Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Updating the Costs of Compliance for California's Hospital Seismic Safety Standards
Updates progress made on California's implementation of a bill intended to improve hospital building standards to prepare for earthquakes. Analyzes the legislation's affordability for hospitals, particularly Critical Access Hospitals; future costs of compliance; factors influencing prioritization of compliance strategies; and policy alternatives.
Author(s): Benjamin L. Preston, Tom LaTourrette, James R. Broyles, et al.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: California Hospital Association, RAND Corporation
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Updates progress made on California's implementation of a bill intended to improve hospital building standards to prepare for earthquakes. Analyzes the legislation's affordability for hospitals, particularly Critical Access Hospitals; future costs of compliance; factors influencing prioritization of compliance strategies; and policy alternatives.
Author(s): Benjamin L. Preston, Tom LaTourrette, James R. Broyles, et al.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: California Hospital Association, RAND Corporation
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Round 2: Model Test Annual Report Three
Third annual report on the Round 2 State Innovation Models (SIM) program across eleven participating states - Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington. Addresses the adoption of delivery models and payment reforms related to value-based payment (VBP) and alternative payment models (APMs). Offers an update and lessons learned on strategies to support healthcare delivery transformation related to behavioral health integration, data for improving health care quality and performance, health information technology, care coordination, and workforce development. Describes states' population health activities. Includes discussion of rural issues throughout the report.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Third annual report on the Round 2 State Innovation Models (SIM) program across eleven participating states - Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington. Addresses the adoption of delivery models and payment reforms related to value-based payment (VBP) and alternative payment models (APMs). Offers an update and lessons learned on strategies to support healthcare delivery transformation related to behavioral health integration, data for improving health care quality and performance, health information technology, care coordination, and workforce development. Describes states' population health activities. Includes discussion of rural issues throughout the report.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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The Ecology of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Summarizes results from an 8-state study of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a drug withdrawal condition that may occur in newborns exposed to opioids during pregnancy. Discusses correlations to rurality, unemployment rates, poverty, and the supply of healthcare providers, and identifies potential policy interventions that could help. For interactive, county-level data, see the Simulation of County Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Rates Tool based on study findings.
Additional links: Simulation of County Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Rates Tool
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Summarizes results from an 8-state study of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a drug withdrawal condition that may occur in newborns exposed to opioids during pregnancy. Discusses correlations to rurality, unemployment rates, poverty, and the supply of healthcare providers, and identifies potential policy interventions that could help. For interactive, county-level data, see the Simulation of County Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Rates Tool based on study findings.
Additional links: Simulation of County Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Rates Tool
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Experiences of Medicaid Programs and Health Centers in Implementing Telehealth
Examines the experiences of 19 rural and urban Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and 7 state Medicaid programs with supporting and delivering telehealth. Addresses state Medicaid policies, telehealth models and types, barriers and facilitators for telehealth, and future plans. Identifies considerations for payers, policymakers, and FQHCs interested in telehealth implementation.
Author(s): Lori Uscher-Pines, Kathryn Bouskill, Jessica Sousa, Mimi Shen, Shira H. Fischer
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Examines the experiences of 19 rural and urban Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and 7 state Medicaid programs with supporting and delivering telehealth. Addresses state Medicaid policies, telehealth models and types, barriers and facilitators for telehealth, and future plans. Identifies considerations for payers, policymakers, and FQHCs interested in telehealth implementation.
Author(s): Lori Uscher-Pines, Kathryn Bouskill, Jessica Sousa, Mimi Shen, Shira H. Fischer
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Perspectives of Physicians in Small Rural Practices on the Medicare Quality Payment Program
Provides feedback from small, rural practices on the implementation of Medicare's Quality Payment Program (QPP), which includes the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). Identifies challenges rural physicians face and offers recommendations to help more small practices participate in the program.
Author(s): Peter Mendel, Christine Buttorff, Peggy G. Chen, et al.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Provides feedback from small, rural practices on the implementation of Medicare's Quality Payment Program (QPP), which includes the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). Identifies challenges rural physicians face and offers recommendations to help more small practices participate in the program.
Author(s): Peter Mendel, Christine Buttorff, Peggy G. Chen, et al.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Rural Depopulation in a Rapidly Urbanizing America
Examines demographic trends in rural America. Compares rural counties based on peak population over time, with "depopulation" counties having reached peak population by 1950 and lost at least 25% of that peak population by 2010, "gain" counties having a larger population in 2010 than at any point in the past, and "other loss" counties with mixed histories of population gain and loss. Identifies policy options for addressing rural depopulation.
Author(s): Kenneth M. Johnson, Daniel T. Lichter
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Examines demographic trends in rural America. Compares rural counties based on peak population over time, with "depopulation" counties having reached peak population by 1950 and lost at least 25% of that peak population by 2010, "gain" counties having a larger population in 2010 than at any point in the past, and "other loss" counties with mixed histories of population gain and loss. Identifies policy options for addressing rural depopulation.
Author(s): Kenneth M. Johnson, Daniel T. Lichter
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Proposed Rural-Specific Objectives for Healthy People 2030
Supports adding a category for rural health to Healthy People 2030 along with specific objectives related to mortality, obesity, healthcare access, and more. Identifies rural/urban disparities for each objective, rationales for including them, possible measures for them, and data sources.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Supports adding a category for rural health to Healthy People 2030 along with specific objectives related to mortality, obesity, healthcare access, and more. Identifies rural/urban disparities for each objective, rationales for including them, possible measures for them, and data sources.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Building Rural Communities: Honoring the Past, Maintaining the Mission, & Creating a Stronger Vision
Video recording of the 2018 Rural Housing Conference that covers discussions of rural housing policy priorities, housing affordability, community partnerships, sustainability, and more. Includes 14 sessions available for viewing.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Video recording of the 2018 Rural Housing Conference that covers discussions of rural housing policy priorities, housing affordability, community partnerships, sustainability, and more. Includes 14 sessions available for viewing.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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America's Child Care Deserts in 2018
Assesses child care availability in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a special emphasis on how limited or complete lack of access disproportionately impacts rural and Hispanic/Latino populations. Includes discussion on child care deserts and provides a list of policy recommendations to increase access to low-cost and high-quality child care.
Author(s): Rasheed Malik, Katie Hamm, Leila Schochet, et al.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Assesses child care availability in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a special emphasis on how limited or complete lack of access disproportionately impacts rural and Hispanic/Latino populations. Includes discussion on child care deserts and provides a list of policy recommendations to increase access to low-cost and high-quality child care.
Author(s): Rasheed Malik, Katie Hamm, Leila Schochet, et al.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Medicaid Inpatient Hospital Services Fee-for-Service Payment Policy
Provides an overview of Medicaid payment policies for inpatient hospital services. Includes a link to an Excel sheet with details for each state, including adjustments for rural geography and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Additional links: State Medicaid Payment Policies for Inpatient Hospital Services
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Provides an overview of Medicaid payment policies for inpatient hospital services. Includes a link to an Excel sheet with details for each state, including adjustments for rural geography and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Additional links: State Medicaid Payment Policies for Inpatient Hospital Services
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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