Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2023
Comment on a July 29, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of the coverage of certain telehealth services after the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as rebasing and revising the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comment on a July 29, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of the coverage of certain telehealth services after the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as rebasing and revising the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Disability and Telehealth since the COVID-19 Pandemic
Discusses the importance of telehealth for people with disabilities in context of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Describes telehealth's benefits and barriers for individuals as well as institutional advantages and limitations, including discussion of increased need and accessibility issues in rural areas. Describes specific policy and funding modifications during the public health emergency. Provides policy and infrastructure recommendations.
Author(s): Natalie Lawson, Jaque King, Robyn Rontal
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health and Research Transformation at the University of Michigan (CHRT)
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Discusses the importance of telehealth for people with disabilities in context of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Describes telehealth's benefits and barriers for individuals as well as institutional advantages and limitations, including discussion of increased need and accessibility issues in rural areas. Describes specific policy and funding modifications during the public health emergency. Provides policy and infrastructure recommendations.
Author(s): Natalie Lawson, Jaque King, Robyn Rontal
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health and Research Transformation at the University of Michigan (CHRT)
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Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages (ACICBL) Meeting Minutes, August 26, 2022
Summarizes the Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages (ACICBL) meeting held on August 26, 2022. Includes updates from the Bureau of Health Workforce and a discussion on the Geriatric Academic Career Award program (GACA) and Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary Community-Based Linkages
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Summarizes the Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages (ACICBL) meeting held on August 26, 2022. Includes updates from the Bureau of Health Workforce and a discussion on the Geriatric Academic Career Award program (GACA) and Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary Community-Based Linkages
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Informing the White House Conference: Ambitious, Actionable Recommendations to End Hunger, Advance Nutrition, and Improve Health in the United States
Provides food security and nutrition policy recommendations on issues such as federal nutrition programs, public health and nutrition education, healthcare, research and science, business and innovation, and federal coordination. Includes data on health disparities as they relate to food access. Rural considerations throughout the report.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Food Systems for the Future, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Tufts University: Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, World Central Kitchen
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Provides food security and nutrition policy recommendations on issues such as federal nutrition programs, public health and nutrition education, healthcare, research and science, business and innovation, and federal coordination. Includes data on health disparities as they relate to food access. Rural considerations throughout the report.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Food Systems for the Future, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Tufts University: Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, World Central Kitchen
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Medicare Advantage Program
Offers comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Request for Information on various aspects of the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Presents a rural perspective on the MA program and discusses health equity in the MA program, expanding access to care, and value-based contracting. Includes data on the proportion of MA plans offering supplemental benefits in noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan counties in 2020.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Offers comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Request for Information on various aspects of the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Presents a rural perspective on the MA program and discusses health equity in the MA program, expanding access to care, and value-based contracting. Includes data on the proportion of MA plans offering supplemental benefits in noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan counties in 2020.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model Evaluation: Report 1
Presents findings from the 2020-2021 pre-implementation period of the Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model, which aims to improve health outcomes for Medicaid-enrolled children with complex physical and behavioral health needs. Provides an overview of the InCK Model and profiles each InCK award recipient's model, community context, planned approach, and progress with implementing the model. Identifies models serving rural areas and service gaps in these areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Presents findings from the 2020-2021 pre-implementation period of the Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) Model, which aims to improve health outcomes for Medicaid-enrolled children with complex physical and behavioral health needs. Provides an overview of the InCK Model and profiles each InCK award recipient's model, community context, planned approach, and progress with implementing the model. Identifies models serving rural areas and service gaps in these areas.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Abt Associates, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the ESRD PPS Update for CY 2023
Comments on a June 28, 2022, 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 the rural adjustment.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a June 28, 2022, 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 the rural adjustment.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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RHC COVID-19 Program Updates
Recording of an August 18, 2022, webinar discussing and answering questions about COVID-19 therapeutics, testing and mitigation, vaccine, and provider relief programs available to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of an August 18, 2022, webinar discussing and answering questions about COVID-19 therapeutics, testing and mitigation, vaccine, and provider relief programs available to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Public Health Preparedness: COVID-19 Medical Surge Experiences and Related HHS Efforts
Discusses the medical surge challenges of eight hospitals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how healthcare coalitions have supported the hospitals' efforts. Identifies challenges related to staffing, supplies, space, and information, as well as challenges unique to rural hospitals. Describes Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) programs and activities to support medical surge readiness.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses the medical surge challenges of eight hospitals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how healthcare coalitions have supported the hospitals' efforts. Identifies challenges related to staffing, supplies, space, and information, as well as challenges unique to rural hospitals. Describes Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) programs and activities to support medical surge readiness.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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State Telehealth Policy: Summary and Findings from the Summer 2022 Webinar Series
Offers a summary of presentations included in the Center for Connected Health Policy's (CCHP) Summer 2022 webinar series. Covered topics include telehealth in school-based programs, licensure, private payer telehealth laws, and telehealth policies for substance use disorder treatment.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Offers a summary of presentations included in the Center for Connected Health Policy's (CCHP) Summer 2022 webinar series. Covered topics include telehealth in school-based programs, licensure, private payer telehealth laws, and telehealth policies for substance use disorder treatment.
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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