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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2017
Reports on three aspects of Medicaid: Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to states and providers, access to Medicaid, and children's coverage under CHIP. Chapter 2 includes the second annual report on DSH payments, which provide support to safety-net hospitals to help offset uncompensated care costs for Medicaid and uninsured patients. Table 2-1 identifies DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals. Chapter 3 examines state policies for distributing DSH payments to hospitals, including which states target rural or Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Promising Practice: GA SORH Looks at the Feasibility of EMS Regionalization in the State
Reports on a study undertaken by the Georgia State Office of Rural Health (GA-SORH) and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) to determine if regionalization of emergency medical services (EMS) among counties was feasible as a way to fill the gaps left from the closure of several rural hospitals in the state.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Behavioral Health Treatment Needs and Outcomes for Washington Counties
Provides county-level behavioral health data for Medicaid enrollees in Washington. Includes data breakdowns for those covered under Medicaid expansion, adults with disabilities, and by race/ethnicity and age group. Covers mental health, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, criminal justice involvement, emergency department use, homelessness, and more.
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
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Medicaid Expansion, Budgetary Projections, and Impact on Hospitals
Examines the impact of Medicaid expansion in Louisiana on rural hospitals, healthcare providers, and the state budget. Addresses the potential impact on rural hospitals of a cutback in disproportionate share (DSH) payments for uncompensated care.
Author(s): James A. Richardson, Jared J. Llorens, Roy L. Heidelberg
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Louisiana Public Health Institute
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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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