Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations
The Evolving Policy Landscape of Telehealth Services Delivered in the Home and Other Nonclinical Settings
Issue brief identifying key findings for state officials considering adopting new policies for home-based telehealth services. Describes Medicaid and Medicare coverage for telehealth services, including those provided in rural and Health Professional Shortage Areas, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Health Clinics.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Andrea Bennett, Valerie King
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Issue brief identifying key findings for state officials considering adopting new policies for home-based telehealth services. Describes Medicaid and Medicare coverage for telehealth services, including those provided in rural and Health Professional Shortage Areas, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Health Clinics.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Andrea Bennett, Valerie King
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the CY 2020 Home Health PPS Update and Home Infusion Therapy
Comments on a July 18, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments addressing the proposed rural add-on payments for calendar years 2019 through 2022.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a July 18, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for home health agencies. Includes comments addressing the proposed rural add-on payments for calendar years 2019 through 2022.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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FCC Promoting Telehealth in Rural America: Report and Order
Provides a report and order regarding plans to reform the Rural Health Care Program and promote telehealth, including targeting funding to rural areas. Discusses plans to improve the Telecom Program's efficiency, transparency, and predictability; criteria for prioritizing rural areas for funding; how to increase rural participation in Healthcare Connect Fund Program Consortia and the effectiveness of competitive billing; and how to improve RHC Program administration, the application process, and program oversight. Includes the final rules governing the program and maps showing the rural area tiers for the program.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Provides a report and order regarding plans to reform the Rural Health Care Program and promote telehealth, including targeting funding to rural areas. Discusses plans to improve the Telecom Program's efficiency, transparency, and predictability; criteria for prioritizing rural areas for funding; how to increase rural participation in Healthcare Connect Fund Program Consortia and the effectiveness of competitive billing; and how to improve RHC Program administration, the application process, and program oversight. Includes the final rules governing the program and maps showing the rural area tiers for the program.
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: Federal Communications Commission
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Understanding the Intersection of Medicaid and Work: What Does the Data Say?
Provides analysis on Medicaid enrollees and work requirements. Examines policy implications of work requirements, and explores barriers to work and reporting requirements. Table 1 includes statistics describing nonelderly adult Medicaid enrollees work status in 2017 by race/ethnicity, education, family type, family work status, and metro/nonmetro residence.
Author(s): Rachel Garfield, Robin Rudowitz, Kendal Orgera, Anthony Damico
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Provides analysis on Medicaid enrollees and work requirements. Examines policy implications of work requirements, and explores barriers to work and reporting requirements. Table 1 includes statistics describing nonelderly adult Medicaid enrollees work status in 2017 by race/ethnicity, education, family type, family work status, and metro/nonmetro residence.
Author(s): Rachel Garfield, Robin Rudowitz, Kendal Orgera, Anthony Damico
Date: 08/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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A Flexible Solution: How Critical Access Hospitals Reshaped Rural Health
Brief video overview describing how the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created the Critical Access Hospital designation to reduce rural hospital closures. Discusses the role of the Senate Finance Committee and Federal Office of Rural Health Policy in developing the related policies, the transition of rural hospitals to critical access status, and the creation and impact of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program).
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Brief video overview describing how the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created the Critical Access Hospital designation to reduce rural hospital closures. Discusses the role of the Senate Finance Committee and Federal Office of Rural Health Policy in developing the related policies, the transition of rural hospitals to critical access status, and the creation and impact of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program).
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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E-Cigarette Minimum Legal Sale Age Laws and Traditional Cigarette Use among Rural Pregnant Teenagers
Uses 2010-2016 data from 32 states to explore how minimum legal sale age laws for e-cigarettes affects cigarette use among pregnant teenagers in rural areas. Provides data and statistics on smoking before and during pregnancy, underage teen births, and birth outcomes. Includes rural/urban comparisons.
Author(s): Michael Pesko, Janet Currie
Citation: Journal of Health Economics, 66, 71-90
Date: 07/2019
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Uses 2010-2016 data from 32 states to explore how minimum legal sale age laws for e-cigarettes affects cigarette use among pregnant teenagers in rural areas. Provides data and statistics on smoking before and during pregnancy, underage teen births, and birth outcomes. Includes rural/urban comparisons.
Author(s): Michael Pesko, Janet Currie
Citation: Journal of Health Economics, 66, 71-90
Date: 07/2019
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Immigrant Doctors Can Help Lower Physician Shortages in Rural America
Report highlighting physician shortages in rural areas and exploring pathways by which immigrants come to practice in those areas. Provides recommendations for state and federal policies that would better incorporate immigrant doctors into the effort to ease healthcare shortages in rural areas. Includes statistics on the number and percentage of International Medical Graduates who were resident physicians in the United States in 2017, with breakdowns by citizenship or visa status.
Author(s): Silva Mathema
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Report highlighting physician shortages in rural areas and exploring pathways by which immigrants come to practice in those areas. Provides recommendations for state and federal policies that would better incorporate immigrant doctors into the effort to ease healthcare shortages in rural areas. Includes statistics on the number and percentage of International Medical Graduates who were resident physicians in the United States in 2017, with breakdowns by citizenship or visa status.
Author(s): Silva Mathema
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Markup of 26 Bills, Full Committee (July 17, 2019)
Recording of a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce markup session of 26 bills. Addresses bills reauthorizing the National Health Service Corps, funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers, Medicaid funding for the U.S. territories, and other health-related bills.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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Recording of a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce markup session of 26 bills. Addresses bills reauthorizing the National Health Service Corps, funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers, Medicaid funding for the U.S. territories, and other health-related bills.
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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Our Wireless Future: Building a Comprehensive Approach to Spectrum Policy
Documents related to a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing focused on policies affecting access to wireless internet. Addresses access to wireless in rural tribal areas, spectrum for emergency operations, options for expanding rural broadband access, and uses for broadband access. Includes testimony from the Federal Communications Commission, MuralNet, Competitive Carriers Association, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and others.
Additional links: Hearing Recording, Julius P. Knapp Testimony, Mariel Triggs Testimony, Michael Calabrese Testimony, Peter Pitsch Testimony, Tim Donovan Testimony
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Documents related to a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing focused on policies affecting access to wireless internet. Addresses access to wireless in rural tribal areas, spectrum for emergency operations, options for expanding rural broadband access, and uses for broadband access. Includes testimony from the Federal Communications Commission, MuralNet, Competitive Carriers Association, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and others.
Additional links: Hearing Recording, Julius P. Knapp Testimony, Mariel Triggs Testimony, Michael Calabrese Testimony, Peter Pitsch Testimony, Tim Donovan Testimony
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Guidance to States and School Systems on Addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Issues in Schools
Report provides guidance to school systems and state governments about mental health and substance use in schools. Highlights examples of methods to identify and address mental health issues and substance use in schools. Discusses state-level Medicaid funding for behavioral health.
Author(s): Elinore McCance-Katz, Calder Lynch
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Report provides guidance to school systems and state governments about mental health and substance use in schools. Highlights examples of methods to identify and address mental health issues and substance use in schools. Discusses state-level Medicaid funding for behavioral health.
Author(s): Elinore McCance-Katz, Calder Lynch
Date: 07/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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