Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
Rethinking Rurality: Using Hospital Referral Regions to Investigate Rural-Urban Health Outcomes
Examines the relationship between the proportion of rural population served in each of the 306 hospital referral regions (HRRs) and health outcomes, healthcare spending and utilization, and access to and quality of primary care. Explores whether mortality differences in HRRs are associated with differences in price-adjusted Medicare reimbursements, quality of primary care, and access to primary care.
Author(s): Lucy Skinner, Sandra Wong, Carrie Colla
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1312
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
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Examines the relationship between the proportion of rural population served in each of the 306 hospital referral regions (HRRs) and health outcomes, healthcare spending and utilization, and access to and quality of primary care. Explores whether mortality differences in HRRs are associated with differences in price-adjusted Medicare reimbursements, quality of primary care, and access to primary care.
Author(s): Lucy Skinner, Sandra Wong, Carrie Colla
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1312
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
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Medicare Program: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs; Organ Acquisition; Rural Emergency Hospitals: Payment Policies, Conditions of Participation, Provider Enrollment, Physician Self-Referral; New Service Category for Hospital Outpatient Department Prior Authorization Process; Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating; COVID-19
Establishes the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider type. Outlines REH payment policy, Conditions of Participation (CoPs), quality measures, and enrollment policy. Outlines changes to the Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) CoPs regarding location and distance requirements, patient's rights requirements, and flexibilities for CAHs that are part of a larger health system. Among other things, this rule also revises the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2023 and finalizes provisions included in the COVID-19 interim final rules.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Establishes the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider type. Outlines REH payment policy, Conditions of Participation (CoPs), quality measures, and enrollment policy. Outlines changes to the Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) CoPs regarding location and distance requirements, patient's rights requirements, and flexibilities for CAHs that are part of a larger health system. Among other things, this rule also revises the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2023 and finalizes provisions included in the COVID-19 interim final rules.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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CY 2023 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1772-FC) Rural Emergency Hospitals — New Medicare Provider Type
Provides an overview of Rural Emergency Hospitals, a Medicare provider type established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Details key policies outlined in the Calendar Year 2023 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule, including payment policies, conditions of participation, REH provider enrollment, and exceptions to the physician self-referral law.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of Rural Emergency Hospitals, a Medicare provider type established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Details key policies outlined in the Calendar Year 2023 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule, including payment policies, conditions of participation, REH provider enrollment, and exceptions to the physician self-referral law.
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Technical Report of The Maryland Telehealth Study
Presents the results of a study examining the quality and cost of telehealth following its expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as impact on access to healthcare, alignment with other models of care, and provider and patient satisfaction with a focus on policy impacts in Maryland. Includes findings of a literature review, consumer interviews, behavioral healthcare organization focus groups, and a provider survey.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: NORC at the University of Chicago, The Maryland Health Care Commission
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Presents the results of a study examining the quality and cost of telehealth following its expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as impact on access to healthcare, alignment with other models of care, and provider and patient satisfaction with a focus on policy impacts in Maryland. Includes findings of a literature review, consumer interviews, behavioral healthcare organization focus groups, and a provider survey.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: NORC at the University of Chicago, The Maryland Health Care Commission
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Rural Health System Value-Based Care Innovators Roundtable: Strategies and Insights
Presents findings from interviews with five health systems that include a substantial proportion of rural hospitals and clinics and actively support the transition to value-based care. Covers organizational structure, governance and decision-making, operations, data and communication, contracts, and social determinants of health. Identifies common health system tensions and opportunities to implementing value-based care at rural facilities.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Presents findings from interviews with five health systems that include a substantial proportion of rural hospitals and clinics and actively support the transition to value-based care. Covers organizational structure, governance and decision-making, operations, data and communication, contracts, and social determinants of health. Identifies common health system tensions and opportunities to implementing value-based care at rural facilities.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Use of Leading Practices in US Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs
Highlights a study exploring the portion of acute-care hospitals that have implemented best practices in their antimicrobial stewardship programs. Features data compiled from electronic questionnaires to program leaders on the implementation of 6 leading antimicrobial practices. Breaks down data by hospital size, teaching status, and whether the hospital is located in a rural or urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Edward A. Stenehjem, Barbara I. Braun, Salome O. Chitavi, et al.
Citation: Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 1-8
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
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Highlights a study exploring the portion of acute-care hospitals that have implemented best practices in their antimicrobial stewardship programs. Features data compiled from electronic questionnaires to program leaders on the implementation of 6 leading antimicrobial practices. Breaks down data by hospital size, teaching status, and whether the hospital is located in a rural or urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Edward A. Stenehjem, Barbara I. Braun, Salome O. Chitavi, et al.
Citation: Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 1-8
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
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Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guides Requirements
Infographic displaying the differences in the Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guide requirements for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and eligible clinicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability performance category for eligible clinicians.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Infographic displaying the differences in the Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guide requirements for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and eligible clinicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability performance category for eligible clinicians.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Home Health Agencies Used Multiple Strategies to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Although Some Challenges Persist
Presents results of a survey of home health agencies (HHAs) conducted between September through December 2021 to explore the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses challenges related to staffing, infection control, the use of telehealth, and the adequacy of emergency preparedness plans, as well as challenges specific to rural HHAs. Provides recommendations for how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can help HHAs prepare for and respond to current and future infectious disease outbreaks and changes to the home health care landscape.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Presents results of a survey of home health agencies (HHAs) conducted between September through December 2021 to explore the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses challenges related to staffing, infection control, the use of telehealth, and the adequacy of emergency preparedness plans, as well as challenges specific to rural HHAs. Provides recommendations for how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can help HHAs prepare for and respond to current and future infectious disease outbreaks and changes to the home health care landscape.
Date: 10/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Pairing Project ECHO and Patient Navigation as an Innovative Approach to Improving the Health and Wellness of Cancer Survivors in Rural Settings
Presents a study on the use of Project ECHO and patient navigation programs to support rural cancer control programs for survivors. Evaluates the efficacy of the programs in improving both access to cancer support care, as well as the quality of care received. Details the challenges and facilitators to these programs in each site.
Author(s): Elizabeth Rohan, PhD,1 Nora Kuiper, MPH,2 Shelly-Ann Bowen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 855-864
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Presents a study on the use of Project ECHO and patient navigation programs to support rural cancer control programs for survivors. Evaluates the efficacy of the programs in improving both access to cancer support care, as well as the quality of care received. Details the challenges and facilitators to these programs in each site.
Author(s): Elizabeth Rohan, PhD,1 Nora Kuiper, MPH,2 Shelly-Ann Bowen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 855-864
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Configuration and Delivery of Primary Care in Rural and Urban Settings
Compares structure, capabilities, and payment reform participation of isolated, small town, micropolitan, and metropolitan physician practices. Features statistics on characteristics of physician practices, Medicare beneficiaries, and beneficiary utilization in 2017, with breakdowns by rurality.
Author(s): Taressa K. Fraze, Valerie A. Lewis, Andrew Wood, Helen Newton, Carrie H. Colla
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 3045-3053
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Compares structure, capabilities, and payment reform participation of isolated, small town, micropolitan, and metropolitan physician practices. Features statistics on characteristics of physician practices, Medicare beneficiaries, and beneficiary utilization in 2017, with breakdowns by rurality.
Author(s): Taressa K. Fraze, Valerie A. Lewis, Andrew Wood, Helen Newton, Carrie H. Colla
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 3045-3053
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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