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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities

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
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Profile of Rural Residential Care Facilities: A Chartbook
Reports on rural/urban differences in residential care facilities, focusing the facilities themselves, their residents, and the services they offer. Addresses how facility policies affect aging-in-place options.
Author(s): Jennifer D. Lenardson, Eileen Griffin, Zach Croll, Erika C. Ziller, Andrew F. Coburn
Date: 05/2014
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Collaborative Community Health Needs Assessments: Approaches and Benefits for Critical Access Hospitals
Informs the efforts of state Flex Programs to support Critical Access Hospitals in conducting collaborative Community Health Needs Assessments. The results of these assessments can be used by hospitals as well as state Flex Programs to inform their ongoing strategic initiatives.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Andrew F. Coburn, Helen E. Newton
Date: 05/2014
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Rural and Urban Hospitals' Role in Providing Inpatient Care, 2010
Compares inpatient care at rural and urban hospitals. Covers the amount of inpatient care provided, patient characteristics, first-listed diagnoses, number of procedures, and discharge location. Based on 2010 National Hospital Discharge Survey data.
Author(s): Margaret Jean Hall, Maria Owings
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Health Care for Rural Veterans: The Example of Federally Qualified Health Centers
Reports that among veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, 41% reside in rural or highly rural communities. Discusses access to healthcare for rural veterans, policy considerations to encourage improved collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and highlights how FQHCs can provide healthcare services to veterans.
Author(s): Elayne J. Heisler, Sidath Viranga Panangala, Erin Bagalman
Date: 04/2014
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Compendium of Priority Recommendations: March 2014
Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in OIG's view, would have the most substantial positive impact on Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Positive impact may refer to cost savings, program efficacy and efficiency, and/or quality improvement. Primary areas of interest in the March 2014 edition include: improving quality assurance programs in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and updating location requirements and conditions of participation for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 03/2014
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Adoption of Sodium Reduction Strategies in Small and Rural Hospitals, Illinois, 2012
Results of a 4-month-long intervention in which 30 hospitals promoted lower-sodium food choices in their cafeterias and vending machines, and made available information regarding benefits of sodium reduction.
Author(s): Nancy Amerson, Marguerite Nelson, Abigail Radcliffe, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 11
Date: 03/2014
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2014
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03/2014
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Development of the Nursing Community Apgar Questionnaire (NCAQ): A Rural Nurse Recruitment and Retention Tool
Introduces the Nursing Community Apgar Questionnaire, a guide to assess strengths and weaknesses of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in rural communities to help them improve nursing recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Molly Prengaman, Jeri Bigbee, Edward Baker, David Schmitz
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 14(1), 2633
Date: 03/2014
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The Health IT Regional Extension Center Program: Evolution and Lessons for Health Care Transformation
Highlights the accomplishments of the Regional Extension Center (REC) program, from January 2010 through June 2013, that provides assistance to small, rural, and underserved healthcare facilities in developing their electronic health record (EHR) platform and in achieving meaningful use.
Author(s): Kimberly Lynch, Mat Kendall, Katherine Shanks, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 49(1 Pt 2), 421-437
Date: 02/2014
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