Rural Health
Research Gateway

Jeffrey Stensland, PhD

Phone: 202.220.3726
Fax: 202.220.3759
Email: jstensland@medpac.gov

MedPAC
425 I Street
Washington DC, 20016

Completed Projects - (4)

Publications - (11)

2004

  • The Financial Benefits of Critical Access Hospital Conversion for FY 1999 and FY 2000 Converters
    University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2004
    This paper discusses the impact of conversion to critical access hospital (CAH) status on the financial condition of rural hospitals one and two years after conversion. CAHs pre- and post-conversion revenues are compared, and CAH revenues are compared to small rural hospitals that did not convert to cost-based Medicare reimbursement.

2003

  • The Financial Effects of Critical Access Hospital Conversion
    University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2003
    This paper describes how the first wave of conversions to critical access hospital status affected rural hospitals' financial performances and organizational structures.
  • Rate of Return on Capital Investments at Small Rural Hospitals
    University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2003
    This paper examines whether the aging of rural facilities is due to a lower rate of return on capital investment at these hospitals. This paper also investigates whether membership in a hospital system improves access to capital and results in the updating of buildings and equipment.

2002

  • Financial Incentives for Rural Hospitals to Expand the Scope of Their Services
    University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 06/2002
    This paper examines the financial incentives that rural hospitals have to conduct surgery and treat more complex medical conditions. The objective is to evaluate whether rural hospitals that offer broader services are more profitable than hospitals with limited inpatient services.
  • Understanding Rural Hospital Bypass Behavior
    University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 06/2002
    This study provides a descriptive analysis of rural hospital bypass behavior. It focuses on the extent to which patients admitted from rural areas are bypassing local facilities and whether there are changes in bypass patterns over time.
  • Capital Needs of Small Rural Hospitals
    NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
    Date: 05/2002
    This report examines the capital situation of rural hospitals with fewer than 50 beds to determine the total cost of bringing each facility into compliance with current laws, as well as the facilities' cost of borrowing and ability to borrow.
  • Variance in the Profitability of Small-Town Rural Hospitals (Policy Brief)
    NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
    Date: 04/2002
    This policy brief discusses why some rural small-town hospitals are financially successful and others struggle with persistent financial difficulties.
  • Variance in the Profitability of Small-Town Rural Hospitals (Full Report)
    NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
    Date: 02/2002
    This report documents the variance in profitability among small-town rural hospitals and evaluates the characteristics that distinguish highly profitable small-town hospitals from struggling ones. It also reports on strategies that small-town hospital administrators are using to achieve financial success.

2001

2000

  • Financial Viability of Rural Hospitals in a Post-BBA Environment
    University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 10/2000
    This paper evaluates the financial viability of rural hospitals under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 Medicare payment policies. It estimates the number of hospitals that will become critical access hospitals and the number of beds at each hospital.
  • Why Do Rural Primary-Care Physicians Sell Their Practices?
    University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 06/2000
    This study evaluates why rural primary care physicians sell their practices. It examines the factors that led independent physicians to sell their practices to either non-local buyers, local hospitals, or local physicians.