Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Addressing the Opioid Crisis: A Look at the Evolving Landscape of Federal OUD Treatment Policies
Provides an overview of five federal policies that impacted the provision of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Covers regulations related to buprenorphine medication, methadone dispensing programs, overdose prevention and reversal methods, and leveraging Medicaid for pre- and post-release from prison OUD treatment services. Discusses how state laws may limit federal efforts.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Nirmita Panchal
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Provides an overview of five federal policies that impacted the provision of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Covers regulations related to buprenorphine medication, methadone dispensing programs, overdose prevention and reversal methods, and leveraging Medicaid for pre- and post-release from prison OUD treatment services. Discusses how state laws may limit federal efforts.
Author(s): Heather Saunders, Nirmita Panchal
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Evaluation of the Impact of the No Surprises Act on Health Care Market Outcomes: Baseline Trends and Framework for Analysis - First Annual Report
Provides an overview of the No Surprises Act, which aims to protect participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees in group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage from surprise medical bills. Details key trends in factors that will be important to evaluate the effects of the No Surprises Act, including the implementation and impacts of state surprise billing laws already in effect; trends in market consolidation and concentration; the impact of market consolidation and concentration on prices, quality, and spending; and trends in out-of-network billing. Describes a conceptual framework for considering the healthcare market effects of the No Surprises Act. Figure 4-3 shows rates of out-of-network billing prevalence by urban and rural patient residence.
Additional links: Cover Memo
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the No Surprises Act, which aims to protect participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees in group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage from surprise medical bills. Details key trends in factors that will be important to evaluate the effects of the No Surprises Act, including the implementation and impacts of state surprise billing laws already in effect; trends in market consolidation and concentration; the impact of market consolidation and concentration on prices, quality, and spending; and trends in out-of-network billing. Describes a conceptual framework for considering the healthcare market effects of the No Surprises Act. Figure 4-3 shows rates of out-of-network billing prevalence by urban and rural patient residence.
Additional links: Cover Memo
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Interim CMS Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Rural Location Determinations Due to Census Bureau (CB) Regulatory Changes
Describes how 2022 Census Bureau changes to urban and rural definitions impact the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) eligibility determinations. Details the interim process the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will use for making RHC rural location determinations.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Describes how 2022 Census Bureau changes to urban and rural definitions impact the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) eligibility determinations. Details the interim process the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will use for making RHC rural location determinations.
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Arkansas State Plan on Aging: Fiscal Years 2024-2027
Provides direction for long-term care efforts in the state of Arkansas. Focuses on implementation of the Older American Act (OAA), COVID-19 recovery, equity, access to home and community-based services, and caregiving infrastructure. Highlights population data on rural Arkansas citizens and rural-specific priorities.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Department of Human Services
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Provides direction for long-term care efforts in the state of Arkansas. Focuses on implementation of the Older American Act (OAA), COVID-19 recovery, equity, access to home and community-based services, and caregiving infrastructure. Highlights population data on rural Arkansas citizens and rural-specific priorities.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Department of Human Services
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Impact of Higher Payments for Rural Home Health Episodes on Rehospitalizations
Examines the impact of home health rural add-on payments on beneficiary outcomes, specifically on rehospitalizations. Uses Medicare data from 2007 to 2014 to compare rehospitalizations between rural and urban post-acute home health episodes before and after the implementation of the add-on payments in 2010. Discusses the implications of the findings on home health payment policy.
Author(s): Lacey Loomer, Momotazur Rahman, Tracy M. Mroz, Pedro L. Gozalo, Vincent Mor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 604-610
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
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Examines the impact of home health rural add-on payments on beneficiary outcomes, specifically on rehospitalizations. Uses Medicare data from 2007 to 2014 to compare rehospitalizations between rural and urban post-acute home health episodes before and after the implementation of the add-on payments in 2010. Discusses the implications of the findings on home health payment policy.
Author(s): Lacey Loomer, Momotazur Rahman, Tracy M. Mroz, Pedro L. Gozalo, Vincent Mor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 39(3), 604-610
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
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Health Care-Related Expiring Provisions of the 118th Congress, First Session
Outlines the healthcare-related funding and governmental authorities that will expire during the first session of the 118th Congress, calendar year 2023, if not extended through congressional action. Highlights similar provisions that expired during the 117th Congress (2021-2022). Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Outlines the healthcare-related funding and governmental authorities that will expire during the first session of the 118th Congress, calendar year 2023, if not extended through congressional action. Highlights similar provisions that expired during the 117th Congress (2021-2022). Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Critical Access Hospitals: Views on How Medicare Payment and Other Factors Affect Behavioral Health Services
Provides an overview of how Medicare payment policies for care provided by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Explores how CAHs provide behavioral health services in their communities. Summarizes findings from interviews with officials from 10 CAHs, stakeholder organizations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) regarding how Medicare payment policies and other factors affect CAHs' ability to provide behavioral health services.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of how Medicare payment policies for care provided by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Explores how CAHs provide behavioral health services in their communities. Summarizes findings from interviews with officials from 10 CAHs, stakeholder organizations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) regarding how Medicare payment policies and other factors affect CAHs' ability to provide behavioral health services.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program: Issues and Congressional Considerations
Provides an overview of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which was created to provide broadband service to unserved locations. Discusses three issues for potential consideration by Congress: determining unserved locations for BEAD funding allocations, connectivity technologies eligible for BEAD funding, and BEAD's relationship to other federal broadband programs.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which was created to provide broadband service to unserved locations. Discusses three issues for potential consideration by Congress: determining unserved locations for BEAD funding allocations, connectivity technologies eligible for BEAD funding, and BEAD's relationship to other federal broadband programs.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Health Panel Comment Letter - Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System for Acute Care Hospitals Proposed Rule
Comments offered in response to a May 1, 2023, proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital PPS for fiscal year 2024. Discusses methodologies used to calculate the Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) and uncompensated care payments; two potential geriatric care quality measures; and the identification of, and challenges facing, safety net hospitals.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Comments offered in response to a May 1, 2023, proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital PPS for fiscal year 2024. Discusses methodologies used to calculate the Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) and uncompensated care payments; two potential geriatric care quality measures; and the identification of, and challenges facing, safety net hospitals.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Hospital Inpatient PPS for FY 2024
Comments on a May 1, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems (PPS). Offers comments on future hospital safety-net policies, including a potential safety-net adjustment for Medicare inpatient hospital payments; a potential health equity adjustment bonus to the hospital value-based purchasing program; recent case law on rural reclassification and estimated implications; and supplemental uncompensated care payments to Puerto Rico.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a May 1, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems (PPS). Offers comments on future hospital safety-net policies, including a potential safety-net adjustment for Medicare inpatient hospital payments; a potential health equity adjustment bonus to the hospital value-based purchasing program; recent case law on rural reclassification and estimated implications; and supplemental uncompensated care payments to Puerto Rico.
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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