Pediatric Care in Rural Hospital Emergency Departments overview Optimal emergency care for children may be difficult for rural hospitals to provide. Rural hospitals have less access to pediatric and emergency medicine trained physicians and a low volume of pediatric ED patients makes it difficult for staff to maintain pediatric care skills. In addition, rural hospitals… Read more »
Comparison of Rural Hospitals with Special Medicare Payment Provisions to Urban and Rural Hospitals Paid Under Prospective Payment
A Comparison of Rural Hospitals with Special Medicare Payment Provisions to Urban and Rural Hospitals Paid Under Prospective Payment. (August, 2010). ORHP. Holmes, M., Pink, G., Friedman, S., Howard, A. FR98
States’ Use of Cost-Based Reimbursement for Medicaid Services at Critical Access Hospitals
States’ Use of Cost-Based Reimbursement for Medicaid Services at Critical Access Hospitals overview Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) are reimbursed by Medicare at 101% of allowable cost for both inpatient and outpatient services. State Medicaid agencies, however, are not required to reimburse CAHs on a cost-basis and have flexibility in determining how CAHs are paid for… Read more »
The Effect of Medicare Part D Plan Switching on Sole Community Pharmacies and the Patients
The Effect of Medicare Part D Plan Switching and Formulary Changes on Sole Community Pharmacies and the Patients They Serve overview Sole community independent pharmacies (i.e., those located at least 10 miles from the next closest retail pharmacy) are the primary access point to pharmacy services for residents in just over one thousand small communities… Read more »
Rural Volunteer EMS: Reports from the Field
Rural Volunteer EMS: Reports from the Field overview Prehospital emergency care services (EMS) are an essential component of a comprehensive health care system. Rural residents and visitors to rural areas rely on EMS for treatment and transport in the event of an injury or other health emergency. In many areas where the number of emergency… Read more »
Rural Hospital Support for Emergency Medcial Services
Rural Hospital Support for Emergency Medcial Services overview Prehospital emergency care is an important component of a comprehensive health care system. Rural EMS agencies face continual challenges to ensure a qualified workforce to meet prehospital emergency care needs. While most EMS agencies function as independent entities or are affiliated with fire departments, affiliation with a… Read more »
Trends in Skilled Nursing Facility and Swing Bed Use (Post Medicare Modernization Act of 2003)
Background of trends in skilled nursing facility and swing bed use in rural areas Reimbursement for facility-based post-acute skilled care has been affected by multiple regulatory changes, particularly during the period from 1997 to 2003. Payment for post-acute skilled care received in freestanding or hospital-based skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) was changed from cost-based to a… Read more »
Prospective Payment Compared to Special Medicare Payment Provisions
Profitability of Rural Hospitals Paid Under Prospective Payment Compared to Rural Hospitals with Special Medicare Payment Provisions overview The Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS) was introduced by the federal government in October, 1983. Under PPS, hospitals are paid a pre-determined rate for each Medicare admission. Each patient is classified into a Diagnosis Related Group (DRG)… Read more »
Rural Volunteer EMS: Reports from the Field
Rural Volunteer EMS: Reports from the Field (September, 2010). Freeman, V., Rutledge, S., Hamon, M., Slifkin, R. FB98
Recent Changes in Health Insurance Coverage in Rural and Urban Areas
Overview of “Recent Changes in Health Insurance Coverage in Rural and Urban Areas” There has been concern about the impact of the recent economic downturn on health insurance coverage in the U.S. From 2007 to 2009, an additional 5.6 million adults became uninsured as a result of decreases in the number of adults covered by… Read more »
Trends in the Provision of Surgery by Rural Hospitals
Background of “Trends in the Provision of Surgery by Rural Hospitals” Surgery is an important health service in rural communities. In addition to providing routine surgical services, surgeons also serve as backup for other medical specialities such as obstetrics and are essential for the treatment of many emergency and trauma patients. Surgery provision also affects… Read more »
Location of CAHs, June 30, 2014
Location of CAHs, June 30, 2014
Effect of Swing Bed Use on Medicare Average Daily Cost and Reimbursement in Critical Access Hospitals
Effect of Swing Bed Use on Medicare Average Daily Cost and Reimbursement in Critical Access Hospitals
The Occupational Mix Adjustment to the Medicare Hospital Wage Index
The Occupational Mix Adjustment to the Medicare Hospital Wage Index: Why the rural impact is less than expected. The Journal of Rural Health : Official Journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association 24 (2): 148-54. A94
Recruitment and Retention in Rural and Urban EMS
Recruitment and retention in rural and urban EMS: Results from a national survey of local EMS directors. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice : JPHMP 15 (3): 246. A95