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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

Health Insurance Coverage by Occupation Among Adults Aged 18–64 Years — 17 States, 2013–2014
Examines changes in health insurance coverage between 2013 and 2014. Includes data on health insurance among employed workers by selected characteristics, including rural residence. Provides health insurance data by occupational group. Reports on 17 states that asked all Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey participants about healthcare coverage and asked employed participants about their industry and occupation.
Author(s): Winifred L. Boal, Jia Li, Aaron Sussell
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(21), 593-598
Date: 06/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Rural Hospital Transitional Care Program Reduces Medicare Spending
Evaluates the impact of a weekly transitional care intervention, conducted by phone for recently discharged patients, on service use and spending among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries at a community-based hospital in rural Worcester County, Maryland.
Author(s): Keith Kranker, Linda M. Barterian, Rumin Sarwar, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Managed Care, 24(5), 256-260
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
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The Evolution of Annual Wellness Visits at Bellin Health Partners Next Generation Accountable Care Organization
Features a primarily rural Accountable Care Organization serving Michigan's upper peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin. Outlines their initiative to maximize the benefits of annual wellness visits using a care team and health information technology. Addresses provider incentives and efforts to improve care team communications, as well as the initiative's results and next steps.
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Delta Memorial Hospital's SEAL Team
Describes Delta Memorial Hospital's (DMH) progress as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project, completed in 2017, focused on improving quality of care and transition of care. DMH is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in Dumas, Arkansas. 12 months after implementing the recommendations, DMH met two of their three measurable goals. The SEAL team, or Service Excellence Advisor Leaders, are charged with regularly reviewing patient satisfaction surveys to identify service areas that need improvement.
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Insurance and Access to Care in Urban and Rural Areas, 2014-2015
Statistical brief using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component to examine the percentages of people uninsured, those without a usual source of care, and those reporting unmet needs for medical or dental care and prescription drugs. Features statistics including selected characteristics of the study population, with breakdowns by 3 population levels of metropolitan areas and 4 categories of non-metro counties.
Author(s): James B. Kirby, Pradip Muhuri
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Telemedicine Reimbursement
Policy position brief showing how telemedicine can help safety net providers care for people who live and work in rural and underserved areas. Lists types of programs, explores reimbursement issues, gives examples of innovative programs with telemedicine components, and offers recommendations for increasing access and improving outcomes.
Author(s): Becky Sanders, Zach Allen, Greg Maurer
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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EMS Services in Rural America: Challenges and Opportunities
Policy brief describing challenges for rural EMS providers, including workforce shortages and inconsistent funding. Features statistics including percentage of potentially excess deaths for 5 leading causes of death, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and average EMS call time response and distribution of all-volunteer and all-paid staff EMS agencies, with breakdowns by 4 levels of population density. Discusses effects of the opioid crisis and Critical Access Hospital closures on provision of EMS services.
Author(s): Nikki King, Marcus Pigman, Sarah Huling, Brian Hanson
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Demonstrations and Pilots: Rural Centric Transformation
Policy brief describing the need for an intentional increase in funding for rural centric innovation for demonstration projects and pilot programs. Analyzes current national policies and National Rural Health Association (NRHA) policy positions, and covers the need for rural specific demonstration project data. Includes policy recommendations.
Author(s): Kathy Whitmire, Sue Grafstrom, Erin Tanenbaum
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicare Program; Durable Medical Equipment Fee Schedule Adjustments to Resume the Transitional 50/50 Blended Rates to Provide Relief in Rural Areas and Non-Contiguous Areas
Summarizes the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) review of the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) rule on the Medicare Program durable medical equipment (DME) fee schedule adjustments to resume the transitional 50/50 blended rates providing relief in rural areas and non-contiguous areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Toward Hospital Global Budgeting: State Considerations
Overview of hospital global budgeting, using case studies from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Explores ways in which global budgets can offer some financial stability for rural hospitals.
Author(s): Robert Murray
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: State Health & Value Strategies
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