Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Hospital Inpatient PPS and the Long-term Care Hospital PPS for FY 2025
Comments on a May 2, 2024, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems (PPS). Discusses proposals on rate-setting in both the inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) and LTCH PPS; the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), including the definition of rural hospitals eligible to participate in a lower-risk track; new payments to small, independent hospitals that establish and maintain a 6-month buffer supply of essential medicines; updates to wage index values and policies; and updates to outlier reconciliation thresholds.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a May 2, 2024, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems (PPS). Discusses proposals on rate-setting in both the inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) and LTCH PPS; the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), including the definition of rural hospitals eligible to participate in a lower-risk track; new payments to small, independent hospitals that establish and maintain a 6-month buffer supply of essential medicines; updates to wage index values and policies; and updates to outlier reconciliation thresholds.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Sources of Federal Funding for Health Care Facilities: Frequently Asked Questions
Provides an overview of how the federal government supports healthcare facilities, with a focus on hospitals. Discusses how Medicare and Medicaid pay acute care hospitals and for services rendered to beneficiaries and enrollees, as well as other payments these programs make. Identifies federal grants, loans, and technical assistance programs that can support health facilities. Describes how federal agencies, including the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), have supported healthcare facilities during emergencies.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of how the federal government supports healthcare facilities, with a focus on hospitals. Discusses how Medicare and Medicaid pay acute care hospitals and for services rendered to beneficiaries and enrollees, as well as other payments these programs make. Identifies federal grants, loans, and technical assistance programs that can support health facilities. Describes how federal agencies, including the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), have supported healthcare facilities during emergencies.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Veterans Health Care: Opportunities Exist to Improve Assessment of Network Adequacy for Mental Health
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Networks (CCN) program and how the VA and contractors develop and maintain mental health provider networks. Describes how the VA assesses the adequacy of the CCN mental health provider networks. Examines the extent to which the VA collects information on the factors that contribute to scheduling timeliness challenges for community care appointments, including for mental health appointments. Presents data on the percentage of CCN mental health claims that were within drive-time and appointment-availability standards between April 2022 and March 2023 by CCN region, rurality, and care setting.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Networks (CCN) program and how the VA and contractors develop and maintain mental health provider networks. Describes how the VA assesses the adequacy of the CCN mental health provider networks. Examines the extent to which the VA collects information on the factors that contribute to scheduling timeliness challenges for community care appointments, including for mental health appointments. Presents data on the percentage of CCN mental health claims that were within drive-time and appointment-availability standards between April 2022 and March 2023 by CCN region, rurality, and care setting.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural Emergency Hospitals
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program and the statutory requirements for facilities seeking REH designation. Outlines state laws that established REH licensure.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program and the statutory requirements for facilities seeking REH designation. Outlines state laws that established REH licensure.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Leading the Way on the Journey to Health Equity and Wellness for American Indians/Alaska Natives
Recording of a May 30, 2024, conference session on addressing tribal health disparities as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Equity Conference. Includes presentations from the National Indian Health Board on priorities for initiatives aimed at improving health equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives and CMS on improving and using demographic data to improve health equity, with a focus on Medicaid and CHIP data.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Recording of a May 30, 2024, conference session on addressing tribal health disparities as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Equity Conference. Includes presentations from the National Indian Health Board on priorities for initiatives aimed at improving health equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives and CMS on improving and using demographic data to improve health equity, with a focus on Medicaid and CHIP data.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Community Voices Volume 1: Climate Stressors Report: Perceptions and Experiences of Mountain West Climate-Health Engagement Hub Advisory Board Members
Analyzes and highlights themes from interviews with experts and community leaders investigating climate resilience and health equity in rural and urban Colorado. Includes recommendations for action related to centering equity, collaboration, infrastructure, policy, and adaptation.
Author(s): Cerise Hunt, Gabrielle Cooper, Nicholas Stoll, Kelsey Phinney
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Mountain West Climate-Health Engagement Hub
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Analyzes and highlights themes from interviews with experts and community leaders investigating climate resilience and health equity in rural and urban Colorado. Includes recommendations for action related to centering equity, collaboration, infrastructure, policy, and adaptation.
Author(s): Cerise Hunt, Gabrielle Cooper, Nicholas Stoll, Kelsey Phinney
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Mountain West Climate-Health Engagement Hub
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Prepregnancy Health Care Engagement Among American Indian and Alaska Native People Before and After the Affordable Care Act
Examines the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on healthcare engagement and disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations as compared to White populations. Utilizes 2009-2015 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data to examine Medicaid coverage, healthcare interaction and screening, family history discussions, prenatal vitamin use, and teeth cleaning in rural versus urban populations, before and after ACA implementation.
Author(s): Danielle R. Gartner, Katlyn Hettinger, Heather Howard-Bobiwash, Claire E. Margerison
Citation: Health Equity, 8(1)
Date: 05/2024
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Examines the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on healthcare engagement and disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations as compared to White populations. Utilizes 2009-2015 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data to examine Medicaid coverage, healthcare interaction and screening, family history discussions, prenatal vitamin use, and teeth cleaning in rural versus urban populations, before and after ACA implementation.
Author(s): Danielle R. Gartner, Katlyn Hettinger, Heather Howard-Bobiwash, Claire E. Margerison
Citation: Health Equity, 8(1)
Date: 05/2024
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Evaluation of the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model: Third Annual Report (Implementation Year 2)
Provides an overview of the Maternal Opioid Misuse Model, which provides evidence-based integrated care and care coordination for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes activities MOM Model awardees undertook during the MOM Model's second implementation year, July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023. Discusses barriers pregnant and postpartum women with OUD face in accessing high-quality, continuous care, specifically in rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Insight Policy Research
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Provides an overview of the Maternal Opioid Misuse Model, which provides evidence-based integrated care and care coordination for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describes activities MOM Model awardees undertook during the MOM Model's second implementation year, July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023. Discusses barriers pregnant and postpartum women with OUD face in accessing high-quality, continuous care, specifically in rural areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Insight Policy Research
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Facilitators and Barriers to Passing Local Policies That Prohibit the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products: Qualitative Analysis of Strategies Implemented by 36 Communities in California, 2017–2021
Examines the success rate of implementing local polices that prohibit flavored tobacco sales in California. Analyzes both rural and urban communities and discusses barriers and facilitators to policy adoption.
Author(s): Sarah Hellesen, Sue Haun, Melanie S. Dove
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 05/2024
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Examines the success rate of implementing local polices that prohibit flavored tobacco sales in California. Analyzes both rural and urban communities and discusses barriers and facilitators to policy adoption.
Author(s): Sarah Hellesen, Sue Haun, Melanie S. Dove
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 05/2024
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Food Deserts and Hypertension Prevalence in the Central Valley
Policy brief analyzing the association between food deserts and hypertension by census tract in San Joaquin Valley, California. Includes color-coded census tract maps. Mentions high incidence of hypertension and food deserts in rural areas.
Author(s): G. Mendoza, E. Alcala
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Central Valley Health Policy Institute
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Policy brief analyzing the association between food deserts and hypertension by census tract in San Joaquin Valley, California. Includes color-coded census tract maps. Mentions high incidence of hypertension and food deserts in rural areas.
Author(s): G. Mendoza, E. Alcala
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Central Valley Health Policy Institute
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