Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Let's Talk About Mitigation Video
Recording of a June 29, 2021, webinar providing technical assistance regarding the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation Funding program. Discusses reporting requirements and how program funds can be used. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a June 29, 2021, webinar providing technical assistance regarding the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation Funding program. Discusses reporting requirements and how program funds can be used. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recommendations on Strengthening Mental Health Care in Rural Minnesota
Presents policy and practice recommendations from Minnesota's Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) Rural Mental Health Workgroup to improve access to mental healthcare for rural communities. Discusses challenges in accessing mental healthcare services in rural Minnesota.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Presents policy and practice recommendations from Minnesota's Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) Rural Mental Health Workgroup to improve access to mental healthcare for rural communities. Discusses challenges in accessing mental healthcare services in rural Minnesota.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Hospital Inpatient PPS and the Long-term Care Hospital PPS for FY 2022
Comments on a May 10, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems. Discusses proposals on rate-setting in both the hospital and LTCH prospective payment systems, the use of "market-based" data to set Medicare severity–diagnosis related group (MS–DRG) relative weights, and changes to rural reclassification cancellation requirements for hospitals.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a May 10, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems. Discusses proposals on rate-setting in both the hospital and LTCH prospective payment systems, the use of "market-based" data to set Medicare severity–diagnosis related group (MS–DRG) relative weights, and changes to rural reclassification cancellation requirements for hospitals.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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States' Actions to Expand Telemedicine Access During COVID-19 and Future Policy Considerations
Provides an overview of state laws and policies related to state-regulated insurance coverage of telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses future policy considerations for state policymakers regarding coverage of telemedicine services after pandemic-related changes expire.
Author(s): JoAnn Volk, Dania Palanker, Madeline O'Brien, Christina L. Goe
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Provides an overview of state laws and policies related to state-regulated insurance coverage of telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses future policy considerations for state policymakers regarding coverage of telemedicine services after pandemic-related changes expire.
Author(s): JoAnn Volk, Dania Palanker, Madeline O'Brien, Christina L. Goe
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Still Stealing Rural America's Breath: An Update on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Discusses rural research efforts focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with insights from researchers, philanthropists, and healthcare providers. Explores the impact of COVID-19 on COPD. Also covers the importance of pulmonary rehabilitation and new research findings on the impact of this treatment.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Discusses rural research efforts focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with insights from researchers, philanthropists, and healthcare providers. Explores the impact of COVID-19 on COPD. Also covers the importance of pulmonary rehabilitation and new research findings on the impact of this treatment.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2021
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and offers recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Chapter 5 presents an interim report on Medicare beneficiaries' access to care in rural areas. Also includes chapters on Medicare Advantage benchmark policy, alternative payment models, private equity and Medicare, the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program, indirect medical education payments, Medicare coverage of vaccines, separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system, clinical laboratory fee schedule payment rates, and the relationship between clinician services and other Medicare services.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Evaluates Medicare payment issues and offers recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Chapter 5 presents an interim report on Medicare beneficiaries' access to care in rural areas. Also includes chapters on Medicare Advantage benchmark policy, alternative payment models, private equity and Medicare, the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program, indirect medical education payments, Medicare coverage of vaccines, separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system, clinical laboratory fee schedule payment rates, and the relationship between clinician services and other Medicare services.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2021
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Discusses high-cost specialty drugs in the Medicaid program, access to mental health services for those enrolled in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), integration of physical and behavioral health care through electronic health records (EHRs), Medicaid's non-emergency transportation (NEMT) benefit, and state strategies for integrating care for people who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Discusses high-cost specialty drugs in the Medicaid program, access to mental health services for those enrolled in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), integration of physical and behavioral health care through electronic health records (EHRs), Medicaid's non-emergency transportation (NEMT) benefit, and state strategies for integrating care for people who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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National Health Service Corps: Program Directs Funding to Areas with Greatest Provider Shortages
Provides an overview of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs. Examines data for fiscal year 2020 on the number of NHSC providers and where they served, the number and characteristics of applicants that did not receive funding, the number of NHSC sites with vacancies, and information about the effectiveness of NHSC programs at alleviating provider shortages.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs. Examines data for fiscal year 2020 on the number of NHSC providers and where they served, the number and characteristics of applicants that did not receive funding, the number of NHSC sites with vacancies, and information about the effectiveness of NHSC programs at alleviating provider shortages.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Overview of the Universal Service Fund and Selected Federal Broadband Programs
Provides an overview of federal programs supporting broadband deployment. Highlights programs established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of federal programs supporting broadband deployment. Highlights programs established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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VA Community Care: Understanding Veterans' Access, Utilization, and Satisfaction
Supplemental journal features a wide variety articles pertaining to veterans' access to care, utilization, and the VA's Community Care Network (CCN). Discusses the CCN's relationship with the MISSION Act, telehealth, and challenges facing rural veterans, among other issues.
Citation: Medical Care, 59, (6, Suppl 3)
Date: 06/2021
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Supplemental journal features a wide variety articles pertaining to veterans' access to care, utilization, and the VA's Community Care Network (CCN). Discusses the CCN's relationship with the MISSION Act, telehealth, and challenges facing rural veterans, among other issues.
Citation: Medical Care, 59, (6, Suppl 3)
Date: 06/2021
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