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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Policy

How to Apply to Become a National Health Service Corps Site
Webinar recording discusses the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and how rural healthcare facilities can become a NHSC site. Features presentations from representatives of Health Resources and Services Administration, the Bureau of Health Workforce, and 3RNET.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rural Health Quality: How CMS Initiatives Improve How We Measure and Address Gaps in Care
Recording of an April 2022 webinar regarding healthcare quality measurement in rural areas. Discusses measurement challenges in rural areas and how CMS is working to mitigate these issues. Presents resources and programs for rural providers to improve healthcare quality. Transcript is available by clicking the three dots above the video description, then selecting Show Transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 04/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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April 2022 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) April 2022 meeting. Covers high prices of drugs covered under Medicare Part B, initial findings from MedPAC's analysis of Part D data on drug rebates and discounts, segmentation in the stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan market, leveraging Medicare policies to address social determinants of health, an approach to streamline and harmonize Medicare's portfolio of alternative payment models, and aligning fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Section 127 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act: Graduate Medical Education (GME) Payment for Rural Track Programs (RTPs)
Describes changes in direct graduate medical education (GME) and indirect GME payments to teaching hospitals that train residents in Rural Training Programs that began on October 1, 2022.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Medicare's Prospective Payment System for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities at 15 Years
Examine how Medicare enrollees' use of inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) services and the characteristics of IPFs have changed since the introduction of the IPF-PPS in 2005. Explores whether there have been changes in events that occur before or after IPF stays that may indicate potential changes in the quality of services. Includes information on per diem costs for rural IPFs compared to urban facilities.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Urban Institute
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Access to Maternity and Obstetric Care in Rural Pennsylvania
Examines access to maternity care in rural Pennsylvania, using federal- and state-level data to determine the distribution of birthing facilities and birth attendants. Includes a workforce analysis to forecast the supply of and demand for care providers and to identify gaps where supply will not meet demand. Provides a survey of stakeholders and key informants, to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and solutions to improving access to maternity care.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Sharon Bernecki DeJoy, David J. Doorn
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Year Two Evaluation of the Flex EMS Supplemental Funding Projects: Building an Evidence Base Through Outcome Measurement
Examines the outcome management strategies of four of the Flex Program's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supplemental funding grant recipients. Describes the outcome measures selected, the timing of those measures, and data sources used to support their outcome measures. Identifies strengths and challenges to the outcome management strategies and offers recommendations to refine these strategies.
Author(s): John Gale, Karen Pearson, Sara Kahn-Troster
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Broadband Access Challenges
Fact sheet highlighting barriers to broadband access for rural and underserved communities, addressing infrastructure and affordability issues. Describes policy efforts to increase access through investments to expand broadband adoption.
Additional links: Exploring Digital Equity Fact Sheets
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce to Improve Health Outcomes in Rural Communities: 24th Report
Presents recommendations to strengthen rural health workforce training and improve access to health care through evidence-based health workforce investments spanning education, training, and practice. Discusses rural health disparities and restructuring the rural health workforce.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Council on Graduate Medical Education
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Evaluation of the Medicare Care Choices Model: Annual Report 4
Evaluates the Medicare Care Choice Model (MCCM), which tests whether offering eligible Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive supportive services without forgoing payment for treatment of their terminal conditions improved their quality of life and care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced Medicare expenditures. Reports on MCCM beneficiary outcomes through March 2021. Includes information on rural beneficiary participation in the model and compares rural and urban beneficiary outcomes.
Additional links: Findings at a Glance
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mathematica
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