Rural ‐Urban Differences in Medicare Quality Scores Persist After Adjusting for Sociodemographic and Environmental Characteristics

ConclusionsDifferences in Medicare quality scores by rurality cannot be entirely explained by differences in population or environmental characteristics. Still, to the extent that clinicians are evaluated—and paid—based on measures that are influenced by both population sociodemographic characteristics and geographic location without adequate risk adjustment, the challenges of delivering care in rural areas will only be exacerbated.

Source: The Journal of Rural Health - June 1, 2017 Category: Rural Health Authors: Carrie Henning ‐Smith, Shailendra Prasad, Michelle Casey, Katy Kozhimannil, Ira Moscovice Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research