Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Medicare Shared Savings Program: Rule Changes and Implications for Rural Health Care Organizations
Summarizes changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) that take effect in January 2023 for current participants, and in January 2024 for organizations applying for a January 1, 2024 start. Discusses the potential impact of these changes on rural health and participation considerations.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) that take effect in January 2023 for current participants, and in January 2024 for organizations applying for a January 1, 2024 start. Discusses the potential impact of these changes on rural health and participation considerations.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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How Does Cost Affect Access to Healthcare?
Explores trends in how costs affect access to healthcare using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) through 2023. Covers the percentage of adults who delayed or went without care due to cost, including insulin users who rationed insulin due to costs. Presents data by income level, health status, insurance status, and urban/rural residence.
Author(s): Shameek Rakshit, Matthew McGough, Lynne Cotter, Gary Claxton
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Explores trends in how costs affect access to healthcare using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) through 2023. Covers the percentage of adults who delayed or went without care due to cost, including insulin users who rationed insulin due to costs. Presents data by income level, health status, insurance status, and urban/rural residence.
Author(s): Shameek Rakshit, Matthew McGough, Lynne Cotter, Gary Claxton
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organizations: KFF, Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Changes in the Availability of Inpatient Psychiatric Beds Across Rural and Urban Areas, 2012-2021
Policy brief describing numbers of Critical Access Hospitals and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals providing inpatient psychiatric care, and comparing these to urban PPS hospitals. Also examines psychiatric unit closure rates and the effect on access to behavioral health services in rural areas.
Author(s): John Gale, Zachariah T. Croll, Jamar Croom, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief describing numbers of Critical Access Hospitals and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals providing inpatient psychiatric care, and comparing these to urban PPS hospitals. Also examines psychiatric unit closure rates and the effect on access to behavioral health services in rural areas.
Author(s): John Gale, Zachariah T. Croll, Jamar Croom, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Exploring Oral Health and Care Access among Adults with Disabilities
Report discusses the challenges adults with disabilities have accessing oral healthcare. Explores the role of transportation, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and metro versus non-metro location, among other factors, as barriers to oral healthcare access for people with disabilities.
Author(s): Morgan Santoro, Lisa J. Heaton, Rebecca Preston, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Report discusses the challenges adults with disabilities have accessing oral healthcare. Explores the role of transportation, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and metro versus non-metro location, among other factors, as barriers to oral healthcare access for people with disabilities.
Author(s): Morgan Santoro, Lisa J. Heaton, Rebecca Preston, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Evolving Remote Monitoring: An Evidence-Based Approach to Coverage and Payment
Reports on trends in utilization of remote patient monitoring (RPM) and discusses policy and payment approaches for effectively and efficiently utilizing RPM, particularly via Medicare and Medicaid. Includes data and discussion of rural barriers to RPM access.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Reports on trends in utilization of remote patient monitoring (RPM) and discusses policy and payment approaches for effectively and efficiently utilizing RPM, particularly via Medicare and Medicaid. Includes data and discussion of rural barriers to RPM access.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Assisting Rural Consumers
Offers information and guidance for Navigators and certified application counselors helping rural healthcare consumers. Covers rural-relevant considerations and policy updates regarding Federally-facilitated and State-based Marketplaces, Medicaid/CHIP, and Medicare. Outlines tips for assisters to address barriers to care and conducting outreach in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Offers information and guidance for Navigators and certified application counselors helping rural healthcare consumers. Covers rural-relevant considerations and policy updates regarding Federally-facilitated and State-based Marketplaces, Medicaid/CHIP, and Medicare. Outlines tips for assisters to address barriers to care and conducting outreach in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Critical Access Hospital Case Study on Recruitment & Retention
Webinar recording on strategies for recruitment and retention at Critical Access Hospitals, featuring Rob Bloom of Wintergreen and Rich Duvall of North Star Health Alliance. Discusses best practices for aligning workforce incentives, benefits, and organizational goals in rural CAHs. See video description for transcript.
Author(s): Rob Bloom, Rich Duvall
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Webinar recording on strategies for recruitment and retention at Critical Access Hospitals, featuring Rob Bloom of Wintergreen and Rich Duvall of North Star Health Alliance. Discusses best practices for aligning workforce incentives, benefits, and organizational goals in rural CAHs. See video description for transcript.
Author(s): Rob Bloom, Rich Duvall
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Sustaining Rural Hospital Access: Adjustments to Medicare Rural Hospital Designations
Describes the history of Medicare rural hospital designations. Discusses how traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid impact hospital finances. Outlines policy recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Congress regarding rural hospitals designations, payment adjustments, Medicare Advantage, and rural ambulance and emergency services.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Describes the history of Medicare rural hospital designations. Discusses how traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid impact hospital finances. Outlines policy recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Congress regarding rural hospitals designations, payment adjustments, Medicare Advantage, and rural ambulance and emergency services.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Maya Sandalow
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Ways and Means Republican Members Share Commitment to Value-Based Health Care and Outline Priorities For Medicare Innovation Hub
An April 2025 letter from the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means majority members regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center (CMMI). Offers considerations for new and existing models related to promoting value, improving care in rural and underserved communities, and incorporating public input.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee
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An April 2025 letter from the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means majority members regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center (CMMI). Offers considerations for new and existing models related to promoting value, improving care in rural and underserved communities, and incorporating public input.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee
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Federal and State Reimbursement for Youth Behavioral Health Services
Report details Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of behavioral health services for rural people under 21 years of age. Breaks down reimbursement eligibility for behavioral health providers in all 50 states and discusses barriers to access in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Report details Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of behavioral health services for rural people under 21 years of age. Breaks down reimbursement eligibility for behavioral health providers in all 50 states and discusses barriers to access in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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