Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
Quality of Care Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of Rural Hospitals
Examines the quality of care provided in 172 rural hospitals that merged or were acquired between 2009-2016. Compares the in-hospital mortality rates for patients with several conditions compared admitted to merged or acquired hospitals to patients admitted to 266 rural hospitals that remained independent.
Author(s): H. Joanna Jiang, Kathryn R. Fingar, Lan Liang, Rachel M. Henke, Teresa P. Gibson
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(9)
Date: 09/2021
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Examines the quality of care provided in 172 rural hospitals that merged or were acquired between 2009-2016. Compares the in-hospital mortality rates for patients with several conditions compared admitted to merged or acquired hospitals to patients admitted to 266 rural hospitals that remained independent.
Author(s): H. Joanna Jiang, Kathryn R. Fingar, Lan Liang, Rachel M. Henke, Teresa P. Gibson
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(9)
Date: 09/2021
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2022
Comment on a July 23, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of the expansion of telehealth service coverage after the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as reimbursement rates to Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers for telehealth mental health services.
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comment on a July 23, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of the expansion of telehealth service coverage after the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as reimbursement rates to Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers for telehealth mental health services.
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Primary Care Mental Health Integration to Improve Early Treatment Engagement for Veterans Who Screen Positive for Depression
Analyzes the impact of mental health integration into primary care clinics (PC-MHI) among veterans diagnosed with depression. Examines 15,155 patients that screened positively for depression, with data broken down by PC-MHI reach, timeliness of depression treatment, patient sociodemographic variables and health status, and clinic characteristics, including rurality. Discusses patient location and its relationship to veteran mental health disparities.
Author(s): Lucinda B. Leung, Karen Chu, Danielle E. Rose, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 59(S2)
Date: 08/2021
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Analyzes the impact of mental health integration into primary care clinics (PC-MHI) among veterans diagnosed with depression. Examines 15,155 patients that screened positively for depression, with data broken down by PC-MHI reach, timeliness of depression treatment, patient sociodemographic variables and health status, and clinic characteristics, including rurality. Discusses patient location and its relationship to veteran mental health disparities.
Author(s): Lucinda B. Leung, Karen Chu, Danielle E. Rose, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 59(S2)
Date: 08/2021
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Understanding the Rural Swing Bed: More than Just a Reimbursement Policy
Provides an overview of the swing bed program and its role as a patient-centric post-acute care solution that helps rural hospitals serve their communities. Discusses the impact of the program, reimbursement, quality measures, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Provides an overview of the swing bed program and its role as a patient-centric post-acute care solution that helps rural hospitals serve their communities. Discusses the impact of the program, reimbursement, quality measures, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Quality Time: Sharing PIE - Making Quality Improvement Fun
Podcast episode discussing ways two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) leaders make quality improvement activities fun and engaging for hospital staff. Highlights engagement strategies that resulted in measurable improvements, staff recognition activities, and the impact these efforts have on staff morale and investment in quality improvement initiatives.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Podcast episode discussing ways two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) leaders make quality improvement activities fun and engaging for hospital staff. Highlights engagement strategies that resulted in measurable improvements, staff recognition activities, and the impact these efforts have on staff morale and investment in quality improvement initiatives.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Not Your Mother's Healthcare: Surveying Consumer Experiences with Telehealth Services
Recording of an August 4, 2021, webinar on telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents results of a survey conducted between June 28-July 18, 2021, on telehealth utilization, patient satisfaction, and obstacles to accessing telehealth services. Includes data on rural and urban differences throughout. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Recording of an August 4, 2021, webinar on telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presents results of a survey conducted between June 28-July 18, 2021, on telehealth utilization, patient satisfaction, and obstacles to accessing telehealth services. Includes data on rural and urban differences throughout. Transcript available by clicking the dots above the video description, then selecting Show transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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The Rural Emergency Hospital and Value-Based Care
Summarizes the new Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) legislation, outlines local considerations before REH conversion, and prepares stakeholders to comment when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services releases REH proposed rules for public input. Addresses questions regarding anticipated proposed rules and describes opportunities to inform REH rulemaking.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes the new Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) legislation, outlines local considerations before REH conversion, and prepares stakeholders to comment when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services releases REH proposed rules for public input. Addresses questions regarding anticipated proposed rules and describes opportunities to inform REH rulemaking.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Leveraging Quality Measurement to Improve Rural Health, Telehealth, and Healthcare System Readiness: Final Environmental Scan Report
Presents the results of an environmental scan of literature related to barriers and facilitators of rural telehealth for healthcare system readiness, as well as a scan of quality measures relevant to rural telehealth during emergencies. Summarizes policies and practices related to telehealth and the healthcare system, with a focus on federal policy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Presents the results of an environmental scan of literature related to barriers and facilitators of rural telehealth for healthcare system readiness, as well as a scan of quality measures relevant to rural telehealth during emergencies. Summarizes policies and practices related to telehealth and the healthcare system, with a focus on federal policy changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
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Rural/Urban Differences in Discharge from Rehabilitation in Older Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury
Compares rural and urban rates of discharge from skilled nursing facilities for 61,021 older adults with traumatic brain injury between 2011 and 2015 to determine quality of care. Discusses factors predicting successful discharge and reasons for not successfully discharging between rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Marie C. Anderson, Emily Evans, Mark R. Zonfrillo, Kali S. Thomas
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(6), 1601-1608
Date: 06/2021
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Compares rural and urban rates of discharge from skilled nursing facilities for 61,021 older adults with traumatic brain injury between 2011 and 2015 to determine quality of care. Discusses factors predicting successful discharge and reasons for not successfully discharging between rural and urban patients.
Author(s): Marie C. Anderson, Emily Evans, Mark R. Zonfrillo, Kali S. Thomas
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(6), 1601-1608
Date: 06/2021
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Evaluation of the State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Round 2: Model Test Final Report
Final report on the Round 2 State Innovation Models (SIM) program across eleven participating states - Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington. Discusses the adoption of delivery models and payment reforms related to value-based payment (VBP) and alternative payment models (APMs). Examines whether the implementation efforts and healthcare delivery system reforms impacted the quality of care, health outcomes, population health, and spending.
Additional links: Appendix, Findings at a Glance
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Final report on the Round 2 State Innovation Models (SIM) program across eleven participating states - Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington. Discusses the adoption of delivery models and payment reforms related to value-based payment (VBP) and alternative payment models (APMs). Examines whether the implementation efforts and healthcare delivery system reforms impacted the quality of care, health outcomes, population health, and spending.
Additional links: Appendix, Findings at a Glance
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, RTI International
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