Walter Gregg, MA, MPH

Contact information for this researcher is no longer available, but you can still access their previous work.

Completed Projects - (7)
Publications - (24)

Completed Projects - (7)

Critical Access Hospital Access To and Use of Capital
This project will describe the capital needs of CAHs and their experiences in accessing and using capital, based on data from an e-mail survey of State Flex Coordinators, the TASC listserve, telephone contacts with Flex Coordinators in key states, and Medicare Cost Reports.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
Impact of Expansion of Ambulatory Surgery Centers on Rural Hospitals and Communities
This project will examine the extent of freestanding ambulatory surgery center (ASC) expansion into rural communities between 1998 and 2005, the market factors driving that expansion, and the impact of ASCs on the operational and financial viability of rural hospitals located in the same communities.
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Health services, Healthcare financing
National Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Tracking Project: Analysis of Hospital Conversion and Network Development Strategies
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Networking and collaboration, Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
National Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Tracking Project: Analysis of Network Development Strategies and CAH Performance
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Networking and collaboration, Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
Observation Care Services in Rural Hospitals: Reimbursement and Quality Implications
This project will describe the nature and scope of observation care services provided by rural hospitals and discuss policy relevant issues for Medicare beneficiaries and providers. Study findings will provide the first assessment of rural observation care services and identify policy options to minimize the potential for unintended consequences of Medicare policies related to observation care services.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Hospitals and clinics, Medicare, Quality
Role of Rural Hospitals in Community-Centered Systems of Care: Supporting Population Health Improvement for Rural Communities
This project will assess the degree to which rural hospitals engage in activities that facilitate community responsiveness and the provision of community-oriented services, using 1996 to 2004 data from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey and the Area Resource File.
Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Health services, Hospitals and clinics
Rural Hospitals' Access to Capital
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topic: Hospitals and clinics

Publications - (24)

2014

Successful Health Insurance Outreach, Education, and Enrollment Strategies for Rural Hospitals
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2014
This brief offers best practices for hospitals to use in health insurance outreach/enrollment based on interviews with administrators, staff, and community reps at 11 rural hospitals. It also discusses certified application counselors and the importance of collaborative community partnerships in conducting insurance enrollment outreach/education.
Does Rurality Affect Observation Care Services Use in CAHs for Medicare Beneficiaries?
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2014
This brief describes the use of observation services across levels of rurality by Medicare beneficiaries in critical access hospitals, the demographics and health status of patients receiving these services, and the characteristics of their observation stays.
Observation Care Services for Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Hospitals: Policy Issues and Stakeholder Perspectives
Policy Brief
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2014
This brief describes the findings of a qualitative study aimed at gaining a greater understanding of the rural policy context surrounding the use of observation care services by Medicare beneficiaries from 2010 to 2013.

2011

Will Bundling Work in Rural America? Analysis of the Feasibility and Consequences of Bundled Payments for Rural Health Providers and Patients
Policy Brief
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 09/2011
This report assesses the challenges and consequences for rural providers and patients of implementing bundled payments for acute and post-acute care episodes; explores impacts on care quality under a facility-physician bundled payment system; and describes potential modifications to bundling proposals and steps that could address rural issues.

2010

The Impact of Freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Centers on Rural Community Hospital Performance, 1997-2006
Policy Brief
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2010
This policy brief uses a retrospective analysis of data on rural hospital, ambulatory surgery center (ASC), and market characteristics for the years 1997 through 2006 to assess the impact of freestanding ASCs on rural hospital performance.
The Impact of Freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Centers on Rural Community Hospital Performance, 1997-2006 (Final Report)
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2010
This policy brief describes the impact of ambulatory surgery centers on rural hospital markets.
Current Practices and State Regulations Regarding Telepharmacy in Rural Hospitals
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 07/2010
Telepharmacy practices in rural hospitals in several states were examined, and relevant policies and state laws and regulations were analyzed, along with issues to be addressed as the use of telepharmacy expands.

2009

Rural Issues Related to Bundled Payments for Acute Care Episodes
Policy Brief
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2009
Bundling Medicare payments has been proposed as a way of encouraging providers to find innovative, cost-reducing strategies to provide better coordinated care. This brief describes challenges to implementing bundled payments in rural settings and discusses potential contracting and reimbursement strategies to address the challenges.

2008

Implementation of Telepharmacy in Rural Hospitals: Potential for Improving Medication Safety (Final Report)
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2008
Findings from this report describe successful telepharmacy activities being implemented in rural hospitals and analyze policy issues related to the implementation of telepharmacy projects in rural hospitals.
Far From the City: Community Orientation and Responsiveness of Rural Hospitals
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2008
This policy brief reports the findings of a national study focused on variation in hospital community orientation and responsiveness across differing rural contexts.

2007

State Initiatives Funded by the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program
Maine Rural Health Research Center, North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 10/2007
This report explores activities funded by the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program) to strengthen the rural healthcare infrastructure and discusses which activities were considered most successful by state Flex coordinators.
State Initiatives Funded by the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program (Policy Brief)
Policy Brief
Maine Rural Health Research Center, North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 04/2007
To understand the priorities/accomplishments of state Flex Grant Programs, the Flex Monitoring Team asked Flex coordinators to identify and discuss their states' three most successful initiatives in the last two years. Interviews were conducted with Flex coordinators and State Office of Rural Health staff in 45 states.
The Community Impact of Critical Access Hospitals
Maine Rural Health Research Center, North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2007
This policy brief discusses the findings of a project to understand the community involvement and impact of critical access hospitals and the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program).
Exploring the Community Impact of Critical Access Hospitals
Maine Rural Health Research Center, North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2007
This paper reports on a series of site visits to six diverse rural communities and critical access hospitals to assess the experiences and impact of these hospitals in responding to their community's health infrastructure needs.

2006

Implementation of Pay-for-Performance in Rural Hospitals: Lessons From the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration Project
Policy Brief
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2006
This paper provides an overview of findings of a national study to identify institutional, organizational, and environmental factors that influence the experience of rural hospitals in the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration project.
Implementation of Pay-for-Performance in Rural Hospitals: Lessons From the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration Project (Full Report)
Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 09/2006
This report shares the findings of a national study designed to identify institutional, organizational, and environmental factors that influence the experience of rural hospitals in the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration Project.
The Current Status of Health Information Technology Use in CAHs
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2006
The purpose of this briefing paper is to assess the current status of health information technology use in critical access hospitals nationally.
A Review of State Flex Program Plans, 2004-2005
Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 03/2006
This paper examines the objectives and project activities proposed by states in their Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program) grant applications for Fiscal Year 2004 to strengthen the rural healthcare infrastructure in their states. It highlights recent trends in state Flex Program planning, development, and implementation.

2005

The Availability and Use of Capital by Critical Access Hospitals
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 03/2005
This paper examines the experiences of critical access hospitals (CAHs) in meeting their capital needs. It focuses on their efforts to obtain capital, the capital sources tapped through these efforts and how CAHs have used the capital they have been able to obtain over the last few years and assesses their current capital needs.

2004

Sustaining Community Health Services Over Time: Models From the Rural Health Outreach Grant Program
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2004
This paper discusses post-grant sustainability of services provided by recipients of Rural Health Outreach Grant Program projects.
A Synthesis of State Flex Program Plans 2003-2004
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2004
This paper highlights recent trends in the development and implementation of state Flex Programs, whose goal is to strengthen the rural healthcare infrastructure using critical access hospitals as the hub of organized, local systems of care.

2003

Grantee Sustainability in the Rural Health Outreach Grant Program
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2003
This paper describes a study of the post-grant experiences of 99 Rural Health Outreach Grant recipients and focuses on the extent to which programs were able to maintain or expand services after their grants ended and characteristics that helped programs succeed in the post-grant period.
Rural Health Networks: Evolving Organizational Forms and Functions
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2003
This report discusses results of a survey of rural health networks. It includes information about the location, membership, relationships, governance, management, process, and products of rural health networks.

2002

Rural Hospital Access to Capital: Issues and Recommendations
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 07/2002
This paper identifies programs that have assisted/could assist rural hospitals in meeting capital needs; assesses whether rural hospital borrowers have difficulty in meeting capital needs under existing grant, loan, and mortgage insurance programs; and discusses potential options for improving access to capital for rural hospitals.