Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
2021 RHC Billing and Coding Update
Recording of a March 9, 2021, webinar providing an overview of coding and billing changes relevant to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Discusses guidelines for reporting COVID-19 immunizations and monoclonal antibody infusions, telehealth coding and billing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for COVID-19, and RHC lab billing and COVID test reporting. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: AMA Code & Guideline Changes, COVID Vaccine Log, Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Recording of a March 9, 2021, webinar providing an overview of coding and billing changes relevant to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Discusses guidelines for reporting COVID-19 immunizations and monoclonal antibody infusions, telehealth coding and billing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for COVID-19, and RHC lab billing and COVID test reporting. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: AMA Code & Guideline Changes, COVID Vaccine Log, Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Medicare Hospital Payments: Adjusting for Variation in Geographic Area Wages
Provides an overview of the use of the hospital wage index applied to the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) to account for geographic differences in hospitals' labor costs. Discusses the effect of the wage index on Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services, exceptions to wage index adjustments, and proposals for wage index reforms.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Provides an overview of the use of the hospital wage index applied to the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) to account for geographic differences in hospitals' labor costs. Discusses the effect of the wage index on Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services, exceptions to wage index adjustments, and proposals for wage index reforms.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
The Effect of Medicare Payment Standardization Methods on the Perceived Cost of Post-Acute Swing Bed Care in Critical Access Hospitals
Discusses the different payment systems the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses to reimburse for post-acute care in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), prospective payment system (IPPS) hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Describes how the payment standardization methods may influence post-acute care discharge patterns and access to care for rural residents. Examines the effects of these payment methods on the perceived cost of CAH swing bed care as it relates to the Medicare Spending per Beneficiary performance measure.
Author(s): Tyler Malone, Denise Kirk, Kristin Reiter
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Discusses the different payment systems the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses to reimburse for post-acute care in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), prospective payment system (IPPS) hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Describes how the payment standardization methods may influence post-acute care discharge patterns and access to care for rural residents. Examines the effects of these payment methods on the perceived cost of CAH swing bed care as it relates to the Medicare Spending per Beneficiary performance measure.
Author(s): Tyler Malone, Denise Kirk, Kristin Reiter
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Sources of Insurance Coverage in Nonmetropolitan Areas: The Role of Public and Private Insurance Since 2009
Describes regional variation in insurance coverage rates, using the American Community Survey 5-year estimates from 2009-2013 and 2013-2017 to compare types of health insurance coverage for people less than 65 years of age. Features statistics including share of nonmetropolitan nonelderly population per region, health insurance rates for nonelderly with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and source of health insurance for nonelderly by region.
Author(s): Linda Li, Matthew Najarian, Abigail R. Barker, Timothy D. McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Describes regional variation in insurance coverage rates, using the American Community Survey 5-year estimates from 2009-2013 and 2013-2017 to compare types of health insurance coverage for people less than 65 years of age. Features statistics including share of nonmetropolitan nonelderly population per region, health insurance rates for nonelderly with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and source of health insurance for nonelderly by region.
Author(s): Linda Li, Matthew Najarian, Abigail R. Barker, Timothy D. McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Geographic Expansion of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations: Assessing Access to Primary Care in Nonmetropolitan Counties
Presents a study on primary care access for Medicaid beneficiaries in nonmetropolitan counties who were enrolled through managed care organizations (MCOs) from 2012 to 2018. Details the level of access to primary care in the nonmetropolitan counties of 15 states and compares the rates of access for beneficiaries enrolled through MCOs established before 2012 and after 2012. Discusses findings and makes recommendations for policy makers.
Author(s): Linda Li, Matthew Najarian, Abigail R. Barker, et al.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Presents a study on primary care access for Medicaid beneficiaries in nonmetropolitan counties who were enrolled through managed care organizations (MCOs) from 2012 to 2018. Details the level of access to primary care in the nonmetropolitan counties of 15 states and compares the rates of access for beneficiaries enrolled through MCOs established before 2012 and after 2012. Discusses findings and makes recommendations for policy makers.
Author(s): Linda Li, Matthew Najarian, Abigail R. Barker, et al.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
Monitoring State Flex Program Financial and Operational Improvement Activities
Presents the results of a qualitative evaluation of State Flex Program interventions implemented under Program Area 2: Financial and Operational Improvement (FOI). Describes the type of projects proposed by a subset of 14 State Flex Programs, key themes, and challenges faced to monitoring and documenting these interventions on financial and operational performance. Includes an inventory of all 45 State Flex Program FOI initiatives.
Author(s): John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zachariah Croll, Nathan First
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Presents the results of a qualitative evaluation of State Flex Program interventions implemented under Program Area 2: Financial and Operational Improvement (FOI). Describes the type of projects proposed by a subset of 14 State Flex Programs, key themes, and challenges faced to monitoring and documenting these interventions on financial and operational performance. Includes an inventory of all 45 State Flex Program FOI initiatives.
Author(s): John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Zachariah Croll, Nathan First
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Rural Initiatives Addressing Community Social Needs
Describes the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in improving population health and addressing social needs in their communities. Profiles two Critical Access Hospital social needs programs: Lakewood Health System's food access initiatives in Minnesota, and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital's NEK Prosper. Provides an overview of both programs and highlights best practices of each.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Describes the role of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in improving population health and addressing social needs in their communities. Profiles two Critical Access Hospital social needs programs: Lakewood Health System's food access initiatives in Minnesota, and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital's NEK Prosper. Provides an overview of both programs and highlights best practices of each.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Sustainability Strategies for Community-based Palliative Care
Summarizes themes from two roundtable discussions conducted in late 2018 with 9 rural palliative care programs in Minnesota and surrounding states. Offers examples and resources for sustainability strategies to support community-based palliative care programs.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
view details
Summarizes themes from two roundtable discussions conducted in late 2018 with 9 rural palliative care programs in Minnesota and surrounding states. Offers examples and resources for sustainability strategies to support community-based palliative care programs.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
view details
Primary Care in the United States: A Chartbook of Facts and Statistics
Examines aspects of primary care in the United States, including facts and figures on patient contact with primary care, frequency and range of conditions seen in primary care, care coordination, scope of practice, payment models, and preventive care visit utilization. Features statistics on percentage of primary care physicians by geography, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural location.
Author(s): Brian Antono, Andrew Bazemore, Irene Dankwa-Mullan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Robert Graham Center
view details
Examines aspects of primary care in the United States, including facts and figures on patient contact with primary care, frequency and range of conditions seen in primary care, care coordination, scope of practice, payment models, and preventive care visit utilization. Features statistics on percentage of primary care physicians by geography, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural location.
Author(s): Brian Antono, Andrew Bazemore, Irene Dankwa-Mullan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Robert Graham Center
view details
Rural Hospital Patient and Family Engagement - 2021 Toolkit
Toolkit provides guidance for rural hospitals to foster effective communication between patients, staff, and leadership. Discusses communication strategies in a number of domains, such as data collection, community engagement, and workforce development, among others.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Hospital Association
view details
Toolkit provides guidance for rural hospitals to foster effective communication between patients, staff, and leadership. Discusses communication strategies in a number of domains, such as data collection, community engagement, and workforce development, among others.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Hospital Association
view details