Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
April 2021 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2021 meeting. Covers Medicare's skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program and proposed replacement, streamlining CMS's portfolio of alternative payment models, rebalancing the Medicare Advantage benchmark policy, revising Medicare's indirect medical education payments to better reflect teaching hospital costs, Medicare vaccine coverage and payment, and improving Medicare's policies for separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system. Includes a discussion of training rural physicians, among other rural references.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2021 meeting. Covers Medicare's skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program and proposed replacement, streamlining CMS's portfolio of alternative payment models, rebalancing the Medicare Advantage benchmark policy, revising Medicare's indirect medical education payments to better reflect teaching hospital costs, Medicare vaccine coverage and payment, and improving Medicare's policies for separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system. Includes a discussion of training rural physicians, among other rural references.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Geographic Access to Health Care for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries in Five States: An Update
Describes the provider mix caring for rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries in Alaska, Idaho, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Washington, using 2014 data. Examines the quality of care, number of annual visits, and the distances traveled for treatment of several conditions. Compares 2014 data with estimates from 1998, to assess the changes in geographical access to care. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural locations.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the provider mix caring for rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries in Alaska, Idaho, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Washington, using 2014 data. Examines the quality of care, number of annual visits, and the distances traveled for treatment of several conditions. Compares 2014 data with estimates from 1998, to assess the changes in geographical access to care. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural locations.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Addressing Opioid-Related Outcomes Among Individuals With Co-Occurring Behavioral Health Conditions: An Environmental Scan of Quality Measures
Presents the results of an environmental scan of healthcare quality measures relevant to addressing polysubstance use among individuals with co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Includes information on access to buprenorphine providers in rural communities.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Presents the results of an environmental scan of healthcare quality measures relevant to addressing polysubstance use among individuals with co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Includes information on access to buprenorphine providers in rural communities.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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CMS Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative Models 2-4: Year 7 Evaluation & Monitoring Annual Report
Seventh and final report describing findings from an evaluation of Models 2, 3, and 4 of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative, linking provider payments for an episode of care with the goal of decreasing cost of care while improving quality. Includes information specific to rural BPCI-participating hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies.
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Author(s): The Lewin Group, Abt Associates, GDIT, Telligen
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Seventh and final report describing findings from an evaluation of Models 2, 3, and 4 of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative, linking provider payments for an episode of care with the goal of decreasing cost of care while improving quality. Includes information specific to rural BPCI-participating hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies.
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Author(s): The Lewin Group, Abt Associates, GDIT, Telligen
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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CMS Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced Model: Year 2 Evaluation Report
Second annual report of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI Advanced) Model, which tests whether linking payments for a clinical episode of care can reduce Medicare expenditures while maintaining or improving quality of care. Covers the period from October 1, 2018, through January 1, 2020. Describes participants in the model; clinical episodes included; the reach of the model; and the impact of BPCI Advanced on episode payments, utilization, and quality of care. Includes information on rural hospital participation in the model.
Additional links: Appendices
Author(s): The Lewin Group, Abt Associates, GDIT, Telligen
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Second annual report of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI Advanced) Model, which tests whether linking payments for a clinical episode of care can reduce Medicare expenditures while maintaining or improving quality of care. Covers the period from October 1, 2018, through January 1, 2020. Describes participants in the model; clinical episodes included; the reach of the model; and the impact of BPCI Advanced on episode payments, utilization, and quality of care. Includes information on rural hospital participation in the model.
Additional links: Appendices
Author(s): The Lewin Group, Abt Associates, GDIT, Telligen
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Interpreting MBQIP Hospital Data Reports for Quality Improvement
Designed to help Critical Access Hospital (CAH) staff use Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) Hospital Data Reports to support quality improvement efforts and improve patient care in their facility. Includes examples of how to interpret MBQIP reports, links to additional resources, and a glossary of keywords.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Designed to help Critical Access Hospital (CAH) staff use Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) Hospital Data Reports to support quality improvement efforts and improve patient care in their facility. Includes examples of how to interpret MBQIP reports, links to additional resources, and a glossary of keywords.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Evaluation of the Use of CAH Cohorts for Quality Improvement Activities
Describes how State Flex Programs (SFPs) use cohorts of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in quality improvement initiatives. Discusses the benefits and challenges of CAH cohorts, how SFPs are evaluating the impact of these initiatives, and opportunities to enhance the use of cohorts in Flex Program activities. Includes findings from interviews with six SFPs.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Nathan First
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Describes how State Flex Programs (SFPs) use cohorts of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in quality improvement initiatives. Discusses the benefits and challenges of CAH cohorts, how SFPs are evaluating the impact of these initiatives, and opportunities to enhance the use of cohorts in Flex Program activities. Includes findings from interviews with six SFPs.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Sara Kahn-Troster, Nathan First
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Pennsylvania Mental Health Services for Victims of Sexual Assault and Rape: A Staff Study
Examines existing laws and services in Pennsylvania and offers recommendations to ensure that sexual assault victims receive quality, trauma-informed medical care. Includes recommendations to promote a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, increase the use of telehealth, and provide for a designation for hospitals, based on their ability to provide comprehensive sexual assault services. Features a section comparing availability of certified SANE nurses in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Llewellyn Hursh, Allison N. Kobzowicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Examines existing laws and services in Pennsylvania and offers recommendations to ensure that sexual assault victims receive quality, trauma-informed medical care. Includes recommendations to promote a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, increase the use of telehealth, and provide for a designation for hospitals, based on their ability to provide comprehensive sexual assault services. Features a section comparing availability of certified SANE nurses in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Llewellyn Hursh, Allison N. Kobzowicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Rural Hospital Patient and Family Engagement - 2021 Toolkit
Toolkit provides guidance for rural hospitals to foster effective communication between patients, staff, and leadership. Discusses communication strategies in a number of domains, such as data collection, community engagement, and workforce development, among others.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Hospital Association
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Toolkit provides guidance for rural hospitals to foster effective communication between patients, staff, and leadership. Discusses communication strategies in a number of domains, such as data collection, community engagement, and workforce development, among others.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Hospital Association
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Partnering to Improve Birth Outcomes in a Rural Community: Kearny County Hospital, Lakin, KS
Highlights the Pioneer Baby program, a partnership between Kearny County Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in rural Lakin, Kansas, and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. Discusses how funding from grants and local employers enhanced the obstetrics program. Describes how the partnership worked to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and presents lessons learned.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Highlights the Pioneer Baby program, a partnership between Kearny County Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in rural Lakin, Kansas, and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. Discusses how funding from grants and local employers enhanced the obstetrics program. Describes how the partnership worked to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and presents lessons learned.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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