This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare

Rates of Nursing Home Closures Were Relatively Stable Over the Past Decade, but Warrant Continuous Monitoring
Evaluates nursing home closures between 2011 and 2021 to identify trends and characteristics associated with closure. Considers location, Medicaid and Medicare, resident race, and more.
Author(s): Kelly Hughes, Zhanlian Feng, Qinghua Li, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(2)
Date: 08/2023
view details
Distributional Analysis of Variation in Medicare Advantage Participation Within and Between Metropolitan, Micropolitan, and Noncore Counties
Policy brief identifying penetration rates, number of plans, and enrollment patterns and trends in Medicare Advantage participation in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties from 2017-2022. Features statistics with breakdowns by year and metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Dan Shane, Ufuoma Ejughemre, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
view details
RHC Cost Reporting 101 Webinar
Recording of an August 7, 2023, webinar providing an overview of cost reporting for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Covers relevant Medicare regulations, differences between provider-based and independent RHC cost reporting, and key cost report drivers. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
FY 2024 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Final Rule — CMS-1785-F and CMS-1788-F Fact Sheet
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2024 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the low-wage index hospital policy, Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) being allowed to receive Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) payments, changes to the rural wage index calculation methodology, and more.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
How Do Dual-Eligible Individuals Get Their Medicare Coverage?
Issue brief using the 2020 Medicare Beneficiary Summary File to present data on Medicare coverage for dual-eligible people. Compares data by dual-eligible individuals' characteristics, including rural residence.
Author(s): Maria T. Peña, Maiss Mohamed, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: KFF
view details
California 2023 Regional Health Coverage Fact Sheets
9 fact sheets showing insurance rates in California counties. Includes uninsurance rates, race and ethnicity information, Medi-Cal (Medicaid) and Medicare enrollment data, and more.
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Insure the Uninsured Project
view details
Building On CMS's Accountable Care Vision To Improve Care For Medicare Beneficiaries
Describes progress the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made to date in its accountable care strategy. Outlines areas that CMS is exploring to accelerate the growth of and access to accountable care organizations (ACOs) that can support improved care and quality for beneficiaries, especially those in rural and underserved areas. Covers aligning the testing of ACO models and features with the Shared Savings Program (SSP), growth in the SSP, and using ACOs to reach underserved areas.
Author(s): Purva Rawal, Douglas Jacobs, Elizabeth Fowler, Meena Seshamani
Citation: Health Affairs Forefront
Date: 07/2023
view details
Updated Medicare FFS Telehealth Trends by Beneficiary Characteristics, Visit Specialty and State, 2019-2021
Examines telehealth visits by Medicare beneficiaries from 2019 through 2021. Compares telehealth use by patient characteristics, including urban and rural residence and Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), visit specialty, health conditions, and state.
Author(s): Lok Wong Samson, Sara J. Couture, Tim B. Creedon, Laura Jacobus-Kantor, Steven Sheingold
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details
Evaluation of the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model: Third Evaluation Report
Evaluates the first four and a half performance years of the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model (VTAPM), which aims to assess whether scaling an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) across all payers in the state can reduce program expenditures while preserving or improving care quality. Discusses the implementation of the model, provider engagement, efforts to address population health goals; characteristics of participating hospitals, practitioners, and beneficiaries; and the model's impacts on Medicare spending, utilization, and quality of care. Describes trends in substance use disorder diagnosis and treatment for Medicaid members. Outlines challenges and lessons learned, as well as areas for future research.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
view details
Care Access and Utilization among Medicare Beneficiaries Living with Parkinson's Disease
Analyzes healthcare utilization by 685,116 Medicare patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in 2019. Data is broken down by a variety of demographics and rurality. Discusses health disparities, mental health, and distribution of neurologists between rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Caroline Pearson, Alex Hartzman, Dianne Munevar, et al.
Citation: npj Parkinson's Disease, 9, 108
Date: 07/2023
view details