Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2019
Reports on three aspects of Medicaid: improving the structure of Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payment reductions, oversight of upper payment limits for supplemental payments to hospitals, and Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to states. Chapter 3 includes the annual report on DSH payments, which provide support to safety-net hospitals to help offset uncompensated care costs for Medicaid and uninsured patients. Table 3-1 identifies DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Reports on three aspects of Medicaid: improving the structure of Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payment reductions, oversight of upper payment limits for supplemental payments to hospitals, and Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to states. Chapter 3 includes the annual report on DSH payments, which provide support to safety-net hospitals to help offset uncompensated care costs for Medicaid and uninsured patients. Table 3-1 identifies DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Drilling Down on Dental Coverage and Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries
Examines the oral health of Medicare beneficiaries. Addresses the costs of not obtaining dental care, use of dental services, current sources of dental coverage, and out-of-pocket spending. Includes rural/urban breakdowns.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Examines the oral health of Medicare beneficiaries. Addresses the costs of not obtaining dental care, use of dental services, current sources of dental coverage, and out-of-pocket spending. Includes rural/urban breakdowns.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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High Risk: Progress Made but Continued Attention Needed to Address Management Weaknesses at Federal Agencies Serving Indian Tribes
Identifies progress made and areas that still need to be addressed to remove the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Indian Health Service (IHS) from the Government Accountability Office's list of high risk federal programs. Addresses leadership commitment, demonstrated progress, action plans, monitoring, and capacity. Appendix III lists open recommendations for IHS.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Identifies progress made and areas that still need to be addressed to remove the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Indian Health Service (IHS) from the Government Accountability Office's list of high risk federal programs. Addresses leadership commitment, demonstrated progress, action plans, monitoring, and capacity. Appendix III lists open recommendations for IHS.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Where Are They Now: Indian Programs on the GAO High Risk List
Features a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing discussing three high risk programs serving American Indians and Alaska Natives. Features testimony from representatives of the Government Accountability Office, the Bureau of Indian Education, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Indian Health Service.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Features a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing discussing three high risk programs serving American Indians and Alaska Natives. Features testimony from representatives of the Government Accountability Office, the Bureau of Indian Education, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Indian Health Service.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Implementation and Early Results of the Flex Program's Innovative Models Program Area: Final Evaluation Report
Reports on the implementation of the Flex Program and the integration of the Innovative Health Care Models (Innovative Projects) program area in 7 states focused on telehealth, care coordination, and quality improvement. Highlights lessons learned, program discussion, and the evaluation methods for each of the projects. Builds on a 2018 briefing paper, An Interim Evaluation Report of the Innovative Projects Portfolio of the Medicare Flex Grant Program.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Andrew Coburn
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Reports on the implementation of the Flex Program and the integration of the Innovative Health Care Models (Innovative Projects) program area in 7 states focused on telehealth, care coordination, and quality improvement. Highlights lessons learned, program discussion, and the evaluation methods for each of the projects. Builds on a 2018 briefing paper, An Interim Evaluation Report of the Innovative Projects Portfolio of the Medicare Flex Grant Program.
Author(s): John A. Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster, Andrew Coburn
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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The Clean Water State Revolving Fund: How Federal Infrastructure Investment Can Help Communities Modernize Water Infrastructure and Address Affordability Challenges
Provides a recording of U.S. House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hearing addressing storm and wastewater infrastructure and affordability challenges and the potential for federal investments to help. Identifies some health impacts of rural water infrastructure issues. Includes testimony from the National Rural Water Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, a rural development manager, and more.
Additional links: Catherine Flowers Testimony, John Mokszycki Testimony
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organizations: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, U.S. House of Representatives
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Provides a recording of U.S. House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hearing addressing storm and wastewater infrastructure and affordability challenges and the potential for federal investments to help. Identifies some health impacts of rural water infrastructure issues. Includes testimony from the National Rural Water Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, a rural development manager, and more.
Additional links: Catherine Flowers Testimony, John Mokszycki Testimony
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organizations: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, U.S. House of Representatives
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Best Practices and Barriers to Engaging People with Substance Use Disorders in Treatment
Reports on a study of how health plans are successfully engaging people in substance use disorder treatment for alcohol, opioids, and other substances. Discusses how initiation and engagement can be improved for commercial and Medicaid health insurance plans. Addresses rural factors throughout.
Author(s): Peggy O'Brien, Erika Crable, Catherine Fullerton, Lauren Hughey
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Reports on a study of how health plans are successfully engaging people in substance use disorder treatment for alcohol, opioids, and other substances. Discusses how initiation and engagement can be improved for commercial and Medicaid health insurance plans. Addresses rural factors throughout.
Author(s): Peggy O'Brien, Erika Crable, Catherine Fullerton, Lauren Hughey
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Public Witness Hearing — Tribal Programs: Day 1, Morning Session
Provides a recording of a U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing focused on American Indian/Alaskan Native health needs and relevant federal programs and funding, such as the Indian Health Service. Discussions address the impact of the opioid epidemic, murdered and missing indigenous women, health disparities in areas such as diabetes, health workforce recruitment, and more. Includes links to testimonies from tribal chairs and organizations related to tribal health.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Appropriations
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Provides a recording of a U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing focused on American Indian/Alaskan Native health needs and relevant federal programs and funding, such as the Indian Health Service. Discussions address the impact of the opioid epidemic, murdered and missing indigenous women, health disparities in areas such as diabetes, health workforce recruitment, and more. Includes links to testimonies from tribal chairs and organizations related to tribal health.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Appropriations
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How Affordable Are 2019 ACA Premiums for Middle-Income People?
Examines the cost of health insurance premiums for plans available through Affordable Care Act Exchanges and discusses the implications for rural areas. Includes an interactive map showing differences in insurance cost by county, income, and age.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Examines the cost of health insurance premiums for plans available through Affordable Care Act Exchanges and discusses the implications for rural areas. Includes an interactive map showing differences in insurance cost by county, income, and age.
Date: 03/2019
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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U.S. Public Health Response to the Measles Outbreak
Offers a testimony from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases as part of the February 27, 2019, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing titled "Confronting a Growing Public Health Threat: Measles Outbreaks in the U.S." Addresses vaccines; the outbreak of measles; U.S. immunization programs and policies; and challenges to preventing vaccine preventative diseases, including disparities in rural areas.
Author(s): Nancy Messonnier
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Offers a testimony from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases as part of the February 27, 2019, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing titled "Confronting a Growing Public Health Threat: Measles Outbreaks in the U.S." Addresses vaccines; the outbreak of measles; U.S. immunization programs and policies; and challenges to preventing vaccine preventative diseases, including disparities in rural areas.
Author(s): Nancy Messonnier
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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