Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
"Tweener" Hospital Crisis
Policy position paper addressing the closure of hospitals that are too large to be considered Critical Access Hospitals but too small to be considered rural referral centers, and the challenges these facilities face. Discusses the impact of a hospital closure on the community. Includes policy recommendations to prevent the additional hospitals from closing.
Author(s): Alexandra Bryant, Lauren Canary, SuLynn Mester
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy position paper addressing the closure of hospitals that are too large to be considered Critical Access Hospitals but too small to be considered rural referral centers, and the challenges these facilities face. Discusses the impact of a hospital closure on the community. Includes policy recommendations to prevent the additional hospitals from closing.
Author(s): Alexandra Bryant, Lauren Canary, SuLynn Mester
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
NRHA Policy Paper: Rural Obesity
Policy position paper examining rural-urban differences in obesity prevalence, obesity as a factor in health disparities, differences in weight-related behaviors, and social determinants of health influencing rural obesity. Offers strategies and policy recommendations to address rural obesity.
Author(s): Demetrius Abshire, Cassity Gutierrez
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy position paper examining rural-urban differences in obesity prevalence, obesity as a factor in health disparities, differences in weight-related behaviors, and social determinants of health influencing rural obesity. Offers strategies and policy recommendations to address rural obesity.
Author(s): Demetrius Abshire, Cassity Gutierrez
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Rural Hospital CEO Turnover
Policy paper examining CEO turnover in rural hospitals. Discusses factors that contribute to CEO turnover as well as the impact of turnover on hospitals. Offers policy initiatives and recommendations for hospital boards to address CEO turnover.
Author(s): Mellie Bridewell, Matt Shahan
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy paper examining CEO turnover in rural hospitals. Discusses factors that contribute to CEO turnover as well as the impact of turnover on hospitals. Offers policy initiatives and recommendations for hospital boards to address CEO turnover.
Author(s): Mellie Bridewell, Matt Shahan
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Overview of Rural Child Health
Policy position paper presenting an overview rural child health and factors influencing health disparities in rural children. Highlights disparities in mortality, physical health, preventive health, and oral health. Includes policy recommendations to address these disparities.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Matthew Workman, Kim Mohan
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy position paper presenting an overview rural child health and factors influencing health disparities in rural children. Highlights disparities in mortality, physical health, preventive health, and oral health. Includes policy recommendations to address these disparities.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Matthew Workman, Kim Mohan
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Implementation of Flex EMS Supplemental Funding Projects: Year One Activities
Provides an overview of the first-year implementation efforts of the eight Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supplemental funding grant recipients. Describes each grant project, the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges on project implementation, and factors that facilitated implementation. Includes recommendations for grantees.
Author(s): Karen Pearson, John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Provides an overview of the first-year implementation efforts of the eight Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supplemental funding grant recipients. Describes each grant project, the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges on project implementation, and factors that facilitated implementation. Includes recommendations for grantees.
Author(s): Karen Pearson, John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs for CY 2021
Comments on an August 12, 2020, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2021. Includes comments on payment rates for separately payable non–pass-through drugs obtained through the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Comments on an August 12, 2020, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2021. Includes comments on payment rates for separately payable non–pass-through drugs obtained through the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2021
Comment on an August 17, 2020 Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of COVID-19-related telehealth expansion.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Comment on an August 17, 2020 Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of COVID-19-related telehealth expansion.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Supporting CAHs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Summary Results of a Survey of State Flex Coordinators
Summarizes key findings from a survey of State Flex Programs regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) between May 26 - July 2, 2020. Describes the type of support and assistance requested by CAHs, promising strategies State Flex Programs used to support CAHs, and how State Flex Programs are planning for CAH needs after the pandemic.
Author(s): John Gale, Zachariah Croll, Yvonne Jonk, Sara Kahn-Troster, Karen Pearson
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Summarizes key findings from a survey of State Flex Programs regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) between May 26 - July 2, 2020. Describes the type of support and assistance requested by CAHs, promising strategies State Flex Programs used to support CAHs, and how State Flex Programs are planning for CAH needs after the pandemic.
Author(s): John Gale, Zachariah Croll, Yvonne Jonk, Sara Kahn-Troster, Karen Pearson
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan
A guide for federal health information technology (HIT) activities. Identifies current healthcare challenges and opportunities related to HIT. Explains how the federal government intends to use HIT to promote health; enhance care delivery; build a secure, data-driven system; and develop an interoperable HIT infrastructure. Includes discussion of rural needs and opportunities related to HIT.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
A guide for federal health information technology (HIT) activities. Identifies current healthcare challenges and opportunities related to HIT. Explains how the federal government intends to use HIT to promote health; enhance care delivery; build a secure, data-driven system; and develop an interoperable HIT infrastructure. Includes discussion of rural needs and opportunities related to HIT.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
Chart Book: The Far-Reaching Benefits of the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid Expansion
Compares states that expanded Medicaid coverage and those that did not expand Medicaid coverage using a variety of measures such as healthcare access and health outcomes. Addresses the impact on rural hospitals for Medicaid revenue, operating margins, and uncompensated care on page 18.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
view details
Compares states that expanded Medicaid coverage and those that did not expand Medicaid coverage using a variety of measures such as healthcare access and health outcomes. Addresses the impact on rural hospitals for Medicaid revenue, operating margins, and uncompensated care on page 18.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
view details