Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Rural Health Value Summit: Driving Value Through Community-Based Partnerships
Provides an overview of a June 2023 summit regarding the intersection of rural providers and communities, value-based care and payment models, and social determinants of health (SDOH). Describes the efforts of Arkansas, Michigan, Oregon, and South Carolina communities that had representatives at the summit. Discusses opportunities for policymakers, payers, and health system leaders to build and support infrastructure to address social determinants of health in rural communities and offers possible next steps.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Provides an overview of a June 2023 summit regarding the intersection of rural providers and communities, value-based care and payment models, and social determinants of health (SDOH). Describes the efforts of Arkansas, Michigan, Oregon, and South Carolina communities that had representatives at the summit. Discusses opportunities for policymakers, payers, and health system leaders to build and support infrastructure to address social determinants of health in rural communities and offers possible next steps.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Further Extension of Grace Period Related to the "Four Walls" Requirement under 42 C.F.R. § 440.90 for Indian Health Service and Tribal Facilities to February 11, 2025
Guidance announcing the extension of a grace period permitting Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities to claim Medicaid reimbursement under the clinic services benefit for services provided outside of the "four walls" of the facility through February 11, 2025. Provides an overview of the history of this flexibility during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and previous guidance.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Guidance announcing the extension of a grace period permitting Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities to claim Medicaid reimbursement under the clinic services benefit for services provided outside of the "four walls" of the facility through February 11, 2025. Provides an overview of the history of this flexibility during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and previous guidance.
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Year Three Evaluation Report: Evaluation of the EMS Supplemental Funding Grants
Provides an overview of the eight Flex Program Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supplemental funding grant recipients, including a summary of the project goals, partners, and outcome measures. Details each grantee's project accomplishments, lessons learned, and sustainability strategies.
Author(s): John Gale, Karen Pearson
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Provides an overview of the eight Flex Program Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supplemental funding grant recipients, including a summary of the project goals, partners, and outcome measures. Details each grantee's project accomplishments, lessons learned, and sustainability strategies.
Author(s): John Gale, Karen Pearson
Date: 09/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Evaluation of the Million Hearts® Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model: Final Evaluation Report
Describes the results of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Million Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model, a five-year randomized trial that aimed to reduce the incidence of first-time heart attacks and strokes among Medicare beneficiaries. Covers participant characteristics, including rural or urban status and organization type; changes in cardiovascular disease risk scores; effects of the model on healthcare utilization; intermediate- and long-term impacts on beneficiaries; and the contribution of these findings to the broader literature on cardiovascular disease prevention and value-based care.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica, RAND Corporation
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Describes the results of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Million Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model, a five-year randomized trial that aimed to reduce the incidence of first-time heart attacks and strokes among Medicare beneficiaries. Covers participant characteristics, including rural or urban status and organization type; changes in cardiovascular disease risk scores; effects of the model on healthcare utilization; intermediate- and long-term impacts on beneficiaries; and the contribution of these findings to the broader literature on cardiovascular disease prevention and value-based care.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica, RAND Corporation
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Mental Health Matters: Policy Framework on Workforce Mental Health
Policy framework designed to support the development of workforce mental health policies. Discusses nondiscrimination, workplace supports, rural communities, workforce shortages and more.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Policy framework designed to support the development of workforce mental health policies. Discusses nondiscrimination, workplace supports, rural communities, workforce shortages and more.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Rural Emergency Hospitals: Legislative and Regulatory Considerations for States
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital designation, including licensure and federal requirements for the designation that states must consider before pursuing legislation for REH licensure. Presents a table comparing how 14 states addressed these considerations. Offers legislation to assist states that want to pursue the model.
Additional links: Guide to Legislative and Regulatory Considerations for States
Author(s): Vicki Veltri, Rebekah Falkner
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital designation, including licensure and federal requirements for the designation that states must consider before pursuing legislation for REH licensure. Presents a table comparing how 14 states addressed these considerations. Offers legislation to assist states that want to pursue the model.
Additional links: Guide to Legislative and Regulatory Considerations for States
Author(s): Vicki Veltri, Rebekah Falkner
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Home Health Prospective Payment System for FY 2024
Comments on a July 10, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments on expanding the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model nationwide, wage index adjustments, the Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP), and more.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a July 10, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments on expanding the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model nationwide, wage index adjustments, the Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP), and more.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the End-Stage Renal Disease Payment System Update for FY 2024
Comments on a June 30, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing the low-volume payment adjustment (LVPA) and recommending the development of a new payment adjustment based on geographic isolation.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a June 30, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing the low-volume payment adjustment (LVPA) and recommending the development of a new payment adjustment based on geographic isolation.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: Feedback Should Be Provided to Applicants Receiving Equitable Distribution Grants
Provides an overview of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and the grants awarded under the program through July 25, 2023. Summarizes findings from a review of program documents and interviews and surveys with program officials and eligible entities regarding whether applicants who received equitable distribution grants received constructive feedback to improve applications in subsequent rounds of funding.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) and the grants awarded under the program through July 25, 2023. Summarizes findings from a review of program documents and interviews and surveys with program officials and eligible entities regarding whether applicants who received equitable distribution grants received constructive feedback to improve applications in subsequent rounds of funding.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Impact Extra Episode - Rural Health on Life Support Emergency Rural Health Care Grants
Podcast episode featuring Farah Ahmad, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Discusses how USDA Rural Development (RD) invests in rural communities, including improving access to healthy foods in rural communities. Provides an overview of the Emergency Rural Health Care Grant program, which helped increase access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, rural healthcare and telehealth services, and food assistance.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode featuring Farah Ahmad, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Discusses how USDA Rural Development (RD) invests in rural communities, including improving access to healthy foods in rural communities. Provides an overview of the Emergency Rural Health Care Grant program, which helped increase access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, rural healthcare and telehealth services, and food assistance.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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