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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare

Redesigning Medicare: Considerations for Rural Beneficiaries and Health Systems
Presents a framework for what should be included in any discussion of Medicare policies, for use by those interested in the future of healthcare services in rural areas in helping to shape proposals to redesign the Medicare program.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Charles W. Fluharty, A. Clinton MacKinney, et al.
Date: 05/2001
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Update on Medicare+Choice: Rural Medicare Beneficiaries Enrolled in Medicare+Choice Plans through October 2000
Describes enrollment in Medicare+Choice in rural counties through October 2000.
Author(s): Timothy McBride, Courtney Andrews, Keith Mueller
Citation: RUPRI Rural Policy Brief, 6(7)
Date: 03/2001
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Key Rural Issues for Medicare Reform, 2001
Brief overview of rural issues related to Medicare reform. Discusses the need for rural representation and adequate payments to ensure healthcare access.
Date: 2001
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Rural Hospital Wages and the Area Wage Index: 1990-1997
Examines whether incremental changes to the hospital wage index from 1990-1997 made it more fair across regions and how these changes impacted rural hospitals.
Additional links: Findings Brief, January 2001
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Rebecca Slifkin, Hilda Howard
Date: 11/2000
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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The Financial Viability of Rural Hospitals in a Post-BBA Environment
Evaluated the financial viability of rural hospitals under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) and the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA) Medicare payment policies. Estimated the number of hospitals that would become Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and estimated the number of beds at each hospital.
Author(s): Jeffrey Stensland, Ira Moscovice, Jon Christianson
Date: 10/2000
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Redesigning the Medicare Program: An Opportunity to Improve Rural Health Care Systems?
Presents a framework for use by those interested in the future of healthcare services in rural areas, to help to shape proposals to redesign the Medicare program. Identifies rural principles that should guide any Medicare redesign effort.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Charles W. Fluharty, J. Patrick Hart, et al.
Date: 08/2000
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Calculating and Using the Area Wage Index of the Medicare Inpatient Hospital Prospective Payment System
Explains how the area wage index (AWI) was developed to adjust Medicare payments to hospitals based on average hospital wages in an area. Identifies the major unresolved issues related to its calculation and use in the year 2000.
Author(s): Anthony Wellever
Citation: RUPRI Rural Policy Brief, 5(5)
Date: 06/2000
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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A Report on Enrollment: Rural Medicare Beneficiaries in Medicare+Choice Plans
Reports on changes in Medicare+Choice enrollment from December 1996 to October 1999. Also identifies Medicare+Choice plans added in 1998-1999.
Author(s): Brandi Shay, Timothy McBride, Keith Mueller
Citation: RUPRI Rural Policy Brief, 5(1)
Date: 03/2000
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Rural Health in the United States
A comprehensive review of the health status and healthcare resources of the rural areas of the United States. Updates the book, "Health Care in Rural America", published by the Office of Technology Assessment in 1990. Preview available via Google Books.
Author(s): Thomas C. Ricketts, III (editor)
Date: 1999
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Rural Health Clinics: Rising Program Expenditures Not Focused on Improving Care in Isolated Areas
A review of the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) program. Examined whether the RHC program provides primary care access to Medicare and Medicaid recipients who otherwise would not have it. Also looked at controls in place for payments to RHCs from Medicare and Medicaid.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/1997
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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