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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare

Trends in Skilled Nursing and Swing-bed Use in Rural Areas, 1996-2003
Examines trends in the delivery of skilled nursing facility (SNF) services in rural areas during a period of dramatic change in Medicare payments. Focuses on the role of rural hospitals in providing SNF services, as a number of regulatory changes occurred between 1998 and 2002 that could potentially influence hospital provision of skilled nursing care.
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Jeongyoung Park, Ann Howard, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 12/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Assessing the Financial Effect of Medicare Payment on Rural Hospitals: Does the Source of Data Change the Results?
Describes how predictions of changes in hospital financial performance as a result of change in Medicare payment differ when comparing results using data from the Medicare Cost Report (MCR) to results using data from the audited hospital financial statement.
Author(s): Li-Wu Chen, Susan Puumala, Keith J. Mueller, et al.
Date: 11/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Revisions to Medicare's Disproportionate Share Payment Policy to Incorporate Bad Debt and Charity Care
Investigates the impact of possible changes to the Medicare disproportionate share (DSH) payment policy, designed to incorporate information on the hospital's uncompensated care burden as well as to improve the payment formula. These analyses are intended to help policymakers evaluate the likely impact of revising the DSH payment methodology.
Author(s): Julie A. Schoenman, Janet P. Sutton, Lan Zhao
Date: 09/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Utilization of Home Health Services Among Rural Medicare Beneficiaries Before and After the PPS: Final Report
Describes the results of a study on the rural effects of the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS), including whether the PPS contributed to changes in the demographic and clinical characteristics of home care users; the likelihood of using each of six home care disciplines; and the intensity of services.
Author(s): Janet P. Sutton
Date: 08/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Preparing for Medicare Part D: An Opportunity for State Offices of Rural Health and State Rural Health Associations
Provides a timeline for the implementation of Medicare Part D and discusses how State Offices of Rural Health and state rural health associations could help beneficiaries enroll in prescription drug plans.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Lisa Bottsford
Citation: RUPRI Rural Policy Brief, 10(2)
Date: 08/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Issues in a Modernized Medicare Program, 2005
Examines issues affecting the Medicare program. Addresses Part D, Medicare's new outpatient prescription drug benefit, with some coverage of rural issues. Includes overview of the Medicare Advantage program. Discusses the effects of the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) provisions in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA).
Date: 06/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Patterns Of Post-Acute Utilization In Rural and Urban Communities: Home Health, Skilled Nursing, and Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation
Describes rural Medicare beneficiaries' patterns of post-acute utilization of home health services, skilled nursing facilities, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Provides baseline data that policymakers, researchers, and others who are interested in rural healthcare issues may use to monitor how changes in Medicare policies affect access to post-acute care in rural areas.
Author(s): Janet P. Sutton
Date: 03/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services Meeting Minutes, Washington DC, March 20-22, 2005
Minutes from a National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services meeting addressing the following topics: health information technology, Medicare and access to pharmaceutical services, and support for rural caregivers.
Date: 03/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2005
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report. Includes discussion of strategies to improve care, including pay for performance and information technology.
Date: 03/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Home Health Payment Reform: Trends in the Supply of Rural Agencies and Availability of Home-Based Skilled Services
Reports on changes in the supply of home health agencies in rural and urban areas before and after the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997, which changed reimbursement for home health. Also looks at provision of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical social work by rural and urban home health agencies.
Author(s): Janet P. Sutton
Date: 03/2005
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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