Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
The Rural Emergency Hospital Model: Year Two Progress Report
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment designation, including the growth in REHs through September 1, 2024, factors that contribute to a hospital seeking REH conversion, and the impacts of REH conversion. Outlines concerns identified by REH leaders, facilities considering converting to REH status, and other rural stakeholders related to the REH designation, as well as policy recommendations to address these concerns.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Julia Harris, Marilyn Werber Serafini
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment designation, including the growth in REHs through September 1, 2024, factors that contribute to a hospital seeking REH conversion, and the impacts of REH conversion. Outlines concerns identified by REH leaders, facilities considering converting to REH status, and other rural stakeholders related to the REH designation, as well as policy recommendations to address these concerns.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Julia Harris, Marilyn Werber Serafini
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Northern Maine Medical Center: A Rural Hospital Gaining Momentum in its Work Toward Quality Improvement
Profiles a prospective payment hospital in northern Maine that engaged in the 2022-2023 Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project (RHPTP), focusing on financial sustainability, cost efficiency, and quality improvement. Highlights hospital accomplishments and improvements via participation of the project.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Profiles a prospective payment hospital in northern Maine that engaged in the 2022-2023 Rural Healthcare Provider Transition Project (RHPTP), focusing on financial sustainability, cost efficiency, and quality improvement. Highlights hospital accomplishments and improvements via participation of the project.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Health Care Workforce: Key Issues, Challenges, and the Path Forward
Provides an overview of the supply and distribution of physicians, nurses, direct care workers, behavioral health workers, and oral healthcare providers. Describes persistent challenges related to the healthcare workforce, including supply and distribution of healthcare workers, especially in rural communities; racial and ethnic diversity; burnout; compensation; and administrative burden. Identifies opportunities to address these challenges and efforts supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address these issues.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the supply and distribution of physicians, nurses, direct care workers, behavioral health workers, and oral healthcare providers. Describes persistent challenges related to the healthcare workforce, including supply and distribution of healthcare workers, especially in rural communities; racial and ethnic diversity; burnout; compensation; and administrative burden. Identifies opportunities to address these challenges and efforts supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address these issues.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Medicare Part D Enrollees Reaching the Out-of-Pocket Limit by June 2024
Examines the number of Medicare Part D enrollees who reached the catastrophic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) out-of-pocket prescription drug spending cap by June 2024. Provides demographic information on enrollees who reach the catastrophic phase and the related savings, including breakdowns for state and metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural/unknown location.
Author(s): Kenneth Finegold, Kristen L. King, Bisma A. Sayed, Rachael Zuckerman
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines the number of Medicare Part D enrollees who reached the catastrophic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) out-of-pocket prescription drug spending cap by June 2024. Provides demographic information on enrollees who reach the catastrophic phase and the related savings, including breakdowns for state and metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural/unknown location.
Author(s): Kenneth Finegold, Kristen L. King, Bisma A. Sayed, Rachael Zuckerman
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Nationwide Availability of and Enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans With Exclusively Aligned Enrollment
Explores the availability and enrollment of dual-eligible special needs plans (D-SNPs) with exclusively aligned enrollment, in which the beneficiary can receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits through the same plan or affiliated plans within the same organization. Analyzes 2021-2022 beneficiary data and examines D-SNP plan availability and enrollment according to beneficiary demographics, health status, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Kenton J. Johnston, Michelle Hendricks, Megha Dabas, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(10)
Date: 10/2024
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Explores the availability and enrollment of dual-eligible special needs plans (D-SNPs) with exclusively aligned enrollment, in which the beneficiary can receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits through the same plan or affiliated plans within the same organization. Analyzes 2021-2022 beneficiary data and examines D-SNP plan availability and enrollment according to beneficiary demographics, health status, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Kenton J. Johnston, Michelle Hendricks, Megha Dabas, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(10)
Date: 10/2024
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News Media Coverage of Rural Hospital Closures and the Causes
Reports findings from attributed causes of rural hospital closures through analysis of news media reports. Features statistics on attributed causes for closures, from a sample of 137 closures between 2010-2022.
Author(s): Harini Somanchi, Julie Perry, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Reports findings from attributed causes of rural hospital closures through analysis of news media reports. Features statistics on attributed causes for closures, from a sample of 137 closures between 2010-2022.
Author(s): Harini Somanchi, Julie Perry, Kristie Thompson, George Pink
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Maternal Health Chartbook 2010–2019
Analyzes data from the National Inpatient Sample from between 2010 and 2019 to highlight trends in maternal health related to diabetes, hypertension, mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and severe maternal morbidity. Includes data by expected payer, patient characteristics, and geography. Includes large metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan comparisons throughout.
Author(s): Lawrence Reid, Kimberly Marin, Jessica Monnet
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Analyzes data from the National Inpatient Sample from between 2010 and 2019 to highlight trends in maternal health related to diabetes, hypertension, mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and severe maternal morbidity. Includes data by expected payer, patient characteristics, and geography. Includes large metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan comparisons throughout.
Author(s): Lawrence Reid, Kimberly Marin, Jessica Monnet
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Rural Hospital Service Lines: Changes Over Time and Impacts on Profitability
Analyzes associations between changes in service lines and profitability at rural hospitals, utilizing 2010-2021 Medicare cost report data. Includes data on service lines including Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), traditional clinics, CT scans, MRI scans, delivery rooms, nurseries, anesthesiology, electrocardiology, and more.
Author(s): Brian E. Whitacre, Claudia A. Rhodes, Alison F. Davis
Citation: Journal of Healthcare Management, 69(5), 350-367
Date: 10/2024
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Analyzes associations between changes in service lines and profitability at rural hospitals, utilizing 2010-2021 Medicare cost report data. Includes data on service lines including Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), traditional clinics, CT scans, MRI scans, delivery rooms, nurseries, anesthesiology, electrocardiology, and more.
Author(s): Brian E. Whitacre, Claudia A. Rhodes, Alison F. Davis
Citation: Journal of Healthcare Management, 69(5), 350-367
Date: 10/2024
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Science by the Slice: Rural Community Health Science, Policy, and the Future: Episode 2
Video podcast episode highlighting the 2024 State of the Science Meeting from the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety featuring 2 speakers at the meeting. Discusses disparities in healthcare access for rural and urban residents including facility closures, access to specialty care, and local leadership. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
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Video podcast episode highlighting the 2024 State of the Science Meeting from the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety featuring 2 speakers at the meeting. Discusses disparities in healthcare access for rural and urban residents including facility closures, access to specialty care, and local leadership. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety
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What to Know About Medicare Coverage of Telehealth
Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2024, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, fraud, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2024, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, fraud, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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