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Resources by Topic: Critical Access Hospitals

MBQIP Talking Points
Lists summary statements Flex Program staff can use to help address concerns and encourage Critical Access Hospital (CAH) participation in quality reporting and improvement programs. Includes statements that can be adapted to help frame responses and discussions related to CAH quality improvement participation.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Maternal and Infant Health Care in Rural Communities
Offers comments in response to the CMS Maternal and Infant Health Care in Rural Communities Request for Information. Describes Medicare cost reporting challenges for obstetric services at Critical Access Hospitals and possible changes to maternal health coverage under Medicaid.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Community Impact and Benefit Activities of Critical Access, Other Rural, and Urban Hospitals, 2018
Examines the economic and healthcare benefit of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) on rural communities. Looks at services provided, economic health of CAHs, and the effect this has on their communities broadly. Includes national and state-level comparisons of service indicators provided by CAHs and other rural and urban hospitals.
Author(s): Zachariah Croll, John Gale, Connor Huggins
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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COVID-19's Current Impact on Rural Healthcare Delivery: Q&A with Brock Slabach
An interview with Brock Slabach, the National Rural Health Association's Senior Vice President for Member Services. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 on rural healthcare facilities, policy changes impacting rural providers, collaboration among rural communities to help share solutions, and the use of telehealth during the pandemic.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Estimated Reduction in CAH Profitability from Loss of Cost-Based Reimbursement for Swing Beds
Examines the impact of proposed legislation recommending changes to swing bed reimbursements for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) from cost-based to the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS). Estimates CAH profitability using reimbursement formulas from Medicare cost reports and discusses the characteristics of CAHs most affected by a change in swing bed reimbursement.
Author(s): Drake M. Broussard, Kristin L. Reiter
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE - Becoming a QI Leader
First episode of a quarterly podcast focusing on Critical Access Hospital (CAH) performance improvement experiences. Profiles two CAH quality leaders who share strategies, tips, and lessons learned from their experiences becoming quality improvement professionals.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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CAHMPAS Financial Data Revisions
Provides an overview of new and revised financial indicators included in the Critical Access Hospital Measurement and Performance Assessment System (CAHMPAS) tool. Discusses the revised indicator framework and provides benchmarks and percentiles for all indicators for 2017 and 2018.
Author(s): Savannah Stallings, Ann Howard, George Pink, Kristin Reiter
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Oregon Rural Hospitals
Shows a county-level map of Oregon identifying the location of rural hospitals including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), non-CAHs, and sole community hospitals.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Best Practices from 14 CAH Executives Operating in Challenging Environments
Summarizes findings from interviews with Critical Access Hospital (CAH) chief executive officers about daily operations, forecasting, and community health outcomes. Identifies best practices of leaders of CAHs with low financial risk despite operating in challenging environments.
Author(s): Shartia R. Thomas, Kristin Reiter, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Patterns of Hospital Bypass and Inpatient Care‐Seeking by Rural Residents
Analyzes state inpatient data from 2014-2016 across 16 states to determine how inpatient hospital bypass behavior – rural residents utilizing a hospital other than their local hospital – is motivated by patient and hospital characteristics. Compares hospital characteristics, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), by rural bypass level and compares patient demographics by rural bypass status.
Author(s): Tyler Malone, Mark Holmes
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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