Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Telehealth Policy and Regulatory Considerations During a Pandemic
Toolkit examining policies related to telehealth regarding coverage and payment, licensing, patient privacy and security, remote prescribing, and others, noting temporary changes due to COVID-19. Offers policy recommendations and highlights other important policy areas for healthcare providers to be aware of.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
view details
Toolkit examining policies related to telehealth regarding coverage and payment, licensing, patient privacy and security, remote prescribing, and others, noting temporary changes due to COVID-19. Offers policy recommendations and highlights other important policy areas for healthcare providers to be aware of.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
view details
"All Hands On Deck": The COVID-19 Pandemic Through Nurses' Eyes
Podcast recording featuring Mary Wakefield describes the role of nurses and the challenges they have faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses shortages of personal protective equipment, workforce challenges, vaccine administration, and solutions to support nurses in the future. Highlights the experiences of nurses at rural hospitals and clinics.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
Podcast recording featuring Mary Wakefield describes the role of nurses and the challenges they have faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses shortages of personal protective equipment, workforce challenges, vaccine administration, and solutions to support nurses in the future. Highlights the experiences of nurses at rural hospitals and clinics.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
view details
2021 RHC Billing and Coding Update
Recording of a March 9, 2021, webinar providing an overview of coding and billing changes relevant to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Discusses guidelines for reporting COVID-19 immunizations and monoclonal antibody infusions, telehealth coding and billing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for COVID-19, and RHC lab billing and COVID test reporting. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: AMA Code & Guideline Changes, COVID Vaccine Log, Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Recording of a March 9, 2021, webinar providing an overview of coding and billing changes relevant to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Discusses guidelines for reporting COVID-19 immunizations and monoclonal antibody infusions, telehealth coding and billing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for COVID-19, and RHC lab billing and COVID test reporting. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: AMA Code & Guideline Changes, COVID Vaccine Log, Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Medicare Hospital Payments: Adjusting for Variation in Geographic Area Wages
Provides an overview of the use of the hospital wage index applied to the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) to account for geographic differences in hospitals' labor costs. Discusses the effect of the wage index on Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services, exceptions to wage index adjustments, and proposals for wage index reforms.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Provides an overview of the use of the hospital wage index applied to the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) to account for geographic differences in hospitals' labor costs. Discusses the effect of the wage index on Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services, exceptions to wage index adjustments, and proposals for wage index reforms.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
The Effect of Medicare Payment Standardization Methods on the Perceived Cost of Post-Acute Swing Bed Care in Critical Access Hospitals
Discusses the different payment systems the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses to reimburse for post-acute care in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), prospective payment system (IPPS) hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Describes how the payment standardization methods may influence post-acute care discharge patterns and access to care for rural residents. Examines the effects of these payment methods on the perceived cost of CAH swing bed care as it relates to the Medicare Spending per Beneficiary performance measure.
Author(s): Tyler Malone, Denise Kirk, Kristin Reiter
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Discusses the different payment systems the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses to reimburse for post-acute care in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), prospective payment system (IPPS) hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Describes how the payment standardization methods may influence post-acute care discharge patterns and access to care for rural residents. Examines the effects of these payment methods on the perceived cost of CAH swing bed care as it relates to the Medicare Spending per Beneficiary performance measure.
Author(s): Tyler Malone, Denise Kirk, Kristin Reiter
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
view details
Critical Access Hospital Requirements: CMS Emergency Preparedness Final Rule
Provides a reference source for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) 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 final rule as well as related CMS interpretive guidelines for CAHs. Addresses the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
view details
Provides a reference source for Critical Access Hospital (CAH) 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 final rule as well as related CMS interpretive guidelines for CAHs. Addresses the development of an emergency plan, related policies and procedures, communications, training, and more.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
view details
Pennsylvania Mental Health Services for Victims of Sexual Assault and Rape: A Staff Study
Examines existing laws and services in Pennsylvania and offers recommendations to ensure that sexual assault victims receive quality, trauma-informed medical care. Includes recommendations to promote a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, increase the use of telehealth, and provide for a designation for hospitals, based on their ability to provide comprehensive sexual assault services. Features a section comparing availability of certified SANE nurses in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Llewellyn Hursh, Allison N. Kobzowicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
view details
Examines existing laws and services in Pennsylvania and offers recommendations to ensure that sexual assault victims receive quality, trauma-informed medical care. Includes recommendations to promote a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, increase the use of telehealth, and provide for a designation for hospitals, based on their ability to provide comprehensive sexual assault services. Features a section comparing availability of certified SANE nurses in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Yvonne Llewellyn Hursh, Allison N. Kobzowicz, Grant Rosul, Wendy L. Baker
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
view details
Investing in a Health Workforce that Meets Rural Needs
Offers suggestions for advancing sustainable financing of rural training and practice and developing strategic planning to build a more flexible, dynamic, and interprofessional rural workforce. Includes a brief overview of current graduate medical education financing in the United States.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Council on Graduate Medical Education
view details
Offers suggestions for advancing sustainable financing of rural training and practice and developing strategic planning to build a more flexible, dynamic, and interprofessional rural workforce. Includes a brief overview of current graduate medical education financing in the United States.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Council on Graduate Medical Education
view details
Medicaid's Role in Health Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Provides an overview of the federal government's role in providing healthcare to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Discusses AI/AN demographics, economic and health disparities, and access to healthcare and insurance coverage. Describes the structure of the Indian Health Service (IHS), services provided, and IHS financing and spending. Highlights special rules and protections that apply to AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries. Presents a series of policy issues that have been raised regarding the Medicaid and IHS relationship, as well as opportunities for improving Medicaid's role in providing healthcare to AI/AN populations.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
view details
Provides an overview of the federal government's role in providing healthcare to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Discusses AI/AN demographics, economic and health disparities, and access to healthcare and insurance coverage. Describes the structure of the Indian Health Service (IHS), services provided, and IHS financing and spending. Highlights special rules and protections that apply to AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries. Presents a series of policy issues that have been raised regarding the Medicaid and IHS relationship, as well as opportunities for improving Medicaid's role in providing healthcare to AI/AN populations.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
view details
MBQIP Fundamentals Guide for State Flex Programs
Provides information about the history and status of the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). Developed for the benefit of Flex Program personnel and subcontractors and includes resources to support their work, including data report release timelines, MBQIP acronyms, and MBQIP measure change summaries.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
view details
Provides information about the history and status of the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). Developed for the benefit of Flex Program personnel and subcontractors and includes resources to support their work, including data report release timelines, MBQIP acronyms, and MBQIP measure change summaries.
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
view details