Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Calendar Year (CY) 2015 Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Updates: Payment Rate Increases for RHCs and FQHCs Billing Under the All-Inclusive Rate System (AIR), and Urban and Rural Designations for FQHCs Billing Under the AIR
Provides updates for RHCs and FQHCs that are submitting claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services to Medicare beneficiaries.
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides updates for RHCs and FQHCs that are submitting claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services to Medicare beneficiaries.
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Environmental Scan on Identifying a Pathway Toward Maximizing Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models
Presents results of an environmental scan on the identification of a pathway toward maximizing participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models. Describes the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services's (CMS's) goal of having all Medicare beneficiaries with Parts A and B in accountable care relationships by 2030. Discusses challenges and technical issues related to maximizing participation in PB-TCOC models, including organizational structure, payment, and risk adjustment. Summarizes relevant features of CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) models identified in previous Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) proposals. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Presents results of an environmental scan on the identification of a pathway toward maximizing participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models. Describes the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services's (CMS's) goal of having all Medicare beneficiaries with Parts A and B in accountable care relationships by 2030. Discusses challenges and technical issues related to maximizing participation in PB-TCOC models, including organizational structure, payment, and risk adjustment. Summarizes relevant features of CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) models identified in previous Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) proposals. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Nursing Home Certificate of Need Moratoria During the COVID-19 Pandemic Had Little Impact on Access
Analyzes certificate of need (CON) moratoria and healthcare supply of skilled nursing facility (SNF) beds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2015-2021 SNF cost report data to provide information on states that implemented CON moratoria, differences by rural versus urban counties, and impact on SNF bed supply.
Author(s): Anthony Yu, Christopher Whaley
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
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Analyzes certificate of need (CON) moratoria and healthcare supply of skilled nursing facility (SNF) beds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2015-2021 SNF cost report data to provide information on states that implemented CON moratoria, differences by rural versus urban counties, and impact on SNF bed supply.
Author(s): Anthony Yu, Christopher Whaley
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
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The State of Obesity 2024: Better Policies for a Healthier America
Presents data on adult and childhood obesity rates, with breakdowns by state and select demographic characteristics. Examines current and emerging policies, provides funding opportunities, and outlines recommended policy actions. Includes a special feature about food environments and systems.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Madison West
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Presents data on adult and childhood obesity rates, with breakdowns by state and select demographic characteristics. Examines current and emerging policies, provides funding opportunities, and outlines recommended policy actions. Includes a special feature about food environments and systems.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Madison West
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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CDC Rural Public Health Strategic Plan, FY 2024 - 2029
Outlines the CDC Office of Rural Health's strategic plan to improve health outcomes in rural communities, in collaboration with internal and external partners and federal agencies, by supporting and advancing rural public health science and practice. Identifies 4 key priorities for the next 5 years: advance results-based engagement with partners and communities to address rural public health challenges; strengthen rural public health infrastructure and workforce; advance rural public health sciences; and improve rural public health preparedness and response capacity.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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Outlines the CDC Office of Rural Health's strategic plan to improve health outcomes in rural communities, in collaboration with internal and external partners and federal agencies, by supporting and advancing rural public health science and practice. Identifies 4 key priorities for the next 5 years: advance results-based engagement with partners and communities to address rural public health challenges; strengthen rural public health infrastructure and workforce; advance rural public health sciences; and improve rural public health preparedness and response capacity.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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Rural Emergency Hospitals Fact Sheet
Provides a brief overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider designation. Outlines REH payment, services, eligibility requirements, and how to apply for REH designation.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides a brief overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider designation. Outlines REH payment, services, eligibility requirements, and how to apply for REH designation.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Communications and Technology Subcommittee Hearing: "From Introduction to Implementation: A BEAD Program Progress Report"
Recording of a September 10, 2024, House Energy & Commerce Committee Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing on the status and progress of implementing the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Features testimony from Shirley Bloomfield, Chief Executive Officer of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association.
Additional links: Shirley Bloomfield, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association - Testimony
Date: 09/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Recording of a September 10, 2024, House Energy & Commerce Committee Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing on the status and progress of implementing the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Features testimony from Shirley Bloomfield, Chief Executive Officer of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association.
Additional links: Shirley Bloomfield, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association - Testimony
Date: 09/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Addressing Travel Costs for Providers of Field-Based Services in Medi-Cal
Examines provider travel costs associated with field-based healthcare services in Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program. Discusses Medicaid policies related to provider travel costs and the implications for community health workers (CHWs), doula services, and behavioral health services, with emphasis on the impact for rural areas of the state.
Author(s): Logan Kelly
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Examines provider travel costs associated with field-based healthcare services in Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program. Discusses Medicaid policies related to provider travel costs and the implications for community health workers (CHWs), doula services, and behavioral health services, with emphasis on the impact for rural areas of the state.
Author(s): Logan Kelly
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Information for Rural Stakeholders About Access to Maternity and Obstetric Care: A Community-Relevant Synthesis of Research
Provides an overview of access to maternity and obstetric care in rural areas, including access to care, childbirth at rural hospitals, and rural obstetric unit closures. Summarizes research findings on healthcare quality and outcomes at low-volume obstetric units, risks associated with rural obstetric unit closures, and challenges faced by communities without hospital-based obstetric care. Describes clinical and policy efforts to improve access and quality of care for birthing people and their families in rural communities with low-volume obstetric units or lack access to hospital-based obstetric care.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, et al.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Provides an overview of access to maternity and obstetric care in rural areas, including access to care, childbirth at rural hospitals, and rural obstetric unit closures. Summarizes research findings on healthcare quality and outcomes at low-volume obstetric units, risks associated with rural obstetric unit closures, and challenges faced by communities without hospital-based obstetric care. Describes clinical and policy efforts to improve access and quality of care for birthing people and their families in rural communities with low-volume obstetric units or lack access to hospital-based obstetric care.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, et al.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S. 2024
Explores maternal healthcare access and provides county-level U.S. maps that show maternity care deserts, hospitals that offer obstetric (OB) care, distribution of OB providers, travel time to maternity care, chronic conditions of birthing people, social drivers of health, and more. Includes rural versus urban characteristics of the maternal health workforce as well as access and policy discussions specific to rural areas.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: March of Dimes
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Explores maternal healthcare access and provides county-level U.S. maps that show maternity care deserts, hospitals that offer obstetric (OB) care, distribution of OB providers, travel time to maternity care, chronic conditions of birthing people, social drivers of health, and more. Includes rural versus urban characteristics of the maternal health workforce as well as access and policy discussions specific to rural areas.
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: March of Dimes
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