Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
In Support of Family Caregivers: A Snapshot of Five States
Examines policies developed in Washington, Minnesota, Hawaii, Tennessee, and Maine to support family caregivers, including those in rural areas. Features demographic characteristics of the states profiled, state expenditures by the Administration for Community Living in FY2016 on older adults and caregivers, and data on state Medicaid policies affecting these groups.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Jennifer Aufill, Julia Burgdorf, Jennifer Wolff
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Milbank Memorial Fund, The John A. Hartford Foundation
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Examines policies developed in Washington, Minnesota, Hawaii, Tennessee, and Maine to support family caregivers, including those in rural areas. Features demographic characteristics of the states profiled, state expenditures by the Administration for Community Living in FY2016 on older adults and caregivers, and data on state Medicaid policies affecting these groups.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Jennifer Aufill, Julia Burgdorf, Jennifer Wolff
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Milbank Memorial Fund, The John A. Hartford Foundation
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Serving Rural America: How Health Insurance Providers Break Down Barriers to Ensure Access to Care
Highlights healthcare challenges in the rural U.S. and provides examples of how health insurance providers have helped address those challenges through telehealth, remote patient monitoring, incentives for rural providers, payment models, and targeting the opioid epidemic. Offers recommendations for state and federal policymakers related to rural recruitment, telehealth, insurance affordability, and population health.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: AHIP
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Highlights healthcare challenges in the rural U.S. and provides examples of how health insurance providers have helped address those challenges through telehealth, remote patient monitoring, incentives for rural providers, payment models, and targeting the opioid epidemic. Offers recommendations for state and federal policymakers related to rural recruitment, telehealth, insurance affordability, and population health.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: AHIP
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Lower Health Care Costs Act
Recording of a U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the Lower Health Care Costs Act, which covers access to healthcare, surprise medical bills, market competition, drug prices, and other issues. Includes testimony from an organization that works primarily with small and rural practices, the American Hospital Association, American Enterprise Institute, and others.
Additional links: Benedic N. Ippolito Testimony, Sean Cavanaugh Testimony, Tom Nickels Testimony
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Recording of a U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the Lower Health Care Costs Act, which covers access to healthcare, surprise medical bills, market competition, drug prices, and other issues. Includes testimony from an organization that works primarily with small and rural practices, the American Hospital Association, American Enterprise Institute, and others.
Additional links: Benedic N. Ippolito Testimony, Sean Cavanaugh Testimony, Tom Nickels Testimony
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Skilled Nursing Facility PPS for FY 2020
Comments on an April 25, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule updating payments for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and SNF quality reporting. Addresses proposed changes to the wage index system that would adjust for geographical differences, potentially impacting rural areas.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on an April 25, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule updating payments for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and SNF quality reporting. Addresses proposed changes to the wage index system that would adjust for geographical differences, potentially impacting rural areas.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Hospice for FY 2020
Comments on an April 25, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule updating payments for hospice and hospice quality reporting. Addresses proposed changes to the wage index system that would adjust for geographical differences, potentially impacting rural areas.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on an April 25, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule updating payments for hospice and hospice quality reporting. Addresses proposed changes to the wage index system that would adjust for geographical differences, potentially impacting rural areas.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility PPS for FY 2020
Comments on an April 24, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule updating payments for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs) and IRF quality reporting. Addresses proposed changes to the wage index system that would adjust for geographical differences, potentially impacting rural areas.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on an April 24, 2019, Federal Register proposed rule updating payments for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs) and IRF quality reporting. Addresses proposed changes to the wage index system that would adjust for geographical differences, potentially impacting rural areas.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2019
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and offers recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Includes a chapter on access to primary care for Medicare beneficiaries that addresses rural access to care and programs supporting it, such as the National Health Service Corps. Other sections of the report addressing rural concerns focus on Medicare enrollment, changes in hospice and post-acute care after implementing the long-term care hospital dual payment-rate structure, and Medicare fee-for-service spending for emergency department services.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Evaluates Medicare payment issues and offers recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Includes a chapter on access to primary care for Medicare beneficiaries that addresses rural access to care and programs supporting it, such as the National Health Service Corps. Other sections of the report addressing rural concerns focus on Medicare enrollment, changes in hospice and post-acute care after implementing the long-term care hospital dual payment-rate structure, and Medicare fee-for-service spending for emergency department services.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Mandated Report - Medicaid in Puerto Rico
Chapter 5 of the semi-annual Report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. Analyzes Puerto Rico's Medicaid program and factors affecting its future. Features statistics including selected health indicators for Puerto Rico compared with U.S. mainland states, projected Medicaid benefit spending for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, and Medicaid spending in Puerto Rico by year and source of funds for FYs 2011-2019.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Chapter 5 of the semi-annual Report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. Analyzes Puerto Rico's Medicaid program and factors affecting its future. Features statistics including selected health indicators for Puerto Rico compared with U.S. mainland states, projected Medicaid benefit spending for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, and Medicaid spending in Puerto Rico by year and source of funds for FYs 2011-2019.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2019
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Addresses the Medicaid Prescription Drug Program and Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to safety-net hospitals, therapeutic foster care coverage, state efforts to improve Medicaid integrity, and challenges facing Medicaid in Puerto Rico.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Addresses the Medicaid Prescription Drug Program and Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to safety-net hospitals, therapeutic foster care coverage, state efforts to improve Medicaid integrity, and challenges facing Medicaid in Puerto Rico.
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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The Doctor is Out. Rising Student Loan Debt and the Decline of the Small Medical Practice
Provides a recording of a hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business regarding health profession school debt and the impact on specialization and practice decisions, particularly the reduction of sole practices in rural areas, and methods for addressing these issues. Includes testimony from representatives of the American Physical Therapy Association, American Association of Orthodontics, American College of Physicians, and American Enterprise Institute.
Additional links: Lauren Wiese Testimony, Sandra Norby Testimony, Tracey L. Henry Testimony, Video Recording
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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Provides a recording of a hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business regarding health profession school debt and the impact on specialization and practice decisions, particularly the reduction of sole practices in rural areas, and methods for addressing these issues. Includes testimony from representatives of the American Physical Therapy Association, American Association of Orthodontics, American College of Physicians, and American Enterprise Institute.
Additional links: Lauren Wiese Testimony, Sandra Norby Testimony, Tracey L. Henry Testimony, Video Recording
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: U.S. House of Representatives
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