Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Update to Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Payment Limits
Provides an overview of the updates to Rural Health Clinic (RHC) payment limits per visit beginning April 1, 2021, through 2028.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the updates to Rural Health Clinic (RHC) payment limits per visit beginning April 1, 2021, through 2028.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis
Documentation of a March 23, 2021, House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on maternal health disparities. Discusses causes and possible policy options to reduce these disparities.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
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Documentation of a March 23, 2021, House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on maternal health disparities. Discusses causes and possible policy options to reduce these disparities.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
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Which Hospitals Could Be Financially Affected by a Public Option?
Describes the potential impacts of a public option health insurance plan on hospital finances, including rural hospitals. Analyzes hospital discharge data to identify hospitals that had a greater share of total charges paid by private insurance across 25 states. Presents data by hospital and patient characteristics.
Author(s): Anuj Gangopadhyaya, Claire O'Brien
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Describes the potential impacts of a public option health insurance plan on hospital finances, including rural hospitals. Analyzes hospital discharge data to identify hospitals that had a greater share of total charges paid by private insurance across 25 states. Presents data by hospital and patient characteristics.
Author(s): Anuj Gangopadhyaya, Claire O'Brien
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Evidence-based Health Promotion Programs among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Communities
Report details disparities in healthcare access for American Indian (AI), Alaska Native (AN), and Native Hawaiian (NH) communities. Discusses the role the Older American Act has played in providing services to AI/AN/NH populations and highlights the results of a survey of directors and staff of programs funded through the act on its efficacy and challenges. Explores evidence-based practices aimed at health promotion and disease prevention in AI/AN/NH communities and discusses the experience of both program directors and the elders in the community.
Additional links: Perspectives from Older Americans Act Title VI Directors and Staff on Health Promotion Programs in Indigenous Communities, Successful Strategies & Lessons Learned from Implementing Evidence-Based Programs in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Communities, The Voices of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Elders
Author(s): Collette Adamsen, Becky Bendixen, Melody Woodrich-Fernando, et al.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Aging
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Report details disparities in healthcare access for American Indian (AI), Alaska Native (AN), and Native Hawaiian (NH) communities. Discusses the role the Older American Act has played in providing services to AI/AN/NH populations and highlights the results of a survey of directors and staff of programs funded through the act on its efficacy and challenges. Explores evidence-based practices aimed at health promotion and disease prevention in AI/AN/NH communities and discusses the experience of both program directors and the elders in the community.
Additional links: Perspectives from Older Americans Act Title VI Directors and Staff on Health Promotion Programs in Indigenous Communities, Successful Strategies & Lessons Learned from Implementing Evidence-Based Programs in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Communities, The Voices of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Elders
Author(s): Collette Adamsen, Becky Bendixen, Melody Woodrich-Fernando, et al.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Aging
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Examining Our COVID-19 Response: An Update from Federal Officials
Recording of a March 18, 2021, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the federal response to COVID-19, including the development of public health guidance, equitable vaccine distribution, approaches to address vaccine hesitancy, and other steps necessary to end the pandemic.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Recording of a March 18, 2021, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the federal response to COVID-19, including the development of public health guidance, equitable vaccine distribution, approaches to address vaccine hesitancy, and other steps necessary to end the pandemic.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Testimony: Medicaid and CHIP in the U.S. Territories
Presents the statement of the Executive Director of Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission in a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Health regarding the role Medicaid and CHIP play in securing healthcare access in the U.S Territories. Compares current funding through Medicaid for the Territories with the projected funding if no action is taken.
Author(s): Anne L. Schwartz
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Presents the statement of the Executive Director of Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission in a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Health regarding the role Medicaid and CHIP play in securing healthcare access in the U.S Territories. Compares current funding through Medicaid for the Territories with the projected funding if no action is taken.
Author(s): Anne L. Schwartz
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Telehealth & Medicaid: A Policy Webinar Series
Summarizes a series of webinars on Medicaid telehealth policy changes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics covered include telehealth policy developments related to the public health emergency (PHE), Medicaid program engagement and education of healthcare providers, patient education and engagement to increase telehealth access, and discussions of the future of telehealth policy. Offers specific examples from state-level Medicaid programs, with charts and data on telehealth utilization and outcomes.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Summarizes a series of webinars on Medicaid telehealth policy changes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics covered include telehealth policy developments related to the public health emergency (PHE), Medicaid program engagement and education of healthcare providers, patient education and engagement to increase telehealth access, and discussions of the future of telehealth policy. Offers specific examples from state-level Medicaid programs, with charts and data on telehealth utilization and outcomes.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Telehealth Policy and Regulatory Considerations During a Pandemic
Toolkit examining policies related to telehealth regarding coverage and payment, licensing, patient privacy and security, remote prescribing, and others, noting temporary changes due to COVID-19. Offers policy recommendations and highlights other important policy areas for healthcare providers to be aware of.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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Toolkit examining policies related to telehealth regarding coverage and payment, licensing, patient privacy and security, remote prescribing, and others, noting temporary changes due to COVID-19. Offers policy recommendations and highlights other important policy areas for healthcare providers to be aware of.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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An Examination of Telehealth Policy Impacts on Initial Rural Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Patterns During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Explores changes in the patterns of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in western North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the impact of telehealth policy changes during the pandemic on the patient population seen for MOUD, access to MOUD services for rural patients, overall MOUD clinic volume, and changes to the provision of MOUD.
Author(s): Phillip M. Hughes, Genevieve Verrastro, Carriedelle Wilson Fusco, Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Bayla Ostrach
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 467-472
Date: 03/2021
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Explores changes in the patterns of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in western North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the impact of telehealth policy changes during the pandemic on the patient population seen for MOUD, access to MOUD services for rural patients, overall MOUD clinic volume, and changes to the provision of MOUD.
Author(s): Phillip M. Hughes, Genevieve Verrastro, Carriedelle Wilson Fusco, Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Bayla Ostrach
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 467-472
Date: 03/2021
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2021
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation. Contains information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiary healthcare access, mortality, and service use. Presents an option for Medicare's coverage of telehealth beyond the public health emergency.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation. Contains information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiary healthcare access, mortality, and service use. Presents an option for Medicare's coverage of telehealth beyond the public health emergency.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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