Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare

Medicare Advantage Plans in Rural America
Identifies key policy issues and questions concerning the impact of Medicare Advantage (MA) in rural areas.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, A. Clinton MacKinney, Timothy D. McBride, et al.
Date: 10/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Update on Rural Enrollment in Medicare Advantage: Growth Continues
Provides findings about rural enrollment in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program and other pre-paid plans, with state and national data. Updates early findings from analysis of the Medicare+Choice/MA program presented in previous RUPRI Center policy briefs.
Author(s): Timothy D. McBride, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 10/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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One Year In: Sole Community Rural Independent Pharmacies and Medicare Part D
Describes the experiences of 51 rural independently-owned pharmacies that are the sole providers of pharmacy services in their community one year after implementation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.
Author(s): Andrea Radford, Michelle Mason, Indira Richardson, et al.
Date: 09/2007
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program, RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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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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