Document Type
Policy Brief
Publication Date
2-1-2016
Keywords
MRHRC, Rural Health Clinics, quality, measures, reporting systems, USM Aging Initiative, Health and Wellness, Policy
Abstract
More than 4,000 Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) serve the primary care needs of rural communities, and are therefore an important source of primary care and other essential health services for rural residents. Unfortunately, the Rural Health Clinic Program is plagued by a lack of data on the financial, operational, and quality performance of participating clinics. In light of the significant expansion of quality performance reporting and growing use of performance-based payment approaches, it is critically important that RHCs be able to compete in this changing healthcare market. To this end, we piloted the reporting and use of a small set of primary care-relevant quality measures by a geographically diverse sample of RHCs. This policy brief reports on the results of this pilot with a focus on assessing the feasibility and utility of the reporting system and quality measures for the participating RHCs.
Funding Organization
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Grant Number
CA#U1CRH03716
Recommended Citation
Gale, J., Hansen, A., Hartley, D., & Coburn, A. (2016). Pilot testing a Rural Health Clinic quality measurement reporting system. (PB-62). Portland, ME: University of Southern Maine, Muskie School, Maine Rural Health Research Center.
Comments
Policy Brief No. 62