Rural Healthcare

Blue Cross MN Partnership Expands Value-Based Care for Rural Members

February 28, 2023 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) has joined forces with value-based care provider Homeward to expand access to care for Medicare Advantage members living in rural Minnesota communities. Through the value-based partnership, Blue Cross Medicare Advantage members in 24 Minnesota counties outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area...

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HHS: ARPA Premium Subsidy Expiration Will Boost Uninsurance, Costs

by Kelsey Waddill

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a fact sheet elucidating the fallout of the impending American Rescue Plan’s premium subsidy expiration, including higher...

Rural Residents See Higher Premiums, More ARPA Premium Subsidies

by Victoria Bailey

The premium subsidies under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provide significant financial assistance to individuals living in rural areas who were more likely to see higher health insurance...

UnitedHealthcare Funds Pediatric SCD Behavioral Care, Education

by Kelsey Waddill

UnitedHealthcare is offering $169,500 to fund efforts to provide sickle cell disease care to children and the community, the payer announced. The payer determined that the funds would go to the...

Tobacco Surcharge May Limit Affordable Care Act Enrollment

by Kelsey Waddill

The Affordable Care Act marketplace’s tobacco surcharge might decrease enrollment and dissuade tobacco users from entering the marketplace, according to a Health Affairs article. Health plans on...

Medicaid Expansion Shrinks Distance to Care, Improves Equity

by Kelsey Waddill

Medicaid expansion may have an impact on transportation for healthcare access among underserved groups, according to an article published in Health Affairs. “As expected, nonmetropolitan areas...

Payer Funds Tech, Training To Support Rural Maternity Healthcare

by Kelsey Waddill

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) is funding a hospital partner’s technology and practice support resources in order to transform rural maternity...

CMS Approves IL Waiver to Support Rural, Black Maternal Health

by Kelsey Waddill

In order to support rural and Black maternal healthcare, HHS has offered states the option to extend maternal Medicaid coverage and Illinois is the first state to receive approval for the amendment,...

Rural Medicare Advantage Members Hit Care Access Snags, Switch Plans

by Hannah Nelson

Restricted provider networks under Medicare Advantage plans may pose care access barriers to rural beneficiaries, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. Researchers used Medicare...

CMS Expands Telehealth, Rural Plan Options for Medicare Advantage

by Kelsey Waddill

CMS has finalized changes to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D telehealth policies and supplemental chronic disease management benefits. The agency has also expanded Medicare Advantage for rural...

Tufts Health Expands Telehealth Solution, Boosts Access to Care

by Samantha McGrail

Commercial members of Tufts Health Plan can now access US-based, board-certified providers for medical needs and diagnoses through the expansion of its telehealth virtual healthcare solution, according...

Opioid Overdose Mortality Decreased 6% in Medicaid Expansion States

by Samantha McGrail

Medicaid expansion states saw a six percent decreased rate in total opioid overdose deaths compared to states that did not expand Medicaid eligibility, according to researchers from the University of...

AHIP Rejects Single-Payer Proposals, Upholds Current System

by Kelsey Waddill

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) submitted a statement to the House Energy and Commerce Committee opposing current single-payer proposals in the United States.* “Americans are...

Enrollment and PCP Density Influence Rural Public Payer Premiums

by Kelsey Waddill

Enrollment and primary care provider density may have more impact on rural healthcare premiums than market concentration, a recent study published in the December issue of Health Affairs...

Strategies for Addressing Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Areas

by Emily Sokol, MPH

The opioid epidemic has affected rural and urban areas alike. According to research from the American Academy of Family Physicians, those in rural areas had an 87 percent higher chance of receiving an...

Community Health Workers Fill Gaps in Rural Healthcare

by Emily Sokol, MPH

Transportation is one of the biggest challenges to rural healthcare. Often, the most remote areas of the country do not have robust public transportation networks; and for those with access to...

Strategies for Managing Chronic Conditions in Rural Areas

by Emily Sokol, MPH

Over half of American adults have a chronic condition, including hypertension, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, the leading drivers of health care costs. Access to proper medical treatment, proper...

Anthem Faces Challenges in GA with Contract Dispute, New Partnership

by Kelsey Waddill

Anthem is preparing its members in the event that its contract with Northeast Georgia Health Systems (NGHS) ends this month, while it faces potential challenges over its new partnership with the...

22% of Those With Rural Healthcare Lack Telehealth Coverage

by Kelsey Waddill

As 25 percent of rural Americans continue to struggle with access to care and about an equal amount turn to telehealth for solutions, experts push payers for better telehealth coverage to improve rural...

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