Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guides Requirements
Infographic displaying the differences in the Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guide requirements for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and eligible clinicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability performance category for eligible clinicians.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Infographic displaying the differences in the Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guide requirements for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and eligible clinicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability performance category for eligible clinicians.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Home Health Agencies Used Multiple Strategies to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Although Some Challenges Persist
Presents results of a survey of home health agencies (HHAs) conducted between September through December 2021 to explore the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses challenges related to staffing, infection control, the use of telehealth, and the adequacy of emergency preparedness plans, as well as challenges specific to rural HHAs. Provides recommendations for how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can help HHAs prepare for and respond to current and future infectious disease outbreaks and changes to the home health care landscape.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Presents results of a survey of home health agencies (HHAs) conducted between September through December 2021 to explore the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses challenges related to staffing, infection control, the use of telehealth, and the adequacy of emergency preparedness plans, as well as challenges specific to rural HHAs. Provides recommendations for how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can help HHAs prepare for and respond to current and future infectious disease outbreaks and changes to the home health care landscape.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Pairing Project ECHO and Patient Navigation as an Innovative Approach to Improving the Health and Wellness of Cancer Survivors in Rural Settings
Presents a study on the use of Project ECHO and patient navigation programs to support rural cancer control programs for survivors. Evaluates the efficacy of the programs in improving both access to cancer support care, as well as the quality of care received. Details the challenges and facilitators to these programs in each site.
Author(s): Elizabeth Rohan, Nora Kuiper, Shelly-Ann Bowen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 855-864
Date: 09/2022
view details
Presents a study on the use of Project ECHO and patient navigation programs to support rural cancer control programs for survivors. Evaluates the efficacy of the programs in improving both access to cancer support care, as well as the quality of care received. Details the challenges and facilitators to these programs in each site.
Author(s): Elizabeth Rohan, Nora Kuiper, Shelly-Ann Bowen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 855-864
Date: 09/2022
view details
Configuration and Delivery of Primary Care in Rural and Urban Settings
Compares structure, capabilities, and payment reform participation of isolated, small town, micropolitan, and metropolitan physician practices. Features statistics on characteristics of physician practices, Medicare beneficiaries, and beneficiary utilization in 2017, with breakdowns by rurality.
Author(s): Taressa K. Fraze, Valerie A. Lewis, Andrew Wood, Helen Newton, Carrie H. Colla
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 3045-3053
Date: 09/2022
view details
Compares structure, capabilities, and payment reform participation of isolated, small town, micropolitan, and metropolitan physician practices. Features statistics on characteristics of physician practices, Medicare beneficiaries, and beneficiary utilization in 2017, with breakdowns by rurality.
Author(s): Taressa K. Fraze, Valerie A. Lewis, Andrew Wood, Helen Newton, Carrie H. Colla
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 3045-3053
Date: 09/2022
view details
Opioid-Related Outcomes among Individuals with Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Conditions
Provides an overview of a quality measurement framework to improve the prevention and monitoring of opioid-related overdoses and mortality among individuals with co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Identifies existing measures, measure concepts, and recommendations to serve as a starting point for quality measurement. Highlights 3 essential domains for measurement: equitable access, clinical interventions, and integrated and comprehensive care for concurrent behavioral health conditions.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Provides an overview of a quality measurement framework to improve the prevention and monitoring of opioid-related overdoses and mortality among individuals with co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Identifies existing measures, measure concepts, and recommendations to serve as a starting point for quality measurement. Highlights 3 essential domains for measurement: equitable access, clinical interventions, and integrated and comprehensive care for concurrent behavioral health conditions.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Rural Health Equity and Quality Summit Report
Summarizes a June 2022 summit with experts in rural healthcare policy, health equity, value-based care, and clinical quality to explore the roles of small rural hospitals and Rural Health Clinics in achieving health equity. Discusses barriers and challenges to achieving rural health equity. Presents best practices and innovative models in promoting health equity in rural areas.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
view details
Summarizes a June 2022 summit with experts in rural healthcare policy, health equity, value-based care, and clinical quality to explore the roles of small rural hospitals and Rural Health Clinics in achieving health equity. Discusses barriers and challenges to achieving rural health equity. Presents best practices and innovative models in promoting health equity in rural areas.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
view details
Medicare Telehealth: Actions Needed to Strengthen Oversight and Help Providers Educate Patients on Privacy and Security Risks
Analyzes 2019 and 2020 Medicare claims data to explore the utilization of telehealth services before and after the implementation of regulatory flexibilities and waivers in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes efforts taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify and monitor risks posed by Medicare telehealth waivers, as well as a change made to the enforcement of regulations governing patients' protected health information during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Offers three recommendations to CMS to strengthen oversight and assess the quality of telehealth services and one recommendation regarding assistance to providers to explain the privacy and security risks of telehealth to patients.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Analyzes 2019 and 2020 Medicare claims data to explore the utilization of telehealth services before and after the implementation of regulatory flexibilities and waivers in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes efforts taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify and monitor risks posed by Medicare telehealth waivers, as well as a change made to the enforcement of regulations governing patients' protected health information during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Offers three recommendations to CMS to strengthen oversight and assess the quality of telehealth services and one recommendation regarding assistance to providers to explain the privacy and security risks of telehealth to patients.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Measure Applications Partnership 2022 Considerations for Measure Set Review in Federal Programs: Clinician, Hospital, and Post-Acute Care/Long-Term Care
Reviews the 32 healthcare quality and efficiency measures used by the National Quality Forum's Measure Applications Partnership (MAP) during 2022. Discusses measures for clinician programs, hospital programs, and post-acute care/long-term care programs. Includes the MAP Rural Health Advisory Group's support or determination of the suitability of each measure for rural providers.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Reviews the 32 healthcare quality and efficiency measures used by the National Quality Forum's Measure Applications Partnership (MAP) during 2022. Discusses measures for clinician programs, hospital programs, and post-acute care/long-term care programs. Includes the MAP Rural Health Advisory Group's support or determination of the suitability of each measure for rural providers.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Leveraging Electronic Health Record EHR-Sourced Measures to Improve Care Communication and Coordination: Final Recommendations Report
Discusses recommendations developed by a multistakeholder committee for using electronic health record (EHR) data to improve the measurement of care communication and care coordination. Identifies challenges to collecting data in rural areas.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Discusses recommendations developed by a multistakeholder committee for using electronic health record (EHR) data to improve the measurement of care communication and care coordination. Identifies challenges to collecting data in rural areas.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Beneficiary Experience, Affordability, Utilization, and Quality in Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare: A Review of the Literature
Summarizes the results of a review of 62 studies published between January 1, 2016, and May 1, 2022, that compare Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare across beneficiary experience, affordability, service utilization, and quality. Includes information on Medicare enrollment patterns in rural areas and identifies gaps in research on rural Medicare beneficiaries. Builds on a literature review that examined studies published between 2000 and early 2014.
Author(s): Nancy Ochieng, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Summarizes the results of a review of 62 studies published between January 1, 2016, and May 1, 2022, that compare Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare across beneficiary experience, affordability, service utilization, and quality. Includes information on Medicare enrollment patterns in rural areas and identifies gaps in research on rural Medicare beneficiaries. Builds on a literature review that examined studies published between 2000 and early 2014.
Author(s): Nancy Ochieng, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details