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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals

Caitlin Carroll on Rural Hospital Survival
A podcast episode featuring Caitlin Carroll of the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health. Discusses the financial challenges rural hospitals face and common paths for unprofitable hospitals - continuing as-is, closure, or merging with another hospital system.
Date: 04/2023
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
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COVID-19 Hospitalization Trends in Rural Versus Urban Areas in the United States
Examines disparities in COVID-19 hospitalization rates between rural and urban areas in six states from May 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021. Describes differences in occupancy rates between rural and urban hospitals during the same period. Presents data by week and cumulatively over time.
Author(s): Yi Zhu, Caitlin Carroll, Khoa Vu, et al.
Citation: Medical Care Research and Review, 80(2), 236-244
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
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In Need of a Checkup: Examining the Cybersecurity Risks to the Healthcare Sector
Recording of a March 16, 2023, U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on cybersecurity threats facing the healthcare sector. Features testimony from Kate Pierce, the former Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer of an Alabama Critical Access Hospital, who discusses cybersecurity in small and rural hospitals.
Additional links: Kate Piece, Fortified Health Security - Testimony
Date: 03/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
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Building Sustainable Capacity for Quality and Organizational Excellence: Critical Access Hospital Quality Infrastructure Summit
Summarizes a March 2023 summit with experts that sought to identify the core elements of infrastructure necessary for successful quality efforts in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Outlines a framework to help leaders assess needs and growth and consider holistic approaches to creating a sustainable quality infrastructure.
Additional links: Core Elements of Critical Access Hospital Quality Infrastructure Video Summary, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: Critical Access Hospital Fact Sheet, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: State Flex Program Fact Sheet, National Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment: Video Summary
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Flex Monitoring Team, National Rural Health Resource Center, Stratis Health
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Rural Emergency Hospital Requirements: CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule
Provides a reference source for Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) requirements related to the final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), "Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers." Includes excerpts from the REH Conditions of Participation regarding emergency preparedness, as well as CMS interpretive guidelines for 17 other provider types. Covers the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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Orientation to Rural Emergency Hospital Conversion and Technical Assistance, Additional Guidance
Recording of a March 1, 2023, webinar discussing the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) program. Provides an overview of January 2023 guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, including REH action plans, transfer agreements, self-attestation to Conditions of Participation, the REH application process, and the rural status distance exception. Transcript available in the video description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 03/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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A Novel Cardio-Oncology Service Line Model in Optimizing Care Access, Quality and Equity for Large, Multi-Hospital Health Systems
Examines the impact of establishing an academic cardio-oncology service line model for a large, multi-hospital health system to improve access and equity, with rural populations as a primary focus. Discusses multidisciplinary approach, infrastructure elements, quality control, central governance, creation of protocols, and establishment of a cardio-oncology registry.
Author(s): Yan Liu
Citation: Cardio-Oncology, 9, 16
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2023
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services; Medicare Advantage (MA), including a mandated report comparing per enrollee spending in the MA program with that of traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare; and Medicare Part D.
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Access to Health Services Across Rural and Urban Minoritized Racial/Ethnic Group Areas
Summarizes results from a series of reports documenting disparities in access to health services nationwide across ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) categorized by rurality and racial and ethnic composition. Presents data on the distance to care from the population center of rural and urban ZCTAs to the nearest provider. Covers first line, higher acuity, and home-based services.
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2023
Reports on four aspects of Medicaid: 1) collecting and reporting Medicaid race and ethnicity data, 2) increasing the transparency and improving the collection of nursing facility payment data, 3) strengthening evidence under Medicaid drug coverage, and 4) reviewing hospital payment policy for the nation's safety-net hospitals. Chapter 4 examines the relationship between disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments to states and the number of uninsured individuals, the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs, and the amounts and sources of hospitals' uncompensated care costs. Table 4-1 details DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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