Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Health Information Workforce: Survey Results on Workforce Challenges and the Role of Emerging Technologies
Presents results of an August 2023 survey of health information professionals on workforce challenges and the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the health information workforce. Describes challenges for recruiting and retaining health information professionals, factors that influence turnover, and the impacts of understaffing on healthcare quality and reimbursement. Discusses the future outlook for the health information profession and offers policy recommendations to enhance workforce development. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organizations: American Health Information Management Association, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presents results of an August 2023 survey of health information professionals on workforce challenges and the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the health information workforce. Describes challenges for recruiting and retaining health information professionals, factors that influence turnover, and the impacts of understaffing on healthcare quality and reimbursement. Discusses the future outlook for the health information profession and offers policy recommendations to enhance workforce development. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organizations: American Health Information Management Association, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Key Informant Perspectives on Rural Housing and Health
Summarizes findings from interviews with key informants from 27 national organizations and federal agencies regarding rural-specific barriers to housing and identifies three themes: availability, age and quality of housing stock, and affordability. Describes impacts of rural housing challenges on health. Discusses policy recommendations for addressing housing-related issues to improve rural health.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Katie Rydberg, Madeleine Pick, Mariana Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Summarizes findings from interviews with key informants from 27 national organizations and federal agencies regarding rural-specific barriers to housing and identifies three themes: availability, age and quality of housing stock, and affordability. Describes impacts of rural housing challenges on health. Discusses policy recommendations for addressing housing-related issues to improve rural health.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Katie Rydberg, Madeleine Pick, Mariana Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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First-Ever Rural Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Compensation Survey
Recording of an October 11, 2023, webinar discussing results of a January 2023 survey of rural hospitals regarding physician and advanced-practice provider compensation. Presents results for primary care and specialty care providers by provider type, hospital system affiliation, and region. Highlights factors that influence compensation and nurse practitioner practice environments by state. Transcript available in the video description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Association, Stroudwater Associates
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Recording of an October 11, 2023, webinar discussing results of a January 2023 survey of rural hospitals regarding physician and advanced-practice provider compensation. Presents results for primary care and specialty care providers by provider type, hospital system affiliation, and region. Highlights factors that influence compensation and nurse practitioner practice environments by state. Transcript available in the video description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Association, Stroudwater Associates
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Do SNAP Eligibility and Benefit Determinations Sufficiently Reflect Expenses of Older Households?
Report investigating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility guidelines to determine whether they are in line with the spending patterns of low-income households with adults over 50. Offers policy recommendations based on findings. Table 1 of the appendix compares the rural and urban share of total expenditures for these households.
Author(s): Olivia Dean, Joshua Leftin, Nicardo McInnis, Andrew Wen
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Report investigating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility guidelines to determine whether they are in line with the spending patterns of low-income households with adults over 50. Offers policy recommendations based on findings. Table 1 of the appendix compares the rural and urban share of total expenditures for these households.
Author(s): Olivia Dean, Joshua Leftin, Nicardo McInnis, Andrew Wen
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Encouraging Rural Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care Models
Offers comments in response to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) Request for Information regarding rural participation in population-based total cost of care models. Covers considerations for determining the most relevant definition of rural, barriers that impact rural providers' participation in alternative payment models (APMs), service delivery models and resources that are effective in encouraging value-based care (VBC) transformation in rural areas, and more.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Offers comments in response to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) Request for Information regarding rural participation in population-based total cost of care models. Covers considerations for determining the most relevant definition of rural, barriers that impact rural providers' participation in alternative payment models (APMs), service delivery models and resources that are effective in encouraging value-based care (VBC) transformation in rural areas, and more.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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The State of Obesity: Creating Pathways to a Healthier America Livestream Event
A recorded livestream event that focuses on The State of Obesity 2023: Better Policies for a Healthier America report. Discusses federal policy and strategy to address nutrition and wellness, diet-related disease, and obesity prevention programs. Includes information specific to rural areas. Transcript available under video description.
Author(s): Will McIntee, James "Jim" Jones, Caree Cotwright, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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A recorded livestream event that focuses on The State of Obesity 2023: Better Policies for a Healthier America report. Discusses federal policy and strategy to address nutrition and wellness, diet-related disease, and obesity prevention programs. Includes information specific to rural areas. Transcript available under video description.
Author(s): Will McIntee, James "Jim" Jones, Caree Cotwright, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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The Equity of Economic Opportunity in Rural America
Offers an overview of employment trends in rural America. Highlights the impact of technology and historical policy decisions on equity. Includes information for rural and urban comparisons as well as race and ethnicity, population movement, and broadband infrastructure data. Discusses policy solutions for improving equity in and for rural places.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Offers an overview of employment trends in rural America. Highlights the impact of technology and historical policy decisions on equity. Includes information for rural and urban comparisons as well as race and ethnicity, population movement, and broadband infrastructure data. Discusses policy solutions for improving equity in and for rural places.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Rural Health Policy for the Next Decade: Changes are Upon Us
Presentation slides that discuss the future of rural health policy, with a focus on the comprehensive community wealth approach, healthcare modalities and sites of care, and healthcare payment models, including Medicare Advantage.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa College of Public Health, Rural Policy Research Institute
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Presentation slides that discuss the future of rural health policy, with a focus on the comprehensive community wealth approach, healthcare modalities and sites of care, and healthcare payment models, including Medicare Advantage.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa College of Public Health, Rural Policy Research Institute
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Medicare: Performance-Based and Geographic Adjustments to Physician Payments
Statement to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health, summarizing the Government Accountability Organization's (GAO) 2021 reports on the Quality Payment Program and the two tracks it established to incentivize Medicare providers and its 2022 report on geographic adjustments to physician payments. Includes information on the participation of providers in rural and underserved areas in Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and the challenges these providers face in transitioning to APMs.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Statement to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health, summarizing the Government Accountability Organization's (GAO) 2021 reports on the Quality Payment Program and the two tracks it established to incentivize Medicare providers and its 2022 report on geographic adjustments to physician payments. Includes information on the participation of providers in rural and underserved areas in Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and the challenges these providers face in transitioning to APMs.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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October 2023 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) October 2023 meeting. Covers updates to Medicare payment rates for clinician services, staffing ratios and turnover rates in nursing facilities, an alternative method to establish Medicare payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and a work plan relating to generic drug prices under Medicare Part D. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) October 2023 meeting. Covers updates to Medicare payment rates for clinician services, staffing ratios and turnover rates in nursing facilities, an alternative method to establish Medicare payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and a work plan relating to generic drug prices under Medicare Part D. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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