Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Calendar Year (CY) 2015 Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Updates: Payment Rate Increases for RHCs and FQHCs Billing Under the All-Inclusive Rate System (AIR), and Urban and Rural Designations for FQHCs Billing Under the AIR
Provides updates for RHCs and FQHCs that are submitting claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services to Medicare beneficiaries.
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides updates for RHCs and FQHCs that are submitting claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services to Medicare beneficiaries.
Date: 12/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Disruptors, Essential Services, and Reflections on a Career in Rural Health, with John Supplitt
An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring John Supplitt, Senior Director of Rural Health Services for the American Hospital Association. Focuses on the importance of maintaining rural essential services, along with insights from Supplitt's long career in rural health.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring John Supplitt, Senior Director of Rural Health Services for the American Hospital Association. Focuses on the importance of maintaining rural essential services, along with insights from Supplitt's long career in rural health.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Nurse Staffing Estimates in US Nursing Homes, May 2024
Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) April 2024 final rule that established minimum nurse staffing requirements for nursing homes. Analyzes May 2024 data from Nursing Home Care Compare to examine current staffing levels in U.S. nursing homes relative to specific minimum staffing requirements in the final rule. Includes an illustrative example of a 100-bed facility to explore how many nurse staff would need to be added per shift during the final rule's implementation phase to meet or exceed the final rule's minimum requirements. Presents data by facility characteristics, including ownership type, rural or urban location, and bed size.
Author(s): Martin Blanco, Iara Oliveira, Marie Squillace, Damian Da Costa
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) April 2024 final rule that established minimum nurse staffing requirements for nursing homes. Analyzes May 2024 data from Nursing Home Care Compare to examine current staffing levels in U.S. nursing homes relative to specific minimum staffing requirements in the final rule. Includes an illustrative example of a 100-bed facility to explore how many nurse staff would need to be added per shift during the final rule's implementation phase to meet or exceed the final rule's minimum requirements. Presents data by facility characteristics, including ownership type, rural or urban location, and bed size.
Author(s): Martin Blanco, Iara Oliveira, Marie Squillace, Damian Da Costa
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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USDA Summer Food Program with Administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service, Cindy Long
Podcast episode featuring Cindy Long, Administrator for the the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Discusses how the USDA FNS helps parents and caregivers raising families in rural and remote areas navigate nutrition assistance programs when school is out of session in the summer. Describes Summer Food Program eligibility and how to access program benefits.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode featuring Cindy Long, Administrator for the the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Discusses how the USDA FNS helps parents and caregivers raising families in rural and remote areas navigate nutrition assistance programs when school is out of session in the summer. Describes Summer Food Program eligibility and how to access program benefits.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Health Subcommittee Hearing on Improving Value-Based Care for Patients and Providers
Recording of a June 26, 2024, House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health hearing on the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering better health outcomes and Medicare savings through value-based care. Features testimony from Sarah Chouinard, Chief Medical Officer of Main Street Health, regarding value-based care delivery in rural areas.
Additional links: Sarah Chouinard, Main Street Health - Testimony
Date: 06/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Recording of a June 26, 2024, House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health hearing on the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering better health outcomes and Medicare savings through value-based care. Features testimony from Sarah Chouinard, Chief Medical Officer of Main Street Health, regarding value-based care delivery in rural areas.
Additional links: Sarah Chouinard, Main Street Health - Testimony
Date: 06/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Differences in Use of Veterans Health Administration and Non-VHA Hospitals by Rural and Urban Veterans After Access Expansions
Presents a study on rural and urban differences in acute inpatient care utilization in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and non-VHA hospitals following expansions to the Veterans Choice Act. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as age, gender, and race, among others.
Author(s): Matthew P. Dizon, Kenneth W. Kizer, Michael K. Ong, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 446-456
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Presents a study on rural and urban differences in acute inpatient care utilization in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and non-VHA hospitals following expansions to the Veterans Choice Act. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as age, gender, and race, among others.
Author(s): Matthew P. Dizon, Kenneth W. Kizer, Michael K. Ong, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 446-456
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Tribal Broadband: Additional Assistance to Recipients Would Better Support Implementation of $3 Billion in Federal Grants
This provides an overview of Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, including recipients who had not received prior funding from key federal broadband programs and recipients' plans for network ownership and financial sustainability. Examines the extent to which the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided technical assistance to recipients regarding financial sustainability and navigating the environmental review process. Presents recommendations to NTIA on technical assistance and reporting to Congress on the resources necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of TBCP projects.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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This provides an overview of Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, including recipients who had not received prior funding from key federal broadband programs and recipients' plans for network ownership and financial sustainability. Examines the extent to which the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided technical assistance to recipients regarding financial sustainability and navigating the environmental review process. Presents recommendations to NTIA on technical assistance and reporting to Congress on the resources necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of TBCP projects.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Racial and Ethnic and Rural Variations in Access to Primary Care for Veterans Following the MISSION Act
Examines the impact of the 2018 Veterans Affairs Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (VA MISSION) Act to provide veterans with equitable access to primary care. Analyzes VA and community care (CC) outpatient data to observe primary care utilization and wait times across Black, Hispanic, and White veteran populations, as well as by rural versus urban location. Discusses how policy can address healthcare access disparities experienced by U.S. veterans.
Author(s): Amy K. Rosen, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Michael Shwartz, Heather Davila, Deborah Gurewich
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(6)
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Examines the impact of the 2018 Veterans Affairs Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (VA MISSION) Act to provide veterans with equitable access to primary care. Analyzes VA and community care (CC) outpatient data to observe primary care utilization and wait times across Black, Hispanic, and White veteran populations, as well as by rural versus urban location. Discusses how policy can address healthcare access disparities experienced by U.S. veterans.
Author(s): Amy K. Rosen, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Michael Shwartz, Heather Davila, Deborah Gurewich
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(6)
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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More Than 130,000 Households With Housing Vouchers Have Been Burdened by Child Care Costs Since 2017
A research brief that examines out-of-pocket costs of child care for families who receive housing vouchers. Includes state-by-state data as well as an interactive map that shows median childcare payment by county. Includes discussion about housing and childcare needs as well as recommended policy.
Author(s): Sara Shaw, Weilin Li, Sunny Sun, Edwin Crockett
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Child Trends
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A research brief that examines out-of-pocket costs of child care for families who receive housing vouchers. Includes state-by-state data as well as an interactive map that shows median childcare payment by county. Includes discussion about housing and childcare needs as well as recommended policy.
Author(s): Sara Shaw, Weilin Li, Sunny Sun, Edwin Crockett
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Child Trends
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Rural Health Leaders Overcoming Challenges with Alan Morgan, Kathy Kuepers and Steve Tenhouse
Podcast episode featuring two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) executives discussing factors that influence a rural health organization's growth and vitality, replacement facility projects, and building trust and stakeholder engagement. Also highlights a national partnership addressing rural hospital cybersecurity involving the White House, Google, Microsoft, the American Hospital Association, and the National Rural Health Association.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode featuring two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) executives discussing factors that influence a rural health organization's growth and vitality, replacement facility projects, and building trust and stakeholder engagement. Also highlights a national partnership addressing rural hospital cybersecurity involving the White House, Google, Microsoft, the American Hospital Association, and the National Rural Health Association.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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