Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123): CHIP, Public Health, Home Visiting, and Medicaid Provisions in Division E
Highlights a report on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. Details appropriations for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, public health, and other provisions in Division E. Provides some discussion of the effect of these appropriations on rural communities.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Highlights a report on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. Details appropriations for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, public health, and other provisions in Division E. Provides some discussion of the effect of these appropriations on rural communities.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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CMS Innovation Center: Model Implementation and Center Performance
Examines the activities of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Innovation Center. Discusses the Center's goals of identifying, testing, and improving payment and delivery models, while cutting healthcare costs and sharing best practices. Includes models tested in rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the activities of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Innovation Center. Discusses the Center's goals of identifying, testing, and improving payment and delivery models, while cutting healthcare costs and sharing best practices. Includes models tested in rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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State Innovation Models (SIM) Initiative Evaluation: Model Test Year Four Annual Report
Fourth 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). Describes the experiences of providers, health systems, consumers, payers, and state officials during the final full implementation year for most Round 1 states. Presents interim impacts on healthcare utilization, cost, and quality for individuals reached by SIM-supported VPMs during the SIM Initiative period. Includes information specific to rural areas.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Fourth 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). Describes the experiences of providers, health systems, consumers, payers, and state officials during the final full implementation year for most Round 1 states. Presents interim impacts on healthcare utilization, cost, and quality for individuals reached by SIM-supported VPMs during the SIM Initiative period. Includes information specific to rural areas.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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State-Based Marketplaces Outperform Federally-Facilitated Marketplaces
Compares state-based and federally-facilitated health insurance marketplaces from 2016-2018 related to changes in premiums and number of insurers. Includes some information on nonmetropolitan counties, with the appendix providing charts comparing carrier count in metro and nonmetro counties.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Jane M. Zhu, Daniel Polsky, Yuehan Zhang
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
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Compares state-based and federally-facilitated health insurance marketplaces from 2016-2018 related to changes in premiums and number of insurers. Includes some information on nonmetropolitan counties, with the appendix providing charts comparing carrier count in metro and nonmetro counties.
Additional links: Appendix
Author(s): Jane M. Zhu, Daniel Polsky, Yuehan Zhang
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
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Infectious Diseases and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Policy Issues and Recommendations
Report details policy recommendations regarding infectious diseases, such as HIV and HCV, linked to injection drug use (IDU). Recommendations look at prevention as well as treatment. Features several important policy considerations for rural communities.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organizations: HIV Medicine Association, Infectious Disease Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Disease Society
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Report details policy recommendations regarding infectious diseases, such as HIV and HCV, linked to injection drug use (IDU). Recommendations look at prevention as well as treatment. Features several important policy considerations for rural communities.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organizations: HIV Medicine Association, Infectious Disease Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Disease Society
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Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123): Brief Summary of Division E--The Advancing Chronic Care, Extenders, and Social Services (ACCESS) Act
Brief summary of ACCESS Act provisions, and names of experts knowledgeable about each point. Topics include Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), public health, child and family services, foster care, social impact partnerships, child support enforcement, and prison data reporting. Features provisions specific to institutions and services in rural areas, including hospitals, home health, and ambulance services.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Brief summary of ACCESS Act provisions, and names of experts knowledgeable about each point. Topics include Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), public health, child and family services, foster care, social impact partnerships, child support enforcement, and prison data reporting. Features provisions specific to institutions and services in rural areas, including hospitals, home health, and ambulance services.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Insurers Remaining in Affordable Care Act Markets Prepared for Continued Uncertainty in 2018, 2019
Results of interviews with 10 insurance companies that participate in the individual market in 28 states and the District of Columbia, regarding their participation and pricing decisions for plan years 2018 and 2019.
Author(s): Sabrina Corlette, Linda Blumberg, John Holahan, et al.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Urban Institute
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Results of interviews with 10 insurance companies that participate in the individual market in 28 states and the District of Columbia, regarding their participation and pricing decisions for plan years 2018 and 2019.
Author(s): Sabrina Corlette, Linda Blumberg, John Holahan, et al.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organizations: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Urban Institute
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Oversight Hearing on Opioids in Indian Country: Beyond the Crisis to Healing the Community
Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on the opioid crisis in Indian Country. Features testimony from representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, the Indian Health Service, the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, and the National Indian Health Board.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Presents the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on the opioid crisis in Indian Country. Features testimony from representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, the Indian Health Service, the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, and the National Indian Health Board.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2018
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, telehealth, payment incentive programs, and payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services.
Additional links: Chapter 14 Online-Only Appendixes: The Medicare Prescription Drug Program (Part D): Status Report (March 2018 Report, Revised June 25, 2018), Chapter 16 Online-Only Appendixes: Mandated Report: Telehealth Services and the Medicare Program (March 2018 report), Errata Sheet: Table 9-7, Page 255 (March 2018 Report, Revised May 30, 2018)
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, telehealth, payment incentive programs, and payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services.
Additional links: Chapter 14 Online-Only Appendixes: The Medicare Prescription Drug Program (Part D): Status Report (March 2018 Report, Revised June 25, 2018), Chapter 16 Online-Only Appendixes: Mandated Report: Telehealth Services and the Medicare Program (March 2018 report), Errata Sheet: Table 9-7, Page 255 (March 2018 Report, Revised May 30, 2018)
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, March 2018
Reports on three aspects of Medicaid: managed care, telehealth, and Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments. Chapter 2 discusses how the use of telehealth services can help patients access healthcare services in rural and frontier areas. Chapter 3 includes the third annual report on DSH payments, which provide support to safety-net hospitals to help offset uncompensated care costs for Medicaid and uninsured patients. Table 3-2 identifies DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Reports on three aspects of Medicaid: managed care, telehealth, and Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments. Chapter 2 discusses how the use of telehealth services can help patients access healthcare services in rural and frontier areas. Chapter 3 includes the third annual report on DSH payments, which provide support to safety-net hospitals to help offset uncompensated care costs for Medicaid and uninsured patients. Table 3-2 identifies DSH spending for urban and rural hospitals and for Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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