Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Fall 2018 Cycle: CDP Report
Evaluates 5 quality measures related to geriatrics and palliative care and supports using them for quality improvement efforts and reporting programs. The measures include 1) improvement in ambulation/locomotion; 2) improvement in bathing; 3) improvement in bed transferring; 4) improvement in management of oral medication; and 5) improvement in pain interfering with activity. The measures were not risk-adjusted for rurality.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Evaluates 5 quality measures related to geriatrics and palliative care and supports using them for quality improvement efforts and reporting programs. The measures include 1) improvement in ambulation/locomotion; 2) improvement in bathing; 3) improvement in bed transferring; 4) improvement in management of oral medication; and 5) improvement in pain interfering with activity. The measures were not risk-adjusted for rurality.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Developing Risk-Adjusted Avoidable Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Quality Measures: Final Report
Defines avoidable hospitalization (AH) and avoidable emergency department (ED) visits (AVs) and summarizes the development of a model for calculating expected AH and AV rates using Medicare claims data. Seeks to inform Medicare quality payment models and target areas for quality improvement. Table 3-10 includes AH and AV risk-standardized rates for a number of rural market areas.
Author(s): Zhanlian Feng, Benjamin Silver, Micah Segelman, et al.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, RTI International
view details
Defines avoidable hospitalization (AH) and avoidable emergency department (ED) visits (AVs) and summarizes the development of a model for calculating expected AH and AV rates using Medicare claims data. Seeks to inform Medicare quality payment models and target areas for quality improvement. Table 3-10 includes AH and AV risk-standardized rates for a number of rural market areas.
Author(s): Zhanlian Feng, Benjamin Silver, Micah Segelman, et al.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, RTI International
view details
Accelerating Value-Based Payment in California's Federally Qualified Health Centers: Options for Medicaid Health Plans
Highlights examples of value-based payment (VBP) models for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), including a rural Hawaii model and a Colorado model that incorporates rural FQHCs. Covers Accountable Care Organization (ACO) models, state-led Capitated Alternative Payment Models (APMs), state-led quality payment adjustments, and Medicaid shared savings ACO models. Addresses how FQHCs and health plans can overcome challenges when launching new VBP models and offers recommendations for California's health plans.
Author(s): Greg Howe, Tricia McGinnis, Rob Houston
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
view details
Highlights examples of value-based payment (VBP) models for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), including a rural Hawaii model and a Colorado model that incorporates rural FQHCs. Covers Accountable Care Organization (ACO) models, state-led Capitated Alternative Payment Models (APMs), state-led quality payment adjustments, and Medicaid shared savings ACO models. Addresses how FQHCs and health plans can overcome challenges when launching new VBP models and offers recommendations for California's health plans.
Author(s): Greg Howe, Tricia McGinnis, Rob Houston
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
view details
Rural Success: Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, NH
Highlights the quality improvement efforts of a Critical Access Hospital in rural New Hampshire. Focuses on their Quality Improvement Committee, response times, rounding, care transitions, and transferring practices.
Citation: MBQIP Monthly, 1-2
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
view details
Highlights the quality improvement efforts of a Critical Access Hospital in rural New Hampshire. Focuses on their Quality Improvement Committee, response times, rounding, care transitions, and transferring practices.
Citation: MBQIP Monthly, 1-2
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
view details
Department of Health Care Services: It Has Not Ensured That Medi-Cal Beneficiaries in Some Rural Counties Have Reasonable Access to Care
Findings from a study to determine whether rural beneficiaries of the Medi-Cal Regional Model health plan were given acceptable access to care and adequate quality of care after the state transitioned into managed care plans in 2013. Includes county-level map showing Medi-Cal Managed Care Models and statistics showing maximum distance required to access care, with breakdowns by provider type.
Author(s): Elaine M. Howle
Citation: California State Auditor Report 2018-122
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Auditor of the State of California
view details
Findings from a study to determine whether rural beneficiaries of the Medi-Cal Regional Model health plan were given acceptable access to care and adequate quality of care after the state transitioned into managed care plans in 2013. Includes county-level map showing Medi-Cal Managed Care Models and statistics showing maximum distance required to access care, with breakdowns by provider type.
Author(s): Elaine M. Howle
Citation: California State Auditor Report 2018-122
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Auditor of the State of California
view details
ACOs' Strategies for Transitioning to Value-Based Care: Lessons From the Medicare Shared Savings Program
Describes strategies used by successful Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to reduce spending and increase healthcare quality. Addresses social determinants of health, behavioral health, reducing hospitalizations, using technology to share information, and more. Two of the 20 ACOs included in the study served rural communities.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Describes strategies used by successful Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to reduce spending and increase healthcare quality. Addresses social determinants of health, behavioral health, reducing hospitalizations, using technology to share information, and more. Two of the 20 ACOs included in the study served rural communities.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
IHS Needs to Improve Oversight of Its Hospitals' Opioid Prescribing and Dispensing Practices and Consider Centralizing Its Information Technology Functions
Reports on a review of Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals with a focus on opioid prescriptions and dispensing, information technology (IT), and cybersecurity. Identifies deficiencies related to opioid policies and procedures and supports centralizing IHS IT systems.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Reports on a review of Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals with a focus on opioid prescriptions and dispensing, information technology (IT), and cybersecurity. Identifies deficiencies related to opioid policies and procedures and supports centralizing IHS IT systems.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Rosebud Hospital: Indian Health Service Management of Emergency Department Closure and Reopening, A Case Study
Examines management of Indian Health Services (IHS) closure of Rosebud Hospital in South Dakota and its reopening to identify lessons learned. Addresses reasons for hospital closure, the impact of the closure, corrective actions taken following its reopening, and issues with sustaining improvements and compliance. Supports developing procedures for temporary emergency department closures and investing in rural workforce recruitment, retention, and training, among other recommendations.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Examines management of Indian Health Services (IHS) closure of Rosebud Hospital in South Dakota and its reopening to identify lessons learned. Addresses reasons for hospital closure, the impact of the closure, corrective actions taken following its reopening, and issues with sustaining improvements and compliance. Supports developing procedures for temporary emergency department closures and investing in rural workforce recruitment, retention, and training, among other recommendations.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Solutions to Reduce Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in HHS Programs: OIG's Top Recommendations
Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in their 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 July 2019 edition include: reforming the hospital wage index system, a quality program and disaster planning for Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals, and Medicaid payments for 340B drugs.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in their 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 July 2019 edition include: reforming the hospital wage index system, a quality program and disaster planning for Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals, and Medicaid payments for 340B drugs.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Data Report: 2018 Indiana Physician Assistant Licensure Survey
Provides demographic and practice characteristics of the Indiana physician assistant (PA) workforce as well as supply and distribution information, intended to improve the quality and accessibility to primary care. Features statistics including county-level PA geographic distribution with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Analise Dickinson, Sierra Vaughn, Hannah Maxey
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
view details
Provides demographic and practice characteristics of the Indiana physician assistant (PA) workforce as well as supply and distribution information, intended to improve the quality and accessibility to primary care. Features statistics including county-level PA geographic distribution with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Analise Dickinson, Sierra Vaughn, Hannah Maxey
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
view details