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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2014
Includes chapters on synchronizing Medicare policy across payment models; improving risk adjustment; measuring quality of care; financial assistance for low-income beneficiaries; per beneficiary payment for primary care; site-neutral payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities and skilled nursing facilities; and measuring the effects of medication adherence for the Medicare population. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 06/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Update: Independently Owned Pharmacy Closures in Rural America, 2003-2013
Examines the closure of independently owned rural pharmacies in America from 2003-2013 and its impact on rural Americans' access to medications and other pharmacy services. Tables 1 and 2 provide data on state-by-state changes between 2003-2009 and 2003-2013. This report is an update to past publications from RUPRI.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 06/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Affordable Care Act Opportunities for Community Health Workers: How Medicaid Preventive Services, Medicaid Health Homes, and State Innovation Models are Including Community Health Workers
Discusses how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has provided substantial incentives and opportunities to increase the role of community health workers (CHWs) in state Medicaid programs in urban and rural healthcare facilities (e.g. Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers).
Author(s): Amy Katzen, Maggie Morgan
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
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Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for FQHCs; Changes to Contracting Policies for RHCs; and Changes to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Enforcement Actions for Proficiency Testing Referral
The final rule with comment period that implements the methodology and payment rates for a prospective payment system (PPS) for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) services beginning October 1, 2014, under Medicare Part B, in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Identifies the policy allowing Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to contract with nonphysician practitioners when statutory requirements for employment of nurse practitioners and physician assistants are met, and incorporated other technical changes to FQHC and RHC regulations. Changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 enforcement actions for proficiency testing referral are included.
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The Virginia Health Care Landscape
Provides an overview of Virginia's demographics, state economy, population health, insurance coverage, Medicaid beneficiaries, and safety net providers, including Critical Access Hospitals. Includes some discussion of rural healthcare issues.
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Safety Net Clinics Serving the Elderly in Rural Areas: Rural Health Clinic Patients Compared to Federally Qualified Health Center Patients
Compares the distribution of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and nonmetro Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Looks at how the Medicare populations served by these types of facilities differ, including their age distribution.
Author(s): Andrea D. Radford, Victoria A. Freeman, Denise A. Kirk, Hilda A. Howard, Mark Holmes
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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The Affordable Care Act and Insurance Coverage in Rural Areas
Examines differences in urban and rural populations and health insurance coverage patterns and assesses how ACA coverage reforms will affect rural and metropolitan areas in different ways.
Author(s): Vann Newkirk, Anthony Damico
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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A Guide to Understanding the Variation in Premiums in Rural Health Insurance Marketplaces
Discusses several factors to consider when comparing health insurance plans in the health insurance exchange marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act across geographic areas. Addresses impacts for rural areas.
Author(s): Abigail R. Barker, Timothy D. McBride, Leah M. Kemper, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Ready or Not? How Community Health Centers View Their Preparedness to Care for Newly Insured Patients
Surveys Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) on their preparedness for the anticipated growth in patients due to more people having obtained health insurance under the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. Addresses workforce challenges and mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Melinda K. Abrams, Michelle M. Doty, Jamie Ryan, Dominique Hall, Pamela Riley
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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High Deductible Health Insurance Plans in Rural Areas
Examines whether rural residents with private insurance are more likely to have a high deductible health insurance plan (HDHP) than urban residents, and if it differs by location in remote, rural areas. Addresses differences in income and education and offers recommendations related to the Health Insurance Marketplaces.
Additional links: Policy Brief: Rural Residents More Likely to be Enrolled in High Deductible Health Plans
Author(s): Jennifer D. Lenardson, Erika C. Ziller, Andrew F. Coburn
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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