Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Perspectives of Physicians in Small Rural Practices on the Medicare Quality Payment Program
Provides feedback from small, rural practices on the implementation of Medicare's Quality Payment Program (QPP), which includes the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). Identifies challenges rural physicians face and offers recommendations to help more small practices participate in the program.
Author(s): Peter Mendel, Christine Buttorff, Peggy G. Chen, et al.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Provides feedback from small, rural practices on the implementation of Medicare's Quality Payment Program (QPP), which includes the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). Identifies challenges rural physicians face and offers recommendations to help more small practices participate in the program.
Author(s): Peter Mendel, Christine Buttorff, Peggy G. Chen, et al.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RAND Corporation
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Rural Depopulation in a Rapidly Urbanizing America
Examines demographic trends in rural America. Compares rural counties based on peak population over time, with "depopulation" counties having reached peak population by 1950 and lost at least 25% of that peak population by 2010, "gain" counties having a larger population in 2010 than at any point in the past, and "other loss" counties with mixed histories of population gain and loss. Identifies policy options for addressing rural depopulation.
Author(s): Kenneth M. Johnson, Daniel T. Lichter
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Examines demographic trends in rural America. Compares rural counties based on peak population over time, with "depopulation" counties having reached peak population by 1950 and lost at least 25% of that peak population by 2010, "gain" counties having a larger population in 2010 than at any point in the past, and "other loss" counties with mixed histories of population gain and loss. Identifies policy options for addressing rural depopulation.
Author(s): Kenneth M. Johnson, Daniel T. Lichter
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Proposed Rural-Specific Objectives for Healthy People 2030
Supports adding a category for rural health to Healthy People 2030 along with specific objectives related to mortality, obesity, healthcare access, and more. Identifies rural/urban disparities for each objective, rationales for including them, possible measures for them, and data sources.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Supports adding a category for rural health to Healthy People 2030 along with specific objectives related to mortality, obesity, healthcare access, and more. Identifies rural/urban disparities for each objective, rationales for including them, possible measures for them, and data sources.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Building Rural Communities: Honoring the Past, Maintaining the Mission, & Creating a Stronger Vision
Video recording of the 2018 Rural Housing Conference that covers discussions of rural housing policy priorities, housing affordability, community partnerships, sustainability, and more. Includes 14 sessions available for viewing.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Video recording of the 2018 Rural Housing Conference that covers discussions of rural housing policy priorities, housing affordability, community partnerships, sustainability, and more. Includes 14 sessions available for viewing.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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America's Child Care Deserts in 2018
Assesses child care availability in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a special emphasis on how limited or complete lack of access disproportionately impacts rural and Hispanic/Latino populations. Includes discussion on child care deserts and provides a list of policy recommendations to increase access to low-cost and high-quality child care.
Author(s): Rasheed Malik, Katie Hamm, Leila Schochet, et al.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Assesses child care availability in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a special emphasis on how limited or complete lack of access disproportionately impacts rural and Hispanic/Latino populations. Includes discussion on child care deserts and provides a list of policy recommendations to increase access to low-cost and high-quality child care.
Author(s): Rasheed Malik, Katie Hamm, Leila Schochet, et al.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for American Progress
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Medicaid Inpatient Hospital Services Fee-for-Service Payment Policy
Provides an overview of Medicaid payment policies for inpatient hospital services. Includes a link to an Excel sheet with details for each state, including adjustments for rural geography and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Additional links: State Medicaid Payment Policies for Inpatient Hospital Services
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Provides an overview of Medicaid payment policies for inpatient hospital services. Includes a link to an Excel sheet with details for each state, including adjustments for rural geography and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Additional links: State Medicaid Payment Policies for Inpatient Hospital Services
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Test Year Five Annual Report
Fifth annual report on Round 1 of the CMS State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative, which tests the ability of the governments in six states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont - to move providers to value-based payment models (VPMs). Presents the final summary findings for SIM Round 1. Includes information specific to rural areas.
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Fifth annual report on Round 1 of the CMS State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative, which tests the ability of the governments in six states - Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont - to move providers to value-based payment models (VPMs). Presents the final summary findings for SIM Round 1. Includes information specific to rural areas.
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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HCR95 SD1 Report on Availability of Long-Term Care Beds and its Impact on Wait Times for Acute Care Hospital Beds
Responds to a resolution from the Hawaii legislature requesting an examination of the impact of long-term care bed availability on acute care bed wait times. Reports regionally on challenges from community hospitals across the state, including Critical Access Hospitals and sole community hospitals. Identifies social, economic, and psychiatric factors impacting the ability of hospitals to discharge patients to long-term care and discusses the effects on hospital capacity. Highlights a pilot project planned for the Oahu Region.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
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Responds to a resolution from the Hawaii legislature requesting an examination of the impact of long-term care bed availability on acute care bed wait times. Reports regionally on challenges from community hospitals across the state, including Critical Access Hospitals and sole community hospitals. Identifies social, economic, and psychiatric factors impacting the ability of hospitals to discharge patients to long-term care and discusses the effects on hospital capacity. Highlights a pilot project planned for the Oahu Region.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
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Medicare: Voluntary and Mandatory Episode-Based Payment Models and Their Participants
Reviews tests of 6 episode-based Medicare payment models. Describes the characteristics of providers that participated in these models, including rural or urban location, addresses factors affecting their decision to participate, and compares the advantages of mandatory versus voluntary participation.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Reviews tests of 6 episode-based Medicare payment models. Describes the characteristics of providers that participated in these models, including rural or urban location, addresses factors affecting their decision to participate, and compares the advantages of mandatory versus voluntary participation.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Addressing the Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Rural America
Discusses the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its impact on rural America. Covers rural risk factors for COPD and healthcare disparities influencing rural COPD patients' ability to access care. Discusses ongoing federal COPD programs and offers policy recommendations and considerations to improve access to COPD care and treatments for individuals living in rural areas.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Discusses the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its impact on rural America. Covers rural risk factors for COPD and healthcare disparities influencing rural COPD patients' ability to access care. Discusses ongoing federal COPD programs and offers policy recommendations and considerations to improve access to COPD care and treatments for individuals living in rural areas.
Date: 12/2018
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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