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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals

The Financial Benefits of Critical Access Hospital Conversion for FY 1999 and FY 2000 Converters
Discusses the impact of conversion to Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status on the financial condition of rural hospitals one and two years after conversion. CAHs' pre- and post-conversion revenues are compared, and CAH revenues are compared to small rural hospitals that did not convert to cost-based Medicare reimbursement.
Author(s): Jeffrey Stensland, Gestur Davidson, Ira Moscovice
Date: 01/2004
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173): A Summary of Provisions Important to Rural Health Care Delivery
Overview of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173) as it relates to rural healthcare. Includes information on how this Act impacts beneficiaries, healthcare access, and payments to rural healthcare providers.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 01/2004
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, Rural Policy Research Institute
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Modeling the Frontier Extended Stay Clinic Conditions of Participation and Reimbursement Methodologies
Discusses the financial feasibility of the Frontier Extended Stay Clinic (FESC), a proposed provider type to expand services in remote and isolated primary care clinics. Compares Medicare reimbursement for FESC status with Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Rural Health Clinic (RHC), and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) reimbursement. Includes detailed examples of financial impact for seven clinics in rural Alaska, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming.
Date: 2004
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
Text of the legislation that adds a prescription drug benefit to Medicare and enhances some rural healthcare programs, such as the Critical Access Hospitals program.
Date: 11/2003
Type: Document
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Information Technology: Benefits Realized for Selected Health Care Functions
Describes cost savings and other benefits of information technology use in health care, including clinical care and administrative applications. Discusses examples from hospitals serving rural areas. Also includes examples of IT use by insurers for improved claims processing and customer service.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Medicare: Modest Eligibility Expansion for Critical Access Hospital Program Should Be Considered
Examines the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program and makes recommendations on CAH eligibility related to the ban on inpatient psychiatric or rehabilitation distinct part units and the limit on patient census.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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A Primer on Interpreting Hospital Margins
Explains the most commonly used measures of hospital profitability, and how they are used to inform policy changes. Particular emphasis on the different formulas as they impact rural versus urban hospital figures.
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 07/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Variation and Innovation in Medicare
Analyzes variation within the Medicare program and explores a variety of possible payment innovations. Includes some rural-specific information. Geographic, market, quality, hospital financial performance, and use of physician services variations are covered. Also examines Medicare's reimbursement for Part B drugs. Recommendations include quality incentives and competitive pricing.
Date: 06/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Hospital HIPAA Readiness and Resource Needs
Presents a survey of rural hospitals regarding the extent of their preparation for HIPAA requirements and their need for resources to implement HIPAA requirements. Results shown by hospital size. Also includes information on financial and staff commitment levels.
Author(s): J. Patrick Hart, Wanqing Zhang, Jane L. Meza, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: RUPRI Rural Policy Brief, 8(6)
Date: 05/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Trends in Rural Hospital Closure: 1990 - 2000
Focuses on the extent, characteristics, reasons for and impact of rural hospitals closures from 1990 through 2000. Includes rural hospital closure data by state.
Date: 05/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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