Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health insurance
The Evolution of Private Plans in Medicare
Examines major policy changes affecting Medicare Advantage plans, and the impact of these policies on plan participation, enrollment, average premiums and cost-sharing, total costs to Medicare, and quality of care. Briefly discusses the challenges associate with providing risk-based plans in rural areas.
Author(s): Yash M. Patel, Stuart Guterman
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Examines major policy changes affecting Medicare Advantage plans, and the impact of these policies on plan participation, enrollment, average premiums and cost-sharing, total costs to Medicare, and quality of care. Briefly discusses the challenges associate with providing risk-based plans in rural areas.
Author(s): Yash M. Patel, Stuart Guterman
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Medicaid Payment Policy for Federally Qualified Health Centers
Describes the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Medicaid, and highlights current policy issues related to Medicaid FQHC payment. Also discusses the Medicaid FQHC prospective payment system (PPS), alternative payment methodologies, how FQHCs participate in managed care networks, and states' desire for increased flexibility in setting FQHC payment rates.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Describes the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Medicaid, and highlights current policy issues related to Medicaid FQHC payment. Also discusses the Medicaid FQHC prospective payment system (PPS), alternative payment methodologies, how FQHCs participate in managed care networks, and states' desire for increased flexibility in setting FQHC payment rates.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Physician Supervision Requirements in Critical Access Hospitals and Small Rural Hospitals
Provides background information on Medicare physician supervision requirements, and examines how enforcement of these requirements impacts access to care, quality of care, and staffing needs in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and small rural hospitals. Findings are based on interviews with CMS officials, hospital association representatives, and CAH administrators in several states.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Provides background information on Medicare physician supervision requirements, and examines how enforcement of these requirements impacts access to care, quality of care, and staffing needs in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and small rural hospitals. Findings are based on interviews with CMS officials, hospital association representatives, and CAH administrators in several states.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Tobacco Use and Health Insurance Literacy Among Vulnerable Populations: Implications for Health Reform
Results of a study examining health insurance literacy among tobacco users, with data collected from 631 lower-income, predominantly minority residents of rural Virginia. Features statistics on insurance choice and cost, age, race, education, and tobacco use.
Author(s): Robert T. Braun, Yaniv Hanoch, Andrew J. Barnes
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 17, 729
Date: 11/2017
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Results of a study examining health insurance literacy among tobacco users, with data collected from 631 lower-income, predominantly minority residents of rural Virginia. Features statistics on insurance choice and cost, age, race, education, and tobacco use.
Author(s): Robert T. Braun, Yaniv Hanoch, Andrew J. Barnes
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 17, 729
Date: 11/2017
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Emerging Strategies to Ensure Access to Health Care Services: Emergency Medical Center
Provides an overview of the emergency medical center (EMC) model, which would allow struggling hospitals to convert to EMC status and provide emergency and outpatient services, without having to provide inpatient acute care services. Also outlines rural-specific federal policy proposals that seek to create similar hospital designations, with the goal of improving access to and the delivery of care in underserved communities.
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Provides an overview of the emergency medical center (EMC) model, which would allow struggling hospitals to convert to EMC status and provide emergency and outpatient services, without having to provide inpatient acute care services. Also outlines rural-specific federal policy proposals that seek to create similar hospital designations, with the goal of improving access to and the delivery of care in underserved communities.
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Catalyzing Medicaid-Public Health Collaboration to Reduce Childhood Obesity
Explains cross-sector interventions tested by 5 states - Arizona, Maryland, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas - participating in the Center for Health Care Strategies' Innovations in Childhood Obesity Initiative. Each state profile highlights how Medicaid and public health agencies are using innovative approaches to address childhood obesity in their high-risk communities. The Texas initiative focuses on childhood obesity in the rural, low-income population along the U.S./Mexico border.
Author(s): Alexandra Maul, Stephen A. Somers
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Explains cross-sector interventions tested by 5 states - Arizona, Maryland, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas - participating in the Center for Health Care Strategies' Innovations in Childhood Obesity Initiative. Each state profile highlights how Medicaid and public health agencies are using innovative approaches to address childhood obesity in their high-risk communities. The Texas initiative focuses on childhood obesity in the rural, low-income population along the U.S./Mexico border.
Author(s): Alexandra Maul, Stephen A. Somers
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Comparing the Affordable Care Act's Financial Impact on Safety-Net Hospitals in States That Expanded Medicaid and Those That Did Not
Examines how Medicaid expansion affected the financial health of safety-net hospitals, and compares hospitals in expansion states with hospitals in non-expansion states. Addresses changes in operating margins, Medicaid inpatient days, Medicaid revenues and costs, and uncompensated care costs. Findings are based on data from Medicare's fiscal year 2012-2015 hospital cost reports.
Author(s): Allen Dobson, Joan E. DaVanzo, Randy Haught, Phap-Hoa Luu
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Examines how Medicaid expansion affected the financial health of safety-net hospitals, and compares hospitals in expansion states with hospitals in non-expansion states. Addresses changes in operating margins, Medicaid inpatient days, Medicaid revenues and costs, and uncompensated care costs. Findings are based on data from Medicare's fiscal year 2012-2015 hospital cost reports.
Author(s): Allen Dobson, Joan E. DaVanzo, Randy Haught, Phap-Hoa Luu
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Examining Oral Health Care Utilization and Expenditures for Low-Income Adults
Explores oral health utilization and Medicaid expenditures across the nation. Presents a state-by-state map of Medicaid coverage for adult dental services. Breaks down data by age, race, and rural-urban areas, among other factors.
Author(s): Stacey Chazin, June Glover
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Explores oral health utilization and Medicaid expenditures across the nation. Presents a state-by-state map of Medicaid coverage for adult dental services. Breaks down data by age, race, and rural-urban areas, among other factors.
Author(s): Stacey Chazin, June Glover
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Stepping into the Breach: How States and Insurers Worked Together to Prevent Bare Counties for 2018
Examines 6 states - Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Washington - that faced the prospect of having counties with no participating insurers ahead of the 2018 plan year open enrollment period. Shares insights from interviews with insurers and state regulators, focusing on how administrative and/or legislative actions and media coverage affected insurers' decisions to remain in the Marketplace. Includes a discussion on the challenges associated with risk assessment and rate setting in low-population, rural counties.
Author(s): Kevin Lucia, Jack Hoadley, Sabrina Corlette, Dania Palanker, Olivia Hoppe
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Urban Institute
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Examines 6 states - Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Washington - that faced the prospect of having counties with no participating insurers ahead of the 2018 plan year open enrollment period. Shares insights from interviews with insurers and state regulators, focusing on how administrative and/or legislative actions and media coverage affected insurers' decisions to remain in the Marketplace. Includes a discussion on the challenges associated with risk assessment and rate setting in low-population, rural counties.
Author(s): Kevin Lucia, Jack Hoadley, Sabrina Corlette, Dania Palanker, Olivia Hoppe
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Urban Institute
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Differences in Community Characteristics of Sole Community Hospitals
Findings brief presenting a snapshot of Sole Community Hospitals (SCHs) and their communities in 2015, and identifying trends in characteristics of selected SCHs and their communities from 2006 through 2015. Features statistics including breakdowns by large rural, small rural, and isolated rural location.
Author(s): Sharita R. Thomas, Mark Holmes, George H. Pink
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Findings brief presenting a snapshot of Sole Community Hospitals (SCHs) and their communities in 2015, and identifying trends in characteristics of selected SCHs and their communities from 2006 through 2015. Features statistics including breakdowns by large rural, small rural, and isolated rural location.
Author(s): Sharita R. Thomas, Mark Holmes, George H. Pink
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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