Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare

Rural Inpatient Psychiatric Units Improve Access to Community-Based Mental Health Services, but Medicare Payment Policy a Barrier
Examines inpatient psychiatric units (IPUs) in rural hospitals as well as the community-based mental health services available to patients.
Author(s): Stephenie Loux, David Hartley, David Lambert
Date: 08/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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How Will Elimination of Hospital Bad Debt Reimbursement Affect Rural PPS Hospitals?
Examines the financial effect that changes in Medicare bad debt payment policy could have on rural hospitals.
Author(s): Janet P. Sutton, Alene Kennedy, Lucia Hammer, Grace Yang
Date: 07/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Rural Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Growing Rapidly in 2007, Especially in Private Fee-for-Service Plans
Provides findings about enrollment in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program in rural and urban areas, with state and national data. Updates early findings from analysis of the Medicare+Choice/MA program presented in previous policy briefs.
Author(s): Timothy D. McBride, Tanchica L. Terry, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 07/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Retail Pharmacy Participation in Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans in 2006
Discusses the extent to which retail pharmacies participate in Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs). Includes comparison of pharmacy participation rates among metropolitan and nonmetropolitan pharmacies.
Date: 06/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Potential Refinements to Medicare's Wage Indexes for Hospitals and Other Sectors
Analyzes issues in the Medicare wage index and alternative wage indexes. Includes a historical overview of the Medicare wage index.
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Gregory C. Pope, Walter Adamache, Brian Dulisse, Nathan West
Date: 06/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Promoting Greater Efficiency in Medicare
Describes the changing beneficiary profile in Medicare and its implications for the program. Examines approaches to promote greater efficiency in the Medicare program. Includes in-depth discussion of the wage index and rural areas.
Date: 06/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Ambulance Providers: Costs and Expected Medicare Margins Vary Greatly
Examines the differences in providers' costs of ambulance transports in 2004 and factors that contributed to these differences. Includes information for urban, rural, and super-rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural Enrollment in Medicare Advantage Is Concentrated in Private Fee-for-Service Plans
Provides rural and urban data on enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) and other pre-paid plans by type of plan. Also provides state-level information on MA enrollment.
Author(s): Timothy D. McBride, Tanchica L. Terry, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 04/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Private Plans in Medicare: A 2007 Update
Examines changes between 2006 and 2007 in the availability of and enrollment in Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans overall and in urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Marsha Gold
Date: 03/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2007
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report.
Date: 03/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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