Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Outpatient care
Effects of Rural Hospital Closures on Nurse Staffing Levels and Health Care Utilization at Nearby Hospitals
Analyzes healthcare utilization and nurse staffing levels when nearby rural hospitals close. Utilizes 2014-2019 American Hospital Association Survey data to examine vocational nurse/licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice nurse (APN) staffing levels as well as inpatient and outpatient surgical operations and emergency department (ED) visits within 4 years of a hospital closure.
Author(s): Jing Dong, Siying Liu, Asefeh Faraz Covelli, Guido Cataife
Citation: Health Economics, 33(12), 2687-2707
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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Analyzes healthcare utilization and nurse staffing levels when nearby rural hospitals close. Utilizes 2014-2019 American Hospital Association Survey data to examine vocational nurse/licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice nurse (APN) staffing levels as well as inpatient and outpatient surgical operations and emergency department (ED) visits within 4 years of a hospital closure.
Author(s): Jing Dong, Siying Liu, Asefeh Faraz Covelli, Guido Cataife
Citation: Health Economics, 33(12), 2687-2707
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
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CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1809-FC)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; incorporating an add-on payment to the Medicare outpatient hospital all-inclusive rate (AIR) for certain high-cost drugs for people with Medicare who receive care at Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal hospitals; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; a new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services; Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility; Medicaid clinic services "four walls" exceptions; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; incorporating an add-on payment to the Medicare outpatient hospital all-inclusive rate (AIR) for certain high-cost drugs for people with Medicare who receive care at Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal hospitals; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; a new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services; Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility; Medicaid clinic services "four walls" exceptions; and more.
Date: 11/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Medicare Payment Basics: Outpatient Hospital Services Payment System
Outlines Medicare's payments for outpatient hospital services, including considerations for rural sole community hospitals.
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Outlines Medicare's payments for outpatient hospital services, including considerations for rural sole community hospitals.
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Medicare Payment Basics: Outpatient Dialysis Services Payment System
Overview of Medicare payment methods for outpatient dialysis services of beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Describes the base payment rate for freestanding and hospital-based facilities and identifies facility-level adjustments, including facilities located in rural areas.
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Overview of Medicare payment methods for outpatient dialysis services of beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Describes the base payment rate for freestanding and hospital-based facilities and identifies facility-level adjustments, including facilities located in rural areas.
Date: 10/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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An REH Conversion Story: Harper County Hospital
Profiles Oklahoma's Harper County Hospital and its transition from a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Summarizes an interview with Kevin O'Brien, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Harper County Hospital, regarding the experience of converting to REH status. Covers the hospital's financial position before conversion, including limitations to being a county-owned hospital; the exploration of the REH designation; and the financial and operational impacts of the REH designation, including services added by the hospital after the conversion.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Profiles Oklahoma's Harper County Hospital and its transition from a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Summarizes an interview with Kevin O'Brien, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Harper County Hospital, regarding the experience of converting to REH status. Covers the hospital's financial position before conversion, including limitations to being a county-owned hospital; the exploration of the REH designation; and the financial and operational impacts of the REH designation, including services added by the hospital after the conversion.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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An REH Conversion Story: Mercy Hospital
Profiles Mercy Hospital, in Moundridge, Kansas, and its transition from a prospective payment system (PPS) hospital to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Summarizes an interview with Aaron Herbel, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mercy Hospital, regarding the experience of converting to REH status. Covers the conversion timeline, the involvement of hospital and community stakeholders, and the opening of a walk-in clinic that coincided with the REH conversion.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Tracey Dorff, Anna Anna, Janice Walters
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Profiles Mercy Hospital, in Moundridge, Kansas, and its transition from a prospective payment system (PPS) hospital to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH). Summarizes an interview with Aaron Herbel, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mercy Hospital, regarding the experience of converting to REH status. Covers the conversion timeline, the involvement of hospital and community stakeholders, and the opening of a walk-in clinic that coincided with the REH conversion.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Tracey Dorff, Anna Anna, Janice Walters
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Rural Community Health Worker Programs: Proving Value and Finding Sustainability
Features four rural healthcare organizations describing the impact of their community health worker (CHW) programs and strategies for sustaining them. Discusses CHW roles, activities, reimbursement options, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features four rural healthcare organizations describing the impact of their community health worker (CHW) programs and strategies for sustaining them. Discusses CHW roles, activities, reimbursement options, and more.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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MedPAC Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, 2024
Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and profit margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and profit margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Healthcare Spending among Diverse Populations with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: A Claims-Based Analysis
Examines healthcare spending and utilization among commercially insured Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) patients. Explores the impact of race and ethnicity, poverty, and urban/rural status on annual spending among ADRD patients by analyzing data from the FAIR Health National Private Insurance Claims between January 2016 and December 2023, along with demographic and socioeconomic data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Includes data on the probability of ADRD patients using different care venues and the average and expected amounts allowed within each venue based on sociodemographic characteristics.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: FAIR Health
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Examines healthcare spending and utilization among commercially insured Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) patients. Explores the impact of race and ethnicity, poverty, and urban/rural status on annual spending among ADRD patients by analyzing data from the FAIR Health National Private Insurance Claims between January 2016 and December 2023, along with demographic and socioeconomic data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Includes data on the probability of ADRD patients using different care venues and the average and expected amounts allowed within each venue based on sociodemographic characteristics.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: FAIR Health
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Five Things to Know About Medicare Site-Neutral Payment Reforms
Discusses site-neutral payment reforms that seek to align Medicare payments with outpatient services in different settings. Examines benefits and drawbacks of the policy and discusses how the policy would impact rural hospitals.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Tricia Neuman, Scott Hulver
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses site-neutral payment reforms that seek to align Medicare payments with outpatient services in different settings. Examines benefits and drawbacks of the policy and discusses how the policy would impact rural hospitals.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Tricia Neuman, Scott Hulver
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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