Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Critical Access Hospitals
Changes of Ownership of Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facilities: An Analysis of Newly-Released CMS Data
Examines data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding changes in hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) ownership between 2016 and 2021. Presents data on rates of hospital ownership changes by hospital characteristics, including rural and urban location and Critical Access Hospital status. Discusses how future research can support policymaking and research on consolidation, healthcare quality, and healthcare costs.
Author(s): W. Pete Welch, Joel Ruhter, Arielle Bosworth, Nancy De Lew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding changes in hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) ownership between 2016 and 2021. Presents data on rates of hospital ownership changes by hospital characteristics, including rural and urban location and Critical Access Hospital status. Discusses how future research can support policymaking and research on consolidation, healthcare quality, and healthcare costs.
Author(s): W. Pete Welch, Joel Ruhter, Arielle Bosworth, Nancy De Lew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Impact of Cost Report on CAH Decision Making
Webinar recording discussing cost-based reimbursement and the implications of the Medicare cost report for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Describes opportunities for CAHs to maximize reimbursement using the cost report. Part of a series of webinars directed toward rural hospital CEOs and CFOs. Transcript available in video description.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Oklahoma Office of Rural Health, Stroudwater Associates
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Webinar recording discussing cost-based reimbursement and the implications of the Medicare cost report for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Describes opportunities for CAHs to maximize reimbursement using the cost report. Part of a series of webinars directed toward rural hospital CEOs and CFOs. Transcript available in video description.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Oklahoma Office of Rural Health, Stroudwater Associates
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Sliding Fee Scale Discount Guide for CAHs and RHCs
Provides concepts and guidance to help Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and Rural Health Clinic (RHC) executives and management teams develop a sliding fee scale discount program. Addresses how these programs relate to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r) compliance and participation in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Includes an example of a sliding fee schedule.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Provides concepts and guidance to help Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and Rural Health Clinic (RHC) executives and management teams develop a sliding fee scale discount program. Addresses how these programs relate to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r) compliance and participation in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Includes an example of a sliding fee schedule.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Oklahoma Critical Access Hospitals, Health Professional Shortage Areas: Primary Care
County map showing locations of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), CAH National Health Service Corps Sites, primary care low income designation, and geographic Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in Oklahoma.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma Office of Primary Care and Rural Health Development
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County map showing locations of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), CAH National Health Service Corps Sites, primary care low income designation, and geographic Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in Oklahoma.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma Office of Primary Care and Rural Health Development
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Three Key Trends for Minnesota Community Hospitals in 2020
Discusses trends for Minnesota Community hospitals in 2020 such as hospital usage, public investments, and staffing. Includes a rural versus urban and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) versus non-CAH comparison of median operating margins of hospitals from 2018 to 2020.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Discusses trends for Minnesota Community hospitals in 2020 such as hospital usage, public investments, and staffing. Includes a rural versus urban and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) versus non-CAH comparison of median operating margins of hospitals from 2018 to 2020.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Vermont's All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model: Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center's Experience
Profiles Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC), a Critical Access Hospital and health center partnership in central Vermont. Describes how MAHHC provides care differently as a participant in the OneCare Vermont accountable care organization (ACO). Discusses how MAHHC adapted healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights challenges and financial implications of MAHHC's participation in OneCare Vermont.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Profiles Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC), a Critical Access Hospital and health center partnership in central Vermont. Describes how MAHHC provides care differently as a participant in the OneCare Vermont accountable care organization (ACO). Discusses how MAHHC adapted healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights challenges and financial implications of MAHHC's participation in OneCare Vermont.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2022
Reports on five aspects of Medicaid: 1) transitioning Medicaid beneficiaries out of institutions and back into the community under the Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration program, 2) improving access to vaccines and vaccination rates for adults enrolled in Medicaid, and 3) reviewing hospital payment policy for the nation's safety-net hospitals. Chapter 3 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 amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs. Table 3-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Reports on five aspects of Medicaid: 1) transitioning Medicaid beneficiaries out of institutions and back into the community under the Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration program, 2) improving access to vaccines and vaccination rates for adults enrolled in Medicaid, and 3) reviewing hospital payment policy for the nation's safety-net hospitals. Chapter 3 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 amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs. Table 3-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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An Inventory of State Flex Program Population Health Initiatives for Fiscal Years 2019-2023
Provides an overview of Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program funding for initiatives to improve rural population health under Program Area 3: Population Health Improvement. Offers a state-by-state summary of State Flex Program (SFP) population health initiatives between fiscal years 2019 and 2021. Details output and process measures, outcome measures, and SFP partners for each initiative.
Author(s): Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zachariah Croll, John Gale
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Provides an overview of Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program funding for initiatives to improve rural population health under Program Area 3: Population Health Improvement. Offers a state-by-state summary of State Flex Program (SFP) population health initiatives between fiscal years 2019 and 2021. Details output and process measures, outcome measures, and SFP partners for each initiative.
Author(s): Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zachariah Croll, John Gale
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Evaluating State Flex Program Population Health Activities
Provides an overview of the expectations for the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program under Program Area 3: Population Health Improvement and summarizes State Flex Program (SFP) initiatives under this program area. Describes promising population health strategies implemented by SFPs and challenges to measuring the impact of these activities. Explores how Flex Program population health efforts can align with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy Rural Hometown Initiative (HRHI).
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zachariah Croll
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Provides an overview of the expectations for the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program under Program Area 3: Population Health Improvement and summarizes State Flex Program (SFP) initiatives under this program area. Describes promising population health strategies implemented by SFPs and challenges to measuring the impact of these activities. Explores how Flex Program population health efforts can align with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy Rural Hometown Initiative (HRHI).
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zachariah Croll
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Measure Applications Partnership 2021-2022 Considerations for Implementing Measures in Federal Programs: Clinician, Hospital, and Post-Acute Care Long-Term Care
Reviews the 44 pre-rulemaking quality measures the National Quality Forum's Measure Applications Partnership (MAP) considered during the 2021-2022 cycle. Discusses measures for clinician programs, hospital and setting-specific programs, and post-acute care/long-term care programs. Highlights the MAP Rural Health Workgroup's support or determination of the suitability of each measure for rural providers.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Reviews the 44 pre-rulemaking quality measures the National Quality Forum's Measure Applications Partnership (MAP) considered during the 2021-2022 cycle. Discusses measures for clinician programs, hospital and setting-specific programs, and post-acute care/long-term care programs. Highlights the MAP Rural Health Workgroup's support or determination of the suitability of each measure for rural providers.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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