Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Gallup Indian Medical Center—an IHS-Operated Health Facility—Did Not Timely Conduct Required Background Checks of Staff and Supervise Certain Staff
Presents findings of an audit to determine whether Gallup Indian Medical Center, an Indian Health Service (IHS) operated facility, met federal requirements for conducting background investigations and supervision of staff in contact with Indian children. Offers recommendations to the IHS regarding completing background investigations, documenting provision staff supervision, and updating standard operating procedures for background investigations.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Presents findings of an audit to determine whether Gallup Indian Medical Center, an Indian Health Service (IHS) operated facility, met federal requirements for conducting background investigations and supervision of staff in contact with Indian children. Offers recommendations to the IHS regarding completing background investigations, documenting provision staff supervision, and updating standard operating procedures for background investigations.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Nonemergency Medical Transportation: Leading Practices Would Help the Federal Transit Administration Evaluate Its Pilot Program
Provides an overview of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant programs that can be used to support NEMT services. Evaluates the design and implementation of the FTA's Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) pilot program, the only FTA program that includes NEMT as a primary objective. Discusses how FTA communicates the availability and use of its funding for NEMT. Offers recommendations for FTA related to evaluating ICAM and consolidating and publishing information about FTA funding for NEMT.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant programs that can be used to support NEMT services. Evaluates the design and implementation of the FTA's Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) pilot program, the only FTA program that includes NEMT as a primary objective. Discusses how FTA communicates the availability and use of its funding for NEMT. Offers recommendations for FTA related to evaluating ICAM and consolidating and publishing information about FTA funding for NEMT.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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New Mexico Department of Health: FY25-27 Strategic Plan
Reports on the New Mexico Department of Health's plan to improve health in the state for fiscal years 2025-2027. Discusses partnerships with tribal partners, including Tribal Health Councils, and identifies underserved population groups.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organizations: New Mexico Department of Health, Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)
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Reports on the New Mexico Department of Health's plan to improve health in the state for fiscal years 2025-2027. Discusses partnerships with tribal partners, including Tribal Health Councils, and identifies underserved population groups.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organizations: New Mexico Department of Health, Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)
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September 2024 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2024 meeting. Covers Medicare's overall financial situation, cost-sharing for outpatient services at Critical Access Hospitals, and experiences and challenges of measuring the quality of care provided by rural providers.
Additional links: Cost Sharing for Outpatient Services at Critical Access Hospitals - Presentation Slides, Medicare's Measurement of Rural Provider Quality - Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2024 meeting. Covers Medicare's overall financial situation, cost-sharing for outpatient services at Critical Access Hospitals, and experiences and challenges of measuring the quality of care provided by rural providers.
Additional links: Cost Sharing for Outpatient Services at Critical Access Hospitals - Presentation Slides, Medicare's Measurement of Rural Provider Quality - Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Development: Actions Needed to Improve Assistance to Southwest Border Communities Known as Colonias
Provides an overview of colonias, predominately rural, Hispanic communities near the U.S.-Mexico border. Examines conditions in colonias and the challenges they face in obtaining and using federal assistance. Presents results of an analysis of American Community Survey data, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program documentation and funding data for fiscal years 2020–2023, and interviews with stakeholders. Offers recommendations for Congress and the USDA to preserve eligibility to funding set aside for colonias and identify applications for Single Family Housing assistance for projects in colonias.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of colonias, predominately rural, Hispanic communities near the U.S.-Mexico border. Examines conditions in colonias and the challenges they face in obtaining and using federal assistance. Presents results of an analysis of American Community Survey data, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program documentation and funding data for fiscal years 2020–2023, and interviews with stakeholders. Offers recommendations for Congress and the USDA to preserve eligibility to funding set aside for colonias and identify applications for Single Family Housing assistance for projects in colonias.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Exploring the State of Value-Based Care
Slides presented to the South Dakota Rural Health Equity Summit on September 5, 2024. Provides an overview of value-based care and payment models and progress toward value-based care models. Describes potential strategies state agencies and organizations may use to assist rural healthcare organizations to deliver value-based care and receive value-based payments. Highlights state-level engagements to advance rural value-based care and payment in North Dakota and Pennsylvania.
Author(s): Karla Weng
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Slides presented to the South Dakota Rural Health Equity Summit on September 5, 2024. Provides an overview of value-based care and payment models and progress toward value-based care models. Describes potential strategies state agencies and organizations may use to assist rural healthcare organizations to deliver value-based care and receive value-based payments. Highlights state-level engagements to advance rural value-based care and payment in North Dakota and Pennsylvania.
Author(s): Karla Weng
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Environmental Scan on Identifying a Pathway Toward Maximizing Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models
Presents results of an environmental scan on the identification of a pathway toward maximizing participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models. Describes the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services's (CMS's) goal of having all Medicare beneficiaries with Parts A and B in accountable care relationships by 2030. Discusses challenges and technical issues related to maximizing participation in PB-TCOC models, including organizational structure, payment, and risk adjustment. Summarizes relevant features of CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) models identified in previous Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) proposals. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Presents results of an environmental scan on the identification of a pathway toward maximizing participation in population-based total cost of care (PB-TCOC) models. Describes the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services's (CMS's) goal of having all Medicare beneficiaries with Parts A and B in accountable care relationships by 2030. Discusses challenges and technical issues related to maximizing participation in PB-TCOC models, including organizational structure, payment, and risk adjustment. Summarizes relevant features of CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) models identified in previous Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) proposals. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Nursing Home Certificate of Need Moratoria During the COVID-19 Pandemic Had Little Impact on Access
Analyzes certificate of need (CON) moratoria and healthcare supply of skilled nursing facility (SNF) beds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2015-2021 SNF cost report data to provide information on states that implemented CON moratoria, differences by rural versus urban counties, and impact on SNF bed supply.
Author(s): Anthony Yu, Christopher Whaley
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 61
Date: 09/2024
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Analyzes certificate of need (CON) moratoria and healthcare supply of skilled nursing facility (SNF) beds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2015-2021 SNF cost report data to provide information on states that implemented CON moratoria, differences by rural versus urban counties, and impact on SNF bed supply.
Author(s): Anthony Yu, Christopher Whaley
Citation: INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 61
Date: 09/2024
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The State of Obesity 2024: Better Policies for a Healthier America
Presents data on adult and childhood obesity rates, with breakdowns by state and select demographic characteristics. Examines current and emerging policies, provides funding opportunities, and outlines recommended policy actions. Includes a special feature about food environments and systems.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Madison West
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Presents data on adult and childhood obesity rates, with breakdowns by state and select demographic characteristics. Examines current and emerging policies, provides funding opportunities, and outlines recommended policy actions. Includes a special feature about food environments and systems.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Madison West
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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CDC Rural Public Health Strategic Plan, FY 2024 - 2029
Outlines the CDC Office of Rural Health's strategic plan to improve health outcomes in rural communities, in collaboration with internal and external partners and federal agencies, by supporting and advancing rural public health science and practice. Identifies 4 key priorities for the next 5 years: advance results-based engagement with partners and communities to address rural public health challenges; strengthen rural public health infrastructure and workforce; advance rural public health sciences; and improve rural public health preparedness and response capacity.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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Outlines the CDC Office of Rural Health's strategic plan to improve health outcomes in rural communities, in collaboration with internal and external partners and federal agencies, by supporting and advancing rural public health science and practice. Identifies 4 key priorities for the next 5 years: advance results-based engagement with partners and communities to address rural public health challenges; strengthen rural public health infrastructure and workforce; advance rural public health sciences; and improve rural public health preparedness and response capacity.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
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