Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Critical Access Hospitals
Evaluation of the Use of CAH Cohorts for Quality Improvement Activities
Describes how State Flex Programs (SFPs) use cohorts of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in quality improvement initiatives. Discusses the benefits and challenges of CAH cohorts, how SFPs are evaluating the impact of these initiatives, and opportunities to enhance the use of cohorts in Flex Program activities. Includes findings from interviews with six SFPs.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Nathan First
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Describes how State Flex Programs (SFPs) use cohorts of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in quality improvement initiatives. Discusses the benefits and challenges of CAH cohorts, how SFPs are evaluating the impact of these initiatives, and opportunities to enhance the use of cohorts in Flex Program activities. Includes findings from interviews with six SFPs.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Nathan First
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2021
Reports on five aspects of Medicaid: 1) improving Medicaid's responsiveness during economic downturns; 2) addressing concerns about high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality; 3) reexamining Medicaid's estate recovery policies; 4) integrating care for people who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare; and 5) improving hospital payment policy for the nation's safety-net hospitals. Chapter 5 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 5-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Reports on five aspects of Medicaid: 1) improving Medicaid's responsiveness during economic downturns; 2) addressing concerns about high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality; 3) reexamining Medicaid's estate recovery policies; 4) integrating care for people who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare; and 5) improving hospital payment policy for the nation's safety-net hospitals. Chapter 5 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 5-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Innovations and Workforce Challenges for CAHs during COVID-19
Presents results from a survey of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) on hospital operation and workforce adaptations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses innovative practices adopted by CAHs related to hospital processes and clinical care. Describes how CAHs overcame workforce challenges during COVID-19.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Keelia Silvis, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents results from a survey of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) on hospital operation and workforce adaptations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses innovative practices adopted by CAHs related to hospital processes and clinical care. Describes how CAHs overcame workforce challenges during COVID-19.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Keelia Silvis, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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CAH Partnerships During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presents findings from a survey of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in eight states on how they partnered with communities and public health agencies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the type of support CAHs received from their State Flex Program (SFP).
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Keelia Silvis, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents findings from a survey of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in eight states on how they partnered with communities and public health agencies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the type of support CAHs received from their State Flex Program (SFP).
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Keelia Silvis, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Monitoring State Flex Program Financial and Operational Improvement Activities
Presents the results of a qualitative evaluation of State Flex Program interventions implemented under Program Area 2: Financial and Operational Improvement (FOI). Describes the type of projects proposed by a subset of 14 State Flex Programs, key themes, and challenges faced to monitoring and documenting these interventions on financial and operational performance. Includes an inventory of all 45 State Flex Program FOI initiatives.
Author(s): John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zachariah Croll, Nathan First
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents the results of a qualitative evaluation of State Flex Program interventions implemented under Program Area 2: Financial and Operational Improvement (FOI). Describes the type of projects proposed by a subset of 14 State Flex Programs, key themes, and challenges faced to monitoring and documenting these interventions on financial and operational performance. Includes an inventory of all 45 State Flex Program FOI initiatives.
Author(s): John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zachariah Croll, Nathan First
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Rural Initiatives Addressing Community Social Needs
Describes the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in improving population health and addressing social needs in their communities. Profiles two Critical Access Hospital social needs programs: Lakewood Health System's food access initiatives in Minnesota, and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital's NEK Prosper. Provides an overview of both programs and highlights best practices of each.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Describes the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in improving population health and addressing social needs in their communities. Profiles two Critical Access Hospital social needs programs: Lakewood Health System's food access initiatives in Minnesota, and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital's NEK Prosper. Provides an overview of both programs and highlights best practices of each.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Critical Access Hospital Requirements: CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule
Provides a reference source for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) requirements related to the final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), "Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers." Includes excerpts from the final rule as well as related CMS interpretive guidelines for CAHs. Addresses the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Provides a reference source for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) requirements related to the final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), "Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers." Includes excerpts from the final rule as well as related CMS interpretive guidelines for CAHs. Addresses the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Opioid and Substance Use Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals
Recording of a February 26, 2021, webinar discussing the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in addressing opioid and substance use disorders (O/SUDs) in local systems of care. Provides a framework to support CAH opioid and substance use initiatives. Highlights examples of O/SUD activities taken by CAHs and offers lessons learned.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Recording of a February 26, 2021, webinar discussing the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in addressing opioid and substance use disorders (O/SUDs) in local systems of care. Provides a framework to support CAH opioid and substance use initiatives. Highlights examples of O/SUD activities taken by CAHs and offers lessons learned.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Partnering to Improve Birth Outcomes in a Rural Community: Kearny County Hospital, Lakin, KS
Highlights the Pioneer Baby program, a partnership between Kearny County Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in rural Lakin, Kansas, and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. Discusses how funding from grants and local employers enhanced the obstetrics program. Describes how the partnership worked to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and presents lessons learned.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Highlights the Pioneer Baby program, a partnership between Kearny County Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in rural Lakin, Kansas, and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. Discusses how funding from grants and local employers enhanced the obstetrics program. Describes how the partnership worked to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and presents lessons learned.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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MBQIP Quality Measures National Annual Report - 2019
Summarizes quality measure reporting rates and performance among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2019. Presents data on the four Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) domains: patient safety/inpatient, outpatient, patient engagement, and care transitions.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Madeleine Pick, Tongtan Chantarat, Nathan Bean, Ira Moscovice
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Summarizes quality measure reporting rates and performance among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2019. Presents data on the four Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) domains: patient safety/inpatient, outpatient, patient engagement, and care transitions.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Madeleine Pick, Tongtan Chantarat, Nathan Bean, Ira Moscovice
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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