Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
Impact of Project ECHO on Patient and Community Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review
Explores the impact of Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) on improving patient care in rural and underserved areas through a literature review of ECHO-related research articles. Examines 15 studies to see ECHO impacts on the health outcomes at the individual patient level, clinical practice level, and community level.
Author(s): Jo-Ann Osei-Twum, Brittany Wiles, Tieghan Killackey, et al.
Citation: Academic Medicine, 97(9), 1393-1402
Date: 09/2022
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Explores the impact of Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) on improving patient care in rural and underserved areas through a literature review of ECHO-related research articles. Examines 15 studies to see ECHO impacts on the health outcomes at the individual patient level, clinical practice level, and community level.
Author(s): Jo-Ann Osei-Twum, Brittany Wiles, Tieghan Killackey, et al.
Citation: Academic Medicine, 97(9), 1393-1402
Date: 09/2022
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Priorities for Improvement Across Cancer and Non-Cancer Related Preventive Services among Rural and Non-Rural Clinicians
Results of a survey of primary care physicians on preventive care services in need of improvement in their clinics. Reports on 2021 data from 326 survey respondents in 49 states who discuss improvement areas such such as screenings, nutrition counseling, and physical activity counseling. Includes rural versus urban breakdowns for priorities in improvement areas.
Author(s): Michaela Brtnikova, Jamie L. Studts, Elise Robertson, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 23, 231
Date: 09/2022
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Results of a survey of primary care physicians on preventive care services in need of improvement in their clinics. Reports on 2021 data from 326 survey respondents in 49 states who discuss improvement areas such such as screenings, nutrition counseling, and physical activity counseling. Includes rural versus urban breakdowns for priorities in improvement areas.
Author(s): Michaela Brtnikova, Jamie L. Studts, Elise Robertson, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 23, 231
Date: 09/2022
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2023
Comment on a July 29, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of the coverage of certain telehealth services after the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as rebasing and revising the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comment on a July 29, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of the coverage of certain telehealth services after the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as rebasing and revising the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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National Veteran Health Equity Report
Examines Veterans Affairs (VA) data concerning the sociodemographics, utilization patterns, and rates of diagnosed health conditions among various groups of veterans to monitor, evaluate and act on identified disparities in healthcare access, use, quality, and health outcomes. Chapter 5 developed by the VA Office of Rural Health provides detailed information comparing rural and urban data.
Additional links: American Indian or Alaska Native Veteran Chartbook, Asian and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Veteran Chartbook, Black Veteran Chartbook, Full Report, Hispanic and Latino Veteran Chartbook
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration
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Examines Veterans Affairs (VA) data concerning the sociodemographics, utilization patterns, and rates of diagnosed health conditions among various groups of veterans to monitor, evaluate and act on identified disparities in healthcare access, use, quality, and health outcomes. Chapter 5 developed by the VA Office of Rural Health provides detailed information comparing rural and urban data.
Additional links: American Indian or Alaska Native Veteran Chartbook, Asian and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Veteran Chartbook, Black Veteran Chartbook, Full Report, Hispanic and Latino Veteran Chartbook
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration
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Association of Rurality, Race and Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status With the Surgical Management of Colon Cancer and Postoperative Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Results of a study of 57,710 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older diagnosed with colon cancer between April 2016, and September 2018, with follow-up until December 2018. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location.
Author(s): Niveditta Ramkumar, Carrie H. Colla, Qianfei Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(8), e2229247
Date: 08/2022
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Results of a study of 57,710 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older diagnosed with colon cancer between April 2016, and September 2018, with follow-up until December 2018. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location.
Author(s): Niveditta Ramkumar, Carrie H. Colla, Qianfei Wang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(8), e2229247
Date: 08/2022
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What Happens When a Hospital Closes?
Podcast episode discussing the impact of rural hospital closures and obstetrics units on their communities. Explores why facilities and units close and the impact of closures on mortality, prenatal care, maternal and infant health outcomes, and access to quality care.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Freakonomics
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Podcast episode discussing the impact of rural hospital closures and obstetrics units on their communities. Explores why facilities and units close and the impact of closures on mortality, prenatal care, maternal and infant health outcomes, and access to quality care.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Freakonomics
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Home Health Prospective Payment System for CY 2023
Comments on a June 23, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments regarding the collection of data on the use of telecommunications technology under the Medicare home health benefit and quality measure stratification as a tool to address healthcare disparities and advance health equity.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a June 23, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments regarding the collection of data on the use of telecommunications technology under the Medicare home health benefit and quality measure stratification as a tool to address healthcare disparities and advance health equity.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Environmental Scan on Consolidation Trends and Impacts in Health Care Markets
Summarizes results of an environmental scan and describes the landscape of healthcare market consolidation across the United States. Analyzes the evidence on consolidation trends and the impacts of these trends on price, quality, and access in healthcare provider and insurance markets. Includes information on the impacts of hospital consolidation on rural healthcare quality and patient access.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Summarizes results of an environmental scan and describes the landscape of healthcare market consolidation across the United States. Analyzes the evidence on consolidation trends and the impacts of these trends on price, quality, and access in healthcare provider and insurance markets. Includes information on the impacts of hospital consolidation on rural healthcare quality and patient access.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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2022 Key Rural Measures: An Updated List of Measures to Advance Rural Health Priorities
Report updating a list of key rural measures focused on rural access to care originally outlined in A Core Set of Rural-Relevant Measures and Measuring and Improving Access to Care: 2018 Recommendations from the MAP Rural Health Workgroup. Identifies 17 measures to add to the 2018 list of rural measures, including items related to behavioral and mental health, substance use, infectious disease, access to care, and equity and social determinants of health. Discusses remaining gaps in measurement topic areas.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Report updating a list of key rural measures focused on rural access to care originally outlined in A Core Set of Rural-Relevant Measures and Measuring and Improving Access to Care: 2018 Recommendations from the MAP Rural Health Workgroup. Identifies 17 measures to add to the 2018 list of rural measures, including items related to behavioral and mental health, substance use, infectious disease, access to care, and equity and social determinants of health. Discusses remaining gaps in measurement topic areas.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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2020 Quality Payment Program Experience Report
Reports on the clinician experience for those participating in the Quality Payment Program in 2020. Presents data on Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligibility and participation rates for clinicians in small practices and rural areas, as well as their mean payment adjustment scores.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Reports on the clinician experience for those participating in the Quality Payment Program in 2020. Presents data on Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligibility and participation rates for clinicians in small practices and rural areas, as well as their mean payment adjustment scores.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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