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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare

A Critique of the Office of the Inspector General's Report on Swing Beds in Critical Access Hospitals
Evaluates the methods and data of a March 2015 report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, commenting on Medicare reimbursement policy for swing bed services in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Author(s): Kristin L. Reiter, G. Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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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
Type: Document
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Developmental Strategies and Challenges of Rural Accountable Care Organizations
Reports information gathered from 4 Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) serving rural Medicare beneficiaries in 2013. Highlights lessons learned, opportunities for success, and challenges observed by the ACOs.
Author(s): Jure Baloh, A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith Mueller, et al.
Date: 02/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Do Current Medicare Rural Hospital Payment Systems Align with Cost Determinants?
Discusses various payment models that may affect the financial performance of rural hospitals and the variables (geographic, community, market, and hospital) that affect rural hospital costs.
Author(s): Kristin Moss, G. Mark Holmes, George H. Pink,
Date: 02/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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2014: Rural Medicare Advantage Enrollment Update
Examines variation in the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by state. Also provides Medicare Advantage enrollment by type of plan.
Author(s): Leah Kemper, Abigail Barker, Timothy McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 01/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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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
Type: Document
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
Type: Document
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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