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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

A Consensus Panel Approach to Estimating the Start-Up and Annual Service Costs for Rural Ambulance Agencies
Policy brief exploring the costs of running ambulance services for 3 population-based service tiers. Establishes a minimum access standard for ambulances servicing a 25-minute travel time from the ambulance station, and enables policymakers and community stakeholders to develop strategic plans for the financing and provision of ambulance services. Features statistics on number of calls, population ranges of service areas, and fixed, depreciation, variable, and administrative costs.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Gary Wingrove, Nikiah Nudell, Kevin McGinnis
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Distributional Analysis of Variation in Medicare Advantage Participation Within and Between Metropolitan, Micropolitan, and Noncore Counties
Policy brief identifying penetration rates, number of plans, and enrollment patterns and trends in Medicare Advantage participation in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties from 2017-2022. Features statistics with breakdowns by year and metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Dan Shane, Ufuoma Ejughemre, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Medicaid's Coverage Role in Small Towns and Rural Areas
Discusses the roles Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) play in providing health coverage to residents of small towns and rural areas. Presents data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) on the percentage of children and adults covered by Medicaid and CHIP in 2020-2021. Includes a list of the top 20 small towns and rural areas with the highest share of children and adults covered by Medicaid.
Author(s): Aubrianna Osorio, Joan Alker, Edwin Park
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2024 Payment Year - Payment Adjustment User Guide
Provides information on Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) payment adjustments for calendar year 2024. Describes how 2022 MIPS scores relate to 2024 payment adjustments and how payment adjustments are applied. Offers answers to frequently asked questions.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Participation in a Medicare Advanced Primary Care Model and the Delivery of High-Value Services
Examines if participation in the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus Initiative (CPC+) impacted the high-value services delivered by primary care providers. Utilizes multiple national data sets to estimate the association of CPC+ and services such as annual wellness visits (AWVs), advance care planning (ACP), flu shots, tobacco prevention counseling, and depression screening. Provides data on intervention groups and comparison groups by patient demographics as well as provider demographics, specialty, and location, including urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural.
Author(s): Fang He, Angela Gasdaska, Lindsay White, Yan Tang, Chris Beadles
Citation: Health Services Research, 58(6), 1266-1291
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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Medicare Advantage in 2023: Enrollment Update and Key Trends
Explores trends related to the growth of the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Provides statistics on MA enrollment, the types of plans in which beneficiaries are enrolled, and geographic variation. Includes interactive maps that display MA penetration rates by state and county.
Author(s): Nancy Ochieng, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Meredith Freed, Anthony Damico, Tricia Neuman
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Path to Follow When You Can't Go It Alone
Podcast episode featuring a discussion of hospital mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations with three rural hospital executives and leaders. Describes how rural hospitals can leverage partnerships to maintain and expand care in their communities.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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RHC Cost Reporting 101 Webinar
Recording of an August 7, 2023, webinar providing an overview of cost reporting for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Covers relevant Medicare regulations, differences between provider-based and independent RHC cost reporting, and key cost report drivers. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 08/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Ownership of Hospitals: An Analysis of Newly-Released Federal Data & A Method for Assessing Common Owners
Analyzes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data on the ownership of all U.S. hospitals enrolled in Medicare. Presents data by hospital characteristics, including hospital type, rural and urban location, organizational structure; organizational owners and hospital chains; and individual owners.
Author(s): W. Pete Welch, Lanlan Xu, Nancy De Lew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE – Preventing Readmissions
Podcast episode discussing the varied approaches used by quality leaders from three Critical Access Hospitals to reduce readmissions. Covers community partnerships and collaboration with local health and human services providers, including emergency medical services (EMS).
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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