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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Addressing Health Inequities in New Mexico: The Role of the New Mexico Public Health Institute
Examines contributors to rural/urban and racial health disparities in New Mexico and identifies priorities for addressing them. Discusses demographics, socioeconomic factors, infrastructure, health disparities, and the physical environment. Reports on current population health efforts and identifies gaps.
Author(s): Renee T. Despres
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Innovation
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Getting to Healthcare Value: Redirecting the Policy Debate Toward Lower Costs and Better Quality
Report reflecting discussions and views of participants of the Healthcare Value Hub meeting in New Orleans, November 6-8, 2017. Includes a section on challenges and opportunities for healthcare value in rural areas.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Healthcare Value Hub
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Suicide Clusters Within American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations
Analyzes suicide clusters within American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations to develop recommendations to prevent and address suicide clusters within AI/AN communities. Discusses risk, developmental, and protective factors influencing likelihood that individuals will consider, attempt, or complete suicide.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Vermont Hub-and-Spoke Model of Care for Opioid Use Disorders: An Evaluation
Details an evaluation of Vermont's hub-and-spoke model of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction. Discusses the system's successes and areas that need focus and improvement.
Additional links: Summary Brief
Author(s): Richard A. Rawson
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Center on Behavior & Health
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Round 2: Model Test Annual Report One
First annual report describing the design and progress of 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. Includes information about the program's organization, data and methods, and implementation activities. Addresses challenges for rural areas throughout and shares highlights from each state's site visits.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Modernizing Rural Health Clinic Provisions
Reviews Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) statutory authorization and current regulations to identify areas for improvement to meet the current and future healthcare needs. Includes recommendations regarding payment options, program support, services offered, workforce issues, and law requirements.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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The Evolution of Private Plans in Medicare
Examines major policy changes affecting Medicare Advantage plans, and the impact of these policies on plan participation, enrollment, average premiums and cost-sharing, total costs to Medicare, and quality of care. Briefly discusses the challenges associate with providing risk-based plans in rural areas.
Author(s): Yash M. Patel, Stuart Guterman
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Medicaid Payment Policy for Federally Qualified Health Centers
Describes the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Medicaid, and highlights current policy issues related to Medicaid FQHC payment. Also discusses the Medicaid FQHC prospective payment system (PPS), alternative payment methodologies, how FQHCs participate in managed care networks, and states' desire for increased flexibility in setting FQHC payment rates.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Physician Supervision Requirements in Critical Access Hospitals and Small Rural Hospitals
Provides background information on Medicare physician supervision requirements, and examines how enforcement of these requirements impacts access to care, quality of care, and staffing needs in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and small rural hospitals. Findings are based on interviews with CMS officials, hospital association representatives, and CAH administrators in several states.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Long-Term Services and Supports: A Primer
Discusses the basics of rural long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults including system fundamentals, access, and opportunities and limitations of current policy. Includes models for rural LTSS and suggests priority areas for a high-performing rural health delivery system.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Jennifer P. Lundblad, Erin M. Mobley
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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