Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Critical Access Hospitals
Building Sustainable Capacity for Quality and Organizational Excellence: Critical Access Hospital Quality Infrastructure Summit
Summarizes a March 2023 summit with experts that sought to identify the core elements of infrastructure necessary for successful quality efforts in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Outlines a framework to help leaders assess needs and growth and consider holistic approaches to creating a sustainable quality infrastructure.
Additional links: Core Elements of Critical Access Hospital Quality Infrastructure Video Summary, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: Critical Access Hospital Fact Sheet, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: State Flex Program Fact Sheet, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: Video Summary
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Flex Monitoring Team, National Rural Health Resource Center, Stratis Health
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Summarizes a March 2023 summit with experts that sought to identify the core elements of infrastructure necessary for successful quality efforts in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Outlines a framework to help leaders assess needs and growth and consider holistic approaches to creating a sustainable quality infrastructure.
Additional links: Core Elements of Critical Access Hospital Quality Infrastructure Video Summary, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: Critical Access Hospital Fact Sheet, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: State Flex Program Fact Sheet, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: Video Summary
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Flex Monitoring Team, National Rural Health Resource Center, Stratis Health
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2023
Reports on four aspects of Medicaid: 1) collecting and reporting Medicaid race and ethnicity data, 2) increasing the transparency and improving the collection of nursing facility payment data, 3) strengthening evidence under Medicaid drug coverage, and 4) reviewing hospital payment policy for the nation's safety-net hospitals. Chapter 4 examines the relationship between disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments to states and the number of uninsured individuals, the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs, and the number of hospitals with high levels of uncompensated care that also provide essential community services. Table 4-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Reports on four aspects of Medicaid: 1) collecting and reporting Medicaid race and ethnicity data, 2) increasing the transparency and improving the collection of nursing facility payment data, 3) strengthening evidence under Medicaid drug coverage, and 4) reviewing hospital payment policy for the nation's safety-net hospitals. Chapter 4 examines the relationship between disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments to states and the number of uninsured individuals, the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs, and the number of hospitals with high levels of uncompensated care that also provide essential community services. Table 4-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Perspectives on the Long of COVID: From Doomscrolling to Rural Management Strategies
An overview of how Long COVID is impacting rural areas. Features a Tennessee rural health researcher sharing his Long COVID experience and a rural New York healthcare system discussing the condition's management options.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An overview of how Long COVID is impacting rural areas. Features a Tennessee rural health researcher sharing his Long COVID experience and a rural New York healthcare system discussing the condition's management options.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Modernizing Payment to Critical Access Hospitals: A Proposal for the Next Iteration of the Flex Program
Commentary briefly describing the history the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex) and Cost-Based Reimbursement (CBR) for Medicare. Outlines the challenges of CBR for Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and proposes a new payment system.
Author(s): Clint MacKinney, Keith Mueller, Alva Ferdinand, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(4), 716-718
Date: 02/2023
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Commentary briefly describing the history the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex) and Cost-Based Reimbursement (CBR) for Medicare. Outlines the challenges of CBR for Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and proposes a new payment system.
Author(s): Clint MacKinney, Keith Mueller, Alva Ferdinand, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(4), 716-718
Date: 02/2023
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Patient Transfers to and from Critical Access Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines inbound and outbound transfer patient volumes among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the barriers and facilitators to transferring patients that CAHs experienced. Compares transfer volume and facilitators for outbound transfers by CAH system ownership status.
Author(s): Abigail Wenninger, Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Examines inbound and outbound transfer patient volumes among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the barriers and facilitators to transferring patients that CAHs experienced. Compares transfer volume and facilitators for outbound transfers by CAH system ownership status.
Author(s): Abigail Wenninger, Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Evaluation of Post-Discharge Engagement for Emergency Department Patients with Opioid Use History Who Received Telehealth Recovery Coaching Services
Examines successful interventions for patients in emergency departments (EDs) who receive peer recovery coach (PRC) services via telehealth that support patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Analyzes 13 EDs in Indiana who implemented telehealth PRC services starting in 2018, including 7 rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes rate of successful follow-ups proceeding PRC services broken down by patient age, sex, race, drug use method, referral types, and metro, small, or rural living location.
Author(s): Dennis P. Watson, Peter Phalen, Spencer Medcalf, Sarah Messmer, Alan McGuire
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention,18(9)
Date: 02/2023
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Examines successful interventions for patients in emergency departments (EDs) who receive peer recovery coach (PRC) services via telehealth that support patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Analyzes 13 EDs in Indiana who implemented telehealth PRC services starting in 2018, including 7 rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes rate of successful follow-ups proceeding PRC services broken down by patient age, sex, race, drug use method, referral types, and metro, small, or rural living location.
Author(s): Dennis P. Watson, Peter Phalen, Spencer Medcalf, Sarah Messmer, Alan McGuire
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention,18(9)
Date: 02/2023
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Filling Behavioral Health Gaps in Rural Communities: A Unique Partnership in Washington State
Discusses a collaboration between a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in Washington and state hospitals to accept patient transfers by utilizing swing beds to care for patients with complex behavioral health and social needs, such as substance use disorder, mental health, homelessness, and more. Includes data on swing bed admissions and information on incorporating behavioral health services into primary care.
Author(s): Sarah Klein, Martha Hostetter
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: The Commonwealth Fund
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Discusses a collaboration between a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in Washington and state hospitals to accept patient transfers by utilizing swing beds to care for patients with complex behavioral health and social needs, such as substance use disorder, mental health, homelessness, and more. Includes data on swing bed admissions and information on incorporating behavioral health services into primary care.
Author(s): Sarah Klein, Martha Hostetter
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: The Commonwealth Fund
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Critical Access Hospital Workforce During COVID-19: Barriers and Facilitators for Recruiting and Retaining Staff
Presents findings from a survey of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) executives regarding the specific types of staff positions they have had challenges recruiting and retaining. Compares results by system affiliation. Discusses the barriers and facilitators to recruiting and retaining hospital staff.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents findings from a survey of Critical Access Hospital (CAH) executives regarding the specific types of staff positions they have had challenges recruiting and retaining. Compares results by system affiliation. Discusses the barriers and facilitators to recruiting and retaining hospital staff.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Chartis Center for Rural Health Research & Resources for the 2023 National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute Conference
Offers research and analysis of the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Includes Rural Health Safety Net Under Renewed Pressure as Pandemic Fades and presentation slides on this report from the 2023 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies on rural hospitals.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Offers research and analysis of the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Includes Rural Health Safety Net Under Renewed Pressure as Pandemic Fades and presentation slides on this report from the 2023 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies on rural hospitals.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Rural Health Safety Net Under Renewed Pressure as Pandemic Fades
Examines financial and operational metrics for rural hospitals, comparing hospitals in states that did and did not expand Medicaid, as well as the discontinuation of obstetrics and chemotherapy services. Discusses how the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation can provide a path forward for some rural facilities and explores seven characteristics that may have the greatest impact on a facility's consideration to convert to an REH.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Examines financial and operational metrics for rural hospitals, comparing hospitals in states that did and did not expand Medicaid, as well as the discontinuation of obstetrics and chemotherapy services. Discusses how the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation can provide a path forward for some rural facilities and explores seven characteristics that may have the greatest impact on a facility's consideration to convert to an REH.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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