Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare
MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2015
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03/2015
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03/2015
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Medicare Could Have Saved Billions at Critical Access Hospitals If Swing-Bed Services Were Reimbursed Using the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Rates
Reports the Inspector General's findings from a study of swing bed services and reimbursement at Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Addresses changes in swing bed usage over time and examines the potential impact to Medicare of reimbursing swing bed services at skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) rates.
Date: 03/2015
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Reports the Inspector General's findings from a study of swing bed services and reimbursement at Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Addresses changes in swing bed usage over time and examines the potential impact to Medicare of reimbursing swing bed services at skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) rates.
Date: 03/2015
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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International Classification of Disease: CMS's Efforts to Prepare for the New Version of the Disease and Procedure Codes
Review of the efforts undertaken by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to prepare for the transition to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes. Evaluates the materials developed and activities undertaken by CMS to help providers' transition and describes concerns of stakeholder organizations, including rural-specific considerations.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2015
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Review of the efforts undertaken by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to prepare for the transition to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes. Evaluates the materials developed and activities undertaken by CMS to help providers' transition and describes concerns of stakeholder organizations, including rural-specific considerations.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2015
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The Need to Reform Medicare's Payments to Skilled Nursing Facilities Is as Strong as Ever
Compares payments made to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and costs over time to see if changes made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to the payment system have improved payment accuracy. Table 3 and Table 4 compare healthcare facility characteristics, including rural location.
Author(s): Carol Carter, Bowen Garrett, Doug Wissoker
Date: 01/2015
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Urban Institute
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Compares payments made to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and costs over time to see if changes made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to the payment system have improved payment accuracy. Table 3 and Table 4 compare healthcare facility characteristics, including rural location.
Author(s): Carol Carter, Bowen Garrett, Doug Wissoker
Date: 01/2015
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Urban Institute
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Critical Access Hospitals' Receipt of Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Payments
Describes Critical Access Hospital (CAH) participation in Medicare and Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs and compares participation rates between states and by facility characteristics.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Michelle Casey, Ira Moscovice
Date: 01/2015
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Describes Critical Access Hospital (CAH) participation in Medicare and Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs and compares participation rates between states and by facility characteristics.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Michelle Casey, Ira Moscovice
Date: 01/2015
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Innovators' Guide to Navigating Medicare
Discusses processes used to determine coverage, coding, and payment for new technologies under the Medicare fee-for-service program. Guide is intended as a general summary.
Date: 2015
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Discusses processes used to determine coverage, coding, and payment for new technologies under the Medicare fee-for-service program. Guide is intended as a general summary.
Date: 2015
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Evaluating the HCIA - Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse Awards: First Annual Report
Evaluations of 10 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects focused on mental health and substance abuse services. Provides information on whether and how each project addressed the needs of underserved areas, including rural areas. One rural-focused project used telehealth to deliver services. Other projects provided transportation to help meet rural needs.
Date: 12/2014
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica Policy Research
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Evaluations of 10 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects focused on mental health and substance abuse services. Provides information on whether and how each project addressed the needs of underserved areas, including rural areas. One rural-focused project used telehealth to deliver services. Other projects provided transportation to help meet rural needs.
Date: 12/2014
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica Policy Research
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Impact of Home Health Payment Rebasing on Beneficiary Access to and Quality of Care
Measures the impact of base-payment reductions mandated by the Affordable Care Act on beneficiary access to and the quality of care provided by home health agencies. Reports findings across geographic area (rural and urban).
Date: 12/2014
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Measures the impact of base-payment reductions mandated by the Affordable Care Act on beneficiary access to and the quality of care provided by home health agencies. Reports findings across geographic area (rural and urban).
Date: 12/2014
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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The Role of Medicare and the Indian Health Service for American Indians and Alaska Natives: Health, Access and Coverage
Examines the health, healthcare access, income, and education disparities that exist within the Native American and Alaskan Native population, as well as the roles of Medicare and the Indian Health Service (IHS) in addressing these disparities.
Author(s): Cristina Boccuti, Christina Swoope, Samantha Artiga
Date: 12/2014
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Examines the health, healthcare access, income, and education disparities that exist within the Native American and Alaskan Native population, as well as the roles of Medicare and the Indian Health Service (IHS) in addressing these disparities.
Author(s): Cristina Boccuti, Christina Swoope, Samantha Artiga
Date: 12/2014
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Test Base Year Annual Report
First annual report on 6 states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont - that received federal support in the first round of the State Innovation Model (SIM) initiative to design and implement health care innovation plans. Presents results of the first site visits to the states, including information from interviews and focus groups, and baseline data on care coordination, quality of care, healthcare utilization, and healthcare expenditures. Includes some discussion of issues specific to rural healthcare.
Date: 11/2014
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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First annual report on 6 states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont - that received federal support in the first round of the State Innovation Model (SIM) initiative to design and implement health care innovation plans. Presents results of the first site visits to the states, including information from interviews and focus groups, and baseline data on care coordination, quality of care, healthcare utilization, and healthcare expenditures. Includes some discussion of issues specific to rural healthcare.
Date: 11/2014
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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