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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Rural Hospital Environmental Impact Study
Examines the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, particularly as it relates to rural Texas, by focusing on four areas: the state of healthcare, rural hospital closures and vulnerabilities, the impact of the Affordable Care Act, and uninsurance rates. Presents information about the current and future state of healthcare in rural Texas to support rural health policymakers.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals
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Health Insurance Coverage, Health Care Utilization, and Health Outcomes within the Context of Marcellus Shale Development
A discussion of the public health impacts of the Marcellus Shale natural gas well development in four Pennsylvania counties. Includes comparisons of health insurance coverage rates and availability; the burden of increased utilization of healthcare facilities and services; and health outcomes as they relate to the environmental effects of natural gas extraction.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Madison County Memorial Hospital: Making the Most of FOA
Documents Madison County Memorial Hospital's (MCMH) successes from participating in the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) project. Top accomplishments include improving relationships with the community and other providers, business office operations, leadership development, and transitions of care, as well as developing outpatient rehab services. MCMH is a 25-bed, nonprofit Critical Access Hospital located in Madison, Florida.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Anticipating Economic Returns of Rural Telehealth
Discusses the quantifiable and nonquantifiable benefits of utilizing telehealth services in rural areas across the U.S. Provides tables showing estimated savings on travel expenses, lost wages, and hospital costs by state. Outlines some of the challenges facing telehealth and makes recommendations for future improvements. Links to a video showing the author presenting portions of the paper at a Foundation for Rural Service event.
Additional links: Video Presentation
Author(s): Rick Schadelbauer
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
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Uninsured Rates Decrease for Most Counties From 2014 to 2015
Two maps comparing county-level uninsured rates in 2014 and 2015.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Small Area Health Insurance Estimates: 2015
Reports on health insurance coverage in the United States in 2015 and changes between 2014 and 2015. Includes maps showing county-level uninsured rates.
Additional links: SAHIE Highlights Brief Maps, 2015
Author(s): Lauren Bowers, Carolyn Gann, Stefan Elser
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Tennessee Hospital Association 2017 Rural Impact Report
Describes hospitals' economic impact on rural Tennessee communities and the effect of hospital closures. Includes county-level statistics on ER visits, births, cost of bad debt and charity care, number of employees, salaries, and total economic impact.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Hospital Association
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Global Budget Process as an Alternative Payment Model
Analyzes the all-payer hospital rate-setting system of McCready Health in rural Maryland. Discusses the Total Patient Revenue (TPR) system and corresponding essential functions such as rate setting, strategic planning, and care coordination.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Differences in Health Care, Family, and Community Factors Associated with Mental, Behavioral, and Developmental Disorders Among Children Aged 2–8 Years in Rural and Urban Areas — United States, 2011–2012
Provides rural and urban data on a variety of health-related factors for children 2-8 years of age with and without mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders. Topics addressed include demographics, health insurance coverage, having a medical home, parental mental health, family financial difficulties, and community factors.
Author(s): Lara R. Robinson, Joseph R. Holbrook, Rebecca H. Bitsko, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(8), 1-11
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2017
Provides an annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussions on Medicare payment policies that directly affect rural providers and beneficiaries. Analyses payment adequacy for home health, skilled nursing, long-term care hospitals, hospice, ambulatory surgical centers, and rehabilitation facilities.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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