Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
Determining Rural Communities: Current Changes and Updated Federal Program Eligibility
Presentation slides from a March 11, 2021, webinar discussing the various definitions of rural used by the federal government. Provides an overview of revisions to the eligibility for grant programs administered by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), as well as a proposal from the U.S. Census Bureau to reclassify certain counties as rural. Describes implications for FORHP funding programs.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Presentation slides from a March 11, 2021, webinar discussing the various definitions of rural used by the federal government. Provides an overview of revisions to the eligibility for grant programs administered by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), as well as a proposal from the U.S. Census Bureau to reclassify certain counties as rural. Describes implications for FORHP funding programs.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Update to Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Payment Limits
Provides an overview of the updates to Rural Health Clinic (RHC) payment limits per visit beginning April 1, 2021, through 2028.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the updates to Rural Health Clinic (RHC) payment limits per visit beginning April 1, 2021, through 2028.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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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
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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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
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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"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
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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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
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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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
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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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
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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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
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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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
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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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
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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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
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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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
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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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
Sponsoring organization: Joint State Government Commission, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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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
Sponsoring organization: Council on Graduate Medical Education
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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
Sponsoring organization: Council on Graduate Medical Education
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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
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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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
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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