Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Specialty care
The Rural Health Safety Net Under Pressure: Understanding the Potential Impact of COVID-19
Examines the stability of the rural health safety net at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outlines key factors that will influence the impact of COVID-19 on rural healthcare, including access to intensive care unit beds, outpatient service revenues, and rural provider days cash on hand. Highlights provisions of the CARES Act aimed at mitigating the impact of the pandemic on rural hospitals.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Examines the stability of the rural health safety net at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outlines key factors that will influence the impact of COVID-19 on rural healthcare, including access to intensive care unit beds, outpatient service revenues, and rural provider days cash on hand. Highlights provisions of the CARES Act aimed at mitigating the impact of the pandemic on rural hospitals.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Variation in Use of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody Therapies by Social Vulnerability and Urbanicity
Examines the variation in the use of the first two monoclonal antibody therapies for COVID-19 from November 2020 through March 2021. Presents data on the demographic characteristics of monoclonal antibody recipients and social vulnerability indices. Includes a discussion of the use of this therapy by urbanicity and density of primary care physicians.
Author(s): Allison Kolbe
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines the variation in the use of the first two monoclonal antibody therapies for COVID-19 from November 2020 through March 2021. Presents data on the demographic characteristics of monoclonal antibody recipients and social vulnerability indices. Includes a discussion of the use of this therapy by urbanicity and density of primary care physicians.
Author(s): Allison Kolbe
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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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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Medicare Beneficiaries' Use of Telehealth in 2020: Trends by Beneficiary Characteristics and Location
Report examining telehealth visits by Medicare beneficiaries in 2020 that compares urban and rural residence and breaks down data by visit location, race/ethnicity, visit specialty, and by state, with comparisons to 2019 data. Data drawn from Medicare FFS Part B outpatient and carrier claims submitted between January and December 2020 and the same period in 2019.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Report examining telehealth visits by Medicare beneficiaries in 2020 that compares urban and rural residence and breaks down data by visit location, race/ethnicity, visit specialty, and by state, with comparisons to 2019 data. Data drawn from Medicare FFS Part B outpatient and carrier claims submitted between January and December 2020 and the same period in 2019.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Self-Management for People with Epilepsy and a History of Negative Health Events (SMART) Targeting Rural and Underserved People with Epilepsy: A Methodologic Report
Discusses a study design that plans to examine the effectiveness of a remotely delivered, 12-week self-management program (SMART) for rural people living with epilepsy (PLWE). Focuses on implementing the intervention in the rural Midwest and providing feedback on SMART, recruitment and retention, and intervention delivery.
Author(s): Gena R. Ghearing, Farren Briggs, Kristin Cassidy, et al.
Citation: Trials, 22, 821
Date: 11/2021
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Discusses a study design that plans to examine the effectiveness of a remotely delivered, 12-week self-management program (SMART) for rural people living with epilepsy (PLWE). Focuses on implementing the intervention in the rural Midwest and providing feedback on SMART, recruitment and retention, and intervention delivery.
Author(s): Gena R. Ghearing, Farren Briggs, Kristin Cassidy, et al.
Citation: Trials, 22, 821
Date: 11/2021
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Gradual Adoption of Needle Biopsy for Breast Lesions in a Rural State
Examines disparities in minimally invasive breast biopsy (MIBB) usage in rural and urban areas of Vermont, based on 9,122 diagnostic episodes from 1999 to 2018. Includes demographic data of women who underwent biopsy broken down by age, history of breast biopsy, education, and rural versus urban residence. Discusses efforts to eliminate disparities in relationship to MIBB rates to improve standard of care.
Author(s): Serena Murphy, Yi-Chuan Yu, Colleen Kerrigan, Brian Sprague, Michelle Sowden
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 10(23), 8320-8327
Date: 11/2021
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Examines disparities in minimally invasive breast biopsy (MIBB) usage in rural and urban areas of Vermont, based on 9,122 diagnostic episodes from 1999 to 2018. Includes demographic data of women who underwent biopsy broken down by age, history of breast biopsy, education, and rural versus urban residence. Discusses efforts to eliminate disparities in relationship to MIBB rates to improve standard of care.
Author(s): Serena Murphy, Yi-Chuan Yu, Colleen Kerrigan, Brian Sprague, Michelle Sowden
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 10(23), 8320-8327
Date: 11/2021
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Indian Health Service Use of Critical Care Response Teams Has Helped to Meet Facility Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Provides an overview of the Indian Health Service's (IHS) Critical Care Response Teams (CCRTs) program, which was developed to support IHS and Tribal facilities in caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients. Examines the first five CCRT deployments from June -September 2020. Offers recommendations to leverage CCRT program success to support other IHS care improvement efforts.
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Provides an overview of the Indian Health Service's (IHS) Critical Care Response Teams (CCRTs) program, which was developed to support IHS and Tribal facilities in caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients. Examines the first five CCRT deployments from June -September 2020. Offers recommendations to leverage CCRT program success to support other IHS care improvement efforts.
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the ESRD PPS for CY 2022
Comments on a July 9, 2021, 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: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a July 9, 2021, 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: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Association of the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes Project With Use of Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment Among US Adults With Hepatitis C
Results of a study of 267,908 patients to examine the association between Project ECHO and use of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Linh Tran, Roger Feldman, Thomas Riley, Jeah Jung
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(7)
Date: 07/2021
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Results of a study of 267,908 patients to examine the association between Project ECHO and use of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Linh Tran, Roger Feldman, Thomas Riley, Jeah Jung
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(7)
Date: 07/2021
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Did Access to Care Improve Since Passage of the Veterans Choice Act?: Differences Between Rural and Urban Veterans
Examines wait times among rural and urban veterans for physical therapy, cardiology, optometry, orthopedic, and dental services. Features demographic statistics for fiscal year (FY) 2015 with breakdowns by rural or urban patients, and average consult wait times during FY 2015 and FY 18 with breakdowns by urban or rural location, service types, and care settings.
Author(s): Deborah Gurewich, Michael Schwartz, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Heather Davila, Amy K. Rosen
Citation: Medical Care, 59(6), S270-S278
Date: 06/2021
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Examines wait times among rural and urban veterans for physical therapy, cardiology, optometry, orthopedic, and dental services. Features demographic statistics for fiscal year (FY) 2015 with breakdowns by rural or urban patients, and average consult wait times during FY 2015 and FY 18 with breakdowns by urban or rural location, service types, and care settings.
Author(s): Deborah Gurewich, Michael Schwartz, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Heather Davila, Amy K. Rosen
Citation: Medical Care, 59(6), S270-S278
Date: 06/2021
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