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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities

Rural Obstetric Unit Closures and Maternal and Infant Health
Policy paper examining the discontinuation of obstetric services in rural communities. Discusses factors contributing to obstetric unit closures, including hospital financial constraints, Medicaid reimbursement rates, and maternal health workforce concerns. Offers policy recommendations to prevent additional obstetric unit closures in rural areas.
Author(s): Lindsay Corcoran, Catherine Clary, Sarah Brinkman
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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COVID Relief Funding for Medicaid Providers
Analyzes the distribution of COVID-19 provider relief funds to Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) providers. Discusses barriers Medicaid providers experience in applying for COVID relief funding. Presents data on the share of potentially eligible providers who received funding by enrollment in Medicare and provider type. Includes information on the distribution of funding to hospitals by hospital type, urban or rural status, and deemed DSH status.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Opioid-Related Visits to Rural Emergency Departments
Explores the impact of the opioid crisis on rural emergency departments (EDs) by analyzing 2006 and 2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data. Compares opioid-related ED visits in rural and urban hospitals by type of opioid involved and year. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, comorbid diagnosis at admission, and outcome of ED visit.
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jean A. Talbot, Deborah Thayer, Carly Milkowski
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Crises Collide: The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Stability of the Rural Health Safety Net
Examines the vulnerability of rural hospitals based on financial and operational metrics, and the impact of COVID-19 on these hospitals. Discusses declining access to obstetrics and chemotherapy services at rural hospitals. Includes a chart highlighting financial indicators and information on the availability of intensive care beds at rural hospitals by state.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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HPSA 101 Webinar
Recording of a February 2, 2021, webinar on the importance of Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P) designations for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Reviews requirements for RHCs to become approved National Health Service Corps sites. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Medicaid's Role in Health Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Provides an overview of the federal government's role in providing healthcare to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Discusses AI/AN demographics, economic and health disparities, and access to healthcare and insurance coverage. Describes the structure of the Indian Health Service (IHS), services provided, and IHS financing and spending. Highlights special rules and protections that apply to AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries. Presents a series of policy issues that have been raised regarding the Medicaid and IHS relationship, as well as opportunities for improving Medicaid's role in providing healthcare to AI/AN populations.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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MBQIP Quality Measures National Annual Report - 2019
Summarizes quality measure reporting rates and performance among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2019. Presents data on the four Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) domains: patient safety/inpatient, outpatient, patient engagement, and care transitions.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Madeleine Pick, Tongtan Chantarat, Nathan Bean, Ira Moscovice
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Alternatives to Hospital Closure: Findings from a National Survey of CAH Executives
Discusses factors leading to rural hospital closures and alternatives to closure to maintain access to healthcare in rural areas and/or Critical Access Hospital (CAH) viability. Presents data from a survey of 227 CAH CEOs and other management staff, discussing their responses to a list of alternatives to hospital closure, including Rural Health Clinic (RHC) certification, conversion to emergency or urgent care services, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) certification, and other alternatives.
Author(s): Sharita Thomas, Kristie Thompson, Kathleen Knocke, George Pink
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Health System Challenges for Critical Access Hospitals: Findings from a National Survey of CAH Executives
Results of a 2019 survey of 174 respondents, examining challenges including uncompensated care, affordability of health insurance, patients seeking care beyond their local hospital, and prescription drug prices. Intended to help rural health policymakers in development of strategies to maintain Critical Access Hospital viability and access to healthcare in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharita Thomas, Kristie Thompson, Kathleen Knocke, George Pink
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE - Involving Board and Leadership to Drive Quality Outcomes
Podcast recording exploring how a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) board and leadership are engaged with and support quality improvement work. Features quality, clinical, and board representatives from Paris Community Hospital, a CAH in Paris, Illinois.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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