Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare
MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2014
Includes chapters on synchronizing Medicare policy across payment models; improving risk adjustment; measuring quality of care; financial assistance for low-income beneficiaries; per beneficiary payment for primary care; site-neutral payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities and skilled nursing facilities; and measuring the effects of medication adherence for the Medicare population. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 06/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Includes chapters on synchronizing Medicare policy across payment models; improving risk adjustment; measuring quality of care; financial assistance for low-income beneficiaries; per beneficiary payment for primary care; site-neutral payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities and skilled nursing facilities; and measuring the effects of medication adherence for the Medicare population. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 06/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for FQHCs; Changes to Contracting Policies for RHCs; and Changes to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Enforcement Actions for Proficiency Testing Referral
The final rule with comment period that implements the methodology and payment rates for a prospective payment system (PPS) for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) services beginning October 1, 2014, under Medicare Part B, in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Identifies the policy allowing Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to contract with nonphysician practitioners when statutory requirements for employment of nurse practitioners and physician assistants are met, and incorporated other technical changes to FQHC and RHC regulations. Changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 enforcement actions for proficiency testing referral are included.
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The final rule with comment period that implements the methodology and payment rates for a prospective payment system (PPS) for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) services beginning October 1, 2014, under Medicare Part B, in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Identifies the policy allowing Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to contract with nonphysician practitioners when statutory requirements for employment of nurse practitioners and physician assistants are met, and incorporated other technical changes to FQHC and RHC regulations. Changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 enforcement actions for proficiency testing referral are included.
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Safety Net Clinics Serving the Elderly in Rural Areas: Rural Health Clinic Patients Compared to Federally Qualified Health Center Patients
Compares the distribution of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and nonmetro Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Looks at how the Medicare populations served by these types of facilities differ, including their age distribution.
Author(s): Andrea D. Radford, Victoria A. Freeman, Denise A. Kirk, Hilda A. Howard, Mark Holmes
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Compares the distribution of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and nonmetro Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Looks at how the Medicare populations served by these types of facilities differ, including their age distribution.
Author(s): Andrea D. Radford, Victoria A. Freeman, Denise A. Kirk, Hilda A. Howard, Mark Holmes
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010: Impacts on Rural People, Places, and Providers: A Second Look
Addresses the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on rural communities with a focus on health insurance coverage, Medicare and Medicaid payment, quality and delivery system reform, public health, healthcare workforce, and long-term care.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Jennifer P. Lundblad, A. Clinton MacKinney, et al.
Date: 04/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Addresses the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on rural communities with a focus on health insurance coverage, Medicare and Medicaid payment, quality and delivery system reform, public health, healthcare workforce, and long-term care.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Jennifer P. Lundblad, A. Clinton MacKinney, et al.
Date: 04/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Medicare Accountable Care Organizations: Program Eligibility, Beneficiary Assignment, and Quality Measures
Discusses the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) eligibility, participation requirements, beneficiary assignment processes, and quality measures to assist rural providers considering Accountable Care Organization (ACO) formation.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Xi Zhu, Thomas Vaughn
Date: 04/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Discusses the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) eligibility, participation requirements, beneficiary assignment processes, and quality measures to assist rural providers considering Accountable Care Organization (ACO) formation.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Xi Zhu, Thomas Vaughn
Date: 04/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2014
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03/2014
Type: Document
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: 03/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural/Urban Differences in Inpatient Related Costs and Use among Medicare Beneficiaries
Compares inpatient costs for Medicare beneficiaries admitted to rural versus urban hospitals. Also examines 30- and 60-day readmission rates by hospital location and beneficiary residence, adjusted for beneficiary rural status, health status, and sociodemographic characteristics.
Author(s): Matthew Toth, Mark Holmes, Victoria A. Freeman, George H. Pink
Date: 03/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Compares inpatient costs for Medicare beneficiaries admitted to rural versus urban hospitals. Also examines 30- and 60-day readmission rates by hospital location and beneficiary residence, adjusted for beneficiary rural status, health status, and sociodemographic characteristics.
Author(s): Matthew Toth, Mark Holmes, Victoria A. Freeman, George H. Pink
Date: 03/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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The Future of the Frontier Extended Stay Clinic
Describes the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Frontier Extended Stay Clinic (FESC) demonstration project. Identifies the successes and challenges, and discusses the financial sustainability of the FESC model. Includes policy recommendations and lessons learned.
Author(s): Susan Wilger, Saskia Van Hecke
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Describes the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Frontier Extended Stay Clinic (FESC) demonstration project. Identifies the successes and challenges, and discusses the financial sustainability of the FESC model. Includes policy recommendations and lessons learned.
Author(s): Susan Wilger, Saskia Van Hecke
Date: 02/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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The Extender Policies: What Are They and How Should They Continue Under a Permanent SGR Repeal Landscape
Provides resources from the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Medicare extender policies to determine whether they should be made permanent. Addresses payment adjustments for low-volume hospitals, rural areas, and more. Includes statements from the Rural Hospital Coalition, American Hospital Association, and National Rural Health Association on the impact of these payment policies on rural hospitals and rural beneficiaries.
Additional links: Statement of the American Hospital Association, Statement of the National Rural Health Association, Statement of the Rural Hospital Coalition, Transcript
Date: 01/2014
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Provides resources from the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Medicare extender policies to determine whether they should be made permanent. Addresses payment adjustments for low-volume hospitals, rural areas, and more. Includes statements from the Rural Hospital Coalition, American Hospital Association, and National Rural Health Association on the impact of these payment policies on rural hospitals and rural beneficiaries.
Additional links: Statement of the American Hospital Association, Statement of the National Rural Health Association, Statement of the Rural Hospital Coalition, Transcript
Date: 01/2014
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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2012 Rural Medicare Advantage Quality Ratings and Bonus Payments
Analyzes differences in rural Medicare Advantage (MA) quality ratings and payments and suggests reasons why quality ratings vary by geography. Compares the quality rating of MA plans in rural areas to urban areas and discusses differences in the composition of MA market enrollment and plan availability. Addresses the potential impact of quality bonus payments on MA plan quality.
Author(s): Leah Kemper, Abigail R. Barker, Timothy D. McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 01/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Analyzes differences in rural Medicare Advantage (MA) quality ratings and payments and suggests reasons why quality ratings vary by geography. Compares the quality rating of MA plans in rural areas to urban areas and discusses differences in the composition of MA market enrollment and plan availability. Addresses the potential impact of quality bonus payments on MA plan quality.
Author(s): Leah Kemper, Abigail R. Barker, Timothy D. McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 01/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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