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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

How North Dakota Uses 1915(i) to Provide Supportive Services to People with Behavioral Health Conditions in Rural Areas
Describes how the North Dakota Department of Human Services utilizes the Medicaid 1915(i) state plan authority to fill gaps in community-based services for beneficiaries with behavioral health conditions. Highlights how the program addresses challenges to delivering services in rural areas.
Author(s): Emily Brostek, Neva Kaye
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Following Labor and Delivery Unit Closures in Rural New Hampshire, Driving Time to the Nearest Unit Doubled
Examines the impact of the closure of 9 labor and delivery units in rural New Hampshire on the driving time to open units between 2000 and 2018. Explores the association between proximity to an open labor and delivery unit and women's health and socioeconomic characteristics.
Author(s): Stacey McMorrow, Sarah Benatar, Timothy J. Fisher
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Caring for America: Legislation to Support Patients, Caregivers, and Providers
Recording of a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing on legislation related to funding for behavioral and mental health services for the healthcare workforce; a loan repayment program for local, state, and tribal public health professionals; increasing diversity in allied health professions; improving health outcomes in underserved communities through the use of community health workers; and more. Includes testimony from the National Association of County and City Health Officials, Augusta University, Ballad Health, and others.
Additional links: Alan Levine, Ballad Health - Testimony, Brooks A. Keel, Augusta University - Testimony, Lisa Macon Harrison, National Association of County and City Health Officials - Testimony
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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2021 CMS Hospital Quality Star Ratings of Rural Hospitals
Results of a study comparing the 2021 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Quality Star Rating results for rural and urban hospitals, comparing the 2021 and 2016 results for rural hospitals, and identifying implications for the usefulness of these ratings for rural hospitals. Features statistics including percentages of hospitals by Star Ratings with breakdowns by urban or rural location, and numbers of unrated rural hospitals by Medicare payment classification, net patient revenue, and census region.
Author(s): Laura Bozovich, Randall John, Kristie Thompson, George H. Pink
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Behavioral Health Equity Report 2021
Provides a breakdown and discussion of data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019. Details youth and adult mental health and substance use indicators by race and ethnicity, income level, and metro or nonmetro county, among others.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Fourth Evaluation Report: Next Generation Accountable Care Organization Model Evaluation
Reports on implementation experiences and outcomes for 41 Next Generation Accountable Care Organizations (NGACOs) that participated in the model in the 2019 performance year. Evaluates findings of the model to date by NGACO cohort. Also presents information on model-wide, cohort-level, and NGACO-level impacts on Medicare spending, utilization, and quality of care. Includes information on the extent to which NGACOs served rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Driving Health System Transformation - A Strategy for the CMS Innovation Center's Second Decade
White paper describing the new vision and strategic objectives for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center) for the next 10 years that seeks to achieve equitable health outcomes through the provision of high-quality, affordable, person-centered care. Shares beneficiary and healthcare provider goals for each strategic objective in Table 2. Strategic objectives include: driving accountable care, advancing health equity, supporting innovation, addressing affordability, and partnering to achieve healthcare system transformation. Includes discussion on models focused on improving rural health and ways of increasing participation in those models for rural and underserved populations.
Additional links: At a Glance
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The Association Between System Affiliation and Financial Performance in Critical Access Hospitals
Examines the association between Critical Access Hospital (CAH) health system affiliation and financial performance as measured by the Critical Access Hospital Measurement and Performance Assessment System (CAHMPAS). Discusses trends in health system affiliation as an alternative to closures as well as potential downsides of affiliation.
Author(s): Laura Bozovich, Kathleen Knocke, George Pink, Ann Howard, Kristin L. Reiter
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Partnerships, Mergers, and Acquisitions Can Provide Benefits to Certain Hospitals and Communities
Discusses challenges hospitals may face to increasing the scale of operations. Describes how partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions can help prevent hospital closure and preserve access, enhance patient care, and reduce costs. Includes examples of how four acquired hospitals in rural communities benefited from capital investments and improvements.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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COVID-19 Contracting: Indian Health Service Used Flexibilities to Meet Increased Medical Supply Needs
Examines the Indian Health Service (IHS) National Supply Service Center (NSSC) contract obligations to obtain COVID-19-related products and medical supplies. Describes the contracting approaches used and challenges IHS officials faced.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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