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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Legislation and regulations

STOP Playbook: How Health Plans Are Tackling the Opioid Crisis
Offers strategies used by health plans to address opioid misuse through the Safe, Transparent Opioid Prescribing (STOP) Initiative, which focuses on improving prescribing patterns and practices. Includes strategies and examples for increasing substance abuse treatment access in rural areas. Summarizes the health insurance impacts of the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities legislation.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: AHIP
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Potential Effects of Work Requirements in Montana's Medicaid Program
Explores the potential impacts of Montana's proposed Medicaid reform legislation, Medicaid Reform and Integrity Act (MeRIA). Reports on Montana residents most likely to be affected by MeRIA's work requirements, and the potential loss of Medicaid coverage and resulting effects. Includes statistics describing the characteristics of Montana Medicaid expansion beneficiaries mostly likely to be impacted by the proposed work requirements by age, education, barriers to employment, and rurality.
Author(s): Leighton Ku, Erin Brantley
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Center for Health Policy Research
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Communication Technology Based Services and Payment for Rural Health Clinic (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
Guidance for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) billing related to communication technology-based services effective January 1, 2019.
Date: 01/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (P.L.115-271): Medicare Provisions
Provides a section-by-section description of Medicare provisions in the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act). Addresses rural in two sections: Section 6083 seeks to expand access to addiction treatment in Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics by paying for training costs to obtain a DATA waiver to furnish OUD treatment; Section 6042 authorizes a demonstration project testing expanded access to MAT drugs through teams with a primary care provider.
Date: 01/2019
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Rural Focus and Representation in State Maternal Mortality Review Committees: Review of Policy and Legislation
An assessment of the extent of rural representation in state policy efforts related to improving maternal health through the development of maternal mortality and morbidity review committees (MMRCs). Analysis included whether or not states established an MMRC, had passed legislation requiring an MMRC, identified rural populations in the legislation, and if they required rural representation within the MMRC.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Amanda Corbet, et al.
Citation: Women's Health Issues 299(5) 357-363
Date: 2019
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Updating the Costs of Compliance for California's Hospital Seismic Safety Standards
Updates progress made on California's implementation of a bill intended to improve hospital building standards to prepare for earthquakes. Analyzes the legislation's affordability for hospitals, particularly Critical Access Hospitals; future costs of compliance; factors influencing prioritization of compliance strategies; and policy alternatives.
Author(s): Benjamin L. Preston, Tom LaTourrette, James R. Broyles, et al.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: California Hospital Association, RAND Corporation
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Medicaid Inpatient Hospital Services Fee-for-Service Payment Policy
Provides an overview of Medicaid payment policies for inpatient hospital services. Includes a link to an Excel sheet with details for each state, including adjustments for rural geography and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Additional links: State Medicaid Payment Policies for Inpatient Hospital Services
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Federal Support for Graduate Medical Education: An Overview
Examines how federal programs support graduate medical education for physicians, including available data on funding and the number of physicians in training. Addresses how GME support is used to address physician shortages in rural areas, data available on program effectiveness, and data gaps.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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RAY BAUM'S Act: A Bipartisan Foundation for Bridging the Digital Divide
Presents a congressional hearing from the House Energy & Commerce Committee on the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (RAY BAUM'S) Act, which reauthorized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with reforms intended to help promote the deployment of broadband. Includes provisions targeted towards increasing broadband access for rural and tribal areas. Features testimony from representatives of the National Association of Broadcasters, Competitive Carriers Association, APCO International, and the Milwaukee Public Broadcast Station.
Additional links: Bohdan Zachary Testimony, Tim Donovan Testimony
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Public Health and Other Related Provisions in P.L 115-271, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act
Summarizes Title VII and VIII provisions in the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act). Addresses provisions affecting access to opioid misuse treatment and providers, data collection, child welfare, the Department of Justice, substance use prevention, and more. Sections highlighting rural authorize grants for first responder training, data collection on adverse childhood experiences, recovery support services, and reauthorization of the State and Tribal Response to the Opioid Abuse Crisis grant program with technical assistance for rural and underserved communities.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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