Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Rural-Urban Issues in the Wage Index Adjustment for Prospective Payment in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Discusses the use of the hospital wage index for the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (SNF PPS) and how a change to an SNF wage index would impact rural and urban skilled nursing facilities. Also identifies some related issues that impact reimbursement to SNFs in both urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings Brief, January 2004
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 11/2003
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Discusses the use of the hospital wage index for the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (SNF PPS) and how a change to an SNF wage index would impact rural and urban skilled nursing facilities. Also identifies some related issues that impact reimbursement to SNFs in both urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Findings Brief, January 2004
Author(s): Kathleen Dalton, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 11/2003
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Ambulance Services: Medicare Payments Can be Better Targeted to Trips in Less Densely Populated Rural Areas
Covers factors that affect ambulance costs per trip, how these factors vary across geographic areas, and how well Medicare payments account for geographic cost differences.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2003
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Covers factors that affect ambulance costs per trip, how these factors vary across geographic areas, and how well Medicare payments account for geographic cost differences.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2003
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Medicare: Modest Eligibility Expansion for Critical Access Hospital Program Should Be Considered
Examines the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program and makes recommendations on CAH eligibility related to the ban on inpatient psychiatric or rehabilitation distinct part units and the limit on patient census.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2003
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program and makes recommendations on CAH eligibility related to the ban on inpatient psychiatric or rehabilitation distinct part units and the limit on patient census.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2003
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural Housing Service: Opportunities to Improve Management
Overview of the USDA Rural Housing Service program and discussion of whether a separate rural program for housing is still needed.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): William B. Shear
Date: 06/2003
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Overview of the USDA Rural Housing Service program and discussion of whether a separate rural program for housing is still needed.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): William B. Shear
Date: 06/2003
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Variation and Innovation in Medicare
Analyzes variation within the Medicare program and explores a variety of possible payment innovations. Includes some rural-specific information. Geographic, market, quality, hospital financial performance, and use of physician services variations are covered. Also examines Medicare's reimbursement for Part B drugs. Recommendations include quality incentives and competitive pricing.
Date: 06/2003
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Analyzes variation within the Medicare program and explores a variety of possible payment innovations. Includes some rural-specific information. Geographic, market, quality, hospital financial performance, and use of physician services variations are covered. Also examines Medicare's reimbursement for Part B drugs. Recommendations include quality incentives and competitive pricing.
Date: 06/2003
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations: Some Coordination Efforts Among Programs Providing Transportation Services, but Obstacles to Coordination Persist
Discusses 62 federal programs that fund a variety of transportation services, including transportation for health and medical care, for the transportation-disadvantaged. Also includes discussion of the role of coordination in improving access to transportation.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2003
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses 62 federal programs that fund a variety of transportation services, including transportation for health and medical care, for the transportation-disadvantaged. Also includes discussion of the role of coordination in improving access to transportation.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2003
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Trends in Rural Hospital Closure: 1990 - 2000
Focuses on the extent, characteristics, reasons for and impact of rural hospitals closures from 1990 through 2000. Includes rural hospital closure data by state.
Date: 05/2003
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Focuses on the extent, characteristics, reasons for and impact of rural hospitals closures from 1990 through 2000. Includes rural hospital closure data by state.
Date: 05/2003
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Health Care Quality: The Rural Context
Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Examines healthcare quality and patient safety from a rural perspective, discusses the rural impact of quality initiatives underway within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and offers policy recommendations.
Date: 04/2003
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Examines healthcare quality and patient safety from a rural perspective, discusses the rural impact of quality initiatives underway within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and offers policy recommendations.
Date: 04/2003
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2003
Report to the Congress. Reviews the Medicare prospective payment systems (PPSs) for seven sectors: hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient dialysis, and ambulatory surgical center services. Also discusses broader issues related to Medicare payments. Includes recommendations. Appendix with data on hospital financial performance for 1991-2000.
Date: 03/2003
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Report to the Congress. Reviews the Medicare prospective payment systems (PPSs) for seven sectors: hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, physician, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient dialysis, and ambulatory surgical center services. Also discusses broader issues related to Medicare payments. Includes recommendations. Appendix with data on hospital financial performance for 1991-2000.
Date: 03/2003
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Addressing the New Health Care Crisis: Reforming the Medical Litigation System to Improve the Quality of Health Care
Discusses the medical litigation system as it relates to health care access. Includes statistics on malpractice insurance rates. Proposes limits on non-economic damages and protection from litigation for reporting safety problems.
Date: 03/2003
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Discusses the medical litigation system as it relates to health care access. Includes statistics on malpractice insurance rates. Proposes limits on non-economic damages and protection from litigation for reporting safety problems.
Date: 03/2003
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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