Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Supporting CAHs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Summary Results of a Survey of State Flex Coordinators
Summarizes key findings from a survey of State Flex Programs regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) between May 26 - July 2, 2020. Describes the type of support and assistance requested by CAHs, promising strategies State Flex Programs used to support CAHs, and how State Flex Programs are planning for CAH needs after the pandemic.
Author(s): John Gale, Zacharia Croll, Yvonne Jonk, Sara Kahn-Troster, Karen Pearson
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Summarizes key findings from a survey of State Flex Programs regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) between May 26 - July 2, 2020. Describes the type of support and assistance requested by CAHs, promising strategies State Flex Programs used to support CAHs, and how State Flex Programs are planning for CAH needs after the pandemic.
Author(s): John Gale, Zacharia Croll, Yvonne Jonk, Sara Kahn-Troster, Karen Pearson
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan
A guide for federal health information technology (HIT) activities. Identifies current healthcare challenges and opportunities related to HIT. Explains how the federal government intends to use HIT to promote health; enhance care delivery; build a secure, data-driven system; and develop an interoperable HIT infrastructure. Includes discussion of rural needs and opportunities related to HIT.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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A guide for federal health information technology (HIT) activities. Identifies current healthcare challenges and opportunities related to HIT. Explains how the federal government intends to use HIT to promote health; enhance care delivery; build a secure, data-driven system; and develop an interoperable HIT infrastructure. Includes discussion of rural needs and opportunities related to HIT.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Chart Book: The Far-Reaching Benefits of the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid Expansion
Compares states that expanded Medicaid coverage and those that did not expand Medicaid coverage using a variety of measures such as healthcare access and health outcomes. Addresses the impact on rural hospitals for Medicaid revenue, operating margins, and uncompensated care on page 18.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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Compares states that expanded Medicaid coverage and those that did not expand Medicaid coverage using a variety of measures such as healthcare access and health outcomes. Addresses the impact on rural hospitals for Medicaid revenue, operating margins, and uncompensated care on page 18.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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Federal Health IT Strategic Plan, 2020-2025
Outlines federal goals, plans, and priorities as they relate to health information technology (HIT) and its application across the U.S. Discusses federal efforts to improve broadband access and HIT infrastructure in all areas, including rural and tribal areas.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Outlines federal goals, plans, and priorities as they relate to health information technology (HIT) and its application across the U.S. Discusses federal efforts to improve broadband access and HIT infrastructure in all areas, including rural and tribal areas.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Characteristics of US Rural Hospitals by Obstetric Service Availability, 2017
Examines the characteristics of rural hospitals that did not provide obstetric care in 2017. Compares rural hospitals that did and did not have obstetrics services by financial structure, location, and hospital size and emergency department availability and volume. Discusses the public health implications of this analysis.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Mariana S. Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith, Lindsay Admon
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), 1315-1317
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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Examines the characteristics of rural hospitals that did not provide obstetric care in 2017. Compares rural hospitals that did and did not have obstetrics services by financial structure, location, and hospital size and emergency department availability and volume. Discusses the public health implications of this analysis.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Mariana S. Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith, Lindsay Admon
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), 1315-1317
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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September 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2020 meeting. Covers the coronavirus pandemic and Medicare, the context for Medicare payment policy, a mandated report on the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program, a mandated report on the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014's changes to the Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule, and a Congressional request on private equity and Medicare. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2020 meeting. Covers the coronavirus pandemic and Medicare, the context for Medicare payment policy, a mandated report on the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program, a mandated report on the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014's changes to the Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule, and a Congressional request on private equity and Medicare. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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RHC Cost Reporting During COVID
Recording of a September 22, 2020, webinar covering cost reporting basics for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), including telehealth reporting, FTE and visit calculations, productivity waiver requests, provider relief fund payments, and cost report filing deadlines. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a September 22, 2020, webinar covering cost reporting basics for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), including telehealth reporting, FTE and visit calculations, productivity waiver requests, provider relief fund payments, and cost report filing deadlines. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Building Capacity for Value
Slides presented at the 2020 Nebraska Rural Health Conference describing the evolution of value-based care. Discusses different approaches to value-based care transformation, including the Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations and global budgeting. Presents management and leadership strategies to navigate future changes while meeting community health needs.
Author(s): Karla Weng
Date: 09/2020
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Slides presented at the 2020 Nebraska Rural Health Conference describing the evolution of value-based care. Discusses different approaches to value-based care transformation, including the Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations and global budgeting. Presents management and leadership strategies to navigate future changes while meeting community health needs.
Author(s): Karla Weng
Date: 09/2020
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Federal and State Policy Changes Since COVID-19
Video recording of a presentation on federal and state telehealth policy changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) policies related to geographic and site location for the patient, provider location and type, and telehealth delivery modality. Addresses common issues related to reimbursement and payment codes, Medicare billing guidance for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, and notes post-COVID policy questions and issues. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Connected Health Policy, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
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Video recording of a presentation on federal and state telehealth policy changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) policies related to geographic and site location for the patient, provider location and type, and telehealth delivery modality. Addresses common issues related to reimbursement and payment codes, Medicare billing guidance for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, and notes post-COVID policy questions and issues. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Connected Health Policy, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
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Third Evaluation Report: Next Generation Accountable Care Organization Model Evaluation
Reports on implementation experiences and outcomes for 50 Next Generation Accountable Care Organizations (NGACOs) that participated in the model in the 2018 performance year. Also evaluates findings of the model to date, from NGACOs entering the model in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Includes information on the extent to which NGACOs served rural areas.
Additional links: CMS Perspective, October 2020, Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Reports on implementation experiences and outcomes for 50 Next Generation Accountable Care Organizations (NGACOs) that participated in the model in the 2018 performance year. Also evaluates findings of the model to date, from NGACOs entering the model in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Includes information on the extent to which NGACOs served rural areas.
Additional links: CMS Perspective, October 2020, Findings at a Glance, Technical Appendices
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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