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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Reimbursement and payment models

Distribution of Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments to Rural and Critical Access Hospitals
Provides information concerning the potential effects of Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payment on rural hospitals in 47 states. Features statistics on hospital Medicaid DSH payments by state and census region, with breakdowns for urban, rural, and Critical Access Hospitals.
Author(s): Erin M. Mobley, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Telehealth Services Proposed for Medicare Part B Reimbursements, 2018: Fact Sheet
Identifies the five conditions that a telehealth service must meet in order to be covered by Medicare Part B, provides an overview of how telehealth services get added to Medicare's reimbursable list, and outlines proposed services that may be added for calendar year 2018.
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Differences in Community Characteristics of Sole Community Hospitals
Findings brief presenting a snapshot of Sole Community Hospitals (SCHs) and their communities in 2015, and identifying trends in characteristics of selected SCHs and their communities from 2006 through 2015. Features statistics including breakdowns by large rural, small rural, and isolated rural location.
Author(s): Sharita R. Thomas, Mark Holmes, George H. Pink
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Improving Healthcare Value in Rural America
Identifies and explains the challenges facing rural communities as they work to improve healthcare value. Discusses the distinct differences between urban and rural value initiatives and highlights effective and ineffective strategies for rural areas. Covers health workforce issues, telehealth, care coordination, and payment models.
Date: 10/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Healthcare Value Hub
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Using Telehealth to Identify and Manage Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Conditions in Rural Areas
Reports on an environmental scan, discussions with providers and stakeholders, and site visits regarding how telehealth supports behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. Addresses how telehealth is used, implementation, services offered, financing and sustainability. Focuses on the implications for treating opioid use disorders in rural areas, in particular, using medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with support from telehealth. Appendix B includes site briefs from the 9 states included in the study.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Medicare Inappropriately Paid Acute-Care Hospitals for Outpatient Services They Provided to Beneficiaries Who Were Inpatients of Other Facilities
Results of an audit to determine whether Medicare made payments appropriately to acute-care hospitals for outpatient services provided to other facilities' inpatients, from January 2013 through August 2016. Includes recommendations from the Office of Inspector General, and CMS's responses.
Author(s): Daniel R. Levinson
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Evaluation of the Minnesota Accountable Health Model
Describes the final results of Minnesota's State Innovation Model (SIM) initiative evaluation sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). Includes information on SIM investments in rural counties, considerations to strengthen and support infrastructure to advance integrated health partnerships in rural areas, and engagement strategies to include rural clinics and providers in Health Care Homes care coordination cost study.
Author(s): Donna Spencer, Christina Worrall, Emily Zylla, et al.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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What is the Quality Payment Program?
Provides an overview of the Quality Payment Program (QPP) and its two associated payment tracks: the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (Advanced APMs). Describes how the QPP may affect rural practices and includes links to additional resources.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Medicare Performance-Based Payment Adjustment Programs
Describes three Medicare Performance-Based Payment Adjustment programs for hospitals: the Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP), the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), and the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program (HVBPP). Explains how these programs may affect rural hospitals.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Regional Variation in Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D Spending and Service Use
Compares Medicare spending and service use based on geographic location, including across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Seeks to identify factors that influence regional variation and determine if higher service use and/or spending results in higher quality care and outcomes. Utilizes updated data to build on findings that were published in the January 2011 Report to the Congress: Regional Variation in Medicare Service Use. Data is adjusted to account for differences in payment rates to certain providers, such as Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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