Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Telecommunications: FCC Should Take Additional Action to Manage Fraud Risks in Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas
Examines the funding reforms and fraud controls implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for small, rural telecommunications carriers, identified as "rate-of-return carriers". Includes recommendations to the FCC supporting fraud risk management, regular assessments, and newly designed strategies. Appendix I identifies key elements of a fraud-risk management assessment process.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Examines the funding reforms and fraud controls implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for small, rural telecommunications carriers, identified as "rate-of-return carriers". Includes recommendations to the FCC supporting fraud risk management, regular assessments, and newly designed strategies. Appendix I identifies key elements of a fraud-risk management assessment process.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Estimate of Federal Payment Reductions to Hospitals Following the ACA: 2010-2029: Estimates and Methodology
Estimates the reduction in Medicare hospital payments due to sequestration from 2010 to 2029, not including reductions enacted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Demonstrates how other legislative acts and regulatory changes by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reduced federal payments to hospitals over the same period. Highlights how reductions in Medicare payments for bad debt impacted Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organizations: American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals
view details
Estimates the reduction in Medicare hospital payments due to sequestration from 2010 to 2029, not including reductions enacted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Demonstrates how other legislative acts and regulatory changes by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reduced federal payments to hospitals over the same period. Highlights how reductions in Medicare payments for bad debt impacted Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organizations: American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals
view details
National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Summary, Washington, D.C., September 9-12, 2019
Summarizes the 86th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Washington, D.C. Presents an overview of national perspectives on several topics, including issues impacting rural children, youth, and families; the priorities of federal agencies regarding rural health; the implications of federal policy changes on rural providers; and challenges and opportunities affecting older rural Americans. Features perspectives from national stakeholder groups.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
view details
Summarizes the 86th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Washington, D.C. Presents an overview of national perspectives on several topics, including issues impacting rural children, youth, and families; the priorities of federal agencies regarding rural health; the implications of federal policy changes on rural providers; and challenges and opportunities affecting older rural Americans. Features perspectives from national stakeholder groups.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
view details
Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances among Office-Based Physicians, 2017
Examines rates of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS), with information by type of physician practice, including rural or urban location, practice size, practice ownership, physician specialty, and technology available. EPCS is mandated for Medicare Part D providers by 2021, through the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act.
Author(s): Sonal Parasrampuria, Martin Blanco, Wesley Barker
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
view details
Examines rates of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS), with information by type of physician practice, including rural or urban location, practice size, practice ownership, physician specialty, and technology available. EPCS is mandated for Medicare Part D providers by 2021, through the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act.
Author(s): Sonal Parasrampuria, Martin Blanco, Wesley Barker
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
view details
How Will Medicaid Work Requirements Affect Hospitals' Finances?
Examines the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 18 states. Includes a section on the potential impact on rural hospitals' operating margins. Updates a March 2019 report of the same title covering 13 states.
Author(s): Randy Haught, Allen Dobson, Joan DaVanzo
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Examines the potential financial impact of approved or pending Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers that include work requirements on hospitals in 18 states. Includes a section on the potential impact on rural hospitals' operating margins. Updates a March 2019 report of the same title covering 13 states.
Author(s): Randy Haught, Allen Dobson, Joan DaVanzo
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Dismantling Buprenorphine Policy Can Provide More Comprehensive Addiction Treatment
Commentary focused on the impact buprenorphine prescribing policy has on access to opioid addiction treatment. Discusses the lack of providers waivered to prescribe buprenorphine in rural areas. Includes a map showing counties that lack providers who can prescribe medications for opioid use disorder.
Author(s): Alex E. Woodruff, Mary Tomanovich, Leo Beletsky, et al.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
view details
Commentary focused on the impact buprenorphine prescribing policy has on access to opioid addiction treatment. Discusses the lack of providers waivered to prescribe buprenorphine in rural areas. Includes a map showing counties that lack providers who can prescribe medications for opioid use disorder.
Author(s): Alex E. Woodruff, Mary Tomanovich, Leo Beletsky, et al.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
view details
2019 Physician Assistant Telehealth Survey
Discusses survey results of 95 physician assistants (PAs) across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma regarding their use and perceptions of telehealth. Examines survey results across a variety of geographic and practice settings. Presents a brief overview of some federal and state-level policies about PA reimbursement and their ability to provide telehealth services.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
view details
Discusses survey results of 95 physician assistants (PAs) across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma regarding their use and perceptions of telehealth. Examines survey results across a variety of geographic and practice settings. Presents a brief overview of some federal and state-level policies about PA reimbursement and their ability to provide telehealth services.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
view details
The Evolving Policy Landscape of Telehealth Services Delivered in the Home and Other Nonclinical Settings
Issue brief identifying key findings for state officials considering adopting new policies for home-based telehealth services. Describes Medicaid and Medicare coverage for telehealth services, including those provided in rural and Health Professional Shortage Areas, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Health Clinics.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Andrea Bennett, Valerie King
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
view details
Issue brief identifying key findings for state officials considering adopting new policies for home-based telehealth services. Describes Medicaid and Medicare coverage for telehealth services, including those provided in rural and Health Professional Shortage Areas, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Health Clinics.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Andrea Bennett, Valerie King
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
view details
FCC Promoting Telehealth in Rural America: Report and Order
Provides a report and order regarding plans to reform the Rural Health Care Program and promote telehealth, including targeting funding to rural areas. Discusses plans to improve the Telecom Program's efficiency, transparency, and predictability; criteria for prioritizing rural areas for funding; how to increase rural participation in Healthcare Connect Fund Program Consortia and the effectiveness of competitive billing; and how to improve RHC Program administration, the application process, and program oversight. Includes the final rules governing the program and maps showing the rural area tiers for the program.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
view details
Provides a report and order regarding plans to reform the Rural Health Care Program and promote telehealth, including targeting funding to rural areas. Discusses plans to improve the Telecom Program's efficiency, transparency, and predictability; criteria for prioritizing rural areas for funding; how to increase rural participation in Healthcare Connect Fund Program Consortia and the effectiveness of competitive billing; and how to improve RHC Program administration, the application process, and program oversight. Includes the final rules governing the program and maps showing the rural area tiers for the program.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
view details
Understanding the Intersection of Medicaid and Work: What Does the Data Say?
Provides analysis on Medicaid enrollees and work requirements. Examines policy implications of work requirements, and explores barriers to work and reporting requirements. Table 1 includes statistics describing nonelderly adult Medicaid enrollees work status in 2017 by demographic characteristics, including metro/nonmetro residence.
Author(s): Rachel Garfield, Robin Rudowitz, Kendal Orgera, Anthony Damico
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Provides analysis on Medicaid enrollees and work requirements. Examines policy implications of work requirements, and explores barriers to work and reporting requirements. Table 1 includes statistics describing nonelderly adult Medicaid enrollees work status in 2017 by demographic characteristics, including metro/nonmetro residence.
Author(s): Rachel Garfield, Robin Rudowitz, Kendal Orgera, Anthony Damico
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details