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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

Core Competencies for State Flex Program Excellence Guide
A framework of tools, resources, and training developed for state Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Programs (Flex) to help them develop and maintain core competencies. Includes a program self-assessment, process improvement tools, and guides to understanding policies and regulations, quality improvement, and systems of care, among others.
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Technical Assistance and Services Center
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Medicaid and American Indians and Alaska Natives
Provides an overview of the relationship between Medicaid coverage and American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Analyzes the impacts of Medicaid expansion and insurance coverage for AI/AN populations. Appendix shows state-specific changes in health insurance coverage for AI/AN populations between 2013 and 2015.
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Utah State Office of Rural Health Blog and Newsletter
News blog and monthly newsletter providing policy updates, resources, events, and funding opportunities focused on rural health and primary care issues in the state of Utah.
Sponsoring organization: Utah Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
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Health IT Legislation and Regulations
Provides information related to legislation and regulations for health information technology systems in the United States, including standards and certification criteria that electronic health records must meet.
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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CMS State Operations Manual (SOM)
Provides guidance to state agencies that survey healthcare facilities and providers to determine if they are in compliance with the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP). Includes appendices with regulatory information specific to Critical Access Hospitals (Appendix W) and Federally Qualified Health Centers/Rural Health Clinics (Appendix G). Can be used by healthcare facilities as a tool to self-evaluate their compliance with Medicare CoP.
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Code of Federal Regulations: Title 42 Public Health, Chapter 4, Subchapter G, Part 491, Subpart A - Rural Health Clinics: Conditions for Certification; and FQHCs Conditions for Coverage
Establishes the conditions Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers must meet to qualify for reimbursement under Medicare, as well as those that Rural Health Clinics must meet to qualify for reimbursement under Medicaid.
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Rural Taxonomy of Population and Health-Resource Characteristics
Identifies and classifies comparable rural communities and places based on features associated with population and health resources. Contains documentation on the development and the methodology of the taxonomy, and a U.S. map, state maps, and tables of rural Primary Care Service Areas (PCSA) classified by their taxonomy.
Additional links: Technical Report
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Medicaid Benefits: Rural Health Clinic Services
Provides state-by-state information on Medicaid coverage of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) services. Includes populations covered, copayments, limitations, and reimbursement methodology.
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Federally Qualified Health Center and Rural Health Clinics
A provider manual covering the federal requirements and state guidelines for clinical services and billing procedures specific to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Minnesota.
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Human Services
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Frontier Extended Stay Clinics (FESC) Demonstration
An overview of a completed CMS demonstration that looked at an enhanced clinic model in frontier areas to address the needs of seriously ill or injured patients who cannot be transferred to a hospital, or who need monitoring and observation for a limited period of time.
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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