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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Impact of Financial and Operational Interventions Funded by the Flex Program
Analyzes the impact of Flex Program sponsorship and associated financial and operational activities on the financial performance of Critical Access Hospitals.
Author(s): Rebecca G. Whitaker, George H. Pink, G. Mark Holmes
Date: 11/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Micropolitan America: A New and Critical Part of the Nation's Geography
Provides an overview of the micropolitan designation, highlighting important features and demographics. Also presents a preliminary agenda for future research and seeks to engage others in a national initiative that will further the understanding of micropolitan areas.
Author(s): Sam M. Cordes, J. Matthew Fannin
Date: 11/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Rural Adults Delay, Forego, and Strategize to Afford Their Pre-ACA Health Care
Provides an in-depth discussion regarding rural and urban adults under the age of 65 and their perceptions of the affordability of health insurance coverage and health services prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Jennifer D. Lenardson, Andrew F. Coburn
Date: 11/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Which Rural and Urban Hospitals Have Received Readmission Penalties Over Time?
Evaluates the rural-urban differences in the proportion of hospitals that receive penalties under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Readmission Reduction Program, and compares the specific health condition risk-adjusted readmission rates by rural and urban location. Analyzes characteristics of hospitals receiving readmission penalties.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Michelle Casey, Ira Moscovice
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in America: Priorities, Challenges, and Opportunities
Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing on mental health and substance abuse challenges in the U.S. Includes testimonies from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, and National Institute of Mental Health regarding the federal government's role, how well their programs are working, obstacles, and recommendations. Additional link to HRSA administrator's testimony highlights efforts focused on rural areas.
Additional links: Jim Macrae Testimony
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Rural Enrollment in Health Insurance Marketplaces, by State
Compares rural and urban rates of enrollment in Health Insurance Marketplaces by state. Provides figures in relation to potential market participants for Medicaid and non-Medicaid expansion states.
Author(s): Abigail R. Barker, Timothy D. McBride, Leah M. Kemper, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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An Interview with Ajit Pai
Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai discusses the importance of broadband to rural communities, the FCC's work to address rural broadband needs, and how broadband access impacts rural healthcare.
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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OIG Advisory Opinion No. 15-13
Advisory opinion from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) concerning a proposal for free transportation services between certain medical facilities as a part of a rural, integrated health system.
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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State Actions to Promote and Restrain Commercial Accountable Care Organizations
Identifies actions state governments can take to promote the benefits of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) while mitigating potential risks. Discusses rural-specific concerns related to solvency and exclusivity provisions. Also examines state policy tools that regulate and support both providers and payers. Section 2 offers ACO policy guidance specific to California.
Author(s): Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of California - Berkeley
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The Realities of Child Poverty: Insights from a National Advisory Committee Meeting
Reports on discussion at a September 2015 meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services focused on the needs of rural children and families living in poverty. Included a special focus on tribal needs, as the meeting was held at the White Earth Indian Reservation in rural Minnesota.
Author(s): Brandon Baumbach, Kate Menzies
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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