Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
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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Impact of Medicaid Work Requirements on Hospital Finances
Explores the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 16 states. Provides a fact sheet on each state, including a section comparing the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements on rural hospitals' operating margins to all hospitals in the state.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Explores the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 16 states. Provides a fact sheet on each state, including a section comparing the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements on rural hospitals' operating margins to all hospitals in the state.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Availability of Naloxone at Rural Georgia Pharmacies, 2019
Research letter describing a study of 374 rural Georgia pharmacies. Examines pharmacists' awareness of the Georgia law allowing purchase of naloxone without a prescription, and availability and cost of the medicine.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Nguyen, Lauren R. Gilbert, Lauren Beasley, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(2)
Date: 02/2020
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Research letter describing a study of 374 rural Georgia pharmacies. Examines pharmacists' awareness of the Georgia law allowing purchase of naloxone without a prescription, and availability and cost of the medicine.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Nguyen, Lauren R. Gilbert, Lauren Beasley, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(2)
Date: 02/2020
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Telehealth Use among Rural Individuals with Disabilities
Presents a review of literature on telehealth use by people with disabilities in rural areas, covering research published in the period 2000-2019. Identifies benefits, limitations, and challenges, including barriers associated with regulation and funding, and identifies areas for further study.
Author(s): Keith M. Christensen, Jill Bezyak
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rocky Mountain ADA Center (RMADAC)
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Presents a review of literature on telehealth use by people with disabilities in rural areas, covering research published in the period 2000-2019. Identifies benefits, limitations, and challenges, including barriers associated with regulation and funding, and identifies areas for further study.
Author(s): Keith M. Christensen, Jill Bezyak
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rocky Mountain ADA Center (RMADAC)
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Vermont Rural Health Task Force Workforce Subcommittee Report
Provides an overview of the state of the healthcare workforce in Vermont. Describes actions taken to date by providers, the government, and non-profit organizations to combat workforce challenges in the state. Offers additional policy solutions to meet the healthcare workforce demand in Vermont.
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Health Services Task Force, State of Vermont: Green Mountain Care Board
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Provides an overview of the state of the healthcare workforce in Vermont. Describes actions taken to date by providers, the government, and non-profit organizations to combat workforce challenges in the state. Offers additional policy solutions to meet the healthcare workforce demand in Vermont.
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Health Services Task Force, State of Vermont: Green Mountain Care Board
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State Telehealth Medicaid Fee-For-Service Policy: A Historical Analysis of Telehealth: 2013-2019
Examines national and state-by-state trends in Medicaid fee-for-service policies regarding telehealth between 2013-2019. Highlights changes in expanded telehealth and telemedicine definitions, modalities that are reimbursed, and geographic limitations. Provides graphs and national maps throughout to supplement reported trends.
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Examines national and state-by-state trends in Medicaid fee-for-service policies regarding telehealth between 2013-2019. Highlights changes in expanded telehealth and telemedicine definitions, modalities that are reimbursed, and geographic limitations. Provides graphs and national maps throughout to supplement reported trends.
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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The Future of Rural Value‐Based Health Care and Surge Capacity
Describes the conflict between value-based care and surge capacity investments at rural hospitals, as well as the role of primary care providers can play during disasters. Presents questions for consideration about the future of rural value‐based care, payment, and healthcare networks and community partnerships in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Describes the conflict between value-based care and surge capacity investments at rural hospitals, as well as the role of primary care providers can play during disasters. Presents questions for consideration about the future of rural value‐based care, payment, and healthcare networks and community partnerships in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Opioid Prescribing Among Adults With Disabilities in the United States After the 2014 Federal Hydrocodone Rescheduling Regulation
Examines the impact of the 2014 federal rescheduling regulation regarding hydrocodone-combination products on Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities. Provides maps of prolonged opioid use by Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities by state before and after the regulation was implemented. Includes data analysis of beneficiaries in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Victor Law, Yong-Fang Kuo, Mukaila A. Raji, Jacques Baillargeon
Citation: Public Health Reports, 135(1), 114-123
Date: 12/2019
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Examines the impact of the 2014 federal rescheduling regulation regarding hydrocodone-combination products on Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities. Provides maps of prolonged opioid use by Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities by state before and after the regulation was implemented. Includes data analysis of beneficiaries in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Victor Law, Yong-Fang Kuo, Mukaila A. Raji, Jacques Baillargeon
Citation: Public Health Reports, 135(1), 114-123
Date: 12/2019
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Demand for Broadband in Rural Areas: Implications for Universal Access
Reports on the characteristics of demand for fixed broadband among households and small businesses in rural areas and how they affect private sector infrastructure investments. Discusses the role of schools and libraries as providers of broadband service and training to rural residents, and how broadband enabled services, such as telemedicine, may encourage rural households and small businesses to adopt the technology. Highlights federal programs and policies that may increase or impede broadband demand, and offers options for the U.S. Congress to consider as it addresses rural broadband demand.
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Reports on the characteristics of demand for fixed broadband among households and small businesses in rural areas and how they affect private sector infrastructure investments. Discusses the role of schools and libraries as providers of broadband service and training to rural residents, and how broadband enabled services, such as telemedicine, may encourage rural households and small businesses to adopt the technology. Highlights federal programs and policies that may increase or impede broadband demand, and offers options for the U.S. Congress to consider as it addresses rural broadband demand.
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Care Management Services in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs): Frequently Asked Questions
Provides general information about chronic care management services, specific program requirements, detailed descriptions of billing, claims processing, and payment rules, and requirements for people who are considered part of a care management team for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides general information about chronic care management services, specific program requirements, detailed descriptions of billing, claims processing, and payment rules, and requirements for people who are considered part of a care management team for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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