Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
New HIPAA Privacy Rule: What RHCs Need To Know
Recording of a January 27, 2021, webinar providing information about proposed and existing Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliance rules affecting Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Covers individual right of access to protected health information (PHI), fees for health records, patient identification verification, third party disclosures, and clarification of healthcare operations including care coordination and case management. Discusses proposed PHI changes regarding substance use disorders and serious mental illness, and changes in notice of privacy practices (NPP) requirements. Includes a fee calculator for medical record requests. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: HIPAA Record Fee Calculator, Presentation Slides, Q&A, Transcript
Date: 01/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Recording of a January 27, 2021, webinar providing information about proposed and existing Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliance rules affecting Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Covers individual right of access to protected health information (PHI), fees for health records, patient identification verification, third party disclosures, and clarification of healthcare operations including care coordination and case management. Discusses proposed PHI changes regarding substance use disorders and serious mental illness, and changes in notice of privacy practices (NPP) requirements. Includes a fee calculator for medical record requests. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: HIPAA Record Fee Calculator, Presentation Slides, Q&A, Transcript
Date: 01/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
view details
Congress Establishes New Medicare Provider Category and Reimbursement for Rural Emergency Hospitals
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider designation established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Discusses provider eligibility criteria, REH requirements and permitted services, and Medicare reimbursement. Highlights key questions that need to be addressed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Author(s): Emily J. Cook, Sandra M. DiVarco, Caroline Reigart
Citation: National Law Review, XI(5)
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
view details
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) provider designation established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Discusses provider eligibility criteria, REH requirements and permitted services, and Medicare reimbursement. Highlights key questions that need to be addressed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Author(s): Emily J. Cook, Sandra M. DiVarco, Caroline Reigart
Citation: National Law Review, XI(5)
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
view details
Continuing on the Road to Value
Slides presented at the Indiana Rural Health Association's Annual Public Policy Forum in 2021. Discusses management methods and policy initiatives for transitioning hospitals to value-based care. Includes information on the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Pathways to Success, and global budgeting.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 01/2021
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
view details
Slides presented at the Indiana Rural Health Association's Annual Public Policy Forum in 2021. Discusses management methods and policy initiatives for transitioning hospitals to value-based care. Includes information on the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Pathways to Success, and global budgeting.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller
Date: 01/2021
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
view details
Characteristics and Challenges of Rural Ambulance Agencies - A Brief Review and Policy Considerations
Examines challenges including prolonged response and transport times, insufficient payment by insurers, transitions from volunteer to paid workforce, and lack of plans and policies to coordinate services. Features recommendations for identifying public policy considerations to stabilize rural ambulance agencies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
Examines challenges including prolonged response and transport times, insufficient payment by insurers, transitions from volunteer to paid workforce, and lack of plans and policies to coordinate services. Features recommendations for identifying public policy considerations to stabilize rural ambulance agencies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
Federal Universal Service Fund and Other Selected Federal Broadband Programs: A Primer
Provides an overview of federal programs designed to accelerate broadband deployment and adoption in minority communities, rural and tribal areas, and among eligible households.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Provides an overview of federal programs designed to accelerate broadband deployment and adoption in minority communities, rural and tribal areas, and among eligible households.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
COVID-19: Urgent Federal Actions to Accelerate America's Response
Presents six short-term recommendations for the Biden administration and Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights the need for policies and strategies to prevent or mitigate health disparities, including in rural and tribal areas.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
Presents six short-term recommendations for the Biden administration and Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights the need for policies and strategies to prevent or mitigate health disparities, including in rural and tribal areas.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
Mandated Report on Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Further Findings
Provides an overview of the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) Medicaid benefit. Presents findings from an analysis of administrative data on NEMT utilization and spending, including utilization by urban and rural status. Includes findings from a series of focus groups with NEMT benefit enrollees on the value of the program, challenges, and ideas for improvement.
Author(s): Kacey Buderi, Aaron Pervin
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
view details
Provides an overview of the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) Medicaid benefit. Presents findings from an analysis of administrative data on NEMT utilization and spending, including utilization by urban and rural status. Includes findings from a series of focus groups with NEMT benefit enrollees on the value of the program, challenges, and ideas for improvement.
Author(s): Kacey Buderi, Aaron Pervin
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
view details
Advancing Population Health in Rural Places: Key Lessons and Policy Opportunities
Discussion of topics including strategies to incorporate population health into rural health, how collaboration can help rural hospitals address population health issues, how rural healthcare systems can gain community support for population activities, and ways in which the rural healthcare workforce can be involved in population health. Examines various demonstration projects with roots in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Delaney P. Bounds, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
Discussion of topics including strategies to incorporate population health into rural health, how collaboration can help rural hospitals address population health issues, how rural healthcare systems can gain community support for population activities, and ways in which the rural healthcare workforce can be involved in population health. Examines various demonstration projects with roots in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Delaney P. Bounds, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing: Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Opportunities
Discusses housing supply and affordability challenges and offers recommendations for federal, state, local, and tribal governments to reduce regulatory barriers and address these challenges. Describes rural/urban differences in housing market challenges. Covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing in the U.S.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
view details
Discusses housing supply and affordability challenges and offers recommendations for federal, state, local, and tribal governments to reduce regulatory barriers and address these challenges. Describes rural/urban differences in housing market challenges. Covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing in the U.S.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
view details
Pennsylvania Municipal Officials' Views on COVID-19 Vaccine and Pennsylvania's Response to the Pandemic
Results of an email survey of 1,009 elected officials, to gather information about their attitudes toward vaccines and the Pennsylvania state government's response to COVID-19. Features statistics on the percentages of officials likely to get vaccinated, who felt the state's response had been effective, and who had recently attended municipal meetings in virtual, in-person, or hybrid formats, with breakdowns by rural or urban location.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
Results of an email survey of 1,009 elected officials, to gather information about their attitudes toward vaccines and the Pennsylvania state government's response to COVID-19. Features statistics on the percentages of officials likely to get vaccinated, who felt the state's response had been effective, and who had recently attended municipal meetings in virtual, in-person, or hybrid formats, with breakdowns by rural or urban location.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details