Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Rural Health Care in America: Challenges and Opportunities
Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance full committee hearing on improving rural healthcare across the country. Addresses access to emergency services, rural hospital financial challenges and closures, Accountable Care Organizations, and regulatory and workforce challenges. Features testimonies from representatives of the NC Rural Health Research Program Sheps Center for Health Services Research, the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, San Luis Valley Health, UnityPoint Health, and Geisinger Health.
Additional links: Statement by James E. Mathews, Statement by Orrin G. Hatch, Statement by Ron Wyden, Testimony by George H. Pink, Testimony by Karen M. Murphy, Testimony by Keith J. Mueller, Testimony by Konnie Martin, Testimony by Susan K. Thompson
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Finance
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Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance full committee hearing on improving rural healthcare across the country. Addresses access to emergency services, rural hospital financial challenges and closures, Accountable Care Organizations, and regulatory and workforce challenges. Features testimonies from representatives of the NC Rural Health Research Program Sheps Center for Health Services Research, the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, San Luis Valley Health, UnityPoint Health, and Geisinger Health.
Additional links: Statement by James E. Mathews, Statement by Orrin G. Hatch, Statement by Ron Wyden, Testimony by George H. Pink, Testimony by Karen M. Murphy, Testimony by Keith J. Mueller, Testimony by Konnie Martin, Testimony by Susan K. Thompson
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Finance
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Using Telehealth to Improve Home-Based Care for Older Adults and Family Caregivers
Describes consumer perspectives and policy concerns with telehealth. Includes examples of home telehealth strategies, potential benefits and challenges, and discussion of home telehealth coverage in federal and state programs, including the Veterans Health Administration, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Author(s): Winifred V. Quinn, Ellen O'Brien, Gregg Springan
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Describes consumer perspectives and policy concerns with telehealth. Includes examples of home telehealth strategies, potential benefits and challenges, and discussion of home telehealth coverage in federal and state programs, including the Veterans Health Administration, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Author(s): Winifred V. Quinn, Ellen O'Brien, Gregg Springan
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Is Bigger Better? Exploring the Impact of System Membership on Rural Hospitals
Describes how system membership affects financial performance and transfer patterns of rural hospitals in California. Shows what financial benefits are involved and examines whether membership increases or decreases likelihood of closure. Includes appendices with lists of system and nonsystem hospitals by county, and rural hospital intercompany transfer statistics from 2011-2015.
Author(s): Glenn Melnick, Katya Fonkych
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: California Health Care Foundation
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Describes how system membership affects financial performance and transfer patterns of rural hospitals in California. Shows what financial benefits are involved and examines whether membership increases or decreases likelihood of closure. Includes appendices with lists of system and nonsystem hospitals by county, and rural hospital intercompany transfer statistics from 2011-2015.
Author(s): Glenn Melnick, Katya Fonkych
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: California Health Care Foundation
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Cross-Jurisdictional Resource Sharing in Local Health Departments: Implications for Services, Quality, and Cost
Examines Local Health Departments (LHDs) in Connecticut and Massachusetts and discusses how to increase capacity of public health systems in smaller municipalities. Analyzes 15 resource-sharing jurisdictions and 54 single-municipality jurisdictions and provides benefits and drawbacks of the 2 models. Includes data on demographic and organizational characteristics of independent and sharing municipalities including percentages of rural, suburban, and urban municipality type.
Author(s): Debbie L. Humphries, Justeen Hyde, Ethan Hahn, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 6(115), 1-13
Date: 04/2018
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Examines Local Health Departments (LHDs) in Connecticut and Massachusetts and discusses how to increase capacity of public health systems in smaller municipalities. Analyzes 15 resource-sharing jurisdictions and 54 single-municipality jurisdictions and provides benefits and drawbacks of the 2 models. Includes data on demographic and organizational characteristics of independent and sharing municipalities including percentages of rural, suburban, and urban municipality type.
Author(s): Debbie L. Humphries, Justeen Hyde, Ethan Hahn, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 6(115), 1-13
Date: 04/2018
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Comparison of Access to Eye Care Appointments Between Patients with Medicaid and Those with Private Health Care Insurance
Explores if patients with Medicaid and private health insurance in Maryland and Michigan experience differences in access to eye care appointments. Includes information on the rate at which appointments were obtained for patients and the length of appointment wait times by a variety of factors, including for urban and rural patients.
Author(s): Yoon H. Lee, Andrew X. Chen, Varshini Varadaraj, et al.
Citation: JAMA Ophthalmology, 136(6), 622-629
Date: 04/2018
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Explores if patients with Medicaid and private health insurance in Maryland and Michigan experience differences in access to eye care appointments. Includes information on the rate at which appointments were obtained for patients and the length of appointment wait times by a variety of factors, including for urban and rural patients.
Author(s): Yoon H. Lee, Andrew X. Chen, Varshini Varadaraj, et al.
Citation: JAMA Ophthalmology, 136(6), 622-629
Date: 04/2018
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Changes in Hospital Utilization Three Years into Maryland's Global Budget Program for Rural Hospitals
Examines the impact of Maryland's global budget program for acute care hospitals, with a focus on Medicare beneficiaries served by rural hospitals. Compares changes in hospital use and hospital spending between the rural hospitals participating in the global budget program and a control group during a 3-year period. Discusses the policy implications for other states considering alternate payment models.
Author(s): Eric T. Roberts, Laura A. Hatfield, J. Michael McWilliams, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 37(4), 644-653
Date: 04/2018
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Examines the impact of Maryland's global budget program for acute care hospitals, with a focus on Medicare beneficiaries served by rural hospitals. Compares changes in hospital use and hospital spending between the rural hospitals participating in the global budget program and a control group during a 3-year period. Discusses the policy implications for other states considering alternate payment models.
Author(s): Eric T. Roberts, Laura A. Hatfield, J. Michael McWilliams, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 37(4), 644-653
Date: 04/2018
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Views from the Heartland: Prospects for Bipartisanship in Health Reform
Reports on the views and opinions of 27 state legislators serving on health, budget, or appropriations committees in Colorado and Kansas. Discusses Medicaid expansion in rural areas and highlights the importance of promoting quality healthcare and removing barriers to access in rural communities.
Author(s): David K. Jones
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Reports on the views and opinions of 27 state legislators serving on health, budget, or appropriations committees in Colorado and Kansas. Discusses Medicaid expansion in rural areas and highlights the importance of promoting quality healthcare and removing barriers to access in rural communities.
Author(s): David K. Jones
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Market Characteristics Associated with Rural Hospitals' Provision of Post-Acute Care
Findings brief summarizing hospital- and market-level factors related to post-acute care (PAC) provided in rural hospitals from 2012-2015. Features statistics from 2012-2015 rural Medicare cost reports, PAC provision by census region in 2015, and percent of hospitals in frontier and remote areas in 2015 with breakdowns by type and PAC provision.
Author(s): Abby F. Hoffman, Randy K. Randolph, Alex R. Schulte, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Findings brief summarizing hospital- and market-level factors related to post-acute care (PAC) provided in rural hospitals from 2012-2015. Features statistics from 2012-2015 rural Medicare cost reports, PAC provision by census region in 2015, and percent of hospitals in frontier and remote areas in 2015 with breakdowns by type and PAC provision.
Author(s): Abby F. Hoffman, Randy K. Randolph, Alex R. Schulte, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Rural and Urban Provider Market Share of Inpatient Post-Acute Care Services Provided to Rural Medicare Beneficiaries
Findings brief examining rural patients' access to rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, using claims data from January 2013 through March 2014. Features statistics including numbers of patient days and discharges and average length of stay, with breakdowns by type and location of facility and type of care.
Author(s): Alex R. Schulte, Denise A. Kirk, Randy K. Randolph, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Findings brief examining rural patients' access to rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, using claims data from January 2013 through March 2014. Features statistics including numbers of patient days and discharges and average length of stay, with breakdowns by type and location of facility and type of care.
Author(s): Alex R. Schulte, Denise A. Kirk, Randy K. Randolph, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Combating the Opioid Crisis: Improving the Ability of Medicare and Medicaid to Provide Care for Patients
Presents the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the role of Medicare and Medicaid in combating the opioid crisis. Features testimony from representatives of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Boston Medical Center, the Centene Corporation, Centerstone America, Geisinger Health System, and Magellan Healthcare.
Additional links: Mr. David Guth Testimony, Mr. Toby Douglas Testimony
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Presents the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the role of Medicare and Medicaid in combating the opioid crisis. Features testimony from representatives of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Boston Medical Center, the Centene Corporation, Centerstone America, Geisinger Health System, and Magellan Healthcare.
Additional links: Mr. David Guth Testimony, Mr. Toby Douglas Testimony
Date: 04/2018
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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