Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Reimbursement and payment models
COVID-19 National Emergency: Early Trends in Hospitalizations for Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program Health Conditions and 30-Day Readmission Rates
Provides an overview of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). Describes monthly trends in hospitalizations of Medicare beneficiaries for HRRP conditions before and after the implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures through September 30, 2020. Examines how monthly trends in unadjusted 30-day readmission rates before and after implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures and how these rates differ by selected sociodemographic characteristics, including rurality. Discusses policy opportunities and interventions to enhance post-discharge follow-up and reduce readmission rates.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). Describes monthly trends in hospitalizations of Medicare beneficiaries for HRRP conditions before and after the implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures through September 30, 2020. Examines how monthly trends in unadjusted 30-day readmission rates before and after implementation of COVID-19 emergency measures and how these rates differ by selected sociodemographic characteristics, including rurality. Discusses policy opportunities and interventions to enhance post-discharge follow-up and reduce readmission rates.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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December 2021 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2021 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on changes to the low-volume hospital payment adjustment, physician and other health professional services, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, and hospice services. Highlights the effect of COVID-19 relief funding on rural hospital margins, rural hospital bypass, and rural hospice payment utilization, among other rural references.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) December 2021 meeting. Covers payment adequacy and updates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services and the mandated report on changes to the low-volume hospital payment adjustment, physician and other health professional services, ambulatory surgical center services, outpatient dialysis services, and hospice services. Highlights the effect of COVID-19 relief funding on rural hospital margins, rural hospital bypass, and rural hospice payment utilization, among other rural references.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Understanding the "Tool-ish-ness" of Telehealth: Q&A with Dr. Jonathan Neufeld
An interview with clinical psychologist and program director for the Great Plains Telehealth Resource & Assistance Center, Dr. Jonathan Neufeld. Discusses the role of telehealth in healthcare delivery. Describes how telecommunications tools can be used by providers to bring quality care to rural areas.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An interview with clinical psychologist and program director for the Great Plains Telehealth Resource & Assistance Center, Dr. Jonathan Neufeld. Discusses the role of telehealth in healthcare delivery. Describes how telecommunications tools can be used by providers to bring quality care to rural areas.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Final CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule
Fact sheet addressing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services policies for Medicare beginning on January 1, 2022. Includes sections on telehealth services, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, audio-only services, communications technology based services, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, and additional policies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Fact sheet addressing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services policies for Medicare beginning on January 1, 2022. Includes sections on telehealth services, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, audio-only services, communications technology based services, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, and additional policies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Assessment of State and Federal Health Policies for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Examines state-level policy data from government and nonprofit agencies related to treatment access and treatment retention for patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes policy changes affecting telehealth coverage, delivery, and payment; issues of licensing and security; and the initiation and dispensing of treatment medications.
Author(s): Seema Chosky Pessar, Anne Boustead, Yimin Ge, Rosanna Smart, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 2(11), e213833
Date: 11/2021
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Examines state-level policy data from government and nonprofit agencies related to treatment access and treatment retention for patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes policy changes affecting telehealth coverage, delivery, and payment; issues of licensing and security; and the initiation and dispensing of treatment medications.
Author(s): Seema Chosky Pessar, Anne Boustead, Yimin Ge, Rosanna Smart, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 2(11), e213833
Date: 11/2021
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Improving Health in Rural Communities: FY 2021 Year in Review
Provides an overview of Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) programs and activities that have affected rural health and healthcare in fiscal year 2021. Focuses on 10 priority areas: COVID-19, Federally-facilitated and State Marketplaces; Medicare payment and policy; practitioner workforce; Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment, payment, and policy; long-term services and supports; maternal health; mental health and substance use disorders; models and demonstrations, and quality and equity.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) programs and activities that have affected rural health and healthcare in fiscal year 2021. Focuses on 10 priority areas: COVID-19, Federally-facilitated and State Marketplaces; Medicare payment and policy; practitioner workforce; Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment, payment, and policy; long-term services and supports; maternal health; mental health and substance use disorders; models and demonstrations, and quality and equity.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Medicare: Information on the Transition to Alternative Payment Models by Providers in Rural, Health Professional Shortage, or Underserved Areas
Describes the participation of providers in rural and health professional shortage areas in Advanced APMs from 2017 through 2019. Discusses challenges providers in rural, shortage, and underserved areas face in transitioning to APMs, as well as actions CMS takes to help these providers transition to APMs. Includes data by practice and provider type.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes the participation of providers in rural and health professional shortage areas in Advanced APMs from 2017 through 2019. Discusses challenges providers in rural, shortage, and underserved areas face in transitioning to APMs, as well as actions CMS takes to help these providers transition to APMs. Includes data by practice and provider type.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Using CPT Charges as an Economic Proxy for Telehealth and Non-telehealth Emergency Department Utilization
Explores the characteristics of a dataset comprising rural hospitals' reported Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and associated charges for a sample of telehealth and non-telehealth emergency department (ED) visits. Features statistics including number of ED cases and controls selected by diagnosis, and demographics on select ED samples with breakdowns by 4 CPT codes.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Knute D. Carter, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Explores the characteristics of a dataset comprising rural hospitals' reported Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and associated charges for a sample of telehealth and non-telehealth emergency department (ED) visits. Features statistics including number of ED cases and controls selected by diagnosis, and demographics on select ED samples with breakdowns by 4 CPT codes.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Knute D. Carter, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Rural Emergency Hospital: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Describes the development of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation in response to rural hospital closures and issues accessing emergency care. Lists statutory requirements for hospitals wishing to become an REH, and offers policy recommendations related to participation conditions, quality reporting, reimbursement, and emergency medical transfer agreement.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Describes the development of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation in response to rural hospital closures and issues accessing emergency care. Lists statutory requirements for hospitals wishing to become an REH, and offers policy recommendations related to participation conditions, quality reporting, reimbursement, and emergency medical transfer agreement.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Rural Nevada EMS Capacity Assessment
Presents results of a 2020 survey of 36 rural EMS agencies, addressing transporting patients, funding and billing, workforce and recruitment issues, health information technology, and more.
Author(s): Laima Etchegoyhen, John Packham, Tabor Griswold, Jeannine Warner
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Nevada Health Workforce Research Center
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Presents results of a 2020 survey of 36 rural EMS agencies, addressing transporting patients, funding and billing, workforce and recruitment issues, health information technology, and more.
Author(s): Laima Etchegoyhen, John Packham, Tabor Griswold, Jeannine Warner
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: Nevada Health Workforce Research Center
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