Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare
2015: Rural Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update
Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and other prepaid enrollment plans. Compares national and rural MA enrollment, and variability by state.
Author(s): Chance Finegan, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 07/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and other prepaid enrollment plans. Compares national and rural MA enrollment, and variability by state.
Author(s): Chance Finegan, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 07/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Teaching Hospitals: Preparing Tomorrow's Physicians Today
An overview of the value teaching hospitals bring in rural and urban areas, serving as training centers to prepare physicians in clinical settings, provide specialty training and specialty services, engage in research and innovation, and prepare healthcare professionals to adapt to changes in the healthcare environment. Discusses the federal (Medicare and Medicaid) financial support mechanisms teaching hospitals receive and the impact this support has on the increased cost of clinical training of new physicians.
Date: 06/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
An overview of the value teaching hospitals bring in rural and urban areas, serving as training centers to prepare physicians in clinical settings, provide specialty training and specialty services, engage in research and innovation, and prepare healthcare professionals to adapt to changes in the healthcare environment. Discusses the federal (Medicare and Medicaid) financial support mechanisms teaching hospitals receive and the impact this support has on the increased cost of clinical training of new physicians.
Date: 06/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2015
Includes chapters on coordinating Medicare policy across payment models, Part B drug payment policy, value-based incentives for managing Part B drug use, multiple drug use including opioids among Medicare Part D enrollees, hospital short-stays, and new methods of measuring quality of care. Rural hospitals, rural referral centers, and rural patient populations are discussed throughout this report.
Date: 06/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Includes chapters on coordinating Medicare policy across payment models, Part B drug payment policy, value-based incentives for managing Part B drug use, multiple drug use including opioids among Medicare Part D enrollees, hospital short-stays, and new methods of measuring quality of care. Rural hospitals, rural referral centers, and rural patient populations are discussed throughout this report.
Date: 06/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Report to Congress: Overview of the 340B Drug Pricing Program
Provides a general overview of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, including eligibility criteria for hospitals and providers, analysis of the program's financial impact, and a summary of the debate over the program's importance, especially to rural and underserved communities.
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Provides a general overview of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, including eligibility criteria for hospitals and providers, analysis of the program's financial impact, and a summary of the debate over the program's importance, especially to rural and underserved communities.
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Characteristics of Rural Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) – A Survey of Medicare ACOs with Rural Presence
Describes the findings of a survey of 27 Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that have a presence in a rural area, focusing on characteristics concerning their formation and operation to better inform policy discussions around ACOs in rural areas.
Author(s): Abiodun Salako, Xi Zhu, A. Clinton MacKinney, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Describes the findings of a survey of 27 Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that have a presence in a rural area, focusing on characteristics concerning their formation and operation to better inform policy discussions around ACOs in rural areas.
Author(s): Abiodun Salako, Xi Zhu, A. Clinton MacKinney, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Statement by Tim Wolters, Citizens Memorial Hospital and Lake Regional Health System, before the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies
Testimony presented at a May 7, 2015 Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing on rural health. Discusses the impact rural hospitals have on their communities and the challenges rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals face that make them vulnerable to cuts in Medicare reimbursement.
Author(s): Tim Wolters
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Appropriations
view details
Testimony presented at a May 7, 2015 Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing on rural health. Discusses the impact rural hospitals have on their communities and the challenges rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals face that make them vulnerable to cuts in Medicare reimbursement.
Author(s): Tim Wolters
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Appropriations
view details
Statement of Sean Cavanaugh, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, on Rural Health before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Testimony presented at a May 7, 2015 Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing on rural health. Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities to improve access to services for rural Medicare beneficiaries. Discusses telehealth, Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and rural projects being tested through the Health Care Innovation Awards.
Author(s): Sean Cavanaugh, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Appropriations
view details
Testimony presented at a May 7, 2015 Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing on rural health. Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities to improve access to services for rural Medicare beneficiaries. Discusses telehealth, Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, and rural projects being tested through the Health Care Innovation Awards.
Author(s): Sean Cavanaugh, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Appropriations
view details
Public Law 114-10: Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015
Full text of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, commonly referred to as MACRA. MACRA seeks to transition healthcare from fee-for-service to value-based care by repealing the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and replacing it with the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The QPP streamlines data collection efforts and rewards providers based on value instead of volume through the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (Advanced APMs).
Date: 04/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
view details
Full text of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, commonly referred to as MACRA. MACRA seeks to transition healthcare from fee-for-service to value-based care by repealing the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and replacing it with the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The QPP streamlines data collection efforts and rewards providers based on value instead of volume through the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (Advanced APMs).
Date: 04/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
view details
Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations: March 2015
Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in OIG's view, would have the most substantial positive impact on Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Positive impact may refer to cost savings, program efficacy and efficiency, and/or quality improvement. Primary areas of interest in the March 2015 edition include: Medicare payment policies and oversight mechanisms, face-to-face requirements for home health agencies, and strengthening fraud prevention in electronic health record (EHR) technology across all providers, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in OIG's view, would have the most substantial positive impact on Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Positive impact may refer to cost savings, program efficacy and efficiency, and/or quality improvement. Primary areas of interest in the March 2015 edition include: Medicare payment policies and oversight mechanisms, face-to-face requirements for home health agencies, and strengthening fraud prevention in electronic health record (EHR) technology across all providers, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Evaluation of Hospital-Setting HCIA Awards: First Annual Report, Final
Evaluations of 10 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects undertaken in a hospital inpatient or emergency department. Covers projects that involved Critical Access Hospitals and other rural hospitals. Includes projects focused on improved care for sepsis and projects using remote electronic intensive care unit (eICU) services.
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Evaluations of 10 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects undertaken in a hospital inpatient or emergency department. Covers projects that involved Critical Access Hospitals and other rural hospitals. Includes projects focused on improved care for sepsis and projects using remote electronic intensive care unit (eICU) services.
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details