Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Health Policy for Rural Illinois, Data for Policy Development
Provides information on various metrics representing healthcare access, cost, quality, and equity in metro and nonmetro areas of Illinois. Includes further breakdowns of data by White, Hispanic, and Black categories and discusses policy issues related to health disparities in nonmetro areas and for disadvantaged races/ethnicities.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Provides information on various metrics representing healthcare access, cost, quality, and equity in metro and nonmetro areas of Illinois. Includes further breakdowns of data by White, Hispanic, and Black categories and discusses policy issues related to health disparities in nonmetro areas and for disadvantaged races/ethnicities.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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The Approaching End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Its Implications for RHCs
Outlines Rural Health Clinic (RHC)-specific waivers implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will end at the conclusion of the public health emergency (PHE). Highlights how other policies will be impacted by the end of the PHE, including telehealth flexibilities; Medicaid redetermination; the commercialization of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests; and Emergency Use Authorizations.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Outlines Rural Health Clinic (RHC)-specific waivers implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will end at the conclusion of the public health emergency (PHE). Highlights how other policies will be impacted by the end of the PHE, including telehealth flexibilities; Medicaid redetermination; the commercialization of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests; and Emergency Use Authorizations.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Federal Telehealth Flexibilities in Private Health Insurance During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: In Brief
Provides an overview of how private health insurance plans cover telehealth services, as well as federal flexibilities that encouraged private health insurance plans to promote telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Summarizes the two main types of laws at the state level addressing telehealth coverage in private health insurance. Outlines considerations for telehealth coverage after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of how private health insurance plans cover telehealth services, as well as federal flexibilities that encouraged private health insurance plans to promote telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Summarizes the two main types of laws at the state level addressing telehealth coverage in private health insurance. Outlines considerations for telehealth coverage after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Rural Hospitals: Community Cornerstones Facing Perilous Threats to Care
Infographic presenting data regarding the importance of rural hospitals to their communities. Includes information on workforce and financial challenges experienced by rural hospitals, as well as the impact of hospital closures on access to care. Provides recommendations on actions to support rural hospitals and communities.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Infographic presenting data regarding the importance of rural hospitals to their communities. Includes information on workforce and financial challenges experienced by rural hospitals, as well as the impact of hospital closures on access to care. Provides recommendations on actions to support rural hospitals and communities.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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The Role of Telehealth in Achieving a High Performing Rural Health System: Priorities in a Post-Pandemic System
Presents a review of the potential for expanded use of telehealth in rural America and the use of telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Examines the uses of telehealth in a high-performing rural health system. Expands on considerations outlined in the October 2020 publication The Evolving Landscape of National Telehealth Policies during a Public Health Emergency: Responsiveness to Rural Needs.
Author(s): Joel M. James, Keith J. Mueller, Joanne Constantin, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Presents a review of the potential for expanded use of telehealth in rural America and the use of telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Examines the uses of telehealth in a high-performing rural health system. Expands on considerations outlined in the October 2020 publication The Evolving Landscape of National Telehealth Policies during a Public Health Emergency: Responsiveness to Rural Needs.
Author(s): Joel M. James, Keith J. Mueller, Joanne Constantin, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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The Black Lung Program, the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, and the Excise Tax on Coal: Background and Policy Options
Information on black lung disease and benefits under the federal black lung program. Examines Black Lung Disability Trust Fund revenues, including coal excise tax, and discusses policy options that could improve the fiscal outlook of the Trust Fund. Features statistics including black lung benefit costs, number of beneficiaries, coal excise tax collections, and Trust Fund debt, with breakdowns by year.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Information on black lung disease and benefits under the federal black lung program. Examines Black Lung Disability Trust Fund revenues, including coal excise tax, and discusses policy options that could improve the fiscal outlook of the Trust Fund. Features statistics including black lung benefit costs, number of beneficiaries, coal excise tax collections, and Trust Fund debt, with breakdowns by year.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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2023 Vermont Primary Care Sourcebook
Describes the mission of the Vermont Primary Care Association (PCA), and includes sections on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and the Vermont Rural Health Alliance. Features a list of the Bi-State PCA's Vermont members with contact information, and a county-level map showing locations of the state's FQHCs.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bi-State Primary Care Association
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Describes the mission of the Vermont Primary Care Association (PCA), and includes sections on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and the Vermont Rural Health Alliance. Features a list of the Bi-State PCA's Vermont members with contact information, and a county-level map showing locations of the state's FQHCs.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bi-State Primary Care Association
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January 2023 MACPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) January 2023 meeting. Covers Medicaid race and ethnicity data collection and reporting, nursing facility provider payment principles, challenges for states administering Medicaid home- and community-based services and access barriers for Medicaid beneficiaries, Medicaid managed care quality oversight, the unwinding of the Public Health Emergency, and more. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) January 2023 meeting. Covers Medicaid race and ethnicity data collection and reporting, nursing facility provider payment principles, challenges for states administering Medicaid home- and community-based services and access barriers for Medicaid beneficiaries, Medicaid managed care quality oversight, the unwinding of the Public Health Emergency, and more. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Community Health Centers And Medicaid: A Deeper Dive Into FQHC Alternative Payment Reform
An overview of the development of the Medicaid FQHC policy, since 1965, between Medicare and Medicaid, providing third-party financing, and CHCs, offering primary healthcare to underserved rural and urban areas. Discusses the discrepancies in Medicaid payment policies affecting CHCs, and federal legislative actions and amendments to reconcile budgets. Describes the alternative payment methodology (APM) and its effect on the prospective payment system.
Author(s): Sara Rosenbaum, Peter Shin, Jessica Shara, Colleen Bedenbaugh
Citation: Health Affairs
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
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An overview of the development of the Medicaid FQHC policy, since 1965, between Medicare and Medicaid, providing third-party financing, and CHCs, offering primary healthcare to underserved rural and urban areas. Discusses the discrepancies in Medicaid payment policies affecting CHCs, and federal legislative actions and amendments to reconcile budgets. Describes the alternative payment methodology (APM) and its effect on the prospective payment system.
Author(s): Sara Rosenbaum, Peter Shin, Jessica Shara, Colleen Bedenbaugh
Citation: Health Affairs
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Affairs
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Telehealth and Licensure Policies Improving Healthcare Access for Rural Communities
Discusses expanding licensure across state lines so providers can provide telehealth services to a wider service area. Includes information on Medicaid and Medicare telehealth policies as well as state-level legislation focused on cross-state licensing.
Author(s): Ashley Cram
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Discusses expanding licensure across state lines so providers can provide telehealth services to a wider service area. Includes information on Medicaid and Medicare telehealth policies as well as state-level legislation focused on cross-state licensing.
Author(s): Ashley Cram
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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