Literature Review

Pressing questions about rural telehealth access and investments put innovation in dangerMcKnights Long-Term Care News, by Kimberly Marselas; 1/22/24Proven healthcare technologies can help improve patient care and boost staff confidence, but in many rural areas, one major impediment remains: lack of high-speed internet.

Rural nursing homes' livelihood may depend on non-existent staffMcKnights Long-Term Care News, by Kimberly Marselas; 1/15/24... Rural skilled nursing providers have been among the most deeply affected by pandemic-era losses, a fact acknowledged by a provision in the mandate that gives them two extra years to hire needed staff. ... Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, has called staffing “the metric that will matter most” for rural healthcare over the next five to 10 years.

Will we close the Medicare Advantage primary care gap in 2024?MedCity News, by Jim Bonnette; 1/8/24... Across all healthcare industry stakeholders, there is a pressing need to address this growing concern: MA members without primary care physicians (PCPs). This cohort, called the MA Primary Care Gap, may present the highest risk to health plans as MA becomes their fastest-growing segment . ... Furthermore, the MA Primary Care Gap is widening due to industry shortages of primary care providers and the rise of healthcare deserts in both rural areas and under-served urban areas. The absence of primary care physicians is particularly troublesome for Medicare Advantage patients with multiple chronic diseases and complex healthcare needs.

How broadband expansion is bolstering rural healthcareModern HealthcareDecember 26, 2023Health systems have emerged as crucial collaborators in government efforts to improve access to high-speed internet in rural communities. Nearly 30 million people in the U.S. live in places that lack broadband infrastructure, according to the Commerce Department. 

Walgreens’ VillageMD to shutter more clinics in cost-cutting planModern HealthcareDecember 15, 2023Walgreens-backed VillageMD is exiting Indiana. The primary care provider plans to shutter all 12 of its Village Medical practices across the state, effective Jan. 19, a VillageMD spokesperson confirmed Friday. Some of the locations are co-located with Walgreens stores, but the stores are not closing, the spokesperson said. The closures stem from Walgreens’ larger cost-cutting plan announced in October that involves closing 60 VillageMD-operated clinics in five markets. Earlier this month, VillageMD said 10 clinics in the Jacksonville, Florida, area will close in January. Walgreens is seeking $1 billion in savings, most of which will come from pharmacy operations and scaling back capital projects by about $600 million. 

Kansas’ unrivaled rural hospital crisis—58% at risk of closing, 82% lost money on patient careKansas ReflectorDecember 12, 2023Topeka, KS—Financial weaknesses at four of every five rural Kansas hospitals provide leverage to Medicaid expansion advocates who are eager for the infusion of $680 million annually in new government investment into the state’s health care system. The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform says 84 of the state’s 102 rural hospitals recorded financial losses on patient services in the most recent year data is available. The health policy organization reports 59 of the state’s rural hospitals are in jeopardy of closing. Twenty-eight are at immediate risk of collapse. A health care delivery calamity has been building for years, as 10 of Kansas’ rural hospitals closed since 2005. ... “How much more evidence do we need that rural communities need our support to keep health care affordable and accessible?” said Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Kelly said expansion of Medicaid eligibility to about 150,000 lower-income Kansans will narrow coverage gaps and throw a lifeline to hospitals and communities. ... “We can only judge the impact of not expanding Medicaid by looking at the states around us that have,” Kelly said. ... Administrators at hospitals in Kansas are urging lawmakers to break from the 10 Southern and rural states that—so far—reject Medicaid expansion.

Palliative Care News’ Top 5 Stories of 2023Palliative Care NewsDecember 6, 2023A look back at Palliative Care News’ five most-read stories this year paints a picture of trends shaping the serious illness care space. Securing reimbursement—and the promise of value-based contracts—continues to be top of mind for many palliative care providers as they look ahead to 2024. Operators have their eyes on the ever-shifting payment landscape and the headwinds and opportunities that come with it. Meanwhile, more providers are increasingly working to address health disparities among underserved populations in various settings, including prisons and rural areas, among others. But in the midst of this, workforce shortages and clinical capacity issues remain obstacles to palliative care access. The following are the most-read Palliative Care News articles of 2023.