Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
Evaluation of the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model: Final Report
Evaluates the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model, which tests the impact of providing financial incentives to home health agencies in nine states: Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington. Examines how the financial incentives under the model influenced agency behavior. Describes impacts across key outcomes, including service utilization, quality of care, and patient experience, and examines the model's effects on access to care, health equity, and Medicare spending. Explores whether the model had unique impacts on access to home health care in rural areas.
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, L&M Policy Research
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Evaluates the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model, which tests the impact of providing financial incentives to home health agencies in nine states: Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington. Examines how the financial incentives under the model influenced agency behavior. Describes impacts across key outcomes, including service utilization, quality of care, and patient experience, and examines the model's effects on access to care, health equity, and Medicare spending. Explores whether the model had unique impacts on access to home health care in rural areas.
Additional links: Appendices, Findings at a Glance
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, L&M Policy Research
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Health Panel Comment Letter - 2024 Physician Fee Schedule and Medicare Part B Proposed Rule
Comments offered in response to a July 13, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Includes discussions on telehealth services, services addressing health-related social needs, advancing access to behavioral health services, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Comments offered in response to a July 13, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Includes discussions on telehealth services, services addressing health-related social needs, advancing access to behavioral health services, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Young Adult Homelessness: Options to Improve Employment and Housing Security
Discusses issues related to youth homelessness, such as the criminal justice system, foster care, education, lack of resources, underemployment, and experiences specific to rural areas. Provides policy options and examples that address youth homelessness.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Discusses issues related to youth homelessness, such as the criminal justice system, foster care, education, lack of resources, underemployment, and experiences specific to rural areas. Provides policy options and examples that address youth homelessness.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Outpatient Prospective Payment System for FY 2024
Comment on the July 31, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payments for calendar year 2024. Includes discussions on extending the use of the hospital market basket to update ASC payment rates, a proposed quality measure for emergency department visits in Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), and more.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comment on the July 31, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payments for calendar year 2024. Includes discussions on extending the use of the hospital market basket to update ASC payment rates, a proposed quality measure for emergency department visits in Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), and more.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Physician Prospective Payment System for FY 2024
Comment on the August 7, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes discussions on payment rates for Medicare telehealth services; the Medicare Shared Savings Program, including regional adjustments; incorporating Medicare Advantage data into public reporting; and more.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comment on the August 7, 2023, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes discussions on payment rates for Medicare telehealth services; the Medicare Shared Savings Program, including regional adjustments; incorporating Medicare Advantage data into public reporting; and more.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Rural Health Value Summit: Driving Value Through Community-Based Partnerships
Provides an overview of a June 2023 summit regarding the intersection of rural providers and communities, value-based care and payment models, and social determinants of health (SDOH). Describes the efforts of Arkansas, Michigan, Oregon, and South Carolina communities that had representatives at the summit. Discusses opportunities for policymakers, payers, and health system leaders to build and support infrastructure to address social determinants of health in rural communities and offers possible next steps.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Provides an overview of a June 2023 summit regarding the intersection of rural providers and communities, value-based care and payment models, and social determinants of health (SDOH). Describes the efforts of Arkansas, Michigan, Oregon, and South Carolina communities that had representatives at the summit. Discusses opportunities for policymakers, payers, and health system leaders to build and support infrastructure to address social determinants of health in rural communities and offers possible next steps.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Further Extension of Grace Period Related to the "Four Walls" Requirement under 42 C.F.R. ยง 440.90 for Indian Health Service and Tribal Facilities to February 11, 2025
Guidance announcing the extension of a grace period permitting Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities to claim Medicaid reimbursement under the clinic services benefit for services provided outside of the "four walls" of the facility through February 11, 2025. Provides an overview of the history of this flexibility during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and previous guidance.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Guidance announcing the extension of a grace period permitting Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities to claim Medicaid reimbursement under the clinic services benefit for services provided outside of the "four walls" of the facility through February 11, 2025. Provides an overview of the history of this flexibility during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and previous guidance.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Year Three Evaluation Report: Evaluation of the EMS Supplemental Funding Grants
Provides an overview of the eight Flex Program Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supplemental funding grant recipients, including a summary of the project goals, partners, and outcome measures. Details each grantee's project accomplishments, lessons learned, and sustainability strategies.
Author(s): John Gale, Karen Pearson
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Provides an overview of the eight Flex Program Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supplemental funding grant recipients, including a summary of the project goals, partners, and outcome measures. Details each grantee's project accomplishments, lessons learned, and sustainability strategies.
Author(s): John Gale, Karen Pearson
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Federally Supported Projects and Programs for Wastewater, Drinking Water, and Water Supply Infrastructure
Provides an overview of federally-funded water infrastructure projects, including those in rural areas, as well as programs that provide community support for these types of projects and related activities. Includes information on the federal cost-share, average amount of assistance, fiscal year 2021 funding level, and fiscal year 2024 funding request for each program.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of federally-funded water infrastructure projects, including those in rural areas, as well as programs that provide community support for these types of projects and related activities. Includes information on the federal cost-share, average amount of assistance, fiscal year 2021 funding level, and fiscal year 2024 funding request for each program.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Colorado Rural Health Center: 2022 Annual Report
Summary of the Colorado Rural Health Center's 2022 accomplishments. Focuses on work disseminating COVID-19 updates and work with hospitals, clinics, and EMS providers on quality, health information technology, policy, and workforce issues.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Rural Health Center
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Summary of the Colorado Rural Health Center's 2022 accomplishments. Focuses on work disseminating COVID-19 updates and work with hospitals, clinics, and EMS providers on quality, health information technology, policy, and workforce issues.
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Rural Health Center
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