Evaluation of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration: Report Covering 2005-2017 (Interim Report 1)
Provides an overview of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD). Describes the characteristics of RCHD participants that entered the demonstration between 2005-2012, the Medicare payments received under program, and the impact of the RCHD on hospital finances between 2005-2017.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs for CY 2022
Comments on an August 4, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2022. Includes considerations for Rural Emergency Hospital payments and emergency department staffing requirements.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Air Ambulance Use and Surprise Billing
Provides an overview of air ambulance services, including the types and number of air ambulance providers and suppliers, utilization rates by patients, average costs, and the potential for balance billing for air ambulance transport. Summarizes key policies and legislation related to air ambulances, including the No Surprises Act. Presents data on air ambulance utilization by rurality between 2014-2018.
Author(s): Gina Turrini, Joel Ruhter, Andre R. Chappel, Nancy De Lew
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2022
Comment on a July 23, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of the expansion of telehealth service coverage after the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as reimbursement rates to Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers for telehealth mental health services.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Changes in Socioeconomic Mix and Health Outcomes in Rural Counties with Hospital Closures, 2005-2018
Explores changes in socioeconomic mix and health outcomes that occurred in micropolitan and noncore counties with and without a complete hospital closure between 2005-2018, using the 2013 National Center for Health Statistics Rural Classification Scheme for Counties. Features statistics on number of counties that experienced hospital closures, percentage of hospital closures by Medicaid expansion status, trends in area unemployment and poverty rates and proportion of non-white residents across counties by closure status, and mortality rates, with breakdowns by micropolitan and noncore areas.
Author(s): Nathaniel Bell, Peiyin Hung, Kewei Shi, et al.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Geographic Access to Health Care for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries: A National Study
Policy brief exploring rural and urban healthcare, geographic access to providers, and types of providers seen by Medicare beneficiaries based on Medicare administrative data from 2014. Charts offer rural and urban comparisons of characteristics of beneficiaries, number of visits by region, number of visits by race/ethnicity, visits by provider type, and travel distance and time.
Author(s): Eric H. Larson, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lisa A. Garberson, David V. Evans
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Medicare Covers a Lower Percentage of Outpatient Costs in Hospitals Located in Rural Areas
Policy brief describing differences in Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) payments between urban and rural hospitals. Features statistics on OPPS payments as a percent of total net patient revenue, as a percent of Medicare outpatient cost by hospital payment classification, and as a percent of Medicare outpatient cost by number of acute beds, with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Pranathi Sana, George H. Pink
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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CMS Innovation Center COVID-19 Flexibilities
Shares flexibilities and adjustments to current and future Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) models in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Addresses changes related to financial methodologies, quality reporting, and model timelines.
Additional links: CMS Model Flexibilities Table
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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CMS Open Door Forum Podcast and Transcripts
Provides audio recordings and transcripts of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Door Forum calls since October 2016, including the Rural Health Open Door Forums and COVID-19 stakeholder calls.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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COVID-19 Demographic and Economic Resources
Provides access to U.S. Census Bureau data useful in pandemic-related decision-making, as well as data from other federal agencies. Offers state and county impact planning reports that provide sociodemographic data, including data on at-risk populations, poverty, and health insurance coverage. Also provides data on businesses and employment.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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