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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

MedPAC Report to the Congress: Regional Variation in Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D Spending and Service Use
Compares Medicare spending and service use based on geographic location, including across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Seeks to identify factors that influence regional variation and determine if higher service use and/or spending results in higher quality care and outcomes. Utilizes updated data to build on findings that were published in the January 2011 Report to the Congress: Regional Variation in Medicare Service Use. Data is adjusted to account for differences in payment rates to certain providers, such as Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Test Year Three Annual Report
Third annual report detailing the findings of CMS's State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative, which tests the ability of the governments in six states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont - to accelerate health system transformation in the areas of delivery systems, payment models, information technology, workforce development, and more. Focuses on sharing cross-state progress and findings, state-specific findings and lessons learned, and lessons for policymakers. Additional emphasis is placed on monitoring healthcare experience, utilization, and expenditures in participating SIM states.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Financing Project ECHO: Options for State Medicaid Programs
Outlines how 4 states are using Medicaid funds to support Project ECHO and enhance services for rural and other at-risk populations in California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon. Shares design considerations for specific delivery system environments and ways to ensure long-term program sustainability. Project ECHO seeks to expand access to specialty healthcare services in rural and underserved areas.
Author(s): Greg Howe, Allison Hamblin, Lauren Moran
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Medicaid Financing Models for Project ECHO
Explains the different Medicaid financing mechanisms available for supporting current and potential Project ECHO strategies. Options are listed in table format and organized into three categories: managed care, care management programs, and value-based payment strategies and integrated care programs.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2016
Provides statistics on health insurance coverage in 2016 and also focuses on changes between 2015 and 2016, as well as changes between 2013 and 2016. Tables 5 and A-4 list statistics for metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Based on data from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement and the American Community Survey.
Author(s): Jessica C. Barnett, Edward R. Berchick
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Rural-Urban Variations in Medicare Live Discharge Patterns from Hospice, 2012-2013
Details a study on the instances of live discharges from the Medicare hospice program from 2012-2013. Compares rural and urban discharge rates, as well as for-profit and nonprofit business models.
Author(s): Rachel Dolin, Denise Kirk, Mark Holmes
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Undertriage of Pediatric Major Trauma Patients in the United States
Features a study of trauma undertriage for children under 16. Draws data from the National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Looks at age, gender, primary payer, and rural status of patients, among other measures.
Author(s): Jin Peng, Krista Wheeler, Jonathan I. Groner, et al.
Citation: Clinical Pediatrics, 56(9), 845-853
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
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Promoting Integrated and Coordinated Care that Addresses Social Risk for the Dual Eligible Beneficiary Population, 2017
Describes the Measure Applications Partnership's (MAP) recent recommendations and guidance on the use of performance measures to assess and improve healthcare for dually eligible individuals/beneficiaries. Examines current measure gaps, updates to address these gaps, and measures that can help address social risk factors and health disparities. Includes a discussion on categorizing rural location as a social risk factor.
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Round 2: Model Design Final Report
Shares results from a federal evaluation of the Round 2 State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative awards, which focused on reforming payment and delivery systems, health information exchanges, workforce development, and sustainability. Provides a summary and review of each awardees' final State Health System Innovations Plan (SHSIP). Includes several suggestions and recommendations for improving rural healthcare delivery, payment, and access.
Author(s): Donald Nichols, Kathleen Farrell, Marisa Morrison, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update 2017
Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) and other prepaid enrollment plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location, and variability by state.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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