Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Financial Impact of COVID-19 on Rural Federally Qualified Health Centers
Infographic describing the estimated financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and the communities they serve between April 2020 and June 2021.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Infographic describing the estimated financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and the communities they serve between April 2020 and June 2021.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Rural Federally Qualified Health Centers Financial and Operational Performance Analysis 2016-2019
Examines financial and operational characteristics of rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Explores FQHC patient and payer mix, revenue and growth mix, financial performance, quality of care, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Examines financial and operational characteristics of rural Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Explores FQHC patient and payer mix, revenue and growth mix, financial performance, quality of care, and more. Compares data on rural FQHCs to urban and national FQHC data.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Health, United States, 2019
Presents an annual overview of national trends in health statistics. Covers health status and determinants, healthcare utilization, access, and expenditures. Includes rural data - see the Trend Tables Data Finder and select "Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan" under Population Subgroups.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Presents an annual overview of national trends in health statistics. Covers health status and determinants, healthcare utilization, access, and expenditures. Includes rural data - see the Trend Tables Data Finder and select "Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan" under Population Subgroups.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Public Law 116–260: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
Text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 (December 27, 2020). Section 125 establishes the Rural Emergency Hospital designation. Section 127 makes changes to direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect GME payments to teaching hospitals that train residents in Rural Training Programs.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 (December 27, 2020). Section 125 establishes the Rural Emergency Hospital designation. Section 127 makes changes to direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect GME payments to teaching hospitals that train residents in Rural Training Programs.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Behavioral Health Barometer: United States, Volume 6
Provides a broad overview of behavioral health in the U.S. with an emphasis on illicit drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, as well as the estimated percentage of people living with serious mental illness. Breaks down data by demographic information, such as age, sex, and others, as well as by metro or nonmetro location. Data is from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Provides a broad overview of behavioral health in the U.S. with an emphasis on illicit drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, as well as the estimated percentage of people living with serious mental illness. Breaks down data by demographic information, such as age, sex, and others, as well as by metro or nonmetro location. Data is from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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December 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2020 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on expanding the post-acute care transfer policy to hospice, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, physician and other health professional services, hospice services, and a status report and benchmark policy option on the Medicare Advantage program. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2020 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on expanding the post-acute care transfer policy to hospice, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, physician and other health professional services, hospice services, and a status report and benchmark policy option on the Medicare Advantage program. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Hospital Closures: Affected Residents Had Reduced Access to Health Care Services
Examines the effects of rural hospital closures on rural residents. Discusses the distance residents in the service areas of closed facilities had to travel to access common healthcare services between 2012 and 2018, as well as the availability of providers over time. Compares the health status of Medicare beneficiaries in services areas with and without hospital closures.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the effects of rural hospital closures on rural residents. Discusses the distance residents in the service areas of closed facilities had to travel to access common healthcare services between 2012 and 2018, as well as the availability of providers over time. Compares the health status of Medicare beneficiaries in services areas with and without hospital closures.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural Health Clinics Modernization Policy Explained
Recording of a webinar (updated December 31, 2020) providing an overview of statutory revisions to the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) payment methodology. Explains the impact of the changes on both capped and uncapped RHCs. Includes information on telehealth reimbursement for RHCs. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Bill Finerfrock, Nathan Baugh
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a webinar (updated December 31, 2020) providing an overview of statutory revisions to the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) payment methodology. Explains the impact of the changes on both capped and uncapped RHCs. Includes information on telehealth reimbursement for RHCs. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Bill Finerfrock, Nathan Baugh
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Could Improve Its Wage Index Adjustment for Hospitals in Areas With the Lowest Wages
Analyzes characteristics of hospitals with area wage indexes (AWI) in the bottom quartile in 2020, including rurality, geography, Medicaid expansion status, and hourly wages. Provides an overview of the hospital wage index system and AWI, circularity, and the impact of these policies on prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals. Offers policy recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding future adjustments.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Analyzes characteristics of hospitals with area wage indexes (AWI) in the bottom quartile in 2020, including rurality, geography, Medicaid expansion status, and hourly wages. Provides an overview of the hospital wage index system and AWI, circularity, and the impact of these policies on prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals. Offers policy recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding future adjustments.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Indian Health Service Facilities Made Progress Incorporating Patient Protection Policies, but Challenges Remain
Assesses Indian Health Service (IHS) facility implementation of policies to protect children from sexual abuse by providers. Identifies challenges to carrying out the policies. Also discusses barriers that might prevent staff and patients from reporting abuse. Includes recommendations to IHS to further protect patients from abuse. Recommendations address training and guidance, background checks, abuse reporting processes, and monitoring of facility compliance.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Assesses Indian Health Service (IHS) facility implementation of policies to protect children from sexual abuse by providers. Identifies challenges to carrying out the policies. Also discusses barriers that might prevent staff and patients from reporting abuse. Includes recommendations to IHS to further protect patients from abuse. Recommendations address training and guidance, background checks, abuse reporting processes, and monitoring of facility compliance.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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