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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health insurance

Rural Health Care Costs: Are They Higher and Why Might They Differ from Urban Health Care Costs?
Explores issues surrounding healthcare costs and investigates differences between rural and urban expenditures. Includes statistics on Medicare fee-for-service expenditures in 2014 with breakdowns by metropolitan and non-metropolitan status.
Author(s): Dunc Williams, Mark Holmes
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 79(1), 51-55
Date: 01/2018
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Distance and Networks: A Regional Analysis of Health Insurance Marketplaces
Examines whether Rating Area design and network adequacy standards have contributed to the level of success of Health Insurance Marketplaces (HIMs) in rural areas in terms of enrollment and affordability. Uses 2015-2016 data from 15 Midwestern states, on participation, premiums, and enrollment success.
Author(s): Abigail R. Barker, Alena R. Wheeler, Leah M. Kemper, Timothy D. McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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2018 OPPS Medicare Part B Payment Impact Analysis
Examines how changes to the CY 2018 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) will impact hospitals' net Part B payments. Discusses the payment reduction for drugs purchased through the 340B Program and how the reduction will affect rural and urban hospitals. Includes a state-by-state analysis of aggregate impacts.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Avalere
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Taking Stock: Policy Opportunities for Advancing Rural Health
Examines the progress of health system transformation and discusses the challenges that remain for rural people, places, and providers. Organized around seven main topics: Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, insurance coverage and affordability, quality, healthcare finance and system transformation, workforce, and population health. Provides background information on each topic and shares policy suggestions for addressing each topic's most pressing issues.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Charles Alfero, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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An Interim Evaluation Report of the Innovative Projects Portfolio of the Medicare Flex Grant Program
Provides background on the Flex Program and the Integration of Innovative Health Care Models (Innovative Projects) program area. Evaluates the impact of the Innovative Projects program area across seven participating states, focusing on activities involving the transition to value-based care, telehealth, care coordination, quality improvement, and system delivery in rural communities. Final implementation results are described in Implementation and Early Results of the Flex Program's Innovative Models Program Area: Final Evaluation Report.
Author(s): Sara Kahn-Troster, John Gale, Anush Hansen, Andrew Coburn
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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How Can My Organization Connect Children to Coverage? A Guide to Fundamentals and Promising Practices
Includes strategies for enrolling children part of hard-to-reach groups in Medicaid or CHIP, such as rural children, low-income, teenaged, and other demographic groups. Discusses outreach and supporting capacities, such as making contact with target populations and fostering trust in communities.
Author(s): Leslie Foster, Frank Martin
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, InsureKidsNow.gov
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The Impact of the Vermont Support and Services at Home Program on Healthcare Expenditures
The Support and Services at Home (SASH) program helps rural and urban program participants access healthcare and support services in order to maintain their health and age securely and safely in their homes. Report estimates the impact of the Vermont SASH program on Medicare expenditures.
Author(s): Amy Kandilov, Vince Keyes, Martijn van Hasselt, et al.
Citation: Cityscape, 20(2)
Date: 2018
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Handbook for Examining the Effects of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Brokerages on Transportation Coordination
Details the background and highlights models of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for Medicaid beneficiaries. Includes information for human services and public transportation to coordinate with NEMT. Features a companion document that breaks down NEMT by state.
Additional links: Read Online, State-by-State Profiles for Examining the Effects of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Brokerages on Transportation Coordination
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organizations: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Transportation Research Board
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Cost of Practice Transformation in Primary Care: Joining an Accountable Care Organization
Examines the cost of becoming part of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) using data from over 800 RHCs in nine states. Compares the cost per patient of RHCs that were part of the Medicare Shared Savings Program to a similar group of RHCs that were not part of the program.
Author(s): Richard Hofler, Judith Ortiz, Brian Cote
Citation: Journal of Health Care Finance, 44(3), 1-16
Date: 2018
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Connected Care Toolkit: Chronic Care Management Resources for Health Care Professionals and Communities
A guide for healthcare professionals to support them in offering chronic care management (CCM) services. Provides links to CMS resources, including guides targeted to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Also includes educational materials to help patients understand CCM services.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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