Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy
CY 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1786-FC)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to the community mental health centers (CMHC) Conditions of Participation (CoPs); payment for intensive outpatient program (IOP) services; payment methodology for Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities that convert to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status; the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to the community mental health centers (CMHC) Conditions of Participation (CoPs); payment for intensive outpatient program (IOP) services; payment methodology for Indian Health Service (IHS) and tribal facilities that convert to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status; the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions related to paying separately for Community Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment, and Principal Illness Navigation services; telehealth services; mental health visits furnished by Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), including marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors as eligible for payment at RHCs and FQHCs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions related to paying separately for Community Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment, and Principal Illness Navigation services; telehealth services; mental health visits furnished by Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), including marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors as eligible for payment at RHCs and FQHCs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Extra Episode - Rural Communities Opioid Response Program with Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donell
Podcast episode featuring Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donnell from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Describes the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), which aims to improve access to substance use disorder, prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural communities. Discusses examples of how RCORP grantees are effectively serving communities and tips for accessing resources to address the opioid crisis in tips for accessing resources to address the rural opioid crisis.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode featuring Megan Meacham and Sarah O'Donnell from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Describes the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), which aims to improve access to substance use disorder, prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural communities. Discusses examples of how RCORP grantees are effectively serving communities and tips for accessing resources to address the opioid crisis in tips for accessing resources to address the rural opioid crisis.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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5G Fund for Rural America: Current Status and Issues
Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 5G Fund for Rural America, an initiative to bring voice and high-speed mobile broadband services to rural areas unlikely to see 5G cellular deployments without subsidies. Outlines considerations and concerns raised by members of Congress about the program.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 5G Fund for Rural America, an initiative to bring voice and high-speed mobile broadband services to rural areas unlikely to see 5G cellular deployments without subsidies. Outlines considerations and concerns raised by members of Congress about the program.
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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2023 Housing Assistance Council (HAC) National Rural Housing Conference
Video recording of the 2023 Rural Housing Conference that covers discussions on rural housing federal policy, priority updates, and more. Includes 7 sessions available for viewing. Transcript available below description.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Video recording of the 2023 Rural Housing Conference that covers discussions on rural housing federal policy, priority updates, and more. Includes 7 sessions available for viewing. Transcript available below description.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Michigan State Health Assessment 2022 Addendum
Continues work from the 2021 Michigan State Health Assessment that discusses population health, factors contributing to health challenges, and utilizing state resources to address health challenges. Discusses priority areas for the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), including addressing rural health disparities.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
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Continues work from the 2021 Michigan State Health Assessment that discusses population health, factors contributing to health challenges, and utilizing state resources to address health challenges. Discusses priority areas for the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), including addressing rural health disparities.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
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Michigan State Health Assessment 2021
Provides results of the Michigan State Health Assessment that informs the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), with 4 main focus areas: engaging health policy and systemic change, supporting families to prevent childhood trauma, improving access to food and promoting physical activity, and increasing accountability of environmental polices and regulations. Includes considerations for disadvantaged populations, including rural areas of Michigan.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
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Provides results of the Michigan State Health Assessment that informs the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), with 4 main focus areas: engaging health policy and systemic change, supporting families to prevent childhood trauma, improving access to food and promoting physical activity, and increasing accountability of environmental polices and regulations. Includes considerations for disadvantaged populations, including rural areas of Michigan.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
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Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report
Examines maternal morbidity and mortality in Illinois between 2018 and 2020. Identifies statewide patterns in maternal health and discusses factors that influence maternal health outcomes and disparities. Explores data by demographics, including race, age, and rural county residence. Presents policy recommendations aimed at preventing maternal morbidities and mortalities.
Additional links: Summary
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Department of Public Health
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Examines maternal morbidity and mortality in Illinois between 2018 and 2020. Identifies statewide patterns in maternal health and discusses factors that influence maternal health outcomes and disparities. Explores data by demographics, including race, age, and rural county residence. Presents policy recommendations aimed at preventing maternal morbidities and mortalities.
Additional links: Summary
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Department of Public Health
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New Mexico Health Care Workforce Committee: 2023 Annual Report
Provides detailed data at the county level, comparing New Mexico's healthcare workforce to national benchmarks. Discusses rural and frontier area shortages, health workforce migration trends, potential solutions for solving the state's workforce issues (including in rural areas), and updates on previous recommendations. Includes a special focus on the behavioral health workforce, and appendices include gap analyses of New Mexico healthcare professions by county.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
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Provides detailed data at the county level, comparing New Mexico's healthcare workforce to national benchmarks. Discusses rural and frontier area shortages, health workforce migration trends, potential solutions for solving the state's workforce issues (including in rural areas), and updates on previous recommendations. Includes a special focus on the behavioral health workforce, and appendices include gap analyses of New Mexico healthcare professions by county.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
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Closing the Broadband Infrastructure Gap: State Grant Funds and the Digital Divide
Analyzes Pew Trusts data on awarded broadband grants in 17 states between 2014 and 2020 to determine common characteristics of funded projects, criteria for allocation, and communities reached. Includes discussion of implications for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funds and the impact on existing disparities. Offers rural and urban comparisons.
Additional links: Q&A with Pew Trusts, Summary
Author(s): Natassia A. Bravo, Mildred E. Warner
Date: 10/2023
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Analyzes Pew Trusts data on awarded broadband grants in 17 states between 2014 and 2020 to determine common characteristics of funded projects, criteria for allocation, and communities reached. Includes discussion of implications for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funds and the impact on existing disparities. Offers rural and urban comparisons.
Additional links: Q&A with Pew Trusts, Summary
Author(s): Natassia A. Bravo, Mildred E. Warner
Date: 10/2023
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