Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health insurance
Rural Hospital Closures Reduce Access to Emergency Care
Recognizes the importance of hospital and emergency care services in providing healthcare in rural communities, and discusses the current hospital closure rate. Uses federal data to compare the financial viability of rural and urban hospitals, and the availability of emergency care in rural communities. Suggests policy recommendations for improving access to healthcare and emergency care for rural populations.
Author(s): Tarun Ramesh, Emily Gee
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Recognizes the importance of hospital and emergency care services in providing healthcare in rural communities, and discusses the current hospital closure rate. Uses federal data to compare the financial viability of rural and urban hospitals, and the availability of emergency care in rural communities. Suggests policy recommendations for improving access to healthcare and emergency care for rural populations.
Author(s): Tarun Ramesh, Emily Gee
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Medicaid Expansion in Texas: Potential Economic and Employment Implications
Compares the findings of a survey of low-income adults in Texas – a non-expansion Medicaid state – with the findings from surveys of low-income populations living in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana – states having expanded Medicaid to assess the economic impact on their families and their state.
Author(s): Lucy Chen, Joy Madubuonwu, Caroline Pecos-Duarte, Benjamin D. Sommers
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Compares the findings of a survey of low-income adults in Texas – a non-expansion Medicaid state – with the findings from surveys of low-income populations living in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana – states having expanded Medicaid to assess the economic impact on their families and their state.
Author(s): Lucy Chen, Joy Madubuonwu, Caroline Pecos-Duarte, Benjamin D. Sommers
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Factors that Influence Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment
Results of a study examining factors that influence access to medication-assisted treatment and substance use disorder treatment, including rural location, stigma, shortage of providers, and insurance coverage. Uses data from an electronic survey distributed to 59 State Opioid Treatment Authorities or Single State Authorities in the spring of 2019.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Dana Foney, Shannon Mace
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organizations: National Council for Mental Wellbeing, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Results of a study examining factors that influence access to medication-assisted treatment and substance use disorder treatment, including rural location, stigma, shortage of providers, and insurance coverage. Uses data from an electronic survey distributed to 59 State Opioid Treatment Authorities or Single State Authorities in the spring of 2019.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Dana Foney, Shannon Mace
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organizations: National Council for Mental Wellbeing, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Medicaid: Efforts to Identify, Predict, or Manage High-Expenditure Beneficiaries
Describes strategies used in 7 states to manage beneficiaries' healthcare costs while ensuring quality care, and lists resources the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides to help states identify, predict, and manage high-expenditure beneficiaries. Discusses effects of social determinants of health and staff shortages in rural areas. Includes statistics for Medicaid expenditures among beneficiaries enrolled only in Medicaid, for fiscal years 2009-2011.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes strategies used in 7 states to manage beneficiaries' healthcare costs while ensuring quality care, and lists resources the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides to help states identify, predict, and manage high-expenditure beneficiaries. Discusses effects of social determinants of health and staff shortages in rural areas. Includes statistics for Medicaid expenditures among beneficiaries enrolled only in Medicaid, for fiscal years 2009-2011.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project Guide: A Rural Hospital Guide to Improving Care Management: 2019 Update
A guide for rural hospital leadership that identifies best practices in care management. Addresses care management roles and staffing needs and covers utilization review and discharge planning. Helps identify opportunities for process improvement. Also discusses competencies needed to transition to a value-based reimbursement environment focused on population health.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Stroudwater Associates
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A guide for rural hospital leadership that identifies best practices in care management. Addresses care management roles and staffing needs and covers utilization review and discharge planning. Helps identify opportunities for process improvement. Also discusses competencies needed to transition to a value-based reimbursement environment focused on population health.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Stroudwater Associates
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The Evolving Policy Landscape of Telehealth Services Delivered in the Home and Other Nonclinical Settings
Issue brief identifying key findings for state officials considering adopting new policies for home-based telehealth services. Describes Medicaid and Medicare coverage for telehealth services, including those provided in rural and Health Professional Shortage Areas, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Health Clinics.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Andrea Bennett, Valerie King
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Issue brief identifying key findings for state officials considering adopting new policies for home-based telehealth services. Describes Medicaid and Medicare coverage for telehealth services, including those provided in rural and Health Professional Shortage Areas, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Health Clinics.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Andrea Bennett, Valerie King
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the CY 2020 Home Health PPS Update and Home Infusion Therapy
Comments on a July 18, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments addressing the proposed rural add-on payments for calendar years 2019 through 2022.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a July 18, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments addressing the proposed rural add-on payments for calendar years 2019 through 2022.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Medi-Cal Telehealth Updated Policy
Summarizes a California Department of Health Care Services telehealth policy update for the Medi-Cal fee-for-service program. Highlights key changes related to the definitions, reimbursable services, e-consults, and more.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Summarizes a California Department of Health Care Services telehealth policy update for the Medi-Cal fee-for-service program. Highlights key changes related to the definitions, reimbursable services, e-consults, and more.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Examining Rural Cancer Prevention and Control Efforts: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of issues related to cancer in rural areas, including barriers to accessing cancer care. Describes federal programs that support and enhance national and rural cancer control efforts, including funding, and offers policy recommendations. Features statistics on average annual percent change in cancer mortality rates from 2006-2015, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Includes a U.S. map showing locations of cancer centers that received Rural Cancer Control Supplements grants in 2018.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Provides an overview of issues related to cancer in rural areas, including barriers to accessing cancer care. Describes federal programs that support and enhance national and rural cancer control efforts, including funding, and offers policy recommendations. Features statistics on average annual percent change in cancer mortality rates from 2006-2015, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Includes a U.S. map showing locations of cancer centers that received Rural Cancer Control Supplements grants in 2018.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Supportive Services and Caregiving for Older Rural Adults: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of current supportive services and caregiving policies for rural older adults, in terms of availability, accessibility, and acceptability of services. Explores topics including long-term services and supports, telehealth, care coordination, transportation, stigma, and unpaid caregivers, and describes federal programs for older adults. Offers policy recommendations and considerations.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Provides an overview of current supportive services and caregiving policies for rural older adults, in terms of availability, accessibility, and acceptability of services. Explores topics including long-term services and supports, telehealth, care coordination, transportation, stigma, and unpaid caregivers, and describes federal programs for older adults. Offers policy recommendations and considerations.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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