Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare
RHCs & the Medicare Shared Savings Program - What You Need to Know
Recording of a March 7, 2023, webinar providing an overview of the transition to value-based care, Accountable Care Organizations, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Discusses considerations for Rural Health Clinic participation in the Shared Savings Program. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Recording of a March 7, 2023, webinar providing an overview of the transition to value-based care, Accountable Care Organizations, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Discusses considerations for Rural Health Clinic participation in the Shared Savings Program. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Rural Track Program Funding: An Erosion in Definitions of Rural Places Requires New Action
Policy position paper discussing graduate medical education (GME) in rural areas. Discusses policy changes to rural hospital classification and the impact of these changes on rural GME and rural training track programs.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy position paper discussing graduate medical education (GME) in rural areas. Discusses policy changes to rural hospital classification and the impact of these changes on rural GME and rural training track programs.
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
CMS Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced Model: Fourth Evaluation Report
Fourth annual report of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI Advanced) Model, which tests whether linking payments for a clinical episode of care can reduce Medicare expenditures while maintaining or improving the quality of care. Explores the impact of BPCI Advanced on episode payments, utilization, and quality of care, as well as estimates of Medicare program savings in Model Year 3. Analyzes BPCI Advanced outcomes for beneficiaries from underserved communities, including beneficiaries in rural areas and areas with a high Area Deprivation Index (ADI).
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Author(s): The Lewin Group, Abt Associates, GDIT, Telligen
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Fourth annual report of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI Advanced) Model, which tests whether linking payments for a clinical episode of care can reduce Medicare expenditures while maintaining or improving the quality of care. Explores the impact of BPCI Advanced on episode payments, utilization, and quality of care, as well as estimates of Medicare program savings in Model Year 3. Analyzes BPCI Advanced outcomes for beneficiaries from underserved communities, including beneficiaries in rural areas and areas with a high Area Deprivation Index (ADI).
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Author(s): The Lewin Group, Abt Associates, GDIT, Telligen
Date: 03/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Quality Improvement in Rural Health Care
Policy position paper regarding challenges rural providers face in participating in quality improvement initiatives. Offers policy recommendations on the establishment and support of rural-relevant quality measures.
Author(s): Michelle Mills, Roger Wells
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy position paper regarding challenges rural providers face in participating in quality improvement initiatives. Offers policy recommendations on the establishment and support of rural-relevant quality measures.
Author(s): Michelle Mills, Roger Wells
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Obesity Prevention and Treatment in Rural America Through Changes in Diet and Food Availability
Policy position paper regarding obesity prevention and treatment through rural-specific programming and equitable coverage. Offers policy recommendations to address obesity among rural populations.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy position paper regarding obesity prevention and treatment through rural-specific programming and equitable coverage. Offers policy recommendations to address obesity among rural populations.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Initiatives to Address Rural Health and Health Disparities
Policy brief describing three national Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) value-based initiatives that allow providers to work toward health equity. Provides policy recommendations to design and refine programs to engage rural providers.
Author(s): Andrea Mitchell, Alyssa Meller, Hunter Nostrant
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy brief describing three national Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) value-based initiatives that allow providers to work toward health equity. Provides policy recommendations to design and refine programs to engage rural providers.
Author(s): Andrea Mitchell, Alyssa Meller, Hunter Nostrant
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
FQHC & RHC CMS Policy Manual Updates
Highlights policy changes in the 2022 and 2023 Final Physician Fee Schedules, but not included in the FQHC/RHC CMS Policy Manual, regarding mental health face-to-face and telehealth encounters, and care management services. Details when permanent policies take effect. Discusses the current CMS modified definition of a mental health visit. Provides clarification on the Medicare allowance for general care management services including chronic care, chronic pain, and behavioral health integration.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details
Highlights policy changes in the 2022 and 2023 Final Physician Fee Schedules, but not included in the FQHC/RHC CMS Policy Manual, regarding mental health face-to-face and telehealth encounters, and care management services. Details when permanent policies take effect. Discusses the current CMS modified definition of a mental health visit. Provides clarification on the Medicare allowance for general care management services including chronic care, chronic pain, and behavioral health integration.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details
The Approaching End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Its Implications for RHCs
Outlines Rural Health Clinic (RHC)-specific waivers implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will end at the conclusion of the public health emergency (PHE). Highlights how other policies will be impacted by the end of the PHE, including telehealth flexibilities; Medicaid redetermination; the commercialization of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests; and Emergency Use Authorizations.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Outlines Rural Health Clinic (RHC)-specific waivers implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will end at the conclusion of the public health emergency (PHE). Highlights how other policies will be impacted by the end of the PHE, including telehealth flexibilities; Medicaid redetermination; the commercialization of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests; and Emergency Use Authorizations.
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Rural Hospitals Face Renewed Financial Challenges, Especially in States That Have Not Expanded Medicaid
Provides an overview of rural hospital finances before the COVID-19 pandemic and compares operating margins in hospitals in states that expanded Medicaid with those that did not expand Medicaid. Describes financial trends during pandemic. Highlights selected policy initiatives intended to support rural hospitals or restructure the rural healthcare delivery system.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Jamie Godwin, Scott Hulver
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Provides an overview of rural hospital finances before the COVID-19 pandemic and compares operating margins in hospitals in states that expanded Medicaid with those that did not expand Medicaid. Describes financial trends during pandemic. Highlights selected policy initiatives intended to support rural hospitals or restructure the rural healthcare delivery system.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Jamie Godwin, Scott Hulver
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
Community Health Centers And Medicaid: A Deeper Dive Into FQHC Alternative Payment Reform
An overview of the development of the Medicaid FQHC policy, since 1965, between Medicare and Medicaid, providing third-party financing, and CHCs, offering primary healthcare to underserved rural and urban areas. Discusses the discrepancies in Medicaid payment policies affecting CHCs, and federal legislative actions and amendments to reconcile budgets. Describes the alternative payment methodology (APM) and its effect on the prospective payment system.
Author(s): Sara Rosenbaum, Peter Shin, Jessica Sharac, Colleen Bedenbaugh
Citation: Health Affairs
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
view details
An overview of the development of the Medicaid FQHC policy, since 1965, between Medicare and Medicaid, providing third-party financing, and CHCs, offering primary healthcare to underserved rural and urban areas. Discusses the discrepancies in Medicaid payment policies affecting CHCs, and federal legislative actions and amendments to reconcile budgets. Describes the alternative payment methodology (APM) and its effect on the prospective payment system.
Author(s): Sara Rosenbaum, Peter Shin, Jessica Sharac, Colleen Bedenbaugh
Citation: Health Affairs
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
view details