Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
A Primer on the Occupational Mix Adjustment to the Medicare Hospital Wage Index
Focuses on the occupational mix adjustment (OMA) to the labor-related share in the hospital inpatient prospective payment system. Explains what the OMA is, why it is needed, and how it has been calculated. Discusses reasons the effect of the OMA has been less than some rural advocates anticipated.
Author(s): Kristin Reiter, Rebecca Slifkin, Mark Holmes
Date: 09/2006
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Focuses on the occupational mix adjustment (OMA) to the labor-related share in the hospital inpatient prospective payment system. Explains what the OMA is, why it is needed, and how it has been calculated. Discusses reasons the effect of the OMA has been less than some rural advocates anticipated.
Author(s): Kristin Reiter, Rebecca Slifkin, Mark Holmes
Date: 09/2006
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Evaluation of Alternative Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Definitions in Washington State
Technical brief describing the differences in Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation status of the 124 Health Service Areas (HSAs) in Washington State that result when the current designation system is used and provider counts versus provider full-time equivalencies (FTEs) are used.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, L. Gary Hart
Date: 08/2006
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Technical brief describing the differences in Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation status of the 124 Health Service Areas (HSAs) in Washington State that result when the current designation system is used and provider counts versus provider full-time equivalencies (FTEs) are used.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, L. Gary Hart
Date: 08/2006
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Quality and Performance Improvement Grant Activities Under the Flex Program
Describes quality and performance improvement activities proposed by states during the 2005 grant year under the Medicare Rural Health Flexibility Program (Flex Program).
Date: 08/2006
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Describes quality and performance improvement activities proposed by states during the 2005 grant year under the Medicare Rural Health Flexibility Program (Flex Program).
Date: 08/2006
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Roadmap for the Adoption of Health Information Technology in Rural Communities
Assists rural providers who are just beginning their investigation of using health IT, and its applicability to their organization.
Author(s): Julie A. Schoenman, Joy Keeler, Adil Moiduddin, Benjamin N. Hamlin
Date: 08/2006
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Assists rural providers who are just beginning their investigation of using health IT, and its applicability to their organization.
Author(s): Julie A. Schoenman, Joy Keeler, Adil Moiduddin, Benjamin N. Hamlin
Date: 08/2006
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Attention from the Top: Roles of State Offices of Rural Health Policy in Preparing for Bioterrorism and Other Health System Emergencies
Presents results from a survey of directors of State Offices of Rural Health (SORHs) on emergency preparedness in rural communities. Discusses emergency preparedness activities of SORHs and SORH directors' impression of preparedness in rural areas of their states.
Author(s): Curt D. Mueller
Date: 07/2006
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Presents results from a survey of directors of State Offices of Rural Health (SORHs) on emergency preparedness in rural communities. Discusses emergency preparedness activities of SORHs and SORH directors' impression of preparedness in rural areas of their states.
Author(s): Curt D. Mueller
Date: 07/2006
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Medicare Physician Payments: Trends in Service Utilization, Spending, and Fees Prompt Consideration of Alternative Payment Approaches
Statement discussing the sustainable growth rate (SGR) system, which Medicare uses to determine annual changes to physician fees. Includes some rural-specific information.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): A. Bruce Steinwald
Date: 07/2006
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Statement discussing the sustainable growth rate (SGR) system, which Medicare uses to determine annual changes to physician fees. Includes some rural-specific information.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): A. Bruce Steinwald
Date: 07/2006
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Increasing the Value of Medicare
Examines issues affecting the Medicare program and makes recommendations to the Congress. Topics covered include care coordination, pricing accuracy in the hospice and physician payment systems, quality measures in home health, gathering data on outpatient therapy, Medicare Advantage, the Part D prescription drug program, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
Date: 06/2006
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Examines issues affecting the Medicare program and makes recommendations to the Congress. Topics covered include care coordination, pricing accuracy in the hospice and physician payment systems, quality measures in home health, gathering data on outpatient therapy, Medicare Advantage, the Part D prescription drug program, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
Date: 06/2006
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Studying Health Outcomes in Farmworker Populations Exposed to Pesticides
Examines the issues related to studying health effects associated with chronic low-dose exposure to pesticides particularly in the farmworker population.
Author(s): Linda A. McCauley, W. Kent Anger, Matthew Keifer, et al.
Citation: Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(6), 953-960
Date: 06/2006
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Examines the issues related to studying health effects associated with chronic low-dose exposure to pesticides particularly in the farmworker population.
Author(s): Linda A. McCauley, W. Kent Anger, Matthew Keifer, et al.
Citation: Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(6), 953-960
Date: 06/2006
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Information Gaps on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Population: A Background Paper
Presents the relevant issues regarding the mental health information needs of deaf and hard of hearing populations, particularly in rural America.
Date: 05/2006
Sponsoring organization: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
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Presents the relevant issues regarding the mental health information needs of deaf and hard of hearing populations, particularly in rural America.
Date: 05/2006
Sponsoring organization: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
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Performance of Rural and Urban Home Health Agencies in Improving Patient Outcomes: Final Report
Describes the results of a study to determine whether rural and urban home care agencies differ in terms of patient care outcomes, and to ascertain whether there are agency characteristics that are associated with better or worse outcomes.
Author(s): Janet P. Sutton
Date: 05/2006
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Describes the results of a study to determine whether rural and urban home care agencies differ in terms of patient care outcomes, and to ascertain whether there are agency characteristics that are associated with better or worse outcomes.
Author(s): Janet P. Sutton
Date: 05/2006
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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