READ The Future of Rural Health Report Here The RUPRI Rural Health Panel, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and West Health held a facilitated convening in November, 2024 to identify the needs of the rural health communities, build on existingstrengths, and develop a cohesive approach to improving the health of rural Americans through policy. …
Tag Archives: Health Panel
RUPRI Health Panel Provides Comments on Medicare and Medicare Advantage to CMS. January 2025.
The RUPRI Health Panel has provided comments to CMS on the Medicare and Medicaid Programs Contract Year 2026 policy and technical changes to the Medicare Advantage program, Prescription Drug Benefit Program, PACE and the Medicare Cost Plan Program. Find the Comments Here
RUPRI Health Panel Provides Comments on CMS RFI on Medicare Advantage Data. May 2024.
RUPRI Health Panel has provided comments on CMS RFI CMS-4207-NCI Medicare Program: Request for Information on Medicare Advantage Data. READ COMMENT LETTER HERE
Rural Hospitals Perspectives on Health System Affiliation.RUPRI Health Panel April 2024.
The RUPRI Health Panel has released a new brief, Rural Hospitals’ Perspectives on Health System Affiliation. This brief explores the current trend in hospital affiliation from a rural perspective and offers guidance to rural hospital leaders in navigating a potential affiliation. With an understanding of the rural context and challenges facing rural hospitals, risks and …
Keith Mueller Receives Louis Gorin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Health Care
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) awarded the Louis Gorin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Health Care to RUPRI Director Keith Mueller. In announcing the award, NRHA praised Dr. Mueller with the following statement: “Throughout his 40-year career, he has advanced rural health through expert nonpartisan policy analysis, national presentations and testimony, and the …
Comments to CMS on Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting. RUPRI Health Panel. November 2023.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to CMS-3442-P Proposed Rule: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting. November 6th, 2023. Read Comment Letter Here
RUPRI Health Panel Submits Comments to House Ways & Means Committee on Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Areas. October 2023.
The RUPRI Health Panel offers comments in response to the Committee on Ways and Means Request for Information regarding Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Areas. The comments focus on all five topics included in the RFI. The five topics include comments on: Geographic Payment Difference: The Panel recommends that changes to …
RUPRI Health Panel Submits Comments to Physician-Focused Payment Model TA Committee. October 2023
The RUPRI Health Panel has offered comments and resources in response to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Request for Information (RFI) regarding rural participation in population-based total cost of care models. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in HHS convenes the PTAC. Find the Comments Here
CMS Proposed Rule on 2024 Physician Fee Schedule and Medicare Part B. RUPRI Health Panel. September 2023.
The RUPRI Health Panel responded to a CMS proposed rule CY 2024 Payment Policies Under the PhysicianFee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program. READ COMMENTS HERE
Comments to CMS on a Future Episode-Based Payment Model. RUPRI Health Panel. August 2023.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to CMS-5540-NC Request for Information (RFI) seeking input regarding the design of a future episode-based payment model. August 15th, 2023. Read Comment Letter Here
RUPRI Health Panel Submits Comments on HHS Smoking Cessation Framework
The RUPRI Health Panel provided comments on the HHS 2023 Smoking Cessation Framework. Read the Comments Here. To be most impactful in rural communities, the Panel recommends a broader approach to tobacco cessation, not just smoking cessation. The prevalence of smokeless tobacco (e.g., snuff, dip, snus, and chewing tobacco) is higher in rural areas than …
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Comments to CMS on Medicaid and CHIP Access, Finance, and Quality. RUPRI Health Panel. July 2023.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to CMS-2439-P Proposed Rule: Medicaid Program; Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality. July 1st, 2023. Read Comment Letter Here
Comments on Medicare PPS Proposed Rule. RUPRI Health Panel. June 2023.
The RUPRI Health Panel submitted comments on CMS-1785-P: Medicare Program: Proposed Hospital PPS for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital PPS and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2024 Rates Proposed Rule Read Comments HERE
Keith Mueller Presentation to the National Rural EMS & Care Conference. April 2023
Keith Mueller presented State and National EMS Policy Recommendations at the 2023 National Rural EMS & Care Conference in April 2023. View Presentation Here
RUPRI Health Panel Provides Comments to the U.S. Senate HELP Commitee to Identify Bipartisan Solutions to Remedy Our Nation’s Health Care Workforce Shortages. March 2023.
RUPRI Health Panel provided comments to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions to help identify bipartisan solutions to remedy the U.S. health care workforce shortages. March 20th, 2023. Read Comment Letter Here
The Role of Telehealth in Achieving a High Performing Rural Health System: Priorities in a Post-Pandemic System. RUPRI Health Panel. February 2023.
The RUPRI Health Panel has released a new brief, The Role of Telehealth in Achieving a High Performing Rural Health System: Priorities in a Post-Pandemic System, as a commentary on the preconditions for the optimum use of telehealth, looking at experiences of telehealth usage during the PHE. KEY CONSIDERATIONThe Panel continues to contribute to discussions …
State-Based Recommendations to Support Rural Ambulance Agencies. RUPRI Health Panel. February 2023.
The RUPRI Health Panel has released a new Policy Brief, State-Based Recommendations to Support Rural Ambulance Agencies. State-Based Recommendations• To ensure access to emergency medical services (EMS) for all rural residents, state legislatures should designate EMS as an essential service and provide a portion of the funding necessary to support the costs of maintaining essential …
Comments to CMS on Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program for Contract Year 2024. RUPRI Health Panel. February 2023.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to CMS-4201-P Proposed Rule: Contract Year 2024 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program; Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program; Medicare Cost Plan Program; Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D. February 13th, 2023. Read Comment Letter Here
Evolution of Hospital Designations & Payment in the U.S.: Implications for Rural Hospitals. RUPRI Health Panel. December 2022.
The RUPRI Health Panel Releases Evolution of Hospital Designations & Payment in the U.S.: Implications for Rural Hospitals Rural hospital closures have increased over the past few decades, and more are at risk for closure. Medicare hospital payment policies affecting rural hospitals play a significant role in the financial viability of rural hospitals. Programs have been …
Comments to CMS on Hospital PPS. RUPRI Health Panel. September 2022
The RUPRI Health Panel submitted a comment letter to CMS responding to Request For Information CMS-4203-NC: Medicare Program: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs… Rural Emergency Hospitals. READ THE COMMENT LETTER HERE
Comments to CMS RFI 1770-P Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2023 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements. RUPRI Health Panel. September 2022.
The RUPRI Health Panel has submitted a response to CMS -17700P Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2023 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements. READ THE COMMENT LETTER HERE
Comment to CMS on Medicare Advantage Program. RUPRI Health Panel. August 2022.
The RUPRI Health Panel has responded to a CMS Request for Information on the Medicare Advantage program. READ COMMENT LETTER HERE Rural Perspective on Medicare AdvantageOur comments and feedback are offered from the rural perspective, where Medicare Advantage is an increasingly important source of health care coverage. As of March 2022, MA accounted for 45.7 …
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RUPRI Health Panel Provides Comments to HHS on Delivering Primary Care in Rural Communities. July 2022.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to HHS Request for Information (RFI): Initiative to Strengthen Primary Health Care. July 31st, 2022. Read Comment Letter Here
Comments to CMS on Revising the Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities to Establish Mandatory Minimum Staffing Levels. RUPRI Health Panel. June 2022.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to CMS-1765-P Proposed Rule: Medicare Program; PPS and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Request for Information on Revising Requirements for Long-Term Facilities to Establish Mandatory Minimum Staffing Levels. June 8th, 2022. Read Comment Letter Here
Comments to CMS on the Changes to Hospital and Critical Access Hospital Conditions of Participation. June 2022.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to CMS-1771-P Proposed Rule: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient PPS for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital PPS and Proposed Policy Changes and Fiscal Yar 2023 rates; Quality Programs and Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Requirements for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals. June 8th, 2022. Read Comment Letter Here
Comment to CMS on Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid & CHIP. RUPRI Health Panel. April 2022
Click Here for Comment Letter The Panel underscores the importance of recognizing the variance in demand for Medicaid access and coverage across non-metro and metro areas. In 2019, the percent of Medicaid coverage in non-metro areas was 22.4 percent, whereas in metro areas the percent of Medicaid coverage was 19.1. The three percent difference signifies …
RUPRI Health Panel Releases Comment Letter to Federal Communications Commission RFI on Promoting Telehealth in Rural America. April 2022
Click Here for Comment Letter on 47 CFR Part 54 The Panel is encouraged by the efforts of the FCC to increase broadband access for rural providers. We encourage FCC to lead an effort to quantify the actual costs of connecting and operating broadband capacity supporting access to healthcare services. With that information subsidies could …
Listen to Dr. Keith Mueller Interview on Rural Health Leadership Radio Podcast. April 2022
Listen to Podcast Here If you could hit the reset button on healthcare policy, what would you change? In this week’s episode, Dr. Keith Mueller shares his thoughts on what he would improve given the chance to hit the policy reset button, particularly in rural healthcare. “The pandemic taught us we need flexibility to move …
Meeting The Behavioral Health Needs of Farm Families in Times of Economic Distress. RUPRI Health Panel. February 2022.
Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Farm Families in Times of Economic Distress. Given recent global economic and climate trends, including those induced by the COVID-19 public health emergency, behavioral health consequences related to economic distress will likely continue as a public health concern for the foreseeable future. The RUPRI Health Panel offers guidance for …
RUPRI Health Panel Provides Comments to CMS on Policy and Technical Changes to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs for Contract Year 2023. February 2022.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to CMS-4192-P: Medicare Program; Contract Year 2023 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs. February 2022. Read Comment Letter Here
RUPRI Health Panel Releases Updated High Performing Rural Health System Brief.
This document updates the RUPRI Health Panel’s framework for a high-performing rural health care system, originally published in 2011. It offers a revised vision statement and updates the high-performing rural health system pillars (access, affordability, community health, and quality), and describes an underlying base of equity considerations. Abstract: This brief presents the RUPRI Health Panel’s …
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RUPRI Health Panel Releases Comments on Rural Emergency Hospital RFI
The Panel is pleased to comment in response to the proposed rule for Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) program and the Request for Information (RFI) on Rural Emergency Hospitals (REH). Our comments will focus only on the latter, Section XVII of the proposed rule, Federal Register pages 42285 – 42289. We also limit …
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RUPRI Health Panel Comment Letter on proposed changes in the CY 2021 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule Rule. September 2021
Read comment letter here.
RUPRI Health Panel Comment Letter on Census Bureau Urban Definition. May 2021
Read comment letter here.
RUPRI Releases Comments on Office Of Management & Budget Proposal to Revise Metropolitan and Micropolitan Area Standards. March 2021
RUPRI, led by the Rural Health Panel and the Population and Place Analytics Panel, has released comments on Recommendations from the Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Standards Review Committee to Changes in Metropolitan and Micropolitan Area Standards. Read Comments Here In our comments, we recommend that OMB not implement a change in the metropolitan statistical …
Characteristics & Challenges of Rural Ambulance Agencies. RUPRI Health Panel. January 2021.
The RUPRI Health Panel has released a new brief, Characteristics and Challenges of Rural Ambulance Agencies. Every year, nearly 10 million rural Americans receive EMS care. There are 23,272 ambulance agencies in the U.S. and 73 percent of those agencies report serving rural areas. Thus, rural Americans rely on EMS professionals to deliver life-saving emergency …
Advancing Population Health in Rural Places. RUPRI Health Panel. January 2021.
The RUPRI Health Panel has released a new paper, Advancing Population Health in Rural Places: Key Lessons and Policy Opportunities. This paper advances policy discussion of population health in rural places, focusing on the role of rural health care organizations. Lessons from ongoing programs provide policy considerations. Medicare and Medicaid programs should prioritize staff and …
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RUPRI Health Panel Comment Letter Responding to HHS RFI to Assess Temporary Deregulatory Actions in Response to COVID-19. December 2020.
Read comment letter here.
RUPRI Health Panel Provides Comments to FORHP on the Definition of Rural Areas Used to Determine Eligibility for Grant Programs. October 2020.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to 85 FR 59806 Request for Public Comments on Revised Geographic Eligibility for Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Grants. October 22nd, 2020. Read Comment Letter Here
Health Panel Presentation by Jennifer Lundblad, PhD to Bipartisan Policy Center, October 2020
Health Panel member Jennifer Lundblad participated on a Panel at the Bipartisan Policy Center in October 2020 on the state of rural healthcare in Minnesota and other states. View Presentation
The Evolving Landscape of National Telehealth Policies During a Public Health Emergency: Responsiveness to Rural Needs. RUPRI Health Panel. October 2020.
The coronavirus pandemic precipitated significant but temporary changes in telehealth policy and the use of telehealth services to ensure access to needed health services during a public health emergency (PHE). Extending the temporary policy changes will require statutory and regulatory action. This paper takes stock of current telehealth policies and assesses options for expanding the …
RUPRI Health Panel Provides Comments to CMS on the Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2021. September 2020.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to CMS-1734-F Proposed Rule: Medicare Program; CY 2021 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies. September 23rd, 2020. Read Comment Letter Here
RUPRI Health Panel Provides Comments to CMS on the Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate for Calendar Year 2021. July 2020.
RUPRI Health Panel Provided Comments to CMS-1730-P Proposed Rule: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2021 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update, Home Health Quality Reporting Program Requirements. July 19th, 2020. Read Comment Letter Here
Considerations for Defining Rural Places in Health Policies and Programs
The RUPRI Health Panel has released a new brief that identifies key questions to ask when creating, modifying, or using a definition. Rural definitions in statute and policy are used to direct resources to underserved peoples. But changes in population behavior and Census processes have led to concern about historic methods of defining rural. This …
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Maternal and Infant Health Care in Rural Communities
In May 2020, the Health Panel offered comments in response to the CMS Maternal and Infant Health Care in Rural Communities Request for Information. View Comment Letter
Health Panel Comment Letter – Medicare Advantage & Part D – April 2020
The Health Panel is pleased to offer comments in response to the proposed rule CMS-4190-P related to Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), Medicaid, Medicare Cost Plan, among other policy areas. View Comment Letter
Health Panel Comment Letter – ONCHIT Strategic Plan – March 2020
The Panel is pleased to offer comments in response to the proposed 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan. View Comment Letter
Behavioral Health in Rural America: Challenges and Opportunities. RUPRI Health Panel. December 2019.
The prevalence of mental health and substance use diagnoses and unmet treatment needs are not equally distributed, with rural residence being one factor associated with these differences. Moreover, the rural context has proven challenging for ensuring the availability of and access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery services in rural areas. This paper reviews the …
Health Panel Comment Letter – Anti-Kickback Statute – December 2019
The Panel is pleased to provide comment on the proposed rule Revisions to Safe Harbors Under the Anti-Kickback Statute, and Civil Monetary Penalty Rules Regarding Beneficiary Inducements. The Panel is encouraged by OIG’s recognition that there are certain circumstances that warranttreating rural providers differently than those in urban geographies. The Panel offers comments ontwo specific …
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Stark Law – December 2019
The Panel is pleased to provide comments on the proposed rule Modernizing and Clarifying the Physician Self-Referral Regulations.The Panel is encouraged by CMS’s recognition throughout the proposed rule of the unique ruralhealth care environment. The Panel agrees that circumstances exist in which it is appropriate to treatrural providers differently than other kinds of providers. View …
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