternal health, Women, Workforce
  

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Publications - (4)