Days cash on hand is an estimate of the number of days an organization could operate if no cash were collected or received. Many rural hospitals have a history of low cash levels and other short-term assets and are therefore ill-prepared for the loss of revenue during the pandemic. Read more here.
Merritt-Hawkins Survey Shows Impact of COVID-19 on Physician Workforce
The Merritt Hawkins & the Physicians Foundation pulse survey, conducted in mid-April, showed that 14 percent of physicians plan to change practice settings because of COVID-19, six percent plan to get out of direct patient care, and five percent plan to retire. The survey, completed by about 800 physicians, also demonstrated the growth of telemedicine. Almost 50 percent are now treating patients via telemedicine, compared to 18 percent in 2018. Read the entire survey report.
New Report Finds Health Insurance Is Another COVID-19 Casualty
Roughly 27 million people have likely lost job-based health coverage since the coronavirus shocked the economy, according to new estimates from the Kaiser Family Foundation. While most of these people will be able to sign up for other sources of coverage, millions will be uninsured during this pandemic. For the 27 million people who are losing their job-based coverage, about 80% have other options, according to the lead author of the report, with roughly half eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program and another third eligible for subsidized health plans on the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces. The remaining 20% are pretty much out of luck because they live in a state that did not expand Medicaid or are ineligible for other kinds of subsidized coverage.
Hospitals Losing Billions from Coronavirus
The coronavirus has placed tremendous financial pressure on hospitals across the country. A new report explains that hospitals are suffering from the higher costs associated with treating COVID-19 patients and acquiring personal protective equipment, while also losing revenue from elective procedures stopping, which continue to be postponed in most states. The report estimates the country’s hospitals will be forced to bear $202.6 billion in losses between March 1st to June 30th, or about $50.7 billion per month. Hospitals cannot afford to continue losing revenue, especially rural hospitals who already operated on slim or negative margins.
New Rural Health Policy Paper: Considerations for Defining Rural Places in Health Policies and Programs
RUPRI Health Panel: Keith J. Mueller, PhD; Andrew F. Coburn, PhD; Alana Knudson, PhD; Jennifer P. Lundblad, PhD, MBA; A. Clinton MacKinney, MD, MS; Timothy D. McBride, PhD. Guest Authors – Erin Mobley, PhD; Fred Ullrich, BA; Abigail Barker, PhD
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 paper identifies key questions; reviews rural definitions; and discusses options for reconsidering rural definitions.
Please click here to read the brief.
Potentially Avoidable Inter-facility Transfer from Veterans Health Administration Emergency Departments: A Cohort Study
This research presents a study on potentially avoidable inter-facility transfers within Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. It details patient characteristics, such as rurality of residence and age, as well as transfer location characteristics, such as number of beds and median length of stay, among other factors. Read more here.
Older Americans Act: Nutrition Services Program
This report provides an overview of the Nutrition Services Program authorized under the Older Americans Act. It describes the administration of the Nutrition Services Program, its funding, service delivery, program participation, and program evaluation. It includes brief rural references throughout. Read more here.
Factors Associated With Perceived Job Preparedness Among RNs: Results From a National Survey
This research examines perceived job preparedness by practice location, gender, and professional characteristics among practicing registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice nurses who completed a web-based national survey. The particular focus was on the probability their nursing education adequately prepared them for job. Read more here.
Extreme Poverty Counties Found Solely in Rural Areas in 2018
This article examines high and extreme poverty areas by rural and urban county designation. It includes a map showing rural high poverty and extreme poverty counties and urban high poverty counties. It discusses the geographic concentration of extreme poverty in regions with above-average populations of racial minorities, highlighting 6 counties in South Dakota with a large Native American population and 4 counties in Mississippi with historically high poverty rates among African Americans. Read more here.
A Best Practices Approach to Treating Maternal Hemorrhage
This report provides an overview of how Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Texas, developed and implemented protocols to improve maternal hemorrhage outcomes. It discusses the impact and lessons learned from implementing the protocols as well, as future maternal health improvement goals at the medical center. Read more here.