Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Service delivery models
Receipt of Out-of-State Telemedicine Visits Among Medicare Beneficiaries During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Study examining out-of-state telemedicine utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic by Medicare beneficiaries from January to June 2021 based on Medicare fee-for-service claims. Presents patient characteristics, variation in out-of-state telemedicine by geography, and benefits of out-of-state telemedicine access for rural beneficiaries.
Author(s): Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alok Nimgaonkar, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 3(9), e223013
Date: 09/2022
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Study examining out-of-state telemedicine utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic by Medicare beneficiaries from January to June 2021 based on Medicare fee-for-service claims. Presents patient characteristics, variation in out-of-state telemedicine by geography, and benefits of out-of-state telemedicine access for rural beneficiaries.
Author(s): Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alok Nimgaonkar, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 3(9), e223013
Date: 09/2022
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Rural Emergency Hospitals
Comments offered in response to a July 26, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2023 and establishing Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment policy, quality measures, and enrollment policy. Discusses telehealth services for mental healthcare; REH quality measures, telehealth, and Conditions of Participation; and the use of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data on hospital and skilled nursing facilities changes in ownership.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Comments offered in response to a July 26, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2023 and establishing Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment policy, quality measures, and enrollment policy. Discusses telehealth services for mental healthcare; REH quality measures, telehealth, and Conditions of Participation; and the use of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data on hospital and skilled nursing facilities changes in ownership.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Philanthropy, Cross-Collaboration, and the Ecosystem That Is Rural Healthcare Delivery: Q&A with Dr. Shao-Chee Sim
An interview with Shao-Chee Sim, PhD, vice president for research, innovation, and evaluation for the Texas-based Episcopal Health Foundation. Discusses how philanthropic organizations can support community engagement, make research investments, and leverage cross-funder collaboration to impact the rural healthcare delivery system.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An interview with Shao-Chee Sim, PhD, vice president for research, innovation, and evaluation for the Texas-based Episcopal Health Foundation. Discusses how philanthropic organizations can support community engagement, make research investments, and leverage cross-funder collaboration to impact the rural healthcare delivery system.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Leveraging Electronic Health Record EHR-Sourced Measures to Improve Care Communication and Coordination: Final Recommendations Report
Discusses recommendations developed by a multistakeholder committee for using electronic health record (EHR) data to improve the measurement of care communication and care coordination. Identifies challenges to collecting data in rural areas.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Discusses recommendations developed by a multistakeholder committee for using electronic health record (EHR) data to improve the measurement of care communication and care coordination. Identifies challenges to collecting data in rural areas.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Review of Rural U.S. Economic and Health Care Trends
Reviews recent literature and publicly available data to explore important issues at the nexus of healthcare and local economic vibrancy, and explores the economic implications associated with COVID-19. Includes sections on rural hospitals, the rural healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, insurance, and telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas and rural counties without obstetrical services.
Author(s): Alison Davis
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
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Reviews recent literature and publicly available data to explore important issues at the nexus of healthcare and local economic vibrancy, and explores the economic implications associated with COVID-19. Includes sections on rural hospitals, the rural healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, insurance, and telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas and rural counties without obstetrical services.
Author(s): Alison Davis
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
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Impact of Project ECHO on Patient and Community Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review
Explores the impact of Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) on improving patient care in rural and underserved areas through a literature review of ECHO-related research articles. Examines 15 studies to see ECHO impacts on the health outcomes at the individual patient level, clinical practice level, and community level.
Author(s): Jo-Ann Osei-Twum, Brittany Wiles, Tieghan Killackey, et al.
Citation: Academic Medicine, 97(9), 1393-1402
Date: 09/2022
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Explores the impact of Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) on improving patient care in rural and underserved areas through a literature review of ECHO-related research articles. Examines 15 studies to see ECHO impacts on the health outcomes at the individual patient level, clinical practice level, and community level.
Author(s): Jo-Ann Osei-Twum, Brittany Wiles, Tieghan Killackey, et al.
Citation: Academic Medicine, 97(9), 1393-1402
Date: 09/2022
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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Licensure & Telehealth
Video addressing frequently asked questions about telehealth licensure, including cross-state issues, COVID-19 licensure waivers, and more. Answers to questions reflect policy as of September 2022.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Video addressing frequently asked questions about telehealth licensure, including cross-state issues, COVID-19 licensure waivers, and more. Answers to questions reflect policy as of September 2022.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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The IHS Telehealth System Was Deployed Without Some Required Cybersecurity Controls
Presents findings of an audit to determine whether the Indian Health Service (IHS) implemented select cybersecurity system controls prior to deploying its telehealth system nationally. Offers policy recommendations to the IHS for improving the implementation of cybersecurity controls for new information systems and remediating known vulnerabilities that may impact telehealth technologies.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Presents findings of an audit to determine whether the Indian Health Service (IHS) implemented select cybersecurity system controls prior to deploying its telehealth system nationally. Offers policy recommendations to the IHS for improving the implementation of cybersecurity controls for new information systems and remediating known vulnerabilities that may impact telehealth technologies.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Physician Response to COVID-19–Driven Telehealth Flexibility for Opioid Use Disorder
Presents survey responses of physicians who provide Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment on telehealth flexibilities driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly their OUD telehealth policy preferences. Notes rural implications of access equity issues and policy changes.
Author(s): Tamara Beetham, David A. Fiellin, Susan H. Busch
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 28(9)
Date: 09/2022
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Presents survey responses of physicians who provide Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment on telehealth flexibilities driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly their OUD telehealth policy preferences. Notes rural implications of access equity issues and policy changes.
Author(s): Tamara Beetham, David A. Fiellin, Susan H. Busch
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 28(9)
Date: 09/2022
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Payment Systems for Hospital Outpatient Departments and Ambulatory Surgical Centers for 2023
Comments on a July 26, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2023. Includes considerations for payment for 340B drugs, additional facility payments for Rural Emergency Hospitals, telehealth rehabilitation services beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency, and efforts for measuring equity and healthcare quality disparities.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a July 26, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2023. Includes considerations for payment for 340B drugs, additional facility payments for Rural Emergency Hospitals, telehealth rehabilitation services beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency, and efforts for measuring equity and healthcare quality disparities.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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