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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare

May 2009: PPOs Driving Growth in Rural Medicare Advantage Enrollment
Describes the 2009 growth of rural Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment and in preferred provider organization (PPO) plan enrollment, while the rate of enrollment in private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans declines.
Author(s): Leah Kemper, Timothy D. McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 06/2009
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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A Rural Perspective/Commentary Regarding "Transforming the Health Care Delivery System: Proposals to Improve Patient Care and Reduce Health Care Costs"
Outlines the potential impacts of proposed policy reform options from the Senate Finance Committee on rural America. Covers payment reform, long-term payment reforms, healthcare infrastructure investments, Medicare Advantage, and public program integrity.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, Rebecca T. Slifkin
Date: 05/2009
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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April 2009 Rural Enrollment in Medicare Advantage: Growth in PPOs Outpacing Growth in PFFS
Examines rural enrollment in Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans compared to preferred provider organization (PPO) plans since the program began in 2005.
Author(s): Leah Kemper, Timothy D. McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2009
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2009
Offers an annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discusses rural aspects of Medicare payment policies throughout the report.
Date: 03/2009
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Sole Community Pharmacies and Part D Participation: Implications for Rural Residents
Describes the contracting patterns of sole rural community pharmacies in 16 states to assess the extent to which each pharmacy contracts with the most commonly used Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) available in their state.
Author(s): Victoria Freeman, Indira Richardson, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 02/2009
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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CMS Value-Based Purchasing Program and Critical Access Hospitals
Addresses the implications of value-based purchasing (VBP) for the cost-based reimbursement that Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) receive. Describes the Rural Health Panel's recommendations for action.
Additional links: Summary of Recommendations
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, et al.
Date: 01/2009
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Medicare Beneficiaries' Access to Pharmacy Services in Small Rural Towns: Implications of Contracting Patterns of Sole Community Pharmacies with Part D Plans
Describes pharmacy Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) contract patterns of sole rural pharmacies. Addresses PDP enrollment choices of Medicare Part D enrollees.
Author(s): Victoria A Freeman, Indira Richardson, Rebecca T. Slifkin
Date: 01/2009
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Eligible But Not Enrolled? Potential for Targeting Over a Half-Million Rural Medicare Beneficiaries for Enrollment in the Low-Income Subsidy Prescription Drug Program
Discusses the Medicare Part D low-income subsidy (LIS), which is designed to help low-income persons access the prescription drug benefit with reduced premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs. Included chart shows enrollment in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and the LIS by state.
Additional links: State Tables
Author(s): Timothy D. McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 12/2008
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Medicare Physician Payment Policy and the Rural Perspective
Examines the effects of Medicare payment changes on rural physician practice revenue. Discusses the potential impact on physicians' decisions regarding whether to practice in a rural area, whether to accept Medicare patients, and which specialty to pursue.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Timothy D. McBride
Date: 11/2008
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Rural Policy Research Institute Health Panel Response to CMS' Report to Congress: Plan to Implement a Medicare Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program
Shares RUPRI Rural Health Panel recommendations related to CMS's plans for value-based purchasing and discusses the potential impact on rural hospitals.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, et al.
Date: 10/2008
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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