Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Nurse Practitioner Race and Ethnicity and Interest in Independent Primary Care Practice and Serving Medicaid Enrollees
Surveyed California nurse practitioners (NPs) to determine the current practice and practice intentions following scope of practice regulation changes in California. Presents 2023 data showing rurality of NPs by amount of primary care offered and Medicaid patient caseload currently and those considering independent primary care practice, among other characteristics.
Author(s): Ulrike Muench, Amy Quan, Rosalind de Lisser, Timothy Bates, Joanne Spetz
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(12)
Date: 11/2024
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Surveyed California nurse practitioners (NPs) to determine the current practice and practice intentions following scope of practice regulation changes in California. Presents 2023 data showing rurality of NPs by amount of primary care offered and Medicaid patient caseload currently and those considering independent primary care practice, among other characteristics.
Author(s): Ulrike Muench, Amy Quan, Rosalind de Lisser, Timothy Bates, Joanne Spetz
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(12)
Date: 11/2024
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Wait Time Standards for Behavioral Health Network Adequacy
Presents findings from an environmental scan, key informant interviews, and case studies exploring efforts to measure and monitor provider networks through wait time standards. Describes how wait time standards can vary by provider type, service type, patient characteristics, and geographic region. Discusses challenges faced by state regulators in setting such standards. Includes rural references throughout.
Author(s): Anna Sommers, Elysha Theis, Kenneth Fassel, Brent Gibbons, Miku Fujita
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RTI International
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Presents findings from an environmental scan, key informant interviews, and case studies exploring efforts to measure and monitor provider networks through wait time standards. Describes how wait time standards can vary by provider type, service type, patient characteristics, and geographic region. Discusses challenges faced by state regulators in setting such standards. Includes rural references throughout.
Author(s): Anna Sommers, Elysha Theis, Kenneth Fassel, Brent Gibbons, Miku Fujita
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, RTI International
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Evaluation of the Impact of the No Surprises Act on Health Care Market Outcomes: Exploring Pre-Implementation Trends - Second Annual Report
Provides an overview of the No Surprises Act, which aims to protect participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees in group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage from surprise medical bills. Updates key trends in factors that will be important to evaluate the effects of the No Surprises Act identified in the First Annual Report, including market consolidation and concentration, out-of-network billing, and potential surprise bills. Describes discussions with healthcare providers, private health plans and issuers, and patients regarding implementation and understanding of the No Surprises Act.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the No Surprises Act, which aims to protect participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees in group health plans and group and individual health insurance coverage from surprise medical bills. Updates key trends in factors that will be important to evaluate the effects of the No Surprises Act identified in the First Annual Report, including market consolidation and concentration, out-of-network billing, and potential surprise bills. Describes discussions with healthcare providers, private health plans and issuers, and patients regarding implementation and understanding of the No Surprises Act.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Internet Devices and Internet Access Among Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, North Carolina, 2023
Reports on survey results of 1,034 migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North Carolina about their access to the internet, internet speed, affordability, access to devices, and awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Presents factors impacting consistent internet access and video capacity.
Author(s): Joseph G.L. Lee, Mary Roby, Roger G. Russell, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 2024
Date: 11/2024
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Reports on survey results of 1,034 migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North Carolina about their access to the internet, internet speed, affordability, access to devices, and awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Presents factors impacting consistent internet access and video capacity.
Author(s): Joseph G.L. Lee, Mary Roby, Roger G. Russell, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 2024
Date: 11/2024
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Strengthening Independent Primary Care Practice in California: Understanding Small Practice Perspectives
Examines business and financial factors influencing independent primary care practice in California through interviews with physicians in California's Riverside, San Bernardino, and Humboldt counties and other healthcare leaders and subject matter experts. Identifies common concerns and provides recommendations related to healthcare economics, reimbursement, and policy. Discusses topics related to rural practice, including the Rural Health Clinic designation.
Author(s): Jill M. Yegian
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: California Health Care Foundation
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Examines business and financial factors influencing independent primary care practice in California through interviews with physicians in California's Riverside, San Bernardino, and Humboldt counties and other healthcare leaders and subject matter experts. Identifies common concerns and provides recommendations related to healthcare economics, reimbursement, and policy. Discusses topics related to rural practice, including the Rural Health Clinic designation.
Author(s): Jill M. Yegian
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: California Health Care Foundation
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RHC Regulatory Changes in 2025 - Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Updates You Need to Know!
Recording of a November 18, 2024, webinar providing an overview of telehealth payment rates for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and other regulatory updates and potential changes for 2025. Covers Medicare vaccine reimbursement changes, the elimination of productivity standards, lab requirement changes, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services, telehealth regulations, and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a November 18, 2024, webinar providing an overview of telehealth payment rates for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and other regulatory updates and potential changes for 2025. Covers Medicare vaccine reimbursement changes, the elimination of productivity standards, lab requirement changes, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services, telehealth regulations, and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Interconnected: The Future of Nursing Homes & Elder Care Across Minnesota
A recorded webinar in which an expert panel discusses the issue of an aging populace in Minnesota alongside a decrease in skilled nursing care capacity. Focuses on regional supply and demand data, business models and facility closures, and policy to improve elder care in Minnesota. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Kim Brenne, Erin Huppert, Kathy Messerli, Barb Jezorski, Jason Anderson
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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A recorded webinar in which an expert panel discusses the issue of an aging populace in Minnesota alongside a decrease in skilled nursing care capacity. Focuses on regional supply and demand data, business models and facility closures, and policy to improve elder care in Minnesota. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Kim Brenne, Erin Huppert, Kathy Messerli, Barb Jezorski, Jason Anderson
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2024
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2024. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2024. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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January 2025 Annual Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Monthly Facility Payment Amount
Presents the monthly Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2025.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Presents the monthly Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2025.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities: FY2024 Year in Review
Summarizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities in fiscal year 2024 to advance health and ensure affordable healthcare for people living in rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. Covers 6 priority focus areas: applying a community-informed geographic lens; increasing the collection and use of standardized data; strengthening and supporting healthcare professionals; optimizing medical and communication technology; expanding access to comprehensive healthcare coverage, benefits, and services and supports; and driving innovation and value-based care.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Summarizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities in fiscal year 2024 to advance health and ensure affordable healthcare for people living in rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. Covers 6 priority focus areas: applying a community-informed geographic lens; increasing the collection and use of standardized data; strengthening and supporting healthcare professionals; optimizing medical and communication technology; expanding access to comprehensive healthcare coverage, benefits, and services and supports; and driving innovation and value-based care.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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