Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
Text of the legislation that adds a prescription drug benefit to Medicare and enhances some rural healthcare programs, such as the Critical Access Hospitals program.
Date: 11/2003
Type: Document
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Text of the legislation that adds a prescription drug benefit to Medicare and enhances some rural healthcare programs, such as the Critical Access Hospitals program.
Date: 11/2003
Type: Document
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Rural-Urban Issues in the Wage Index Adjustment for Prospective Payment in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Discusses the use of the hospital wage index for the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (SNF PPS) and how a change to an SNF wage index would impact rural and urban skilled nursing facilities. Also identifies some related issues that impact reimbursement to SNFs in both urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings Brief, January 2004
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 11/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Discusses the use of the hospital wage index for the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (SNF PPS) and how a change to an SNF wage index would impact rural and urban skilled nursing facilities. Also identifies some related issues that impact reimbursement to SNFs in both urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings Brief, January 2004
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 11/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Information Technology: Benefits Realized for Selected Health Care Functions
Describes cost savings and other benefits of information technology use in health care, including clinical care and administrative applications. Discusses examples from hospitals serving rural areas. Also includes examples of IT use by insurers for improved claims processing and customer service.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Describes cost savings and other benefits of information technology use in health care, including clinical care and administrative applications. Discusses examples from hospitals serving rural areas. Also includes examples of IT use by insurers for improved claims processing and customer service.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Medicare: Modest Eligibility Expansion for Critical Access Hospital Program Should Be Considered
Examines the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program and makes recommendations on CAH eligibility related to the ban on inpatient psychiatric or rehabilitation distinct part units and the limit on patient census.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program and makes recommendations on CAH eligibility related to the ban on inpatient psychiatric or rehabilitation distinct part units and the limit on patient census.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Response of Local Health Care Systems in the Rural Midwest to a Growing Latino Population
Reports findings from a study of healthcare access issues for Latinos in rural communities in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. Describes successful strategies that could be adopted by other communities to address the growing Midwestern Latino population.
Author(s): Michelle Casey, Lynn Blewett, Kathleen Call
Date: 08/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Reports findings from a study of healthcare access issues for Latinos in rural communities in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. Describes successful strategies that could be adopted by other communities to address the growing Midwestern Latino population.
Author(s): Michelle Casey, Lynn Blewett, Kathleen Call
Date: 08/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Emergency Department Use by Medically Indigent Rural Residents
Reports findings from a study of emergency department (ED) use to estimate uncompensated charges to rural EDs and the impact of Federally Qualified Health Centers on ED use by rural residents. Includes data on ED visit and patient characteristics by rural and urban location for the nation and for South Carolina.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Kevin Bennett, Janice C. Probst, Charity G. Moore, Judith A. Shinogle
Date: 07/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Reports findings from a study of emergency department (ED) use to estimate uncompensated charges to rural EDs and the impact of Federally Qualified Health Centers on ED use by rural residents. Includes data on ED visit and patient characteristics by rural and urban location for the nation and for South Carolina.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Kevin Bennett, Janice C. Probst, Charity G. Moore, Judith A. Shinogle
Date: 07/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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A Primer on Interpreting Hospital Margins
Explains the most commonly used measures of hospital profitability, and how they are used to inform policy changes. Particular emphasis on the different formulas as they impact rural versus urban hospital figures.
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 07/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Explains the most commonly used measures of hospital profitability, and how they are used to inform policy changes. Particular emphasis on the different formulas as they impact rural versus urban hospital figures.
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 07/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Variation and Innovation in Medicare
Analyzes variation within the Medicare program and explores a variety of possible payment innovations. Includes some rural-specific information. Geographic, market, quality, hospital financial performance, and use of physician services variations are covered. Also examines Medicare's reimbursement for Part B drugs. Recommendations include quality incentives and competitive pricing.
Date: 06/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Analyzes variation within the Medicare program and explores a variety of possible payment innovations. Includes some rural-specific information. Geographic, market, quality, hospital financial performance, and use of physician services variations are covered. Also examines Medicare's reimbursement for Part B drugs. Recommendations include quality incentives and competitive pricing.
Date: 06/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Hospital HIPAA Readiness and Resource Needs
Presents a survey of rural hospitals regarding the extent of their preparation for HIPAA requirements and their need for resources to implement HIPAA requirements. Results shown by hospital size. Also includes information on financial and staff commitment levels.
Author(s): J. Patrick Hart, Wanqing Zhang, Jane L. Meza, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: RUPRI Rural Policy Brief, 8(6)
Date: 05/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Presents a survey of rural hospitals regarding the extent of their preparation for HIPAA requirements and their need for resources to implement HIPAA requirements. Results shown by hospital size. Also includes information on financial and staff commitment levels.
Author(s): J. Patrick Hart, Wanqing Zhang, Jane L. Meza, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: RUPRI Rural Policy Brief, 8(6)
Date: 05/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Trends in Rural Hospital Closure: 1990 - 2000
Focuses on the extent, characteristics, reasons for and impact of rural hospitals closures from 1990 through 2000. Includes rural hospital closure data by state.
Date: 05/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Focuses on the extent, characteristics, reasons for and impact of rural hospitals closures from 1990 through 2000. Includes rural hospital closure data by state.
Date: 05/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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