Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; advanced primary care management services; behavioral health services; opioid treatment programs; dental and oral health services; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Conditions for Coverage, care coordination services, telecommunication services, payment for vaccine costs, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services; and more.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; advanced primary care management services; behavioral health services; opioid treatment programs; dental and oral health services; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Conditions for Coverage, care coordination services, telecommunication services, payment for vaccine costs, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services; and more.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Estimated Impacts of Multiple Payment Policies on Rural-Serving Home Health Agencies
Describes the estimated impact of three major Medicare home health payment policy changes - implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), revisions to rural add-on payments, and the demonstration and nationwide expansion of the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model - on home health agency (HHA) reimbursement for Medicare beneficiaries. Compares the estimated impact of these payment policy changes by HHA rural-serving status, U. S. Census Division, profit status, quality rating, and episode volume.
Author(s): Tracy M. Mroz, Lisa A. Garberson, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the estimated impact of three major Medicare home health payment policy changes - implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), revisions to rural add-on payments, and the demonstration and nationwide expansion of the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model - on home health agency (HHA) reimbursement for Medicare beneficiaries. Compares the estimated impact of these payment policy changes by HHA rural-serving status, U. S. Census Division, profit status, quality rating, and episode volume.
Author(s): Tracy M. Mroz, Lisa A. Garberson, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Core Based Statistical Areas
Provides an overview of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). Identifies key terms related to CBSAs, including central counties, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, outlying counties, and more. Includes information on revisions and updates to CBSAs, relevant legislation, and issues of interest for Congress.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). Identifies key terms related to CBSAs, including central counties, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, outlying counties, and more. Includes information on revisions and updates to CBSAs, relevant legislation, and issues of interest for Congress.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Disruptors, Essential Services, and Reflections on a Career in Rural Health, with John Supplitt
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring John Supplitt, Senior Director of Rural Health Services for the American Hospital Association. Focuses on the importance of maintaining rural essential services, along with insights from Supplitt's long career in rural health.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring John Supplitt, Senior Director of Rural Health Services for the American Hospital Association. Focuses on the importance of maintaining rural essential services, along with insights from Supplitt's long career in rural health.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Summer Food for Children: An Overview of Federal Aid
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Highlights changes to the SFSP made in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, including the permanent authorization of the nationwide Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) Program for Children, and allowing Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors to provide meals for off-site consumption to children in rural areas without access to congregate meal sites.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Highlights changes to the SFSP made in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, including the permanent authorization of the nationwide Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) Program for Children, and allowing Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors to provide meals for off-site consumption to children in rural areas without access to congregate meal sites.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Nurse Staffing Estimates in US Nursing Homes, May 2024
Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) April 2024 final rule that established minimum nurse staffing requirements for nursing homes. Analyzes May 2024 data from Nursing Home Care Compare to examine current staffing levels in U.S. nursing homes relative to specific minimum staffing requirements in the final rule. Includes an illustrative example of a 100-bed facility to explore how many nurse staff would need to be added per shift during the final rule's implementation phase to meet or exceed the final rule's minimum requirements. Presents data by facility characteristics, including ownership type, rural or urban location, and bed size.
Author(s): Martin Blanco, Iara Oliveira, Marie Squillace, Damian Da Costa
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) April 2024 final rule that established minimum nurse staffing requirements for nursing homes. Analyzes May 2024 data from Nursing Home Care Compare to examine current staffing levels in U.S. nursing homes relative to specific minimum staffing requirements in the final rule. Includes an illustrative example of a 100-bed facility to explore how many nurse staff would need to be added per shift during the final rule's implementation phase to meet or exceed the final rule's minimum requirements. Presents data by facility characteristics, including ownership type, rural or urban location, and bed size.
Author(s): Martin Blanco, Iara Oliveira, Marie Squillace, Damian Da Costa
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Tribal Broadband: Additional Assistance to Recipients Would Better Support Implementation of $3 Billion in Federal Grants
This provides an overview of Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, including recipients who had not received prior funding from key federal broadband programs and recipients' plans for network ownership and financial sustainability. Examines the extent to which the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided technical assistance to recipients regarding financial sustainability and navigating the environmental review process. Presents recommendations to NTIA on technical assistance and reporting to Congress on the resources necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of TBCP projects.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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This provides an overview of Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, including recipients who had not received prior funding from key federal broadband programs and recipients' plans for network ownership and financial sustainability. Examines the extent to which the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided technical assistance to recipients regarding financial sustainability and navigating the environmental review process. Presents recommendations to NTIA on technical assistance and reporting to Congress on the resources necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of TBCP projects.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Is Rural Emergency Hospital the BEST Option for You?
Recording of a June 6, 2024, webinar regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation and conversion process. Features a discussion with three rural hospital leaders who consulted with the REH Technical Assistance Center when considering conversion. Transcript is available in the video description.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Recording of a June 6, 2024, webinar regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation and conversion process. Features a discussion with three rural hospital leaders who consulted with the REH Technical Assistance Center when considering conversion. Transcript is available in the video description.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Hospital Inpatient PPS and the Long-term Care Hospital PPS for FY 2025
Comments on a May 2, 2024, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems (PPS). Discusses proposals on rate-setting in both the inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) and LTCH PPS; the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), including the definition of rural hospitals eligible to participate in a lower-risk track; new payments to small, independent hospitals that establish and maintain a 6-month buffer supply of essential medicines; updates to wage index values and policies; and updates to outlier reconciliation thresholds.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a May 2, 2024, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems (PPS). Discusses proposals on rate-setting in both the inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) and LTCH PPS; the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), including the definition of rural hospitals eligible to participate in a lower-risk track; new payments to small, independent hospitals that establish and maintain a 6-month buffer supply of essential medicines; updates to wage index values and policies; and updates to outlier reconciliation thresholds.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Effects of Affordable Care Act on Uninsured Hospitalization: Evidence from Texas
Examines the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Texas and its relationship to uninsured patient discharges. Analyzes 2011-2019 ACA Marketplace data with breakdowns according to patient race/ethnicity, age, gender, major diagnostic categories (MDC), type of admission, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Nima Khodakarami, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Examines the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Texas and its relationship to uninsured patient discharges. Analyzes 2011-2019 ACA Marketplace data with breakdowns according to patient race/ethnicity, age, gender, major diagnostic categories (MDC), type of admission, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Nima Khodakarami, Benjamin Ukert
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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