Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Medicaid and CHIP in Guam
Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Guam. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and Guam spending.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Guam. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and Guam spending.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Medicaid and CHIP in American Samoa
Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in American Samoa. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and American Samoa spending.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in American Samoa. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and American Samoa spending.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Contract Year 2021 and 2022 Policy and Technical Changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D
Responds to a proposed rule to revise regulations for Medicare Advantage (MA) and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit program (Part D). Provides comments on CMS proposals regarding out-of-network telehealth benefits, updates to the quality rating models for MA and Part D plans, and changes to MA network adequacy standards. Discusses how changes to network adequacy standards would impact access to dialysis facilities for beneficiaries in micropolitan counties, rural counties, and counties with extreme access considerations (CEAC).
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Responds to a proposed rule to revise regulations for Medicare Advantage (MA) and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit program (Part D). Provides comments on CMS proposals regarding out-of-network telehealth benefits, updates to the quality rating models for MA and Part D plans, and changes to MA network adequacy standards. Discusses how changes to network adequacy standards would impact access to dialysis facilities for beneficiaries in micropolitan counties, rural counties, and counties with extreme access considerations (CEAC).
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Health Care and Medicaid Telehealth Flexibilities, and Guidance Regarding Section 1009 of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act (Pub. L. 115-271), entitled Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Treatment via Telehealth
Discusses the benefits of utilizing telehealth services to expand access to Medicaid services in rural areas and the flexibility states have in covering these services. Provides guidance on options states have to receive federal reimbursement for substance use disorder treatments provided via telehealth services.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Discusses the benefits of utilizing telehealth services to expand access to Medicaid services in rural areas and the flexibility states have in covering these services. Provides guidance on options states have to receive federal reimbursement for substance use disorder treatments provided via telehealth services.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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CARES Act: Provisions to Help Rural Hospitals
Provides an overview of aspects of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act designed to support rural hospitals. Highlights provisions related to access to capital, Medicare payments, and telehealth, among others.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Provides an overview of aspects of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act designed to support rural hospitals. Highlights provisions related to access to capital, Medicare payments, and telehealth, among others.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Public Law 116-136: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020). Outlines telehealth flexibilities to support providers and enhance access to care during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Among other things, the CARES Act allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to serve as distant sites to provide telehealth services to patients in their homes during the public health emergency (PHE); establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP); extends the ability to order home health services to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse specialists; and provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the provision of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020). Outlines telehealth flexibilities to support providers and enhance access to care during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Among other things, the CARES Act allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to serve as distant sites to provide telehealth services to patients in their homes during the public health emergency (PHE); establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP); extends the ability to order home health services to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse specialists; and provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the provision of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Recruiting and Retaining Behavioral Health Workers in Rural America: A Toolkit for Action
Explores successful tactics and programs, and elements missing from many current efforts to recruit and retain behavioral health workers. Describes funding opportunities, pipeline programs, telehealth initiatives, innovative approaches to recruitment and retention, and legislative changes in 2019 that helped promote recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Nancy Baum, Jaque King
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health and Research Transformation, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Explores successful tactics and programs, and elements missing from many current efforts to recruit and retain behavioral health workers. Describes funding opportunities, pipeline programs, telehealth initiatives, innovative approaches to recruitment and retention, and legislative changes in 2019 that helped promote recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Nancy Baum, Jaque King
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health and Research Transformation, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Healthcare from Anywhere: Telehealth Use and Perceptions in Rural Michigan
Examines the current state of telehealth services in rural Michigan. Discusses state and local policies related to access to telehealth services, perceptions of telehealth services, and how these services are used by physicians. Identifies barriers rural Michigan healthcare providers and residents face in utilizing telehealth services. Presents recommendations that would increase access to telehealth services for rural Michigan residents. Includes an overview of the telehealth policy environment of all 50 states, with a focus on states with moderate or progressive telehealth policy environments.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Connected Nation, Michigan Health Endowment
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Examines the current state of telehealth services in rural Michigan. Discusses state and local policies related to access to telehealth services, perceptions of telehealth services, and how these services are used by physicians. Identifies barriers rural Michigan healthcare providers and residents face in utilizing telehealth services. Presents recommendations that would increase access to telehealth services for rural Michigan residents. Includes an overview of the telehealth policy environment of all 50 states, with a focus on states with moderate or progressive telehealth policy environments.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Connected Nation, Michigan Health Endowment
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Nursing Home Closures and Trends: June 2015 - June 2019
Provides an overview of the causes and implications of 500 nursing home closures between June 2015 and June 2019. Examines the geographic distribution of these closures, including states in which closures are concentrated in rural areas. Explores nursing home closures in relation to occupancy rates, quality ratings, tax status, and the impact of Medicaid payment policies. Offers recommendations for policymakers and nursing homes.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: LeadingAge
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Provides an overview of the causes and implications of 500 nursing home closures between June 2015 and June 2019. Examines the geographic distribution of these closures, including states in which closures are concentrated in rural areas. Explores nursing home closures in relation to occupancy rates, quality ratings, tax status, and the impact of Medicaid payment policies. Offers recommendations for policymakers and nursing homes.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: LeadingAge
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Strategy on Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden Relating to the Use of Health IT and EHRs
Describes 4 categories of health information technology and electronic health record (EHR)-related burdens for healthcare providers. Presents strategies and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders to reduce the burdens in each category. Includes brief notes on how these policy changes can be implemented with small and rural providers in mind.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Describes 4 categories of health information technology and electronic health record (EHR)-related burdens for healthcare providers. Presents strategies and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders to reduce the burdens in each category. Includes brief notes on how these policy changes can be implemented with small and rural providers in mind.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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