Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health insurance
Hospital Price Transparency: What Hospitals Need to Know
Webinar recording presenting part one of a discussion on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital price transparency requirements that went into effect on January 1, 2024. Features a presentation and discussion from a CMS representative.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Webinar recording presenting part one of a discussion on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital price transparency requirements that went into effect on January 1, 2024. Features a presentation and discussion from a CMS representative.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Ground Ambulance Industry Trends, 2017–2022: Analysis of Medicare Fee-for-Service Claims
Explores whether ground ambulance organizations have changed between 2017 and 2022. Examines trends in the number of ground ambulance transports paid for by traditional fee-for-service Medicare, the characteristics of organizations billing Medicare for these services, the most common diagnosis codes reported on Medicare ground ambulance claims, and the share of transports to or from an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facility. Discusses how the growth in Medicare Advantage enrollment could impact the volume of traditional Medicare ground ambulance transports. Includes data on ground ambulance transports by service area population density.
Author(s): Petra W. Rasmussen, Jonathan Cantor, Jennifer Gildner, Sara Heins, Andrew W. Mulcahy
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RAND Corporation
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Explores whether ground ambulance organizations have changed between 2017 and 2022. Examines trends in the number of ground ambulance transports paid for by traditional fee-for-service Medicare, the characteristics of organizations billing Medicare for these services, the most common diagnosis codes reported on Medicare ground ambulance claims, and the share of transports to or from an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facility. Discusses how the growth in Medicare Advantage enrollment could impact the volume of traditional Medicare ground ambulance transports. Includes data on ground ambulance transports by service area population density.
Author(s): Petra W. Rasmussen, Jonathan Cantor, Jennifer Gildner, Sara Heins, Andrew W. Mulcahy
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RAND Corporation
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Annual Insurance Update 2024: Health Insurance in Kansas
Reports on health insurance coverage across Kansas and nationwide, including 2009-2022 trends in coverage. Presents 2021 county-level data on uninsured rates by age group and urban/rural classification, as well as Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment by county.
Author(s): Angela S Wu, Kaci Cink, Cynthia Snyder, Wen-Chieh Lin
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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Reports on health insurance coverage across Kansas and nationwide, including 2009-2022 trends in coverage. Presents 2021 county-level data on uninsured rates by age group and urban/rural classification, as well as Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment by county.
Author(s): Angela S Wu, Kaci Cink, Cynthia Snyder, Wen-Chieh Lin
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Health Institute
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North Carolina Medicaid Expansion: A Rural Perspective
Reports on expanded Medicaid coverage in rural North Carolina using state-level monthly enrollment data. Compares expansion enrollment in rural, suburban, and urban counties, and evaluates whether enrollment is associated with poverty at the county level.
Author(s): Dalton Bailey
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Center
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Reports on expanded Medicaid coverage in rural North Carolina using state-level monthly enrollment data. Compares expansion enrollment in rural, suburban, and urban counties, and evaluates whether enrollment is associated with poverty at the county level.
Author(s): Dalton Bailey
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Center
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Reconsidering and Measuring Patient Access in Medicaid
Discusses ways to measure patient access and coverage of those enrolled in Medicaid, focusing on their insurance plan quality, reimbursement rates, and clinician networks. Considers policy impacts on rural areas.
Author(s): Benjamin D. Sommers, Renuka Tipirneni
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(4)
Date: 04/2024
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Discusses ways to measure patient access and coverage of those enrolled in Medicaid, focusing on their insurance plan quality, reimbursement rates, and clinician networks. Considers policy impacts on rural areas.
Author(s): Benjamin D. Sommers, Renuka Tipirneni
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(4)
Date: 04/2024
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April 2024 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2024 meeting. Covers telehealth in Medicare, alternative approaches to lowering Medicare payments for select conditions in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, approaches for updating the Medicare physician fee schedule, initial findings from an analysis of Medicare Part B payment rates and 340B ceiling prices, and more. Includes discussion of telehealth in rural areas and data on telehealth use in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) between 2020 and 2022.
Additional links: Telehealth in Medicare: Status Report - Presentation Slides
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2024 meeting. Covers telehealth in Medicare, alternative approaches to lowering Medicare payments for select conditions in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, approaches for updating the Medicare physician fee schedule, initial findings from an analysis of Medicare Part B payment rates and 340B ceiling prices, and more. Includes discussion of telehealth in rural areas and data on telehealth use in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) between 2020 and 2022.
Additional links: Telehealth in Medicare: Status Report - Presentation Slides
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Survey Emphasizes Scale and Significance of the RHC Program
Summarizes results of a 2024 national survey of 930 Rural Health Clinics. Presents data on the average payer mix, use and attitude toward telehealth services, Medicare Advantage (MA) contract structures, and MA reimbursement relative to traditional Medicare reimbursement, and more.
Additional links: NARHC 2024 Policy Survey Results
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Summarizes results of a 2024 national survey of 930 Rural Health Clinics. Presents data on the average payer mix, use and attitude toward telehealth services, Medicare Advantage (MA) contract structures, and MA reimbursement relative to traditional Medicare reimbursement, and more.
Additional links: NARHC 2024 Policy Survey Results
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Transforming Oral Health Care in North Carolina
Makes recommendations for improving oral health access, supporting oral care workforce and providers, and promoting oral health quality and equity in North Carolina. Discusses oral health in rural and underserved areas throughout, including coverage of workforce distribution, dental safety net, and access barriers.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Institute of Medicine
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Makes recommendations for improving oral health access, supporting oral care workforce and providers, and promoting oral health quality and equity in North Carolina. Discusses oral health in rural and underserved areas throughout, including coverage of workforce distribution, dental safety net, and access barriers.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Institute of Medicine
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Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting Final Rule (CMS 3442-F)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule for minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. Details three core staffing proposals: 1) minimum nurse staffing standards; 2) a requirement to have an RN onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and 3) enhanced facility assessment requirements. Outlines a staggered implementation approach, including a later implementation date for rural facilities, and hardship exemption qualification requirements. Also describes Medicaid payment transparency reporting provisions for nursing and intermediate care facilities related to the percentage of Medicaid funds spent on compensation to direct care workers and support staff.
Additional links: External FAQs
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule for minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. Details three core staffing proposals: 1) minimum nurse staffing standards; 2) a requirement to have an RN onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and 3) enhanced facility assessment requirements. Outlines a staggered implementation approach, including a later implementation date for rural facilities, and hardship exemption qualification requirements. Also describes Medicaid payment transparency reporting provisions for nursing and intermediate care facilities related to the percentage of Medicaid funds spent on compensation to direct care workers and support staff.
Additional links: External FAQs
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Quality in Motion: Acting on the CMS National Quality Strategy
Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2022 National Quality Strategy (NQS). Describes actions CMS has taken to meet the eight NQS goals across four priority areas: outcomes and alignment, equity and engagement, safety and resiliency, and interoperability and scientific achievement. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2022 National Quality Strategy (NQS). Describes actions CMS has taken to meet the eight NQS goals across four priority areas: outcomes and alignment, equity and engagement, safety and resiliency, and interoperability and scientific achievement. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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