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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare

Evaluation of the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative: Fourth Annual Report
Final report evaluating the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services four-year Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative. Examines CPC participants, program implementation, and impact of CPC on clinicians and staff, patient experience, cost, service use, and quality of care. Includes information on rural practices participating in the CPC.
Author(s): Deborah Peikes, Grace Anglin, Stacy Dale, et al.
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica Policy Research
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Rural Health Care in America: Challenges and Opportunities
Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance full committee hearing on improving rural healthcare across the country. Addresses access to emergency services, rural hospital financial challenges and closures, Accountable Care Organizations, and regulatory and workforce challenges. Features testimonies from representatives of the NC Rural Health Research Program Sheps Center for Health Services Research, the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis, San Luis Valley Health, UnityPoint Health, and Geisinger Health.
Additional links: Statement by James E. Mathews, Statement by Orrin G. Hatch, Statement by Ron Wyden, Testimony by George H. Pink, Testimony by Karen M. Murphy, Testimony by Keith J. Mueller, Testimony by Konnie Martin, Testimony by Susan K. Thompson
Date: 05/2018
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Finance
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Using Telehealth to Improve Home-Based Care for Older Adults and Family Caregivers
Describes consumer perspectives and policy concerns with telehealth. Includes examples of home telehealth strategies, potential benefits and challenges, and discussion of home telehealth coverage in federal and state programs, including the Veterans Health Administration, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Author(s): Winifred V. Quinn, Ellen O'Brien, Gregg Springan
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Changes in Hospital Utilization Three Years into Maryland's Global Budget Program for Rural Hospitals
Examines the impact of Maryland's global budget program for acute care hospitals, with a focus on Medicare beneficiaries served by rural hospitals. Compares changes in hospital use and hospital spending between the rural hospitals participating in the global budget program and a control group during a 3-year period. Discusses the policy implications for other states considering alternate payment models.
Author(s): Eric T. Roberts, Laura A. Hatfield, J. Michael McWilliams, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 37(4), 644-653
Date: 04/2018
Type: Document
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Market Characteristics Associated with Rural Hospitals' Provision of Post-Acute Care
Findings brief summarizing hospital- and market-level factors related to post-acute care (PAC) provided in rural hospitals from 2012-2015. Features statistics from 2012-2015 rural Medicare cost reports, PAC provision by census region in 2015, and percent of hospitals in frontier and remote areas in 2015 with breakdowns by type and PAC provision.
Author(s): Abby F. Hoffman, Randy K. Randolph, Alex R. Schulte, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Rural and Urban Provider Market Share of Inpatient Post-Acute Care Services Provided to Rural Medicare Beneficiaries
Findings brief examining rural patients' access to rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, using claims data from January 2013 through March 2014. Features statistics including numbers of patient days and discharges and average length of stay, with breakdowns by type and location of facility and type of care.
Author(s): Alex R. Schulte, Denise A. Kirk, Randy K. Randolph, George H. Pink
Date: 04/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Combating the Opioid Crisis: Improving the Ability of Medicare and Medicaid to Provide Care for Patients
Presents the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the role of Medicare and Medicaid in combating the opioid crisis. Features testimony from representatives of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Boston Medical Center, the Centene Corporation, Centerstone America, Geisinger Health System, and Magellan Healthcare.
Additional links: Mr. David Guth Testimony, Mr. Toby Douglas Testimony
Date: 04/2018
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123): CHIP, Public Health, Home Visiting, and Medicaid Provisions in Division E
Highlights a report on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. Details appropriations for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, public health, and other provisions in Division E. Provides some discussion of the effect of these appropriations on rural communities.
Date: 03/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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CMS Innovation Center: Model Implementation and Center Performance
Examines the activities of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Innovation Center. Discusses the Center's goals of identifying, testing, and improving payment and delivery models, while cutting healthcare costs and sharing best practices. Includes models tested in rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Test Year Four Annual Report
Fourth annual report on Round 1 of the CMS State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative, which tests the ability of the governments in six states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont - to move providers to value-based payment models (VPMs). Describes the experiences of providers, health systems, consumers, payers, and state officials during the final full implementation year for most Round 1 states. Presents interim impacts on healthcare utilization, cost, and quality for individuals reached by SIM-supported VPMs during the SIM Initiative period. Includes information specific to rural areas.
Date: 03/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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