Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Paving the Way to Equity: A Progress Report (2015-2021)
Provides an overview of the 2015 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Equity Plan for Improving Quality in Medicare and its Path to Equity, an organizing framework to achieve health equity. Discusses ways CMS has demonstrated progress in increasing understanding and awareness of disparities, developing and disseminating solutions to health equity, and implementing sustainable actions to achieve health equity. Considers emerging opportunities to build on this progress toward health equity. Includes information on rural disparities throughout.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the 2015 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Equity Plan for Improving Quality in Medicare and its Path to Equity, an organizing framework to achieve health equity. Discusses ways CMS has demonstrated progress in increasing understanding and awareness of disparities, developing and disseminating solutions to health equity, and implementing sustainable actions to achieve health equity. Considers emerging opportunities to build on this progress toward health equity. Includes information on rural disparities throughout.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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January 2021 MACPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) January 2021 meeting. Covers the review of draft chapters and recommendations regarding postpartum coverage, estate recovery, automatic countercyclical financing adjustment, design considerations for creating a new unified program for dually eligible beneficiaries, and housing supports for individuals with substance use disorder, among other things. Also details a MACPAC study on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), which includes a discussion of NEMT in rural areas.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) January 2021 meeting. Covers the review of draft chapters and recommendations regarding postpartum coverage, estate recovery, automatic countercyclical financing adjustment, design considerations for creating a new unified program for dually eligible beneficiaries, and housing supports for individuals with substance use disorder, among other things. Also details a MACPAC study on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), which includes a discussion of NEMT in rural areas.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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January 2021 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) January 2021 meeting. Features a discussion on the expansion of telehealth in Medicare. Also covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report expanding the post-acute care transfer policy to hospice, physician and other health professional services, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, hospice services, skilled nursing facility services, home health agency services, inpatient rehabilitation facility services, long-term care hospital services, and CMMI's development and implementation of alternative payment models.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) January 2021 meeting. Features a discussion on the expansion of telehealth in Medicare. Also covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report expanding the post-acute care transfer policy to hospice, physician and other health professional services, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, hospice services, skilled nursing facility services, home health agency services, inpatient rehabilitation facility services, long-term care hospital services, and CMMI's development and implementation of alternative payment models.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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New HIPAA Privacy Rule: What RHCs Need To Know
Recording of a January 27, 2021, webinar providing information about proposed and existing Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliance rules affecting Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Covers individual right of access to protected health information (PHI), fees for health records, patient identification verification, third party disclosures, and clarification of healthcare operations including care coordination and case management. Discusses proposed PHI changes regarding substance use disorders and serious mental illness, and changes in notice of privacy practices (NPP) requirements. Includes a fee calculator for medical record requests. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: HIPAA Record Fee Calculator, Presentation Slides, Q&A, Transcript
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a January 27, 2021, webinar providing information about proposed and existing Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliance rules affecting Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Covers individual right of access to protected health information (PHI), fees for health records, patient identification verification, third party disclosures, and clarification of healthcare operations including care coordination and case management. Discusses proposed PHI changes regarding substance use disorders and serious mental illness, and changes in notice of privacy practices (NPP) requirements. Includes a fee calculator for medical record requests. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: HIPAA Record Fee Calculator, Presentation Slides, Q&A, Transcript
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Congress Establishes New Medicare Provider Category and Reimbursement for Rural Emergency Hospitals
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider designation established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Discusses provider eligibility criteria, REH requirements and permitted services, and Medicare reimbursement. Highlights key questions that need to be addressed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Author(s): Emily J. Cook, Sandra M. DiVarco, Caroline Reigart
Citation: National Law Review, XI(5)
Date: 01/2021
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Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider designation established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Discusses provider eligibility criteria, REH requirements and permitted services, and Medicare reimbursement. Highlights key questions that need to be addressed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Author(s): Emily J. Cook, Sandra M. DiVarco, Caroline Reigart
Citation: National Law Review, XI(5)
Date: 01/2021
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Continuing on the Road to Value
Slides presented at the Indiana Rural Health Association's Annual Public Policy Forum in 2021. Discusses management methods and policy initiatives for transitioning hospitals to value-based care. Includes information on the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Pathways to Success, and global budgeting.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Slides presented at the Indiana Rural Health Association's Annual Public Policy Forum in 2021. Discusses management methods and policy initiatives for transitioning hospitals to value-based care. Includes information on the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Pathways to Success, and global budgeting.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Characteristics and Challenges of Rural Ambulance Agencies - A Brief Review and Policy Considerations
Examines challenges including prolonged response and transport times, insufficient payment by insurers, transitions from volunteer to paid workforce, and lack of plans and policies to coordinate services. Features recommendations for identifying public policy considerations to stabilize rural ambulance agencies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Examines challenges including prolonged response and transport times, insufficient payment by insurers, transitions from volunteer to paid workforce, and lack of plans and policies to coordinate services. Features recommendations for identifying public policy considerations to stabilize rural ambulance agencies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Federal Universal Service Fund and Other Selected Federal Broadband Programs: A Primer
Provides an overview of federal programs designed to accelerate broadband deployment and adoption in rural and tribal areas and among eligible households.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of federal programs designed to accelerate broadband deployment and adoption in rural and tribal areas and among eligible households.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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COVID-19: Urgent Federal Actions to Accelerate America's Response
Presents six short-term recommendations for the Biden administration and Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights the need for policies and strategies to prevent or mitigate health disparities, including in rural and tribal areas.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents six short-term recommendations for the Biden administration and Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights the need for policies and strategies to prevent or mitigate health disparities, including in rural and tribal areas.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Mandated Report on Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Further Findings
Provides an overview of the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) Medicaid benefit. Presents findings from an analysis of administrative data on NEMT utilization and spending, including utilization by urban and rural status. Includes findings from a series of focus groups with NEMT benefit enrollees on the value of the program, challenges, and ideas for improvement.
Author(s): Kacey Buderi, Aaron Pervin
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Provides an overview of the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) Medicaid benefit. Presents findings from an analysis of administrative data on NEMT utilization and spending, including utilization by urban and rural status. Includes findings from a series of focus groups with NEMT benefit enrollees on the value of the program, challenges, and ideas for improvement.
Author(s): Kacey Buderi, Aaron Pervin
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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