Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare
The Financial Importance of the Sole Community Hospital Payment Designation
Investigates the economic importance of the Sole Community Hospital (SCH) program by reviewing data between 2006 and 2015 regarding the proportion of SCHs reimbursed at the hospital-specific rate, and their profitability of providing services to Medicare patients. Also, discusses the economic consequences that would occur if the SCH program was not in operation in 2015.
Author(s): Sharita R. Thomas, Randy Randolph, G. Mark Holmes, George H. Pink
Date: 11/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Investigates the economic importance of the Sole Community Hospital (SCH) program by reviewing data between 2006 and 2015 regarding the proportion of SCHs reimbursed at the hospital-specific rate, and their profitability of providing services to Medicare patients. Also, discusses the economic consequences that would occur if the SCH program was not in operation in 2015.
Author(s): Sharita R. Thomas, Randy Randolph, G. Mark Holmes, George H. Pink
Date: 11/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Innovations in Rural Health System Development: Moving Rural Health Systems to Value-Based Payment
Offers examples of rural health system transformation models and strategies from Maine and other regions of the U.S. to assist rural communities in moving forward with value-based payment systems.
Author(s): Sara Kahn-Troster, Andrew Coburn
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Maine Health Access Foundation, Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Offers examples of rural health system transformation models and strategies from Maine and other regions of the U.S. to assist rural communities in moving forward with value-based payment systems.
Author(s): Sara Kahn-Troster, Andrew Coburn
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Maine Health Access Foundation, Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Impact of Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status on Risk-Adjusted Readmission Rates: Implications for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
Examines what would happen to hospitals' excess readmission ratios and potential penalties if socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity were added to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services risk-adjustment algorithm. Includes information on potential change in penalties for metropolitan, micropolitan, and nonmetro hospitals.
Author(s): Grant R. Martsolf, Marguerite L. Barrett, Audrey J. Weiss, et al.
Citation: Inquiry, 53
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
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Examines what would happen to hospitals' excess readmission ratios and potential penalties if socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity were added to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services risk-adjustment algorithm. Includes information on potential change in penalties for metropolitan, micropolitan, and nonmetro hospitals.
Author(s): Grant R. Martsolf, Marguerite L. Barrett, Audrey J. Weiss, et al.
Citation: Inquiry, 53
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
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The Impact of the Low Volume Hospital (LVH) Program on the Viability of Small, Rural Hospitals
Compares rural low volume hospitals (LVH) with non-LVH (Inpatient Prospective Payment System) hospitals. Discusses the financial impact of removing the LVH program and returning to the 2005 LVH classification and payment adjustment, and the effect this will have on Medicare beneficiaries.
Author(s): Rebecca G. Whitaker, G. Mark Holmes, George H. Pink
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Compares rural low volume hospitals (LVH) with non-LVH (Inpatient Prospective Payment System) hospitals. Discusses the financial impact of removing the LVH program and returning to the 2005 LVH classification and payment adjustment, and the effect this will have on Medicare beneficiaries.
Author(s): Rebecca G. Whitaker, G. Mark Holmes, George H. Pink
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Spread of Accountable Care Organizations in Rural America
Uses data through December 2015 to reveal trends in rural Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) activity, and discusses motivations behind the recent increase in rural ACO participation. Includes maps of ACO presence by county, illustrating changes that occurred between 2013 and 2015.
Author(s): Keith Mueller, Fred Ullrich
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Uses data through December 2015 to reveal trends in rural Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) activity, and discusses motivations behind the recent increase in rural ACO participation. Includes maps of ACO presence by county, illustrating changes that occurred between 2013 and 2015.
Author(s): Keith Mueller, Fred Ullrich
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update 2016
Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) and other prepaid enrollment plans by metropolitan and non-metropolitan location. Addresses state variations.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Reports on the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) and other prepaid enrollment plans by metropolitan and non-metropolitan location. Addresses state variations.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Aging in Rural and Frontier Oregon: Challenges Facing Rural and Frontier Home Health Agencies
Provides an overview of the services and challenges affecting home health agencies offering assistance to the aging population in rural Oregon by county. Includes discussion on healthcare access, home health agency regulation and reimbursement, recruitment and retention of healthcare providers, and physician compliance.
Author(s): Callie Walsh-Bailey, Jamie Horst
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Provides an overview of the services and challenges affecting home health agencies offering assistance to the aging population in rural Oregon by county. Includes discussion on healthcare access, home health agency regulation and reimbursement, recruitment and retention of healthcare providers, and physician compliance.
Author(s): Callie Walsh-Bailey, Jamie Horst
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Test Year Two Annual Report
Second annual report detailing the findings of CMS's State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative, which tests the ability of the governments in six states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont, and Oregon - to accelerate health system transformation in the areas of delivery systems, payment models, information technology, workforce development, and more. Presents results from the second of three planned site visits to the states, including interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Connections made throughout to issues specifically affecting rural healthcare.
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Second annual report detailing the findings of CMS's State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative, which tests the ability of the governments in six states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont, and Oregon - to accelerate health system transformation in the areas of delivery systems, payment models, information technology, workforce development, and more. Presents results from the second of three planned site visits to the states, including interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Connections made throughout to issues specifically affecting rural healthcare.
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Evaluation of the Round Two Health Care Innovation Awards (HCIA R2): First Annual Report
Summarizes the first year evaluation results of the 39 Health Care Innovation Awards Round Two projects. Includes findings for the individual grantees, which include 14 projects that serve rural areas.
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica Policy Research
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Summarizes the first year evaluation results of the 39 Health Care Innovation Awards Round Two projects. Includes findings for the individual grantees, which include 14 projects that serve rural areas.
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica Policy Research
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2016 Rural Provider Leadership Summit Report: Strategies for Rural Provider Engagement in Transitioning to Value-based Purchasing and Population Health
Explores issues related to value models for rural providers and provides strategies rural hospitals may use to overcome challenges and enhance staff collaboration. Includes a list of rural provider leadership tools and resources.
Author(s): Karla Weng
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Technical Assistance and Services Center
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Explores issues related to value models for rural providers and provides strategies rural hospitals may use to overcome challenges and enhance staff collaboration. Includes a list of rural provider leadership tools and resources.
Author(s): Karla Weng
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Technical Assistance and Services Center
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