Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Health Subcommittee Hearing on Improving Value-Based Care for Patients and Providers
Recording of a June 26, 2024, House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health hearing on the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering better health outcomes and Medicare savings through value-based care. Features testimony from Sarah Chouinard, Chief Medical Officer of Main Street Health, regarding value-based care delivery in rural areas.
Additional links: Sarah Chouinard, Main Street Health - Testimony
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Recording of a June 26, 2024, House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health hearing on the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering better health outcomes and Medicare savings through value-based care. Features testimony from Sarah Chouinard, Chief Medical Officer of Main Street Health, regarding value-based care delivery in rural areas.
Additional links: Sarah Chouinard, Main Street Health - Testimony
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Health
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Differences in Use of Veterans Health Administration and Non-VHA Hospitals by Rural and Urban Veterans After Access Expansions
Presents a study on rural and urban differences in acute inpatient care utilization in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and non-VHA hospitals following expansions to the Veterans Choice Act. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as age, sex, and race, among others.
Author(s): Matthew P. Dizon, Kenneth W. Kizer, Michael K. Ong, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 446-456
Date: 06/2024
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Presents a study on rural and urban differences in acute inpatient care utilization in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and non-VHA hospitals following expansions to the Veterans Choice Act. Breaks down data by patient characteristics, such as age, sex, and race, among others.
Author(s): Matthew P. Dizon, Kenneth W. Kizer, Michael K. Ong, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 40(3), 446-456
Date: 06/2024
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Tribal Broadband: Additional Assistance to Recipients Would Better Support Implementation of $3 Billion in Federal Grants
This provides an overview of Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, including recipients who had not received prior funding from key federal broadband programs and recipients' plans for network ownership and financial sustainability. Examines the extent to which the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided technical assistance to recipients regarding financial sustainability and navigating the environmental review process. Presents recommendations to NTIA on technical assistance and reporting to Congress on the resources necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of TBCP projects.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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This provides an overview of Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, including recipients who had not received prior funding from key federal broadband programs and recipients' plans for network ownership and financial sustainability. Examines the extent to which the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided technical assistance to recipients regarding financial sustainability and navigating the environmental review process. Presents recommendations to NTIA on technical assistance and reporting to Congress on the resources necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of TBCP projects.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Racial and Ethnic and Rural Variations in Access to Primary Care for Veterans Following the MISSION Act
Examines the impact of the 2018 Veterans Affairs Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (VA MISSION) Act to provide veterans with equitable access to primary care. Analyzes VA and community care (CC) outpatient data to observe primary care utilization and wait times across Black, Hispanic, and White veteran populations, as well as by rural versus urban location. Discusses how policy can address healthcare access disparities experienced by U.S. veterans.
Author(s): Amy K. Rosen, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Michael Shwartz, Heather Davila, Deborah Gurewich
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(6)
Date: 06/2024
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Examines the impact of the 2018 Veterans Affairs Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (VA MISSION) Act to provide veterans with equitable access to primary care. Analyzes VA and community care (CC) outpatient data to observe primary care utilization and wait times across Black, Hispanic, and White veteran populations, as well as by rural versus urban location. Discusses how policy can address healthcare access disparities experienced by U.S. veterans.
Author(s): Amy K. Rosen, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Michael Shwartz, Heather Davila, Deborah Gurewich
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 5(6)
Date: 06/2024
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More Than 130,000 Households With Housing Vouchers Have Been Burdened by Child Care Costs Since 2017
A research brief that examines out-of-pocket costs of child care for families who receive housing vouchers. Includes state-by-state data as well as an interactive map that shows median childcare payment by county. Includes discussion about housing and childcare needs as well as recommended policy.
Author(s): Sara Shaw, Weilin Li, Sunny Sun, Edwin Crockett
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Child Trends
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A research brief that examines out-of-pocket costs of child care for families who receive housing vouchers. Includes state-by-state data as well as an interactive map that shows median childcare payment by county. Includes discussion about housing and childcare needs as well as recommended policy.
Author(s): Sara Shaw, Weilin Li, Sunny Sun, Edwin Crockett
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Child Trends
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Rural Health Leaders Overcoming Challenges with Alan Morgan, Kathy Kuepers and Steve Tenhouse
Podcast episode featuring two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) executives discussing factors that influence a rural health organization's growth and vitality, replacement facility projects, and building trust and stakeholder engagement. Also highlights a national partnership addressing rural hospital cybersecurity involving the White House, Google, Microsoft, the American Hospital Association, and the National Rural Health Association.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode featuring two Critical Access Hospital (CAH) executives discussing factors that influence a rural health organization's growth and vitality, replacement facility projects, and building trust and stakeholder engagement. Also highlights a national partnership addressing rural hospital cybersecurity involving the White House, Google, Microsoft, the American Hospital Association, and the National Rural Health Association.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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A Look at Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies During the Unwinding of Continuous Enrollment and Beyond
Provides a detailed overview of state policies related to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Covers policies related to Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, enrollment, and renewal as of May 2024. Describes state actions to improve systems, processes, and communications during the unwinding of the COVID-19 pandemic-era Medicaid continuous enrollment requirements.
Author(s): Tricia Brooks, Jennifer Tolbert, Allexa Gardner, et al.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Provides a detailed overview of state policies related to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Covers policies related to Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, enrollment, and renewal as of May 2024. Describes state actions to improve systems, processes, and communications during the unwinding of the COVID-19 pandemic-era Medicaid continuous enrollment requirements.
Author(s): Tricia Brooks, Jennifer Tolbert, Allexa Gardner, et al.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Is Rural Emergency Hospital the BEST Option for You?
Recording of a June 6, 2024, webinar regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation and conversion process. Features a discussion with three rural hospital leaders who consulted with the REH Technical Assistance Center when considering conversion. Transcript is available in the video description.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Recording of a June 6, 2024, webinar regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation and conversion process. Features a discussion with three rural hospital leaders who consulted with the REH Technical Assistance Center when considering conversion. Transcript is available in the video description.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Five Things to Know About Medicare Site-Neutral Payment Reforms
Discusses site-neutral payment reforms that seek to align Medicare payments with outpatient services in different settings. Examines benefits and drawbacks of the policy and discusses how the policy would impact rural hospitals.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Tricia Neuman, Scott Hulver
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses site-neutral payment reforms that seek to align Medicare payments with outpatient services in different settings. Examines benefits and drawbacks of the policy and discusses how the policy would impact rural hospitals.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Tricia Neuman, Scott Hulver
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Updated Analysis: Using Population-Based Outcome Measures to Assess the Impact of Telehealth Expansion on Medicare Beneficiaries' Access to Care and Quality of Care
Explores the association between telehealth use, quality of care, and access to care when both telehealth and in-person visits are available to fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries. Compares data from the second half of 2018 and 2019 to the second half of 2022 by the level of telehealth utilization in Hospital Service Areas (HSAs). Describes the effects of telehealth for urban and rural beneficiaries and differentiates between telehealth utilization for behavioral and non-behavioral health services. Updates a June 2023 report that analyzed data from 2021.
Author(s): Tanvi Rao, Angshuman Gooptu, Karin Johnson, Guido Cataife, Steven Susana-Castillo
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organizations: American Institutes for Research, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Explores the association between telehealth use, quality of care, and access to care when both telehealth and in-person visits are available to fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries. Compares data from the second half of 2018 and 2019 to the second half of 2022 by the level of telehealth utilization in Hospital Service Areas (HSAs). Describes the effects of telehealth for urban and rural beneficiaries and differentiates between telehealth utilization for behavioral and non-behavioral health services. Updates a June 2023 report that analyzed data from 2021.
Author(s): Tanvi Rao, Angshuman Gooptu, Karin Johnson, Guido Cataife, Steven Susana-Castillo
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organizations: American Institutes for Research, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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