Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals
Effects of Rural Hospital Closures on Nurse Staffing Levels and Health Care Utilization at Nearby Hospitals
Analyzes healthcare utilization and nurse staffing levels when nearby rural hospitals close. Utilizes 2014-2019 American Hospital Association Survey data to examine vocational nurse/licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice nurse (APN) staffing levels as well as inpatient and outpatient surgical operations and emergency department (ED) visits within 4 years of a hospital closure.
Author(s): Jing Dong, Siying Liu, Asefeh Faraz Covelli, Guido Cataife
Citation: Health Economics, 33(12), 2687-2707
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Analyzes healthcare utilization and nurse staffing levels when nearby rural hospitals close. Utilizes 2014-2019 American Hospital Association Survey data to examine vocational nurse/licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice nurse (APN) staffing levels as well as inpatient and outpatient surgical operations and emergency department (ED) visits within 4 years of a hospital closure.
Author(s): Jing Dong, Siying Liu, Asefeh Faraz Covelli, Guido Cataife
Citation: Health Economics, 33(12), 2687-2707
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Investments: Fact Sheet
Provides an overview of Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) grant programs in Fiscal Year 2024. Summarizes and briefly describes funding awarded to support rural hospitals, address rural behavioral health, expand the rural health workforce, increase access to care, advance maternal health, and support rural health research and policy analysis.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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Provides an overview of Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) grant programs in Fiscal Year 2024. Summarizes and briefly describes funding awarded to support rural hospitals, address rural behavioral health, expand the rural health workforce, increase access to care, advance maternal health, and support rural health research and policy analysis.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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January 2025 Annual Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Monthly Facility Payment Amount
Presents the monthly Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2025.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Presents the monthly Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2025.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Rural Health Success Stories
Highlights USDA Rural Development-funded programs in each region of the United States. Highlights healthcare facilities and other uses of community development funding in Arizona, Maine, Louisiana, and South Dakota.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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Highlights USDA Rural Development-funded programs in each region of the United States. Highlights healthcare facilities and other uses of community development funding in Arizona, Maine, Louisiana, and South Dakota.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Rural Development
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CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1809-FC)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; incorporating an add-on payment to the Medicare outpatient hospital all-inclusive rate (AIR) for certain high-cost drugs for people with Medicare who receive care at Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal hospitals; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; a new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services; Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility; Medicaid clinic services "four walls" exceptions; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; incorporating an add-on payment to the Medicare outpatient hospital all-inclusive rate (AIR) for certain high-cost drugs for people with Medicare who receive care at Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal hospitals; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; a new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services; Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility; Medicaid clinic services "four walls" exceptions; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Understanding the Impact of Medical Debt in Rural Communities: Perspectives from Rural Hospital Administrators
Presents findings from key informant interviews with rural hospital administrators across seven states regarding the impact of medical debt on hospitals and patients in rural communities. Describes themes related to causes and consequences of medical debt across three domains: hospital, patient/community, and policy.
Author(s): Mariana Tuttle, Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Presents findings from key informant interviews with rural hospital administrators across seven states regarding the impact of medical debt on hospitals and patients in rural communities. Describes themes related to causes and consequences of medical debt across three domains: hospital, patient/community, and policy.
Author(s): Mariana Tuttle, Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Texas Rural Hospital Grant Program Report
Reports on the establishment, functions, and achievements of the Rural Hospital Grant Program in Texas during the 2024 and 2025 state fiscal years. Provides an overview of program funding and awards, and details grant programs supporting hospital stabilization, maternal care, and Alternative Payment Model readiness.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Reports on the establishment, functions, and achievements of the Rural Hospital Grant Program in Texas during the 2024 and 2025 state fiscal years. Provides an overview of program funding and awards, and details grant programs supporting hospital stabilization, maternal care, and Alternative Payment Model readiness.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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How Emergency Departments Are Responding to the Opioid Crisis: Results from a Statewide Survey in Kentucky
Examines hospital emergency departments (EDs) in Kentucky and their substance use disorder (SUD) services. Utilizes 2023 survey data from ED directors and discusses themes such as use of buprenorphine, referrals to community providers, social work services, screening processes, care continuity and more. Includes feedback about access to and availability of SUD services in rural areas.
Author(s): Olivia K. Sugarman, Samantha J. Harris, Lauren Byrne, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 78
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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Examines hospital emergency departments (EDs) in Kentucky and their substance use disorder (SUD) services. Utilizes 2023 survey data from ED directors and discusses themes such as use of buprenorphine, referrals to community providers, social work services, screening processes, care continuity and more. Includes feedback about access to and availability of SUD services in rural areas.
Author(s): Olivia K. Sugarman, Samantha J. Harris, Lauren Byrne, et al.
Citation: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 78
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
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Texas Rural Hospital Services Strategic Plan Progress Report, 2024
Reports on the progress, strategies, and milestones of the Texas Rural Hospital Services Strategic Plan. Discusses strategies to support rural hospitals, covering policies and initiatives related to Medicaid reimbursements, hospital revenue opportunities, challenges providing care to patients covered by Medicare and other payers, use of state funds for hospital stabilization, and infrastructure development. Provides a map of rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Emergency Hospitals in Texas.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Reports on the progress, strategies, and milestones of the Texas Rural Hospital Services Strategic Plan. Discusses strategies to support rural hospitals, covering policies and initiatives related to Medicaid reimbursements, hospital revenue opportunities, challenges providing care to patients covered by Medicare and other payers, use of state funds for hospital stabilization, and infrastructure development. Provides a map of rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Emergency Hospitals in Texas.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Preserving Rural Health Care: The Impact of Site-Neutral Payments
Policy brief describing the role off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) play in providing essential healthcare services in rural communities. Discusses the potential impacts of site-neutral payment policies on the financial stability of rural Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) and Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) off-campus HOPDs and access to care in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to address the impacts of site-neutral payments on rural hospitals.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief describing the role off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) play in providing essential healthcare services in rural communities. Discusses the potential impacts of site-neutral payment policies on the financial stability of rural Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) and Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) off-campus HOPDs and access to care in rural areas. Offers policy recommendations to address the impacts of site-neutral payments on rural hospitals.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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