Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Rural Action Plan
Provides an overview of the rural health care and human services landscape. Outlines a Four-Point strategy to build a sustainable health and human services model for rural communities, leverage technology and innovation, focus on preventing disease and mortality, and increase rural access to care. Identifies opportunities to transform rural health and human services through federal government partnership and describes new policies and programs to implement the Four-Point Strategy. Highlights actions already taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support rural communities.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Provides an overview of the rural health care and human services landscape. Outlines a Four-Point strategy to build a sustainable health and human services model for rural communities, leverage technology and innovation, focus on preventing disease and mortality, and increase rural access to care. Identifies opportunities to transform rural health and human services through federal government partnership and describes new policies and programs to implement the Four-Point Strategy. Highlights actions already taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support rural communities.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the ESRD PPS for CY 2021
Comments on a July 13, 2020, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing the ESRD Quality Incentive Program and changes to geographic area delineations.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on a July 13, 2020, Federal Register proposed rule related to Medicare payment policies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Includes comments addressing the ESRD Quality Incentive Program and changes to geographic area delineations.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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State Innovation Model (SIM) Summative Evaluation Report: Activities and Goal Evaluation Award Year 2-4 (AY2-4)
Summarizes the process and implementation activities of the State Innovation Model (SIM) test grant program in Iowa during award years 2 through 4, which spanned November 2016 through April 2019. SIM test awards are administered by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center and allow states to implement and test strategies for health system transformation that meet the specific needs of residents of each state. Describes the process evaluation of SIM implementation activities and results of the 2016 and 2018 statewide evaluation surveys. Presents data on outcome measures regarding access and cost of care, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco use.
Author(s): Tessa Heeren, Rochelle Schultz Spinarski, Elizabeth Momany, et al.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Iowa Public Policy Center
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Summarizes the process and implementation activities of the State Innovation Model (SIM) test grant program in Iowa during award years 2 through 4, which spanned November 2016 through April 2019. SIM test awards are administered by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center and allow states to implement and test strategies for health system transformation that meet the specific needs of residents of each state. Describes the process evaluation of SIM implementation activities and results of the 2016 and 2018 statewide evaluation surveys. Presents data on outcome measures regarding access and cost of care, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco use.
Author(s): Tessa Heeren, Rochelle Schultz Spinarski, Elizabeth Momany, et al.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Iowa Public Policy Center
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COVID-19 Testing - What RHCs Are Doing For Their Communities
Recording of an August 27, 2020, webinar discussing the efforts of three rural health clinics (RHCs) to provide COVID-19 testing services using COVID-19 funding in rural communities of South-Central Idaho, Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin, and Eastern North Carolina. Covers the challenges related to the availability of COVID-18 testing instruments and test kits, testing capacity and turnaround time, the provision of treatment for patients with COVID-19, and the RHC data collection requirement. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 08/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of an August 27, 2020, webinar discussing the efforts of three rural health clinics (RHCs) to provide COVID-19 testing services using COVID-19 funding in rural communities of South-Central Idaho, Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin, and Eastern North Carolina. Covers the challenges related to the availability of COVID-18 testing instruments and test kits, testing capacity and turnaround time, the provision of treatment for patients with COVID-19, and the RHC data collection requirement. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 08/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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OIG's Top Unimplemented Recommendations: Solutions To Reduce Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in HHS Programs: August 2020
Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in OIG's view, would have the most substantial positive impact on Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Positive impact may refer to cost savings, program efficacy and efficiency, and/or quality improvement. Primary areas of interest in the August 2020 edition include: reforming the hospital wage index system; ensuring that Medicaid managed care enrollees have timely access to behavioral health services; developing and implementing a staffing program for recruiting, retaining, and transitioning staff and leadership to remote Indian Health Service hospitals; and ensuring proper payments for 340B-purchased drugs.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Annual report identifying the top 25 unimplemented recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that, in OIG's view, would have the most substantial positive impact on Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Positive impact may refer to cost savings, program efficacy and efficiency, and/or quality improvement. Primary areas of interest in the August 2020 edition include: reforming the hospital wage index system; ensuring that Medicaid managed care enrollees have timely access to behavioral health services; developing and implementing a staffing program for recruiting, retaining, and transitioning staff and leadership to remote Indian Health Service hospitals; and ensuring proper payments for 340B-purchased drugs.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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What is Rural?
Provides an overview of the different ways the federal government describes areas as rural. Discusses confusion that can arise from multiple definitions of rural areas. Compares how different urban-rural designations classify each county in South Carolina.
Author(s): Samantha Renaud, Kevin Bennett
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare
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Provides an overview of the different ways the federal government describes areas as rural. Discusses confusion that can arise from multiple definitions of rural areas. Compares how different urban-rural designations classify each county in South Carolina.
Author(s): Samantha Renaud, Kevin Bennett
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare
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Policy Goals to Improve Behavioral Health Needs of Individuals, Employers and Communities in Rural New Mexico
Report examining behavioral health workforce needs and the growing older adult population in rural New Mexico. Presents data analysis, survey results, and group discussion with stakeholders in Grant, Socorro, Sierra, Valencia, and Catron counties. Offers policy recommendations related to training and certification of behavioral healthcare workers.
Author(s): Susan Wilger, Anne Hayes Egan, Alexis Brandt, Micaela Imar de la Rosa
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Innovation
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Report examining behavioral health workforce needs and the growing older adult population in rural New Mexico. Presents data analysis, survey results, and group discussion with stakeholders in Grant, Socorro, Sierra, Valencia, and Catron counties. Offers policy recommendations related to training and certification of behavioral healthcare workers.
Author(s): Susan Wilger, Anne Hayes Egan, Alexis Brandt, Micaela Imar de la Rosa
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Innovation
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Policy Goals to Support the Healthcare Workforce in Healthy Aging Communities
Report describing a research project funded by the New Mexico Department of Health that examines behavioral healthcare workforce needs and the growing elderly population in rural Grant, Sierra, Socorro, Catron, and Valencia counties. Presents key points from discussions with project participants, including professionals in health promotion, hospital, community health centers, local government, and educational institutions. Offers policy goals related to regional services, economic planning, and expansion of Medicaid and Medicare reimbursable services.
Author(s): Susan Wilger, Anne Hayes Egan, Alexis Brandt, Micaela Imar de la Rosa
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Innovation
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Report describing a research project funded by the New Mexico Department of Health that examines behavioral healthcare workforce needs and the growing elderly population in rural Grant, Sierra, Socorro, Catron, and Valencia counties. Presents key points from discussions with project participants, including professionals in health promotion, hospital, community health centers, local government, and educational institutions. Offers policy goals related to regional services, economic planning, and expansion of Medicaid and Medicare reimbursable services.
Author(s): Susan Wilger, Anne Hayes Egan, Alexis Brandt, Micaela Imar de la Rosa
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Innovation
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Rural Digital Opportunity Fund: Requirements and Selected Policy Issues
Provides an overview of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), which aims to expand broadband service to rural homes and small businesses. Focuses on Phase I of the RDOF, including the timeline, eligible census blocks and broadband service providers, filing requirements, deployment milestones, and related policy issues.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), which aims to expand broadband service to rural homes and small businesses. Focuses on Phase I of the RDOF, including the timeline, eligible census blocks and broadband service providers, filing requirements, deployment milestones, and related policy issues.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Ohio Medicaid and Medicare Telehealth Reimbursement for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinics (RHC)
Provides an overview of Medicaid and Medicare telehealth reimbursement policies for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Ohio in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center
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Provides an overview of Medicaid and Medicare telehealth reimbursement policies for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in Ohio in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center
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