Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
Value-Based Care and North Dakota
Slides presented to the North Dakota legislature on January 30, 2024, providing an overview of an initiative assisting rural North Dakota Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in preparing for value-based care and payment. Discusses principles of the transition from volume-based to value-based payment. Outlines the technical assistance the initiative provides to five core CAHs in the state and a summary of a high-level financial analysis.
Author(s): Clint MacKinney
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Slides presented to the North Dakota legislature on January 30, 2024, providing an overview of an initiative assisting rural North Dakota Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in preparing for value-based care and payment. Discusses principles of the transition from volume-based to value-based payment. Outlines the technical assistance the initiative provides to five core CAHs in the state and a summary of a high-level financial analysis.
Author(s): Clint MacKinney
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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CAH Staff Perspectives on use of EHRs for Quality Measure Activities
Summarizes interviews with eight Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) regarding electronic health record (EHR) use for quality measurement and improvement activities. Describes strengths and challenges for CAHs using EHRs for quality-related activities. Discusses the CAHs' readiness for, and concerns about, new health equity and social drivers of health quality measures.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Abigail Wenninger, Dori Cross, Ben C.D. Weideman
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Summarizes interviews with eight Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) regarding electronic health record (EHR) use for quality measurement and improvement activities. Describes strengths and challenges for CAHs using EHRs for quality-related activities. Discusses the CAHs' readiness for, and concerns about, new health equity and social drivers of health quality measures.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Abigail Wenninger, Dori Cross, Ben C.D. Weideman
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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EHR Capabilities and Interoperability in Critical Access Hospitals
Explores the electronic health record (EHR) and interoperable health information exchange capabilities among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2019. Analyzes 2019 American Hospital Association Information Technology Supplement (AHAIT) survey data, which includes data from nearly 700 CAHs. Compares EHR capabilities and the use of electronic methods for four interoperability domains by CAH status and system affiliation. Discusses how to support CAHs in advancing information sharing and using comprehensive EHRs.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Alyssa Furukawa, Megan Lahr, Dori Cross
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Explores the electronic health record (EHR) and interoperable health information exchange capabilities among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in 2019. Analyzes 2019 American Hospital Association Information Technology Supplement (AHAIT) survey data, which includes data from nearly 700 CAHs. Compares EHR capabilities and the use of electronic methods for four interoperability domains by CAH status and system affiliation. Discusses how to support CAHs in advancing information sharing and using comprehensive EHRs.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Alyssa Furukawa, Megan Lahr, Dori Cross
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Evaluation of the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (NGACO) Model: Final Report
Sixth and final evaluation report on the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (NGACO) Model. Summarizes findings from across all six performance years (2016-2021) and explores how participating entities responded to the model and how they did or did not achieve model goals. Presents information on cumulative model-wide impacts on Medicare spending, utilization, and quality of care; variations in model outcomes by organization characteristics; spending patterns of beneficiaries served by NGACOs; population health strategies and pathways to reduced spending; lessons learned; and more. The appendices include data on community and beneficiary characteristics, including rurality.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Sixth and final evaluation report on the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (NGACO) Model. Summarizes findings from across all six performance years (2016-2021) and explores how participating entities responded to the model and how they did or did not achieve model goals. Presents information on cumulative model-wide impacts on Medicare spending, utilization, and quality of care; variations in model outcomes by organization characteristics; spending patterns of beneficiaries served by NGACOs; population health strategies and pathways to reduced spending; lessons learned; and more. The appendices include data on community and beneficiary characteristics, including rurality.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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2024 New Hampshire Primary Care Sourcebook
Provides information on New Hampshire community health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Includes profiles of the Bi-State Primary Care Association's New Hampshire members, statistics on FQHC funding and various clinical quality measures in 2022, and a county-level map showing locations of New Hampshire FQHCs.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bi-State Primary Care Association
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Provides information on New Hampshire community health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Includes profiles of the Bi-State Primary Care Association's New Hampshire members, statistics on FQHC funding and various clinical quality measures in 2022, and a county-level map showing locations of New Hampshire FQHCs.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bi-State Primary Care Association
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Full Committee Oversight Hearing: "Rural Access: Is VA Meeting All Veterans Where They Live?"
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs full committee oversight hearing discusses rural veteran's access to healthcare through the VA. Features a discussion of the VA's role as both a healthcare provider and a payer via its Community Care Program. Highlights technological challenges related to telehealth, such as lack of broadband connections and technological literacy of older veterans. Presents testimony from the VA, the Government Accountability Office, the Navajo Nation, and veteran advocacy groups, among others.
Additional links: Witnesses' Testimonies
Date: 01/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs full committee oversight hearing discusses rural veteran's access to healthcare through the VA. Features a discussion of the VA's role as both a healthcare provider and a payer via its Community Care Program. Highlights technological challenges related to telehealth, such as lack of broadband connections and technological literacy of older veterans. Presents testimony from the VA, the Government Accountability Office, the Navajo Nation, and veteran advocacy groups, among others.
Additional links: Witnesses' Testimonies
Date: 01/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model: Second Annual Evaluation Report
Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, transplantation, acute care hospitalizations, outpatient ED visits, and hospital readmissions. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the ETC Model during calendar years 2021 and 2022. Includes facility-level statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Author(s): Brighita Negrusa, Jennifer Wiens, Darin Ullman, et al.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, transplantation, acute care hospitalizations, outpatient ED visits, and hospital readmissions. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the ETC Model during calendar years 2021 and 2022. Includes facility-level statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Author(s): Brighita Negrusa, Jennifer Wiens, Darin Ullman, et al.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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VA Health Care: Office of Rural Health Efforts and Recommendations for Improvement
Presents an evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health (ORH). Discusses the methods the ORH uses to improve healthcare quality and access for rural veterans, such as initiatives to expand VHA services to rural veterans and funding research to improve the healthcare quality in rural areas. Evaluates the ORH's efforts and makes recommendations for improvement.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Presents an evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health (ORH). Discusses the methods the ORH uses to improve healthcare quality and access for rural veterans, such as initiatives to expand VHA services to rural veterans and funding research to improve the healthcare quality in rural areas. Evaluates the ORH's efforts and makes recommendations for improvement.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2024 Eligibility and Participation Quick Start Guide
Provides an overview of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligibility criteria. Addresses calculation of the low-volume threshold exclusion at the individual and group levels, opt-in and voluntary reporting options, and the impact of special status designations such as rural and small practices.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligibility criteria. Addresses calculation of the low-volume threshold exclusion at the individual and group levels, opt-in and voluntary reporting options, and the impact of special status designations such as rural and small practices.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Telemedicine Use and Decrements to Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension quality of care as associated with telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pre-pandemic (March 13, 2019 to December 31, 2019) and pandemic (March 13, 2020 to December 31, 2020) periods. Examines variables such as HbA1c monitoring and control, blood pressure monitoring and control, and telemedicine use. Presents data according to patient demographic information including age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, insurance type, health conditions, and metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural residence.
Author(s): Hector P. Rodriguez, Elizabeth Ciemins, Karl Rubio, et al.
Citation: BMC Digital Health, 2, 2
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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Examines type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension quality of care as associated with telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pre-pandemic (March 13, 2019 to December 31, 2019) and pandemic (March 13, 2020 to December 31, 2020) periods. Examines variables such as HbA1c monitoring and control, blood pressure monitoring and control, and telemedicine use. Presents data according to patient demographic information including age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, insurance type, health conditions, and metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, or rural residence.
Author(s): Hector P. Rodriguez, Elizabeth Ciemins, Karl Rubio, et al.
Citation: BMC Digital Health, 2, 2
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
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