Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Evaluation of the Medicare Care Choices Model: Fifth and Final Annual Evaluation Report
Evaluates the Medicare Care Choice Model (MCCM), which tests whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive services without forgoing payment for treatment of their terminal conditions improved their quality of life and care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced Medicare expenditures. Describes the characteristics of participating hospices and withdrawal of providers over time; beneficiaries who were referred to, eligible for, and enrolled in MCCM; services provided and the quality of service delivery; transitions from MCCM to the Medicare hospice benefit; beneficiary outcomes and effects across subgroups; and key findings. Includes information on rural provider and beneficiary participation in the model and compares rural and urban beneficiary outcomes.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Participant Experience & Evaluation Results Video
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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Evaluates the Medicare Care Choice Model (MCCM), which tests whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive services without forgoing payment for treatment of their terminal conditions improved their quality of life and care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced Medicare expenditures. Describes the characteristics of participating hospices and withdrawal of providers over time; beneficiaries who were referred to, eligible for, and enrolled in MCCM; services provided and the quality of service delivery; transitions from MCCM to the Medicare hospice benefit; beneficiary outcomes and effects across subgroups; and key findings. Includes information on rural provider and beneficiary participation in the model and compares rural and urban beneficiary outcomes.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Participant Experience & Evaluation Results Video
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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Identifying a Consensus Set of EMS Agency Licensure Elements and Definitions to Support Rural EMS Data Collection
Discusses gaps in data on rural emergency medical service (EMS) agencies and systems of care. Summarizes findings from a review of state EMS agency licensing applications and discussions from a panel of rural EMS experts. Identifies a consensus set of core EMS licensure elements and definitions for consideration by state EMS authorities in order to enhance licensure application processes and align data collection efforts with other states.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Karen Pearson
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Discusses gaps in data on rural emergency medical service (EMS) agencies and systems of care. Summarizes findings from a review of state EMS agency licensing applications and discussions from a panel of rural EMS experts. Identifies a consensus set of core EMS licensure elements and definitions for consideration by state EMS authorities in order to enhance licensure application processes and align data collection efforts with other states.
Author(s): John Gale, Celia Jewell, Karen Pearson
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update 2023
Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2014-2023.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location and plan type, from 2014-2023.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Matchmaking for Community Benefit: The Rural Partners Network Connects Rural Leaders With Federal Resources
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Partners Network (RPN), which aims to coordinate rural-targeted capacity-building efforts across different federal agencies. Uses place-based economic development, capacity building, and coordination principles to evaluate the program's purpose, program design, and first 15 months of implementation. Describes rural economic development challenges and historical federal capacity-building efforts in rural areas. Offers recommendations for continued assessment and reporting and expanding the geographic reach of RPN.
Author(s): Jenny Tran, Mark Haggerty
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Partners Network (RPN), which aims to coordinate rural-targeted capacity-building efforts across different federal agencies. Uses place-based economic development, capacity building, and coordination principles to evaluate the program's purpose, program design, and first 15 months of implementation. Describes rural economic development challenges and historical federal capacity-building efforts in rural areas. Offers recommendations for continued assessment and reporting and expanding the geographic reach of RPN.
Author(s): Jenny Tran, Mark Haggerty
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Beliefs about Dementia and Risk Reducing Behavior: An Empirical Analysis of Adults Age 40 and Above in the Midwest, Metro versus Nonmetro
Examines beliefs and perceptions of Midwesterners regarding dementia and related disease-mitigating behaviors. Utilizes 2021 AARP data to analyze perception of memory problems, use of medication, mental sharpness, beliefs about dementia, and risk reduction, broken down by metro or nonmetro location.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Examines beliefs and perceptions of Midwesterners regarding dementia and related disease-mitigating behaviors. Utilizes 2021 AARP data to analyze perception of memory problems, use of medication, mental sharpness, beliefs about dementia, and risk reduction, broken down by metro or nonmetro location.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Adapting to the New Workforce Environment: Hannibal Regional Healthcare System Outreach
Profiles Hannibal Regional Healthcare System (HRHS) in Hannibal, Missouri, which is addressing workforce challenges by working with area schools, colleges, and universities to increase opportunities for diverse health occupations through internships, residencies, training, and curriculum.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Profiles Hannibal Regional Healthcare System (HRHS) in Hannibal, Missouri, which is addressing workforce challenges by working with area schools, colleges, and universities to increase opportunities for diverse health occupations through internships, residencies, training, and curriculum.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS): Remedy for the 340B-Acquired Drug Payment Policy for Calendar Years 2018-2022 Final Rule (CMS 1793-F)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule describing the agency's actions to remedy payment cuts to certain hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program from 2018-2022 that were declared unlawful by the Supreme Court's decision in American Hospital Association v. Becerra, 142 S. Ct. 1896 (2022). Details the one-time lump sum payments to affected 340B covered entities to what they would have been paid had the 340B payment cuts not been applied, as well as a 0.5% payment reduction on future non-drug item and service payments to maintain budget neutrality beginning in calendar year 2026.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule describing the agency's actions to remedy payment cuts to certain hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program from 2018-2022 that were declared unlawful by the Supreme Court's decision in American Hospital Association v. Becerra, 142 S. Ct. 1896 (2022). Details the one-time lump sum payments to affected 340B covered entities to what they would have been paid had the 340B payment cuts not been applied, as well as a 0.5% payment reduction on future non-drug item and service payments to maintain budget neutrality beginning in calendar year 2026.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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The Opioid Crisis in the Pandemic Era
Analyzes trends in opioid use during the 2019-2021 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides information on the history of the opioid crisis and mortality rates by age, race/ethnicity, type of opioid, state, and urbanicity, including nonmetro, small/medium metro, and large metro.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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Analyzes trends in opioid use during the 2019-2021 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides information on the history of the opioid crisis and mortality rates by age, race/ethnicity, type of opioid, state, and urbanicity, including nonmetro, small/medium metro, and large metro.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Colin Planalp, Andrea Stewart
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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CY 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1786-FC)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to the community mental health centers (CMHC) Conditions of Participation (CoPs); payment for intensive outpatient program (IOP) services; payment methodology for Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities that convert to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status; the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to the community mental health centers (CMHC) Conditions of Participation (CoPs); payment for intensive outpatient program (IOP) services; payment methodology for Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities that convert to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status; the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions related to paying separately for community health integration, social determinants of health (SDOH) risk assessment, and principal illness navigation services; telehealth services; mental health visits furnished by Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), including marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors as eligible for payment at RHCs and FQHCs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions related to paying separately for community health integration, social determinants of health (SDOH) risk assessment, and principal illness navigation services; telehealth services; mental health visits furnished by Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), including marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors as eligible for payment at RHCs and FQHCs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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