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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

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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As It Grows, Medicare Advantage is Enrolling More Low-Income and Medically Complex Beneficiaries
Examines how the demographics, socioeconomic status, and clinical characteristics of Medicare Advantage enrollees changed between 2012 and 2015. Explores how these changes related to changes in healthcare utilization and performance during this time.
Author(s): Christie Teigland, Zulkarnain Pulungan, Tanya Shah, Eric Schneider, Shawn Bishop
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Most Rural Hospitals Have Little Cash Going into COVID
Findings brief exploring two scenarios in which rural hospitals have cash on hand for either 180 days or 7 days, representing the estimate of time the facilities could operate without receiving additional revenue, prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the U.S. Features statistics showing median days cash on hand by Medicare Payment Classification, with breakdowns by 7 types of hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals and Sole Community Hospitals.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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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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Medicare Primer
A general overview of the Medicare program. Describes the program's history, eligibility criteria, covered services, provider payment systems, and program administration, and financing. Includes information specific to rural areas.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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The Effect of Rural Hospital Closures on Emergency Medical Service Response and Transport Times
Examines ways in which rural hospital closures affect EMS response time, transport time, and total activation time, using data from 2010-2016. Features statistics comparing rates prior to rural hospital closure and immediately post-closure.
Author(s): Katherine E.M. Miller, Hailey J. James, George Mark Holmes, Courtney H. Van Houtven
Citation: Health Services Research, 55(2), 288-300
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
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April 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2020 meeting. Covers value-based payment in Medicare, challenges in maintaining and increasing savings from accountable care organizations, incentives in Medicare Part D, the Medicare Advantage quality bonus program, and Medicare's end-stage renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system. Includes a discussion of ESRD payment adjustments for rural and low-volume providers.
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural-Nonrural Differences in Telemedicine Use for Mental and Substance Use Disorders Among Medicaid Beneficiaries
Presents a study on the rural and urban differences in use of telemedicine for mental and substance use disorder treatment among Medicaid beneficiaries. Breaks down data by patient demographics, year studied, and behavioral health disorder, among other measures.
Author(s): Timothy B. Creedon, Kristin E. Schrader, Peggy L. O'Brien, et al.
Citation: Psychiatric Services, 71(8), 756-764
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
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An Initiative to Implement Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraception in Rural New Mexico
Study examining 7 rural hospitals in New Mexico and their efforts to implement immediate postpartum (IPP) long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) through a program offered by the New Mexico Perinatal Collaborative. Discusses challenges to implementing the program, including reimbursement obstacles, based on interviews with 20 key staff members.
Author(s): Hannah C. Palm, James H. Degnan, Sharla D. Biefeld, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 222, S911, 1-7
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
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How & What Will Medicare Pay for RHC Telehealth Visits
Recording of an April 20, 2020, webinar providing information about the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) authorizing Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to provide telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Discusses payment procedures for telehealth visits, commonly used telehealth coding, and appropriate cost reporting. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 04/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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