Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Impact of The Medicaid Budgetary Crisis on Rural Communities
Provides an overview of options states have to reduce Medicaid program costs, potential impact of these changes on rural areas, and potential impact of proposed federal changes to Medicaid for rural areas.
Author(s): Pam Silberman, Matthew Rudolf, Cammie D'Alpe, Randy Randolph, Rebecca Slifkin
Date: 08/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services Meeting Minutes, Uvalde, Texas, June 8-10, 2003
Minutes from a National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services meeting in Texas. Topics addressed include public health issues in Texas, mental health, oral health, and aging.
Date: 06/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Enrollment in FEHBP Plans in Rural America: What are the Implications for Medicare Reform?
Discusses how the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) functions in rural areas. FEHBP is being considered as a model for how private plans could be incorporated into the Medicare program and how an outpatient prescription drug benefit could be added.
Additional links: State-by-State FEHBP Enrollment Analysis, State-by-State FEHBP Enrollment Analysis, by County and Plan
Author(s): Timothy McBride, Keith Mueller, Courtney Andrews, Liyan Xu, Roslyn Fraser
Citation: RUPRI Rural Policy Brief, 8(8)
Date: 06/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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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
Type: Document
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Rural Hospital HIPAA Readiness and Resource Needs
Presents a survey of rural hospitals regarding the extent of their preparation for HIPAA requirements and their need for resources to implement HIPAA requirements. Results shown by hospital size. Also includes information on financial and staff commitment levels.
Author(s): J. Patrick Hart, Wanqing Zhang, Jane L. Meza, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: RUPRI Rural Policy Brief, 8(6)
Date: 05/2003
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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