Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals

MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2015
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03/2015
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Medicare Could Have Saved Billions at Critical Access Hospitals If Swing-Bed Services Were Reimbursed Using the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Rates
Reports the Inspector General's findings from a study of swing bed services and reimbursement at Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Addresses changes in swing bed usage over time and examines the potential impact to Medicare of reimbursing swing bed services at skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) rates.
Date: 03/2015
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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The Effect of Surgery on the Profitability of Rural Hospitals
Examines the effect of surgery on the profitability of rural hospitals, through analysis of market data from 2000 to 2008.
Author(s): Saleema A. Karim, George M. Holmes, George H. Pink
Citation: The Journal of Health Care Finance, 41(4)
Date: 02/2015
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Variability in General Surgical Procedures in Rural and Urban U.S. Hospital Inpatient Settings
Analyzes rural and urban variations in frequently performed inpatient surgical procedures that could be handled by general surgeons rather than subspecialists.
Author(s): Mark P. Doescher, J. Elizabeth Jackson, Meredith A. Fordyce, Dana C. Lynge
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Use and Performance Variations in U.S. Rural Emergency Departments: Implications for Improving Care Quality and Reducing Costs
Illustrates the utilization and performance of emergency departments (EDs) across the urban/rural spectrum for non-emergency health conditions. Identifies and discusses the potential risk factors that may impact ED use for non-emergent healthcare.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Marilyn G. Klug, Gary Hart
Date: 02/2015
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
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Critical Access Hospitals' Receipt of Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Payments
Describes Critical Access Hospital (CAH) participation in Medicare and Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs and compares participation rates between states and by facility characteristics.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Michelle Casey, Ira Moscovice
Date: 01/2015
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Critical Access Hospital Financial Pro Forma
Financial modeling resource used to assist rural hospitals in projecting long-term finances under the Fee-For-Service (FFS)/cost-based reimbursement systems.
Date: 2015
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Meaningful Use Attestations Among U.S. Hospitals: The Growing Rural-Urban Divide
Provides an analysis of the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program adoption in metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural hospitals in the U.S. Compares rural and urban hospitals that were attesting to meaningful use and receiving federal incentive payments.
Author(s): Ryan H. Sandefer, David T. Marc, Paul Kleeberg
Citation: Perspectives in Health Information Management, 2015 (Spring), 1-10
Date: 2015
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Utilization of Intensive Care Services, 2011
Provides data on utilization of intensive care services across 29 states. Table 3 provides information on ICU utilization by hospital characteristics, including metropolitan or nonmetropolitan location and hospital designation (Critical Access or teaching).
Author(s): Marguerite L. Barrett, Mark W. Smith, Anne Elixhauser, Leah S. Honigman, Jesse M. Pines
Date: 12/2014
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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The Obstetric Care Workforce in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Non-CAHs
Examines current obstetric practice models in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other rural hospitals to understand obstetric care services and obstetric workforce issues. Reports on the types of clinicians providing obstetric care in rural hospitals, including obstetricians, family physicians, certified nurse midwives, and general surgeons.
Author(s): Katy Kozhimannil, Michelle Casey, Peiyin Hung, Shailendra Prasad, Ira Moscovice
Date: 11/2014
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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