Updated Story Medicare Payment Advisory Commission staff found that rural beneficiaries have a harder time accessing specialty care than do urban beneficiaries, though the two groups reported similar satisfaction with overall care, and that a decline in inpatient admissions preceded rural hospital closures. The congressional Medicare advisers discussed these findings and a need to examine the impacts of hospital system affiliation and staffing shortages on rural care during their meeting Thursday (March 4). MedPAC staff told commissioners...