Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
April 2021 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2021 meeting. Covers Medicare's skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program and proposed replacement, streamlining CMS's portfolio of alternative payment models, rebalancing the Medicare Advantage benchmark policy, revising Medicare's indirect medical education payments to better reflect teaching hospital costs, Medicare vaccine coverage and payment, and improving Medicare's policies for separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system. Includes a discussion of training rural physicians, among other rural references.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2021 meeting. Covers Medicare's skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program and proposed replacement, streamlining CMS's portfolio of alternative payment models, rebalancing the Medicare Advantage benchmark policy, revising Medicare's indirect medical education payments to better reflect teaching hospital costs, Medicare vaccine coverage and payment, and improving Medicare's policies for separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system. Includes a discussion of training rural physicians, among other rural references.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Access to Marketplace Plans with Low Premiums on the Federal Platform Part III: Availability among Current Healthcare.gov Enrollees under the American Rescue Plan
Analyzes access to federally-sponsored Health Insurance Marketplace low premium plans among current HealthCare.gov enrollees under the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Table 2 provides demographic data on zero- and low-premium plan availability for both pre- and post-ARP by rural status, age, income, and race/ethnicity. Includes enrollee data by state for zero- and low-premium plan availability for both pre- and post-ARP.
Author(s): D. Keith Branham, Ann B. Conmy, Thomas DeLeire, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Analyzes access to federally-sponsored Health Insurance Marketplace low premium plans among current HealthCare.gov enrollees under the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Table 2 provides demographic data on zero- and low-premium plan availability for both pre- and post-ARP by rural status, age, income, and race/ethnicity. Includes enrollee data by state for zero- and low-premium plan availability for both pre- and post-ARP.
Author(s): D. Keith Branham, Ann B. Conmy, Thomas DeLeire, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Access to Marketplace Plans with Low Premiums on the Federal Platform Part II: Availability among Uninsured Non-Elderly Adults under the American Rescue Plan
Analyzes the expanded access to federally-sponsored Health Insurance Marketplace low premium plans among eligible uninsured non-elderly adults under the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Table 2 provides demographic data on zero- and low-premium plan availability pre- and post-ARP by rural status, age, income, and race/ethnicity. Includes uninsured non-elderly adult data by state for zero- and low-premium plan availability for both pre- and post-ARP.
Author(s): D. Keith Branham, Ann B. Conmy, Thomas DeLeire, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Analyzes the expanded access to federally-sponsored Health Insurance Marketplace low premium plans among eligible uninsured non-elderly adults under the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Table 2 provides demographic data on zero- and low-premium plan availability pre- and post-ARP by rural status, age, income, and race/ethnicity. Includes uninsured non-elderly adult data by state for zero- and low-premium plan availability for both pre- and post-ARP.
Author(s): D. Keith Branham, Ann B. Conmy, Thomas DeLeire, et al.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examining the Potential for Additional Rebalancing of Long-Term Services and Supports
Explores efforts to rebalance long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults and people with disabilities toward home and community-based settings. Profiles five states with lower levels of rebalancing compared to the national average: Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, and West Virginia. Presents findings from interviews with federal and state officials, as well as other stakeholders involved with Medicaid LTSS systems and beneficiaries. Discusses how the COVID-19 public health emergency and flexibilities influenced LTSS services in these states. Offers future considerations for federal and state governments when addressing barriers to home and community-based services.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Care Strategies, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, RTI International
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Explores efforts to rebalance long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults and people with disabilities toward home and community-based settings. Profiles five states with lower levels of rebalancing compared to the national average: Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, and West Virginia. Presents findings from interviews with federal and state officials, as well as other stakeholders involved with Medicaid LTSS systems and beneficiaries. Discusses how the COVID-19 public health emergency and flexibilities influenced LTSS services in these states. Offers future considerations for federal and state governments when addressing barriers to home and community-based services.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Care Strategies, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, RTI International
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Medicaid and Rural Health
Provides an overview of rural residents, including socioeconomic characteristics, insurance status, and health status. Explores the availability of healthcare providers in rural areas, with a focus on primary care providers and hospitals. Discusses the role of Medicaid in rural health, as well as Medicaid policies and services that are important for providing healthcare in rural communities.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Provides an overview of rural residents, including socioeconomic characteristics, insurance status, and health status. Explores the availability of healthcare providers in rural areas, with a focus on primary care providers and hospitals. Discusses the role of Medicaid in rural health, as well as Medicaid policies and services that are important for providing healthcare in rural communities.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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The Road to Equity: Examining Structural Racism in Health Care
Recordings of a 2-day forum on health equity, structural racism in healthcare, and the role of federal agencies in responding to issues of inequity. Day 2 includes a presentation on rural-specific issues including health disparities, access to healthcare, facility closures and workforce issues.
Additional links: Day 1 Transcript, Day 2 Recording, Day 2 Transcript
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: CDC's Office of Minority Health
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Recordings of a 2-day forum on health equity, structural racism in healthcare, and the role of federal agencies in responding to issues of inequity. Day 2 includes a presentation on rural-specific issues including health disparities, access to healthcare, facility closures and workforce issues.
Additional links: Day 1 Transcript, Day 2 Recording, Day 2 Transcript
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: CDC's Office of Minority Health
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Supporting and Sustaining Rural Hospitals
Describes state and federal actions to support and safeguard rural hospitals. Discusses appropriated funding opportunities for struggling hospitals, Medicaid coverage and eligibility, alternative payment models, and technical assistance programs.
Author(s): Noah Cruz
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Describes state and federal actions to support and safeguard rural hospitals. Discusses appropriated funding opportunities for struggling hospitals, Medicaid coverage and eligibility, alternative payment models, and technical assistance programs.
Author(s): Noah Cruz
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Additional Efforts Needed to Assess Program Data for Rural and Underserved Areas
Provides an overview of maternal health disparities in rural and underserved areas, as well as health system, socioeconomic, and patient factors that can contribute to maternal health outcomes. Includes information on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs implemented to reduced maternal morbidity and severe maternal mortality. Describes how CDC and HRSA use the data they collect and offers recommendations to improve the utilization of this data and coordination across federal agencies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of maternal health disparities in rural and underserved areas, as well as health system, socioeconomic, and patient factors that can contribute to maternal health outcomes. Includes information on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs implemented to reduced maternal morbidity and severe maternal mortality. Describes how CDC and HRSA use the data they collect and offers recommendations to improve the utilization of this data and coordination across federal agencies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2): Private Health Insurance, Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare Provisions
Provides an overview of the provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that relate to private health insurance, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare. Includes information on provisions specific to rural providers.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that relate to private health insurance, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare. Includes information on provisions specific to rural providers.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Making It Plain: Rural Hospitals and the Healthcare Delivery System
Recording of an April 21, 2021, town hall discussing COVID-19 epidemiological trends, compliance with public health guidance, and vaccine rates in rural communities. Explores barriers and solutions regarding vaccine administration and acceptance in rural areas, and describes federal plans to promote vaccine acceptance in rural communities. Features speakers from the Black Coalition Against COVID-19 (BCAC), the American Hospital Association, and the White House COVID-19 response team, among others.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: BlackDoctor.org
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Recording of an April 21, 2021, town hall discussing COVID-19 epidemiological trends, compliance with public health guidance, and vaccine rates in rural communities. Explores barriers and solutions regarding vaccine administration and acceptance in rural areas, and describes federal plans to promote vaccine acceptance in rural communities. Features speakers from the Black Coalition Against COVID-19 (BCAC), the American Hospital Association, and the White House COVID-19 response team, among others.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: BlackDoctor.org
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