Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals
Texas Rural Hospital Funding Resource Guide
Offers information on funding opportunities available to rural health facilities in Texas, including COVID-19, economic development, and telehealth funding. Lists federal and state funding programs, national foundations, and private foundations. Organizes Texas funders into 6 service regions, and provides a map of Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System Hospitals in each region.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Texas State Office of Rural Health
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Offers information on funding opportunities available to rural health facilities in Texas, including COVID-19, economic development, and telehealth funding. Lists federal and state funding programs, national foundations, and private foundations. Organizes Texas funders into 6 service regions, and provides a map of Critical Access Hospitals and Prospective Payment System Hospitals in each region.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Texas State Office of Rural Health
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2020 340B Health Annual Survey: 340B Hospitals Use Benefits to Provide Services and Improve Outcomes for Low-Income and Rural Patients
Summarizes the results of a November 2020 - January 2021 survey of nearly 500 hospitals, including small and rural hospitals, that participate in the 340B drug pricing program. Describes how these hospitals utilize their savings from the 340B program to benefit patients. Discusses the importance of the program to Critical Access Hospitals, Disproportionate Share Hospitals, and other safety-net facilities.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: 340B Health
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Summarizes the results of a November 2020 - January 2021 survey of nearly 500 hospitals, including small and rural hospitals, that participate in the 340B drug pricing program. Describes how these hospitals utilize their savings from the 340B program to benefit patients. Discusses the importance of the program to Critical Access Hospitals, Disproportionate Share Hospitals, and other safety-net facilities.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: 340B Health
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FQHC Roles and Opportunities Related to Rural Hospital Financial Distress and Closure
Explores the experiences of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) regarding hospital financial distress, downsizing, and closure. Summarizes the results of a survey of 34 FQHCs operating 277 sites in rural communities. Discusses the potential for collaboration between rural hospitals and FQHCs.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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Explores the experiences of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) regarding hospital financial distress, downsizing, and closure. Summarizes the results of a survey of 34 FQHCs operating 277 sites in rural communities. Discusses the potential for collaboration between rural hospitals and FQHCs.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Capital Link
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U.S. Hospital List (2020)
Excel file providing a comprehensive list of urban and rural U.S. hospitals that were reported open as of January 1, 2020. Includes 4,613 acute care hospitals and 1,379 specialty hospitals.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Excel file providing a comprehensive list of urban and rural U.S. hospitals that were reported open as of January 1, 2020. Includes 4,613 acute care hospitals and 1,379 specialty hospitals.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Public Law 116–260: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
Text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 (December 27, 2020). Section 125 establishes the Rural Emergency Hospital designation. Section 127 makes changes to direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect GME payments to teaching hospitals that train residents in Rural Training Programs.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 (December 27, 2020). Section 125 establishes the Rural Emergency Hospital designation. Section 127 makes changes to direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect GME payments to teaching hospitals that train residents in Rural Training Programs.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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December 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2020 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on expanding the post-acute care transfer policy to hospice, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, physician and other health professional services, hospice services, and a status report and benchmark policy option on the Medicare Advantage program. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2020 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on expanding the post-acute care transfer policy to hospice, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, physician and other health professional services, hospice services, and a status report and benchmark policy option on the Medicare Advantage program. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Resilience: The Role of Birth Centers in the United States
Highlights a study on the efficacy of the birth center model for maternity care and delivery in rural communities compared with their urban and suburban counterparts. Breaks down data by core variables, such as maternal age, maternal and infant outcomes, and transfers, among other measures.
Author(s): Diana Jolles, Susan Stapleton, Jennifer Wright, et al.
Citation: Birth, 47(4), 430–437
Date: 12/2020
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Highlights a study on the efficacy of the birth center model for maternity care and delivery in rural communities compared with their urban and suburban counterparts. Breaks down data by core variables, such as maternal age, maternal and infant outcomes, and transfers, among other measures.
Author(s): Diana Jolles, Susan Stapleton, Jennifer Wright, et al.
Citation: Birth, 47(4), 430–437
Date: 12/2020
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Rural Hospital Closures: Affected Residents Had Reduced Access to Health Care Services
Examines the effects of rural hospital closures on rural residents. Discusses the distance residents in the service areas of closed facilities had to travel to access common healthcare services between 2012 and 2018, as well as the availability of providers over time. Compares the health status of Medicare beneficiaries in services areas with and without hospital closures.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the effects of rural hospital closures on rural residents. Discusses the distance residents in the service areas of closed facilities had to travel to access common healthcare services between 2012 and 2018, as well as the availability of providers over time. Compares the health status of Medicare beneficiaries in services areas with and without hospital closures.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Could Improve Its Wage Index Adjustment for Hospitals in Areas With the Lowest Wages
Analyzes characteristics of hospitals with area wage indexes (AWI) in the bottom quartile in 2020, including rurality, geography, Medicaid expansion status, and hourly wages. Provides an overview of the hospital wage index system and AWI, circularity, and the impact of these policies on prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals. Offers policy recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding future adjustments.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Analyzes characteristics of hospitals with area wage indexes (AWI) in the bottom quartile in 2020, including rurality, geography, Medicaid expansion status, and hourly wages. Provides an overview of the hospital wage index system and AWI, circularity, and the impact of these policies on prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals. Offers policy recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding future adjustments.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Patient Experiences: Best Practices of High Performing Critical Access Hospitals
Recording of a December 15, 2020, webinar discussing best practices used by high-performing Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) regarding patient satisfaction. Provides an overview of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey and examines Oklahoma CAH performance in HCAHPS. Presents best practices for improving HCAHPS performance and for patient and family engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Karla Weng
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health, Stratis Health
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Recording of a December 15, 2020, webinar discussing best practices used by high-performing Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) regarding patient satisfaction. Provides an overview of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey and examines Oklahoma CAH performance in HCAHPS. Presents best practices for improving HCAHPS performance and for patient and family engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Karla Weng
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health, Stratis Health
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