This project will investigate whether nursing home quality and access to nursing home care have eroded in rural areas as a result of changes in Medicare payments or reductions in Medicaid nursing home payments over the period from calendar year 2000 to calendar year 2003. The basic, general hypothesis for this study is that rural nursing homes and those frail elderly in rural areas will be more disadvantaged by these changes than the facilities and elderly in other types of areas. To test this hypothesis, researchers will analyze national facility and resident level data combined with surveys of Medicaid state agencies to determine the impact of cuts to Medicare and Medicaid services on quality and availability of long term care in rural versus urban areas. In addition to a final report submitted to the federal Office of Rural Health Policy that will be made available on-line at the Center's website, the key findings will also be published in professional journals.

There may be products related to this project; please contact the lead researcher for more information.