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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2014
Includes chapters on synchronizing Medicare policy across payment models; improving risk adjustment; measuring quality of care; financial assistance for low-income beneficiaries; per beneficiary payment for primary care; site-neutral payments for select conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities and skilled nursing facilities; and measuring the effects of medication adherence for the Medicare population. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 06/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Preventing Rural Workforce by Design
Argues that the lack of primary care physicians in rural America could have been and can still be avoided. Discusses how policies aimed to attract recent graduates to primary healthcare, rather than specialty healthcare, can help address disparities between rural and urban healthcare.
Author(s): Robert Bowman, Michael Halasy
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 14(2), 2852
Date: 06/2014
Type: Document
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Alternative Workforce Models Chart
A table identifying and describing the alternative dental workforce models used in underserved and rural areas by state.
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Dental Education Association
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Affordable Care Act Opportunities for Community Health Workers: How Medicaid Preventive Services, Medicaid Health Homes, and State Innovation Models are Including Community Health Workers
Discusses how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has provided substantial incentives and opportunities to increase the role of community health workers (CHWs) in state Medicaid programs in urban and rural healthcare facilities (e.g. Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers).
Author(s): Amy Katzen, Maggie Morgan
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
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Assessing Hmong Farmers' Safety and Health
Reports results of a pilot project examining agricultural-related safety and health concerns and challenges faced by Hmong refugees working on family-operated farms.
Author(s): A. B. de Castro, Jennifer Krenz, Richard L. Neitzel,
Citation: Workplace Health & Safety, 62(5), 178-185
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
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Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for FQHCs; Changes to Contracting Policies for RHCs; and Changes to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Enforcement Actions for Proficiency Testing Referral
The final rule with comment period that implements the methodology and payment rates for a prospective payment system (PPS) for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) services beginning October 1, 2014, under Medicare Part B, in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Identifies the policy allowing Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) to contract with nonphysician practitioners when statutory requirements for employment of nurse practitioners and physician assistants are met, and incorporated other technical changes to FQHC and RHC regulations. Changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 enforcement actions for proficiency testing referral are included.
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The Virginia Health Care Landscape
Provides an overview of Virginia's demographics, state economy, population health, insurance coverage, Medicaid beneficiaries, and safety net providers, including Critical Access Hospitals. Includes some discussion of rural healthcare issues.
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Affordable Care Act and Insurance Coverage in Rural Areas
Examines differences in urban and rural populations and health insurance coverage patterns and assesses how ACA coverage reforms will affect rural and metropolitan areas in different ways.
Author(s): Vann Newkirk, Anthony Damico
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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A Guide to Understanding the Variation in Premiums in Rural Health Insurance Marketplaces
Discusses several factors to consider when comparing health insurance plans in the health insurance exchange marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act across geographic areas. Addresses impacts for rural areas.
Author(s): Abigail R. Barker, Timothy D. McBride, Leah M. Kemper, Keith Mueller
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Rural Practice, Keeping Physicians In
Discusses recruitment, retention, and training of rural physicians. Includes recommendations and key legislative and government issues addressing this issue.
Date: 05/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Academy of Family Physicians
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