Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Provider Relief Fund Reporting Portal
Recording of a September 2, 2021, webinar on the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) program. Provides an overview of the PRF program. Discusses reporting requirements and time periods, methodology for calculating lost revenues, and considerations for Rural Health Clinics. Includes answers to frequently asked questions. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 09/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Recording of a September 2, 2021, webinar on the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) program. Provides an overview of the PRF program. Discusses reporting requirements and time periods, methodology for calculating lost revenues, and considerations for Rural Health Clinics. Includes answers to frequently asked questions. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 09/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Health Resources and Services Administration, National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Overview of Barriers and Facilitators in COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach
Provides an overview of lessons learned from infectious disease outbreaks about barriers to vaccine uptake. Describes examples of promising and innovative COVID-19 vaccination outreach strategies, including strategies to build vaccine confidence in rural communities. Identifies best practices that could be used to inform outreach in areas with low vaccination rates. Highlights online tools and resources to assist with the design of vaccine outreach programs.
Author(s): Aldren Gonzales, Euny C. Lee, Violanda Grigorescu, et al.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details
Provides an overview of lessons learned from infectious disease outbreaks about barriers to vaccine uptake. Describes examples of promising and innovative COVID-19 vaccination outreach strategies, including strategies to build vaccine confidence in rural communities. Identifies best practices that could be used to inform outreach in areas with low vaccination rates. Highlights online tools and resources to assist with the design of vaccine outreach programs.
Author(s): Aldren Gonzales, Euny C. Lee, Violanda Grigorescu, et al.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details
Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program
Recording of an August 31, 2021, webinar providing an overview of the Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program. Includes information on how to enroll in the program and the technical assistance available to participating providers.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 08/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
view details
Recording of an August 31, 2021, webinar providing an overview of the Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program. Includes information on how to enroll in the program and the technical assistance available to participating providers.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 08/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
view details
Minnesota State Oral Health Plan 2020-2030
Outlines the state oral health plan for Minnesota, focusing on the oral health infrastructure, access to oral healthcare, health systems integration, disability, special care needs and inclusion, and data. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
view details
Outlines the state oral health plan for Minnesota, focusing on the oral health infrastructure, access to oral healthcare, health systems integration, disability, special care needs and inclusion, and data. Includes rural considerations throughout.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
view details
Evaluation of the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model: First Evaluation Report
Evaluates the first two performance years of the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model (VTAPM), which aims to assess whether scaling an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) across all payers in the state can reduce program expenditures while preserving or improving care quality. Discusses the implementation of the model, provider engagement, efforts to address population health goals; characteristics of participating hospitals, practitioners, and beneficiaries; and the model's impacts on Medicare spending, utilization, and quality of care. Includes information on hospital and provider participation in rural counties and unique challenges for rural Critical Access Hospitals.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
view details
Evaluates the first two performance years of the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model (VTAPM), which aims to assess whether scaling an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) across all payers in the state can reduce program expenditures while preserving or improving care quality. Discusses the implementation of the model, provider engagement, efforts to address population health goals; characteristics of participating hospitals, practitioners, and beneficiaries; and the model's impacts on Medicare spending, utilization, and quality of care. Includes information on hospital and provider participation in rural counties and unique challenges for rural Critical Access Hospitals.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
view details
The Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM): First Annual Report
Evaluates the first year of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), an initiative designed to test if global budgets can help rural hospitals improve their financial viability, provide flexibility to meet locally defined community health needs, and reduce overall health care spending. Provides an overview of the model and describes the implementation experience of the first cohort of participating hospitals. Presents preliminary, descriptive data on the financial performance and utilization outcomes of Cohort 1 participants.
Additional links: Appendix, Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
view details
Evaluates the first year of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model (PARHM), an initiative designed to test if global budgets can help rural hospitals improve their financial viability, provide flexibility to meet locally defined community health needs, and reduce overall health care spending. Provides an overview of the model and describes the implementation experience of the first cohort of participating hospitals. Presents preliminary, descriptive data on the financial performance and utilization outcomes of Cohort 1 participants.
Additional links: Appendix, Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
view details
Paying for Telemedicine in Smaller Rural Hospitals: Extending the Technology to Those Who Benefit Most
Viewpoint article discussing the positive financial impacts of telemedicine in emergency departments (EDs) and barriers to using telemedicine in small rural hospitals related to patient volume, high upfront costs, and reimbursement issues. Outlines policy interventions to support rural telemedicine.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Jessica V. Richard, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 2(8), e211570
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
view details
Viewpoint article discussing the positive financial impacts of telemedicine in emergency departments (EDs) and barriers to using telemedicine in small rural hospitals related to patient volume, high upfront costs, and reimbursement issues. Outlines policy interventions to support rural telemedicine.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Jessica V. Richard, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 2(8), e211570
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
view details
Primary Care Case Management in Medicaid: A Strategy for Supporting Primary Care in Rural Areas
Describes how Medicaid agencies in five states - Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Idaho, and Oklahoma - utilize primary care case management (PCCM) programs to strengthen primary care, particularly in rural areas. Identifies three strategies implemented by some or all of these states to support primary care providers, and highlights lessons learned for state Medicaid programs that want to strengthen primary care in rural areas.
Author(s): Neva Kaye
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
view details
Describes how Medicaid agencies in five states - Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Idaho, and Oklahoma - utilize primary care case management (PCCM) programs to strengthen primary care, particularly in rural areas. Identifies three strategies implemented by some or all of these states to support primary care providers, and highlights lessons learned for state Medicaid programs that want to strengthen primary care in rural areas.
Author(s): Neva Kaye
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
view details
MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the ESRD PPS for CY 2022
Comments on a July 9, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing the low-volume payment adjustment (LVPA) and the rural adjustment.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Comments on a July 9, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing the low-volume payment adjustment (LVPA) and the rural adjustment.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Measurement Recommendations Report
Provides an overview of two measurement frameworks, one for maternal morbidity and one for maternal mortality. Includes a list of short- and long-term recommendations for each measurement topic, which cover equitable treatment; timely access to treatment and services; follow-up and care coordination of care; protocols and guidelines; substance use disorders, mental health, and behavioral health; access to pain management and labor support; and patient- and family-reported outcomes and experiences of care. Discusses three potential, actionable measure concepts for maternal mortality.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details
Provides an overview of two measurement frameworks, one for maternal morbidity and one for maternal mortality. Includes a list of short- and long-term recommendations for each measurement topic, which cover equitable treatment; timely access to treatment and services; follow-up and care coordination of care; protocols and guidelines; substance use disorders, mental health, and behavioral health; access to pain management and labor support; and patient- and family-reported outcomes and experiences of care. Discusses three potential, actionable measure concepts for maternal mortality.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Quality Forum
view details