Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Are HHC Scores a Reliable Health Status Indicator Across Rural and Urban Areas?
Examines differences in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk scores between rural and urban Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries and analyzes which factors drive observed differences. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas for 4 chronic conditions in 2019-2020.
Author(s): Craig D. Holden, Alana Knudson, Marilyn Klug, Samantha Augenbraun, Shena Popat
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Examines differences in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk scores between rural and urban Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries and analyzes which factors drive observed differences. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas for 4 chronic conditions in 2019-2020.
Author(s): Craig D. Holden, Alana Knudson, Marilyn Klug, Samantha Augenbraun, Shena Popat
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Plains and Southeast Areas Received Largest Share of Federal Community Facilities Program's Rural Hospital Funding, 2000 to 2020
Author(s): Anil Rupasingha
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Map comparing the amount of Community Facilities Program's rural hospital funding with rural hospital closures between 2000 and 2020 in the 8 Bureau of Economic Analysis geographic regions.
Author(s): Anil Rupasingha
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Small Practice After-Action Review: 2023 Performance Year Final Score
Tool for small practices interested in examining their 2023 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score to identify opportunities to improve performance in 2025.
Additional links: Video: Small Practice Action Planning Tool for MIPS
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Tool for small practices interested in examining their 2023 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score to identify opportunities to improve performance in 2025.
Additional links: Video: Small Practice Action Planning Tool for MIPS
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2025 Small Practice Eligibility and Participation Frequently Asked Questions
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding small practice participation and eligibility for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2025 performance year. Covers individual and group eligibility, the low-volume threshold, changes to group composition during the performance year, and more.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding small practice participation and eligibility for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2025 performance year. Covers individual and group eligibility, the low-volume threshold, changes to group composition during the performance year, and more.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2025 Merit-Based Incentive Payment (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs) Implementation Guide
Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs), a voluntary reporting option that can be used to meet MIPS reporting requirements for the 2025 performance year. Describes subgroup reporting, reporting requirements, scoring, performance feedback and public reporting, and how to register to report an MVP. Includes information on considerations and exceptions for small practices and clinicians in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs), a voluntary reporting option that can be used to meet MIPS reporting requirements for the 2025 performance year. Describes subgroup reporting, reporting requirements, scoring, performance feedback and public reporting, and how to register to report an MVP. Includes information on considerations and exceptions for small practices and clinicians in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2025 Reporting MIPS Quality Measures through Medicare Part B Claims Quick Start Guide for Small Practices
Provides details on how small practices can report quality measures through Medicare Part B claims measures. Highlights changes to these measures in 2025, score redistribution policies for small practices, and information for clinicians at Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides details on how small practices can report quality measures through Medicare Part B claims measures. Highlights changes to these measures in 2025, score redistribution policies for small practices, and information for clinicians at Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): Traditional MIPS Scoring Guide for the 2024 Performance Year
Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Advancing Value-Based Payment Policies Relevant to Rural Areas – Continued Challenges and New Opportunities
Discusses lessons from the recent public health emergency, rising health care costs, improved quality measurement, and innovative technologies on the transition from volume-based payment to value-based payment. Outlines potential policy opportunities for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center model design and CMS program inclusion to expand rural-appropriate opportunities to participate in the transition to value-based care. Builds on the 2020 publication How to Design Value‐based Care Models for Rural Participant Success: A Summit Findings Report.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Discusses lessons from the recent public health emergency, rising health care costs, improved quality measurement, and innovative technologies on the transition from volume-based payment to value-based payment. Outlines potential policy opportunities for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center model design and CMS program inclusion to expand rural-appropriate opportunities to participate in the transition to value-based care. Builds on the 2020 publication How to Design Value‐based Care Models for Rural Participant Success: A Summit Findings Report.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): Eligibility and Participation in the 2025 Performance Year
Provides an overview of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligibility criteria. Addresses calculation of the low-volume threshold exclusion at the individual and group levels, opt-in and voluntary reporting options, and the impact of special status designations such as rural and small practices.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligibility criteria. Addresses calculation of the low-volume threshold exclusion at the individual and group levels, opt-in and voluntary reporting options, and the impact of special status designations such as rural and small practices.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Medicare Learning Network: Hospital Price Transparency
Contains information on federal hospital price transparency regulations and compliance, what patients need to know, and a list of helpful websites.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Contains information on federal hospital price transparency regulations and compliance, what patients need to know, and a list of helpful websites.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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