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Resources by Topic: Critical Access Hospitals

Impact of CAH Participation in Flex Financial and Operations Improvement Activities on Hospital Financial Indicators
Explores the association between Critical Access Hospitals' (CAH) participation in financial and operational improvement activities between 2015 and 2018 with improved financial indicators. Compares CAH financial indicators and other variables including Rural Health Clinic operation, ownership type, and census region, by the number of years of participation in CAH improvement activities.
Author(s): Kathleen Knocke, Kristin Reiter, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Rapid Deployment of Telehealth Services for Rural Hospitals Fighting COVID-19
Profiles how a Critical Access Hospital in Minnesota implemented a telehealth network in preparation for COVID-19. Offers lessons learned for other healthcare providers looking to implement virtual healthcare models.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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CAH Medicaid Payer Mix in Expansion vs. Non-Expansion States
Examines the change in median Medicaid payer mix among Critical Access Hospitals between 2013 and 2018 and compares the change across states that adopted Medicaid expansion and those that did not.
Author(s): Savannah Stallings, George Pink, Kristin Reiter
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Rural COVID-19 Case Study: Surviving a COVID-19 Surge
Profiles an Indiana Critical Access Hospital's early experience with COVID-19. Outlines lessons learned regarding testing and treating COVID-19 patients, as well as ongoing preparations for additional cases. Highlights partnerships with area healthcare providers to navigate the pandemic.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Hospital Experiences Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a National Pulse Survey March 23–27, 2020
Reports on hospitals' challenges and needs in responding to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Addresses access to testing, supplies, and equipment; workforce issues; facility capacity; the need for financial assistance; and information needs. Identifies strategies hospitals reported using the help protect staff and manage patient care. Includes information on rural hospitals' concerns.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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MPH Students Tackle Real-Life Problems at Oklahoma's Critical Access Hospitals
Presents an overview of an Oklahoma State University (OSU) program that enables public health students, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Office of Rural Health (OORH), to address challenges facing Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in Oklahoma. Projects are selected based on priorities from Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs), with past efforts addressing mental health first aid, healthy eating, substance use, physical activity, and more.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Antibiotic Resistance: Additional Federal Actions Needed to Better Determine Magnitude and Reduce Impact
Explores four challenges that federal agencies face in addressing antibiotic resistance. Provides eight recommendations for federal agencies to strengthen their efforts to combat antibiotic resistance. Includes references to antibiotic stewardship guidance and programs for Critical Access Hospitals throughout.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Interim Evaluation of California's Public Hospital Redesign and Incentives in Medi‐Cal (PRIME) Program
Reports on California's Public Hospital Redesign and Incentives in Medi-Cal Program (PRIME), approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to modify Medicaid programs and implement innovative delivery reforms. PRIME uses evidence-based quality improvement methods that require hospitals to establish performance baselines, institute targets for improvement, and evaluate the success of quality improvement interventions on an ongoing basis. The analysis of the program included 52 designated public hospitals and district/municipal hospitals, with 17 of the latter being Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Author(s): Nadereh Pourat, Xiao Chen, Ana E. Martinez, et al.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: California Department of Health Care Services, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
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Hospital Compare Quality Measure Results for CAHs, 2018
Describes the rates at which Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) reported quality improvement measures in 2018. Reports state rankings based on reporting rates. Includes national CAH performance results of selected inpatient and outpatient quality measures. Contains links to state-specific reports.
Additional links: State Profiles
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Tongtan Chantarat, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2020
Reports on three aspects of Medicaid: improving the structure of Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, state reporting on the quality of care for individuals covered by Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the timeliness and quality of Medicaid demonstration evaluations. Chapter 1 examines the relationship between DSH allotments to states and the number of uninsured individuals, the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs, and the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs. Table 1-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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