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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Utilization of Z Codes for Social Determinants of Health among a Sample of Medicare Advantage Enrollees, 2017 and 2019
Examines the use of Z codes for social determinants of health in a sample of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees from 2016 through 2019. Identifies the five most-used Z codes among MA enrollees, including the percent of enrollees and claims with these Z codes in 2017 and 2019. Presents data on the proportion of MA enrollees with Z code claims in 2017 and 2019 across demographic characteristics, including rurality, place of service, and provider type.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The Provider Relief Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
Provides an overview of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), which was established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to reimburse eligible health care providers for increased expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19. Offers answers to frequently asked questions regarding how funds have been allocated and provider reporting requirements. Includes information on the relationship between the PRF and funding appropriated through the American Rescue Plan Act for rural providers.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Sliding Fee Scale Discount Guide for CAHs and RHCs
Provides concepts and guidance to help Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and Rural Health Clinic (RHC) executives and management teams develop a sliding fee scale discount program. Addresses how these programs relate to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r) compliance and participation in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Includes an example of a sliding fee schedule.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Learning From COVID-19-Related Flexibilities: Moving Toward More Person-Centered Medicare and Medicaid Programs
Presents a person-centered framework to facilitate policymakers' decisions regarding the future of COVID-19-related temporary regulatory flexibilities. Identifies priority flexibilities that should be considered for permanence, modification, or further evaluation. Covers regulatory flexibilities regarding telehealth, scope of practice, Medicare Advantage requirements, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Health Management Associates, Manatt Health, The Scan Foundation
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March 2022 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) March 2022 meeting. Covers findings from MedPAC's annual beneficiary and clinician focus groups, Medicare payment policies to support safety-net providers, opportunities to strengthen the geriatric workforce, integrating episode-based payment with population-based payment, and improving Medicare Advantage risk adjustment. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Washington Rural Health Clinic Dental Services Toolkit: A Guide to Implementing Dental Services in Washington's Rural Health Clinics
Resource guide to assist Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Washington implement dental services alongside primary care. Covers funding, facility, health information technology, and other considerations related to implementing dental care.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Health
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COVID-19 and the Rural Health Workforce: The Impact of Federal Pandemic Funding to Address Workforce Needs
Policy brief describing workforce challenges faced by rural healthcare delivery systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, and discussing how pre-pandemic financial instability in rural healthcare facilities may have contributed to these challenges. Discusses the availability of federal pandemic funding to address rural health workforce needs, the ability of rural facilities to access and utilize the funding, and the long-term needs of the rural health workforce and delivery system. Addresses telehealth solutions to workforce challenges, and funding sources for mental health needs of health professionals
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, Davis G. Patterson, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Impact of New Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Reimbursement Methodology
Webinar discussing changes to the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) reimbursement methodology, covering upper payment limits and Oklahoma-specific implications of the changes, as well as RHC reimbursement impacts. Part a series of webinars directed toward rural hospital CEOs and CFOs.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Oklahoma Office of Rural Health, Stroudwater Associates
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Hospital Community Benefit Spending in Minnesota, 2016 to 2019: A Report to the Minnesota Legislature
Reports on hospital-based and community benefits spending from 2016 to 2019 that promotes health in Minnesota. Includes geographic breakdowns of information according to isolated small rural town, small town, large rural city, and urban.
Additional links: Data Tables
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Environmental Scan on Issues Related to the Development of Population-Based Total Cost of Care (TCOC) Models in the Broader Context of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and Physician-Focused Payment Models (PFPMs)
Presents results of an environmental scan regarding population-based total cost of care (TCOC) payment models and the role these models can play in optimizing health care delivery and value-based transformation in the context of alternative payment models (APMs) and physician-focused payment models (PFPMs). Provides an overview of TCOC payment models, relevant performance and outcome measures used in reporting and evaluation, findings from research related to population-based models and programs that seek to reduce TCOC, barriers and challenges related to implementing population-based TCOC models, and opportunities for improving and optimizing efforts to develop and implement these models. Highlights rural considerations and examples throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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