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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document

Metropolitan Statistical Areas: New Standards and Their Impact on Selected Federal Programs
Describes the Office of Management and Budget's revised standards for defining metropolitan areas, and the impact these changes will have on federally funded programs that use the OMB's definition to determine program eligibility. The programs addressed are the Community Development Block Grant program, Locality Pay Program for General Schedule Employees, Medicare Hospital Reimbursement System and Ryan White CARE Act Program.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2004
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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A Synthesis of State Flex Program Plans 2003-2004
Describes trends in state activities for the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program). Includes an overview and specific state examples for different aspects of the Flex program, including rural health planning, Critical Access Hospital designation, EMS, quality improvement, and health information technology.
Date: 05/2004
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Highway Safety: Federal and State Efforts to Address Rural Road Safety Challenges
Identifies the factors contributing to rural road fatalities. Discusses federal and state efforts to improve safety and the challenges to making improvements in rural road safety.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2004
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Perspectives of Rural Hospitals on Bioterrorism Preparedness Planning
Overview of rural hospital preparedness, addressing topics like workforce and training, physical capacity and supplies, communication, and coordination. Includes policy recommendations. Based on a meeting of rural hospital representatives responsible for bioterrorism preparedness planning.
Author(s): Claudia L. Schur, Marc L. Berk, Curt D. Mueller
Date: 04/2004
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Understanding the Role of the Rural Hospital Emergency Department in Responding to Bioterrorist Attacks and Other Emergencies: A Review of the Literature and Guide to the Issues
Overview of bioterrorism preparedness issues facing rural hospitals, including physical capacity, sufficiency of health personnel, preparedness plans, disease surveillance systems, and communication/coordination. Detailed review of the literature, with discussion.
Author(s): Claudia L. Schur
Date: 04/2004
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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The 2004 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Service Issues
Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Overview of key issues and trends affecting health and human service delivery in rural communities. Detailed information on the integration of behavioral health and primary care, access to oral health care, and aging-related services.
Date: 04/2004
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Rural Hospitals' Strategies for Achieving Compliance with HIPAA Privacy Requirements
Discusses a survey of hospital administrators in rural areas regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Includes an overview of HIPAA compliance efforts in rural hospitals, as well as examples of specific strategies to meet HIPAA requirements.
Date: 03/2004
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2004
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussion of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report. Includes discussion of the growth of Medicare spending and quality of care Medicare recipients receive.
Date: 03/2004
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Legal and Historical Roots of Health Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States
Discusses the history of healthcare provision to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Includes a timeline of legislative and historical events as well as detailed overview of the laws, federal agencies, and issues involved. Also includes a brief section on more recent issues in AI/AN healthcare.
Author(s): Brett Lee Shelton
Date: 02/2004
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Medicare Home Health: Payments to Freestanding Home Health Agencies More Than Covered Their Costs
Discusses an evaluation of Medicare payments to freestanding home health agencies (HHAs). Includes comparison of Medicare margins for urban and rural HHAs.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2004
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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