Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Telehealth and Licensure Policies Improving Healthcare Access for Rural Communities
Discusses expanding licensure across state lines so providers can provide telehealth services to a wider service area. Includes information on Medicaid and Medicare telehealth policies as well as state-level legislation focused on cross-state licensing.
Author(s): Ashley Cram
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Discusses expanding licensure across state lines so providers can provide telehealth services to a wider service area. Includes information on Medicaid and Medicare telehealth policies as well as state-level legislation focused on cross-state licensing.
Author(s): Ashley Cram
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update 2022
Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2012-2022.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2012-2022.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Orientation to Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion and Technical Assistance
Recording of a January 18, 2023, webinar discussing the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program. Provides an overview of the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, and REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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Recording of a January 18, 2023, webinar discussing the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program. Provides an overview of the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, and REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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Virginia Rural Hospital Report: The Challenge Before Us
Highlights the public health and economic contributions made by the 28 Virginia rural hospitals and the challenges they face. Features statistics on admissions, births, beds, and fulltime employees, and county-level maps showing locations of rural hospitals and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
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Highlights the public health and economic contributions made by the 28 Virginia rural hospitals and the challenges they face. Features statistics on admissions, births, beds, and fulltime employees, and county-level maps showing locations of rural hospitals and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
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The Health Equity & Access for Rural Dually Eligible Individuals (HEARD) Toolkit: Raising Rural Voices from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to Create Action
Provides an overview on the access barriers and health disparities of Medicaid and Medicare dually eligible individuals residing in rural areas. Presents research and stakeholder feedback from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to provide information to policymakers. Discusses topics such as community planning related to equity and infrastructure, workforce capacity and community health workers (CHWs), and social determinants of health.
Author(s): Ellen Breslin, Samantha Di Paola, Susan McGeehan, Rebecca Kellenberg, Andrea Maresca
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health Management Associates
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Provides an overview on the access barriers and health disparities of Medicaid and Medicare dually eligible individuals residing in rural areas. Presents research and stakeholder feedback from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to provide information to policymakers. Discusses topics such as community planning related to equity and infrastructure, workforce capacity and community health workers (CHWs), and social determinants of health.
Author(s): Ellen Breslin, Samantha Di Paola, Susan McGeehan, Rebecca Kellenberg, Andrea Maresca
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Health Management Associates
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