Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Rethinking Rural Health: FY 2020 Year in Review
Provides an overview of Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) programs and activities that have affected rural health and healthcare in fiscal year 2020. Focuses on nine priority areas: COVID-19, maternal health, Medicare Advantage (MA) and the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM), quality improvement, practitioner engagement, patient empowerment and person-centered care, Medicare and Medicaid payment and policy, models and demonstrations, and telehealth.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) programs and activities that have affected rural health and healthcare in fiscal year 2020. Focuses on nine priority areas: COVID-19, maternal health, Medicare Advantage (MA) and the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM), quality improvement, practitioner engagement, patient empowerment and person-centered care, Medicare and Medicaid payment and policy, models and demonstrations, and telehealth.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Comment Letter on HHS Report to Congress on Telehealth for Pediatric SUD
Reviews the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report, Reducing Barriers to Furnishing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services Using Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Pediatric Populations Under Medicaid: Final Report. Covers the role of telehealth in mitigating the shortage of behavioral health providers and expanding behavioral health services to children covered by Medicaid. Discusses the need for additional research on telehealth in Medicaid, information sharing between states, and addressing barriers to technology.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Reviews the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report, Reducing Barriers to Furnishing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services Using Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Pediatric Populations Under Medicaid: Final Report. Covers the role of telehealth in mitigating the shortage of behavioral health providers and expanding behavioral health services to children covered by Medicaid. Discusses the need for additional research on telehealth in Medicaid, information sharing between states, and addressing barriers to technology.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Indian Health Service: Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Federal Facilities' Decision-Making About the Use of Funds
Reports on how the Indian Health Service (IHS) oversees federally operated healthcare facilities' decision-making process regarding the use of funds. Discusses the degree to which IHS officials consider the needs of the communities in reviewing facilities' scope of services. Includes recommendations to improve IHS's oversight to ensure that spending targets patient needs.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Reports on how the Indian Health Service (IHS) oversees federally operated healthcare facilities' decision-making process regarding the use of funds. Discusses the degree to which IHS officials consider the needs of the communities in reviewing facilities' scope of services. Includes recommendations to improve IHS's oversight to ensure that spending targets patient needs.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Healthcare: A Key Challenge in Alabama's Black Belt
Issue brief examining healthcare access in Alabama's Black Belt region compared to national trends. Covers hospital beds in relation to population, rural hospital closures, COVID-19 strain, and policy impacts.
Author(s): Emily Jacobs, Hunter Whann, Emily Grace Corley, Jonathan Bowen, Noel Keeney
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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Issue brief examining healthcare access in Alabama's Black Belt region compared to national trends. Covers hospital beds in relation to population, rural hospital closures, COVID-19 strain, and policy impacts.
Author(s): Emily Jacobs, Hunter Whann, Emily Grace Corley, Jonathan Bowen, Noel Keeney
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Alabama Education Policy Center
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October 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) October 2020 meeting. Covers an alternative value incentive program that corrects current shortcomings for the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program; future research directions in hospice payment policy; balancing financial pressure and equity in Medicare Advantage benchmark policy; and current Medicare indirect medical education policy, concerns, and principles for revising. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) October 2020 meeting. Covers an alternative value incentive program that corrects current shortcomings for the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program; future research directions in hospice payment policy; balancing financial pressure and equity in Medicare Advantage benchmark policy; and current Medicare indirect medical education policy, concerns, and principles for revising. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Bringing Lawyers onto the Health Center Care Team to Promote Patient & Community Health
Discusses the role of health center medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) to address social determinants of health. Offers information and tools for health centers, primary care associations, and other organizations to start, strengthen, and sustain an MLP. Describes how to develop screening, referral, and service delivery workflows; how integrating legal services can support health center workforce development; and types of projects MLPs can engage in to help health centers address social determinants of health and health equity at a policy level.
Author(s): Kate Marple. Mallory Curran, Ellen Lawton, Danielle Rahajason
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership
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Discusses the role of health center medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) to address social determinants of health. Offers information and tools for health centers, primary care associations, and other organizations to start, strengthen, and sustain an MLP. Describes how to develop screening, referral, and service delivery workflows; how integrating legal services can support health center workforce development; and types of projects MLPs can engage in to help health centers address social determinants of health and health equity at a policy level.
Author(s): Kate Marple. Mallory Curran, Ellen Lawton, Danielle Rahajason
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership
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Billing & Coding Telehealth
Recording of a webinar presented in October at the NARHC 2020 Virtual Fall Institute covering telehealth billing requirements relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses changes that may occur once the public health emergency end, and the posting and coding of telehealth services on a cost report.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a webinar presented in October at the NARHC 2020 Virtual Fall Institute covering telehealth billing requirements relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses changes that may occur once the public health emergency end, and the posting and coding of telehealth services on a cost report.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Navigating RHC COVID-19 Testing Fund Reporting Requirements
Recording of an October 7, 2020, webinar providing detailed information about the reporting requirements for the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 Testing Relief Fund. Discusses the importance of reporting data and the type of data that should be documented. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of an October 7, 2020, webinar providing detailed information about the reporting requirements for the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 Testing Relief Fund. Discusses the importance of reporting data and the type of data that should be documented. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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SHIP Pricing Transparency Guide
Supports Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) coordinators as they work to meet hospital price transparency rules. Provides an overview of the basics and history of price transparency regulations, key terms, eligibility, exemptions, and key components of the final rule. Includes resources, a list of shoppable services, and a template for work plan implementation.
Additional links: Price Transparency Webinar, Sample Price Transparency Work Plan
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Eide Bailly LLP, National Rural Health Resource Center
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Supports Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) coordinators as they work to meet hospital price transparency rules. Provides an overview of the basics and history of price transparency regulations, key terms, eligibility, exemptions, and key components of the final rule. Includes resources, a list of shoppable services, and a template for work plan implementation.
Additional links: Price Transparency Webinar, Sample Price Transparency Work Plan
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Eide Bailly LLP, National Rural Health Resource Center
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Telecommunications: FCC Should Enhance Performance Goals and Measures for Its Program to Support Broadband Service in High-Cost Areas
Examines the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) high-cost program's performance goals and measures and how they align with leading practices to enable the effective use of performance information. The high-cost program is designed to promote broadband deployment in areas that are not currently served by broadband. Discusses three key challenges the program faces in meeting its goals. Provides recommendations to the Chairman of the FCC to improve performance goals and measures and increase transparency.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) high-cost program's performance goals and measures and how they align with leading practices to enable the effective use of performance information. The high-cost program is designed to promote broadband deployment in areas that are not currently served by broadband. Discusses three key challenges the program faces in meeting its goals. Provides recommendations to the Chairman of the FCC to improve performance goals and measures and increase transparency.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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