Denise Kirk, MS
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Phone: 919.843.1836
Email: dakirk@unc.edu
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
- Publications - (12)
Publications - (12)
2021
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The Effect of Medicare Payment Standardization Methods on the Perceived Cost of Post-Acute Swing Bed Care in Critical Access Hospitals
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 03/2021
The purpose of this study is to describe the effects of current Medicare payment standardization methods on the perceived cost of Critical Access Hospital swing bed care as it relates to the Medicare Spending per Beneficiary measure.
2020
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Association of CMS‐HCC Risk Scores With Health Care Utilization Among Rural and Urban Medicare Beneficiaries
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 12/2020
The study examines the relationship between Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Categories risk scores and future healthcare utilization among rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries. -
CMS Hierarchical Condition Category 2014 Risk Scores Are Lower for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries Than for Urban Beneficiaries
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 12/2020
The study investigates potential differences in rural and urban Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Category risk scores by rurality, census region, and beneficiary race or ethnicity. -
Changes in Care-Seeking After Rural Hospitals Merge
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 07/2020
Rural hospital mergers have increased significantly since 2010. Enhanced financial performance and improved quality are often cited as benefits, but hospital mergers can also lead to changes in the services provided by acquired hospitals. This brief estimates the use of inpatient services delivered by acquired rural hospitals following a merger.
2019
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Cost-Sharing as a Barrier to Accessing Care at FQHCs and RHCs for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 06/2019
The purpose of this study is to investigate cost barriers to accessing care at Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics for the rural Medicare population. -
Facility-Based Ambulatory Care Provided to Rural Medicare Beneficiaries in 2014
Chartbook
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 03/2019
This chartbook uses available Medicare claims data to describe facility-based (i.e., excludes private practitioners) ambulatory care provided to rural Medicare beneficiaries and includes claims, costs, and common diagnoses.
2018
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Rural and Urban Provider Market Share of Inpatient Post-Acute Care Services Provided to Rural Medicare Beneficiaries
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 04/2018
The purpose of this brief is to characterize rural providers' market share of inpatient post-acute care services provided to rural Medicare beneficiaries.
2017
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Rural-Urban Variations in Medicare Live Discharge Patterns From Hospice, 2012-2013
Policy Brief
Rapid Response to Requests for Rural Data Analysis
Date: 09/2017
This brief 1) provides an overview of the geographic distribution of "freestanding" (i.e., rather than those co-located in a hospital, home health agency, or skilled nursing facility) rural and urban hospices and, 2) explores live discharge rates for hospices operating in rural versus urban areas. -
A Positive Association Between Hospice Profit Margin and the Rate at Which Patients Are Discharged Before Death
Journal Article
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 07/2017
The links between the increasing live discharge rate from hospice and the quality of care is examined.
2014
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Safety Net Clinics Serving the Elderly in Rural Areas: Rural Health Clinic Patients Compared to Federally Qualified Health Center Patients
Policy Brief
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 05/2014
This brief, the third and final in a series on rural health centers (RHC), uses data from 2009 Medicare outpatient provider claims to look at clinic locations, number of beneficiaries served, and number of/cost per claim for each type of rural safety net clinic, as well as beneficiaries' ages, health problems, and distance traveled for care.
2013
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Profile of Rural Health Clinics: Clinic & Medicare Patient Characteristics
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 03/2013
This brief presents a summary of the geographic distribution and clinic-level characteristics of rural health clinics, as well as an overview of the Medicare beneficiaries they served.
2012
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Profile of Rural Health Clinics: Medicare Payments & Common Diagnoses: Review of 2009 Medicare Outpatient Claims Data
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 12/2012
Using data extracted from 2009 Medicare outpatient provider claims, this brief presents a summary profile of Medicare billing and reimbursement activity for independent and provider-based RHCs.