Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
RHC Policies & Procedures
Recording of an October 6, 2022, webinar on Rural Health Clinic (RHC) policies and procedures. Discusses regulatory requirements for RHC policies and procedures, including patient care, medical record, and emergency preparedness policies and procedures. Describes new requirements, including the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the transition out of the COVID-19 public health emergency, and potential changes that may occur in 2023. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of an October 6, 2022, webinar on Rural Health Clinic (RHC) policies and procedures. Discusses regulatory requirements for RHC policies and procedures, including patient care, medical record, and emergency preparedness policies and procedures. Describes new requirements, including the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the transition out of the COVID-19 public health emergency, and potential changes that may occur in 2023. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Reimagining and Reinvesting in Rural Hospital Markets
Commentary examining the hospital infrastructure needed in rural areas and how rural hospitals can be financed. Discusses current issues related to rural hospital services and how public health policy and infrastructure can impact the health of rural citizens.
Author(s): Caitlin Carroll, Arrianna Planey, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Health Services Research, 57(5), 1001-1005
Date: 10/2022
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Commentary examining the hospital infrastructure needed in rural areas and how rural hospitals can be financed. Discusses current issues related to rural hospital services and how public health policy and infrastructure can impact the health of rural citizens.
Author(s): Caitlin Carroll, Arrianna Planey, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Health Services Research, 57(5), 1001-1005
Date: 10/2022
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State Policies that Impact Rural Broadband Availability
Research brief discussing state-level broadband policy. Summarizes study results related to funding, state broadband offices, municipal restrictions, and policies promoting fiber access.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre, Christina Biedny
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Research brief discussing state-level broadband policy. Summarizes study results related to funding, state broadband offices, municipal restrictions, and policies promoting fiber access.
Author(s): Brian Whitacre, Christina Biedny
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Medicare Part B Overpaid and Beneficiaries Incurred Cost-Share Overcharges of Over $1 Million for the Same Professional Services
Results of an audit of Medicare Part B claims to determine whether Part B payments to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for professional services and payments made to healthcare practitioners for the same services complied with federal requirements. Includes recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the response from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Results of an audit of Medicare Part B claims to determine whether Part B payments to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for professional services and payments made to healthcare practitioners for the same services complied with federal requirements. Includes recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the response from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Summary, Lawrence, Kansas, September 14-16, 2022
Summarizes the 90th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Lawrence, Kansas. Presents an overview of national and state perspectives on Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Summarizes the 90th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Lawrence, Kansas. Presents an overview of national and state perspectives on Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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The Negative Effect of Differential Privacy and Synthetic Data from the U.S. Census Bureau on Rural Health and Communities
Policy brief discussing how changes to U.S. Census Bureau data collection to protect privacy could impact the use of this data to understand population dynamics and health among rural and racial and ethnic minority populations. Offers policy recommendations for the U.S. Census Bureau.
Author(s): Whitney Zahnd
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief discussing how changes to U.S. Census Bureau data collection to protect privacy could impact the use of this data to understand population dynamics and health among rural and racial and ethnic minority populations. Offers policy recommendations for the U.S. Census Bureau.
Author(s): Whitney Zahnd
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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September 2022 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2022 meeting. Covers Medicare payments to safety-net clinicians, the development of a prototype post-acute care prospective payment system, nursing facility staffing requirements and data, the expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and payment for telehealth services after the PHE, inpatient psychiatric facility care, and Part D data on drug rebates and discounts. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2022 meeting. Covers Medicare payments to safety-net clinicians, the development of a prototype post-acute care prospective payment system, nursing facility staffing requirements and data, the expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and payment for telehealth services after the PHE, inpatient psychiatric facility care, and Part D data on drug rebates and discounts. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements
Comments offered in response to a July 29, 2022, proposed rule regarding changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) to facilitate more widespread participation in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Discusses how changes will impact rural Medicare beneficiaries, as well as challenges to extending ACOs to all rural counties. Covers advanced interest payments, extended time in one-sided risk, changes to calculating benchmarks, proposals to allow low revenue ACOs to realize shared savings at a lower minimum, a health equity adjustment, and social determinants of health measures.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Comments offered in response to a July 29, 2022, proposed rule regarding changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) to facilitate more widespread participation in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Discusses how changes will impact rural Medicare beneficiaries, as well as challenges to extending ACOs to all rural counties. Covers advanced interest payments, extended time in one-sided risk, changes to calculating benchmarks, proposals to allow low revenue ACOs to realize shared savings at a lower minimum, a health equity adjustment, and social determinants of health measures.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Defining Census Bureau Urban Areas
Provides an overview of how the Census Bureau defines urban and rural areas. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Provides an overview of how the Census Bureau defines urban and rural areas. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Medicaid: Efforts to Address Fraud in Nonemergency Medical Transportation
Describes state approaches to administering the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) Medicaid benefit. Highlights how Colorado uses different approaches to serve urban and rural counties. Discusses the outcomes and findings of related fraud investigations and program audits and strategies selected states used to address related fraud.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes state approaches to administering the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) Medicaid benefit. Highlights how Colorado uses different approaches to serve urban and rural counties. Discusses the outcomes and findings of related fraud investigations and program audits and strategies selected states used to address related fraud.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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