Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Public Law 116-136: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020). Outlines telehealth flexibilities to support providers and enhance access to care during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Among other things, the CARES Act allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to serve as distant sites to provide telehealth services to patients in their homes during the public health emergency (PHE); establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP); extends the ability to order home health services to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse specialists; and provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the provision of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020). Outlines telehealth flexibilities to support providers and enhance access to care during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Among other things, the CARES Act allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to serve as distant sites to provide telehealth services to patients in their homes during the public health emergency (PHE); establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP); extends the ability to order home health services to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse specialists; and provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the provision of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Population Health in the State of North Dakota
Presents a number of measures of population health in North Dakota. Highlights data on age, poverty, and insurance coverage, among other measures, in rural and urban areas across the state.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
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Presents a number of measures of population health in North Dakota. Highlights data on age, poverty, and insurance coverage, among other measures, in rural and urban areas across the state.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
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Second Report to Congress: Social Risk Factors and Performance in Medicare's Value-Based Purchasing Programs
Analyzes the effect of individuals' social risk factors on quality measures, resource utilization, and other Medicare program measures using Medicare and non-Medicare data sources. Describes how Medicare value-based purchasing (VBP) programs impact providers who serve socially at-risk beneficiaries. Categorizes rurality as a social risk factor. Explores emerging trends among providers addressing social risk factors through cooperation with social services and community-based organizations. Offers policy recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to account for social risk factors in VBP programs and achieve better outcomes for those with social risk factors. Second of two reports required by the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014. See the first report.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Analyzes the effect of individuals' social risk factors on quality measures, resource utilization, and other Medicare program measures using Medicare and non-Medicare data sources. Describes how Medicare value-based purchasing (VBP) programs impact providers who serve socially at-risk beneficiaries. Categorizes rurality as a social risk factor. Explores emerging trends among providers addressing social risk factors through cooperation with social services and community-based organizations. Offers policy recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to account for social risk factors in VBP programs and achieve better outcomes for those with social risk factors. Second of two reports required by the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014. See the first report.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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MACPAC Response to Senate Finance Committee Request for Information on Maternal Health
Summarizes the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) examination of the role of Medicaid in maternity care. Describes results of its analysis of Medicaid-financed maternity care and program performance, an inventory of Medicaid policies, and plans to analyze policy solutions. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Summarizes the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) examination of the role of Medicaid in maternity care. Describes results of its analysis of Medicaid-financed maternity care and program performance, an inventory of Medicaid policies, and plans to analyze policy solutions. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Interim Evaluation of California's Public Hospital Redesign and Incentives in Medi‐Cal (PRIME) Program
Reports on California's Public Hospital Redesign and Incentives in Medi-Cal Program (PRIME), approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to modify Medicaid programs and implement innovative delivery reforms. PRIME uses evidence-based quality improvement methods that require hospitals to establish performance baselines, institute targets for improvement, and evaluate the success of quality improvement interventions on an ongoing basis. The analysis of the program included 52 designated public hospitals and district/municipal hospitals, with 17 of the latter being Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Author(s): Nadereh Pourat, Xiao Chen, Ana E. Martinez, et al.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organizations: California Department of Health Care Services, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
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Reports on California's Public Hospital Redesign and Incentives in Medi-Cal Program (PRIME), approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to modify Medicaid programs and implement innovative delivery reforms. PRIME uses evidence-based quality improvement methods that require hospitals to establish performance baselines, institute targets for improvement, and evaluate the success of quality improvement interventions on an ongoing basis. The analysis of the program included 52 designated public hospitals and district/municipal hospitals, with 17 of the latter being Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Author(s): Nadereh Pourat, Xiao Chen, Ana E. Martinez, et al.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organizations: California Department of Health Care Services, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2020
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2020
Reports on three aspects of Medicaid: improving the structure of Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, state reporting on the quality of care for individuals covered by Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the timeliness and quality of Medicaid demonstration evaluations. Chapter 1 examines the relationship between DSH allotments to states and the number of uninsured individuals, the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs, and the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs. Table 1-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Reports on three aspects of Medicaid: improving the structure of Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, state reporting on the quality of care for individuals covered by Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the timeliness and quality of Medicaid demonstration evaluations. Chapter 1 examines the relationship between DSH allotments to states and the number of uninsured individuals, the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs, and the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs. Table 1-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Rural Libraries Help Communities Access Health Information
Features rural libraries in South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington that support population health in their communities by providing monthly programs and teaching patrons and staff how to access reliable health information online.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features rural libraries in South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington that support population health in their communities by providing monthly programs and teaching patrons and staff how to access reliable health information online.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Coverage and Utilization of Telemedicine Services by Enrollees in Large Employer Plans
Reports on the offering and uptake of telemedicine services by large employer health plans. Includes data on access to telehealth for rural and urban large employer health plan enrollees.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Cynthia Cox, Gary Claxton
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Reports on the offering and uptake of telemedicine services by large employer health plans. Includes data on access to telehealth for rural and urban large employer health plan enrollees.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Cynthia Cox, Gary Claxton
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Effects of Medicaid Expansion under the ACA: Studies from January 2014 to January 2020
Updates a literature review on the impact of state Medicaid expansions on insurance coverage, access to care, and economic measures. Addresses the impact of Medicaid expansion on rural insurance rates and hospital finances.
Author(s): Madeline Guth, Rachel Garfield, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Updates a literature review on the impact of state Medicaid expansions on insurance coverage, access to care, and economic measures. Addresses the impact of Medicaid expansion on rural insurance rates and hospital finances.
Author(s): Madeline Guth, Rachel Garfield, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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