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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities

FQHC Roles and Opportunities Related to Rural Hospital Financial Distress and Closure
Explores the experiences of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) regarding hospital financial distress, downsizing, and closure. Summarizes the results of a survey of 34 FQHCs operating 277 sites in rural communities. Discusses the potential for collaboration between rural hospitals and FQHCs.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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U.S. Hospital List (2020)
Excel file providing a comprehensive list of urban and rural U.S. hospitals that were reported open as of January 1, 2020. Includes 4,613 acute care hospitals and 1,379 specialty hospitals.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Guide to Selecting Population Health Management Technologies for Rural Care Delivery
Presents a six-step process to help organizations plan for and implement technology to manage the health of existing patient populations. Provides an explanation for each step and links to additional resources. Process consists of the following steps: form a team, set goals, plan for financing, develop requirements, compare products, select vendor and negotiate contracts.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-120)
Text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). Section 125 establishes the Rural Emergency Hospital designation. Section 127 makes changes to direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect GME payments to teaching hospitals that train residents in Rural Training Programs.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Ohio's Rural and Urban Counties
Map of rural, partially rural, urban, and Appalachian counties in Ohio overlaid with locations of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Primary Care Office
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Rural Resilience: The Role of Birth Centers in the United States
Highlights a study on the efficacy of the birth center model for maternity care and delivery in rural communities compared with their urban and suburban counterparts. Breaks down data by core variables, such as maternal age, maternal and infant outcomes, and transfers, among other measures.
Author(s): Diana Jolles, Susan Stapleton, Jennifer Wright, et al.
Citation: Birth, 47(4), 430–437
Date: 12/2020
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Rural Hospital Closures: Affected Residents Had Reduced Access to Health Care Services
Examines the effects of rural hospital closures on rural residents. Discusses the distance residents in the service areas of closed facilities had to travel to access common healthcare services between 2012 and 2018, as well as the availability of providers over time. Compares the health status of Medicare beneficiaries in services areas with and without hospital closures.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Assessing Clinical Quality Performance and Staffing Capacity Differences Between Urban and Rural Health Resources and Services Administration-Funded Health Centers in the United States: A Cross Sectional Study
Study comparing quality of medical care in urban and rural health centers funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) using 2017 Uniform Data System data and 2016 Area Health Resources File data for 1,373 health centers, over 600 of which are rural. Examines 15 reported quality measures related to prevention, care management, and clinical outcomes.
Author(s): Nadereh Pourat, Xiao Chen, Connie Lu, et al.
Citation: PLOS One, 15(12), e0242844
Date: 12/2020
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Rural Health Clinics Modernization Policy Explained
Recording of a webinar (updated December 31, 2020) providing an overview of statutory revisions to the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) payment methodology. Explains the impact of the changes on both capped and uncapped RHCs. Includes information on telehealth reimbursement for RHCs. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Bill Finerfrock, Nathan Baugh
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Could Improve Its Wage Index Adjustment for Hospitals in Areas With the Lowest Wages
Analyzes characteristics of hospitals with area wage indexes (AWI) in the bottom quartile in 2020, including rurality, geography, Medicaid expansion status, and hourly wages. Provides an overview of the hospital wage index system and AWI, circularity, and the impact of these policies on prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals. Offers policy recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding future adjustments.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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