Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
CMS Needs to Implement Risk-Based Oversight of Puerto Rico's Procurement Process
Report details the lack of oversight by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of contractors hired to facilitate Puerto Rico's Medicaid program. Discusses Puerto Rico's Medicaid procurement process and outlines the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse of funds due to lack oversight.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Report details the lack of oversight by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of contractors hired to facilitate Puerto Rico's Medicaid program. Discusses Puerto Rico's Medicaid procurement process and outlines the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse of funds due to lack oversight.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Medicaid's Role in Health Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Provides an overview of the federal government's role in providing healthcare to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Discusses AI/AN demographics, economic and health disparities, and access to healthcare and insurance coverage. Describes the structure of the Indian Health Service (IHS), services provided, and IHS financing and spending. Highlights special rules and protections that apply to AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries. Presents a series of policy issues that have been raised regarding the Medicaid and IHS relationship, as well as opportunities for improving Medicaid's role in providing healthcare to AI/AN populations.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Provides an overview of the federal government's role in providing healthcare to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Discusses AI/AN demographics, economic and health disparities, and access to healthcare and insurance coverage. Describes the structure of the Indian Health Service (IHS), services provided, and IHS financing and spending. Highlights special rules and protections that apply to AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries. Presents a series of policy issues that have been raised regarding the Medicaid and IHS relationship, as well as opportunities for improving Medicaid's role in providing healthcare to AI/AN populations.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Quality Water from Every Tap: Proceedings of a Workshop - in Brief
Summarizes topics covered at a workshop held November 21-22, 2019, including discussion on water quality challenges and suggestions for improvement. Focuses on areas that may lack sufficient resources, such as rural and tribal communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Division on Earth and Life Studies
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Summarizes topics covered at a workshop held November 21-22, 2019, including discussion on water quality challenges and suggestions for improvement. Focuses on areas that may lack sufficient resources, such as rural and tribal communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Division on Earth and Life Studies
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Health System Challenges for Critical Access Hospitals: Findings from a National Survey of CAH Executives
Results of a 2019 survey of 174 respondents, examining challenges including uncompensated care, affordability of health insurance, patients seeking care beyond their local hospital, and prescription drug prices. Intended to help rural health policymakers in development of strategies to maintain Critical Access Hospital viability and access to healthcare in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharita Thomas, Kristie Thompson, Kathleen Knocke, George Pink
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Results of a 2019 survey of 174 respondents, examining challenges including uncompensated care, affordability of health insurance, patients seeking care beyond their local hospital, and prescription drug prices. Intended to help rural health policymakers in development of strategies to maintain Critical Access Hospital viability and access to healthcare in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharita Thomas, Kristie Thompson, Kathleen Knocke, George Pink
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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White Paper: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
Describes the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, including information on the Telehealth Resource Center (TRC) Program's 12 regional centers and the 2 national resource centers, the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) and the National Telehealth Technology Assessment Center (TTAC). Discusses role of TRCs in addressing specific regional needs and supporting the expansion of telehealth across the U.S.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
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Describes the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, including information on the Telehealth Resource Center (TRC) Program's 12 regional centers and the 2 national resource centers, the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) and the National Telehealth Technology Assessment Center (TTAC). Discusses role of TRCs in addressing specific regional needs and supporting the expansion of telehealth across the U.S.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers
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Medicaid and CHIP in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and U.S. Virgin Islands spending.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and U.S. Virgin Islands spending.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Medicaid and CHIP in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the Northern Mariana Islands. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and Northern Mariana Islands spending.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Summarizes key requirements and design features of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the Northern Mariana Islands. Features statistics on program costs from fiscal years 2011-2019, with breakdowns by federal spending and Northern Mariana Islands spending.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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A Just Recovery for Rural Equity in Wisconsin
Provides information for advancing health equity, with respect to the impact of COVID-19, for rural populations in Wisconsin. Discusses topics fundamental to supporting rural health equity, including: healthcare access, broadband and infrastructure, food and agriculture, job security, and availability of social services. Identifies proven policies and practices that can be implemented at the local and state level.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
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Provides information for advancing health equity, with respect to the impact of COVID-19, for rural populations in Wisconsin. Discusses topics fundamental to supporting rural health equity, including: healthcare access, broadband and infrastructure, food and agriculture, job security, and availability of social services. Identifies proven policies and practices that can be implemented at the local and state level.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
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Paving the Way to Equity: A Progress Report (2015-2021)
Provides an overview of the 2015 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Equity Plan for Improving Quality in Medicare and its Path to Equity, an organizing framework to achieve health equity. Discusses ways CMS has demonstrated progress in increasing understanding and awareness of disparities, developing and disseminating solutions to health equity, and implementing sustainable actions to achieve health equity. Considers emerging opportunities to build on this progress toward health equity. Includes information on rural disparities throughout.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the 2015 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Equity Plan for Improving Quality in Medicare and its Path to Equity, an organizing framework to achieve health equity. Discusses ways CMS has demonstrated progress in increasing understanding and awareness of disparities, developing and disseminating solutions to health equity, and implementing sustainable actions to achieve health equity. Considers emerging opportunities to build on this progress toward health equity. Includes information on rural disparities throughout.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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January 2021 MACPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) January 2021 meeting. Covers the review of draft chapters and recommendations regarding postpartum coverage, estate recovery, automatic countercyclical financing adjustment, design considerations for creating a new unified program for dually eligible beneficiaries, and housing supports for individuals with substance use disorder, among other things. Also details a MACPAC study on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), which includes a discussion of NEMT in rural areas.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) January 2021 meeting. Covers the review of draft chapters and recommendations regarding postpartum coverage, estate recovery, automatic countercyclical financing adjustment, design considerations for creating a new unified program for dually eligible beneficiaries, and housing supports for individuals with substance use disorder, among other things. Also details a MACPAC study on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), which includes a discussion of NEMT in rural areas.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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