Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
The Rural Emergency Hospital Model: Year Two Progress Report
Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment designation, including the growth in REHs through September 1, 2024, factors that contribute to a hospital seeking REH conversion, and the impacts of REH conversion. Outlines concerns identified by REH leaders, facilities considering converting to REH status, and other rural stakeholders related to the REH designation, as well as policy recommendations to address these concerns.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Julia Harris, Marilyn Werber Serafini
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Provides an overview of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment designation, including the growth in REHs through September 1, 2024, factors that contribute to a hospital seeking REH conversion, and the impacts of REH conversion. Outlines concerns identified by REH leaders, facilities considering converting to REH status, and other rural stakeholders related to the REH designation, as well as policy recommendations to address these concerns.
Author(s): Emma Sheffert, Julia Harris, Marilyn Werber Serafini
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Health Care Workforce: Key Issues, Challenges, and the Path Forward
Provides an overview of the supply and distribution of physicians, nurses, direct care workers, behavioral health workers, and oral healthcare providers. Describes persistent challenges related to the healthcare workforce, including supply and distribution of healthcare workers, especially in rural communities; burnout; compensation; and administrative burden. Identifies opportunities to address these challenges and efforts supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address these issues.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the supply and distribution of physicians, nurses, direct care workers, behavioral health workers, and oral healthcare providers. Describes persistent challenges related to the healthcare workforce, including supply and distribution of healthcare workers, especially in rural communities; burnout; compensation; and administrative burden. Identifies opportunities to address these challenges and efforts supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address these issues.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Medicare Part D Enrollees Reaching the Out-of-Pocket Limit by June 2024
Examines the number of Medicare Part D enrollees who reached the catastrophic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) out-of-pocket prescription drug spending cap by June 2024. Provides demographic information on enrollees who reach the catastrophic phase and the related savings, including breakdowns for state and metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural/unknown location.
Author(s): Kenneth Finegold, Kristen L. King, Bisma A. Sayed, Rachael Zuckerman
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines the number of Medicare Part D enrollees who reached the catastrophic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) out-of-pocket prescription drug spending cap by June 2024. Provides demographic information on enrollees who reach the catastrophic phase and the related savings, including breakdowns for state and metropolitan, micropolitan, or rural/unknown location.
Author(s): Kenneth Finegold, Kristen L. King, Bisma A. Sayed, Rachael Zuckerman
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Policy Innovations that Strengthen Rural Capacity to Access Investment
Podcast episode discussing challenges rural areas face in attracting investment and implementing community and economic development projects, and suggests state-level policies to address these issues and promote rural quality of life. Features perspectives from rural development experts and state and federal leaders. Transcript available below recording.
Author(s): Anthony Pipa
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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Podcast episode discussing challenges rural areas face in attracting investment and implementing community and economic development projects, and suggests state-level policies to address these issues and promote rural quality of life. Features perspectives from rural development experts and state and federal leaders. Transcript available below recording.
Author(s): Anthony Pipa
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: The Brookings Institution
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What to Know About Medicare Coverage of Telehealth
Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2024, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, fraud, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2024, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, fraud, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Health Care Transparency: CMS Needs More Information on Hospital Pricing Data Completeness and Accuracy
Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital price transparency requirements before and after 2024 updates to the requirements. Describes users' experiences with hospital pricing data before the 2024 updates. Examines CMS's enforcement of hospital price transparency requirements and offers recommendations to CMS regarding the sufficiency and accuracy of the data reported. Table 3 compares CMS enforcement actions by hospitals' rural or urban designation between 2021 and 2023.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital price transparency requirements before and after 2024 updates to the requirements. Describes users' experiences with hospital pricing data before the 2024 updates. Examines CMS's enforcement of hospital price transparency requirements and offers recommendations to CMS regarding the sufficiency and accuracy of the data reported. Table 3 compares CMS enforcement actions by hospitals' rural or urban designation between 2021 and 2023.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Montana State Health Improvement Plan, 2024-2028
Details the goals and priorities of the state of Montana to address heath disparities. Highlights three priority areas, including behavioral health, cardiovascular health, and maternal health. Discusses goals relating to rural communities and healthcare providers.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
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Details the goals and priorities of the state of Montana to address heath disparities. Highlights three priority areas, including behavioral health, cardiovascular health, and maternal health. Discusses goals relating to rural communities and healthcare providers.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Summary, Santa Fe and Las Vegas, New Mexico, September 4-6, 2024
Summarizes the 95th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Santa Fe and Las Vegas, New Mexico. Presents an overview of national, state, and community perspectives on the rural opioid and substance use crisis.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Summarizes the 95th meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Santa Fe and Las Vegas, New Mexico. Presents an overview of national, state, and community perspectives on the rural opioid and substance use crisis.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Public Health Policy that Leads with Equity in Rural Appalachia: Recommendations to Confirm Vaccination Status in an Equitable Manner
Discusses vaccination policy related to COVID-19 in rural Appalachia. Focuses on strategies to create equitable vaccine policies and reach underserved populations such as migrant and immigrant farmworkers.
Author(s): Jennifer Schroeder Tyson, Danny Scalise, Adam Hege, Maggie Sugg, Manan Roy
Citation: Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 18, e284
Date: 09/2024
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Discusses vaccination policy related to COVID-19 in rural Appalachia. Focuses on strategies to create equitable vaccine policies and reach underserved populations such as migrant and immigrant farmworkers.
Author(s): Jennifer Schroeder Tyson, Danny Scalise, Adam Hege, Maggie Sugg, Manan Roy
Citation: Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 18, e284
Date: 09/2024
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States Could Better Leverage Coverage and Access Requirements To Promote Maternal Health Care Access in Medicaid Managed Care
Describes challenges to maternal healthcare access. Explores the provider coverage rules and network adequacy standards state Medicaid agencies have set for maternal healthcare in Medicaid managed care. Examines state oversight of quantitative network adequacy standards. Offers recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure access to pregnancy and postpartum care in Medicaid managed care. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Describes challenges to maternal healthcare access. Explores the provider coverage rules and network adequacy standards state Medicaid agencies have set for maternal healthcare in Medicaid managed care. Examines state oversight of quantitative network adequacy standards. Offers recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure access to pregnancy and postpartum care in Medicaid managed care. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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