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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

How Primary Care Affects Health Care Costs and Outcomes
Recording of a February 5, 2019, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the impact of primary care on healthcare outcomes and costs. Testimonies include rural-relevant considerations and address direct care primary care practices, employer strategies such as worksite clinics, the impact of Project ECHO, and more.
Additional links: Joshua J. Umbehr Testimony, Katherine Bennett Testimony, Sapna Kripalani Testimony
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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How Rural Hospitals Improve Value and Affordability
Issue brief discussing four strategies rural hospitals are undertaking to improve the quality of care and patient experience, while decreasing the cost of healthcare services. Covers strategies on population health, new models of care, telehealth, and workforce programs. Includes multiple case studies and rural program examples for each strategy.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Rural Report: Challenges Facing Rural Communities and the Roadmap to Ensure Local Access to High-Quality, Affordable Care
Reports on continuing, current, and emerging challenges for rural hospitals working to provide access to healthcare services in rural communities. Includes discussion on policy recommendations to improve access and covers new models of care, reimbursement policies, regulatory requirements, telehealth, workforce issues, and prescription drug costs.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Rural Health Network Thrives on Innovation in Whole-Person Care
Profiles a rural health network in Missouri that includes social service support at four of their clinics. Offers an overview of how the program began, highlights their innovative approaches to addressing community needs, and discusses network sustainability.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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An Overview of Medicare
Provides a basic overview of the Medicare program, including how it is financed, who is eligible and what benefits are covered under the program. Describes supplemental health insurance, benefits provided by the new drug law, and data on Medicare expenditures and financing.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Delivery of Preventive Oral Health Services by Rurality: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Examines the integration of oral health and primary care as a method of increasing access to preventive oral health services for children under age 6 using 2012-2014 Medicaid claims data from 39 states. Includes patient characteristics, such as age, sex, and poverty level, as well as healthcare utilization rates, with breakdowns by metro and nonmetro counties.
Author(s): Caroline K. Geiger, Ashley M. Kranz, Andrew W. Dick, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 35(1), 3-11
Date: 01/2019
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Operative Time and Cost Variability for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Examines the sources of variation in costs of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) to determine the value of the procedure by analyzing cost and operative time data from 13 different facilities (four community rural hospitals, seven community urban centers, and two tertiary care centers) within Intermountain Healthcare (IHC).
Author(s): Andrew J. Thomas, Kristine A. Smith, Christopher I. Newberry, et al.
Citation: International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 9(1), 23-29
Date: 01/2019
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Medicaid in the Territories: Program Features, Challenges, and Changes
Issue brief examining key issues and trends in the Medicaid program for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, using findings drawn from a budget survey and interviews with Medicaid officials. Focuses on Medicaid financing, eligibility and enrollment, benefits, provider access and delivery systems, and the changes from fiscal years 2017 to 2019. Features statistics including Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program enrollment as of July 2016, and Medicaid funding and spending in these territories as of fiscal year 2017.
Author(s): Cornelia Hall, Robin Rudowitz, Kathleen Gifford
Date: 01/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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What Is New for RHCs in 2019?
Lists changes to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policies related to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Includes updates to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, coverage for virtual communication services, an increase of the RHC Medicare Upper Payment Limit, and an increase in Chronic Care Management reimbursement.
Author(s): Nathan Baugh
Date: 01/2019
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Can the Market Deliver Affordable Health Insurance Options in Rural Areas?
Discusses challenges facing rural insurance markets and offer policy considerations to help address them.
Author(s): Abigail R. Barker, Timothy D. McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Health Affairs Blog
Date: 01/2019
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