Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Critical Access Hospitals
RHCs, FQHCs, Tribal Clinics and CAHs in Rural Oregon
Shows a county-level map of Oregon identifying the Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), tribal clinics, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Highlights rural, urban, and frontier areas.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Shows a county-level map of Oregon identifying the Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), tribal clinics, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Highlights rural, urban, and frontier areas.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Prepublication Requirements: Requirement Revisions Related to NFPA Codes and CMS CoPs
Outlines new and revised Joint Commission requirements for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) effective March 1, 2026. Changes clarify elements of performance (EPs) based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements and further align Joint Commission standards with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs).
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Outlines new and revised Joint Commission requirements for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) effective March 1, 2026. Changes clarify elements of performance (EPs) based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements and further align Joint Commission standards with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs).
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Bridging the Gap: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a New Rural Maternity Care Center Amid Nationwide Closures
Examines healthcare quality and access following the reopening of a maternity care center at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in a rural community that experienced a maternity unit closure. Includes data comparisons of rural maternity care center (MCC) versus suburban tertiary care center patient demographics, delivery outcomes, and patient experiences. Discusses policy efforts to improve access to rural maternal health.
Author(s): Kathryn Wouk, Ellen Chetwynd, Emily C. Sheffield, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1),102
Date: 01/2026
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Examines healthcare quality and access following the reopening of a maternity care center at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in a rural community that experienced a maternity unit closure. Includes data comparisons of rural maternity care center (MCC) versus suburban tertiary care center patient demographics, delivery outcomes, and patient experiences. Discusses policy efforts to improve access to rural maternal health.
Author(s): Kathryn Wouk, Ellen Chetwynd, Emily C. Sheffield, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1),102
Date: 01/2026
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Oregon Critical Access Hospital Quality Reporting Programs, FY25 Flex (Sept. 1, 2025-Aug. 31, 2026)
Serves as a guide to help Oregon Critical Access Hospital (CAH) quality improvement officers develop and support quality improvement activities and make informed decisions when reporting their quality improvement efforts.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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Serves as a guide to help Oregon Critical Access Hospital (CAH) quality improvement officers develop and support quality improvement activities and make informed decisions when reporting their quality improvement efforts.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
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The University of Arizona Center for Rural Health: Annual Report FY 2026
Highlights the Center for Rural Health's accomplishments in fiscal year 2026 and describes upcoming challenges and opportunities for improving the health of rural Arizonans. Discusses the State Office of Rural Health, Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP), Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility program (AzFLEX), Arizona Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP), and other programs. Includes a map of rural and safety net health facilities.
Author(s): Daniel Derksen, Mona Arora, Leila Barraza, et al.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Highlights the Center for Rural Health's accomplishments in fiscal year 2026 and describes upcoming challenges and opportunities for improving the health of rural Arizonans. Discusses the State Office of Rural Health, Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP), Arizona Rural Hospital Flexibility program (AzFLEX), Arizona Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP), and other programs. Includes a map of rural and safety net health facilities.
Author(s): Daniel Derksen, Mona Arora, Leila Barraza, et al.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals to Address Outmigration
Offers 4 briefs providing an overview of factors that may contribute to a rural healthcare facility experiencing bypass or market share loss. Offers strategies to help rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) increase market share and address outmigration.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Offers 4 briefs providing an overview of factors that may contribute to a rural healthcare facility experiencing bypass or market share loss. Offers strategies to help rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) increase market share and address outmigration.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Health Care Artificial Intelligence Toolkit
Guide designed to help community health clinics and rural hospitals navigate information regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Includes resources on foundational considerations, governance for AI applications, and steps to assess and mitigate discriminatory impacts of AI systems in healthcare. Includes an AI tool vendor evaluation checklist for community health clinics and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: California Telehealth Resource Center
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Guide designed to help community health clinics and rural hospitals navigate information regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Includes resources on foundational considerations, governance for AI applications, and steps to assess and mitigate discriminatory impacts of AI systems in healthcare. Includes an AI tool vendor evaluation checklist for community health clinics and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: California Telehealth Resource Center
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2026 Reporting MIPS Quality Measures through Medicare Part B Claims Quick Start Guide for Small Practices
Provides details on how small practices can report quality measures through Medicare Part B claims measures. Highlights changes to these measures in 2026, score redistribution policies for small practices, and information for clinicians at Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides details on how small practices can report quality measures through Medicare Part B claims measures. Highlights changes to these measures in 2026, score redistribution policies for small practices, and information for clinicians at Critical Access Hospitals.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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In Rural Communities, Where Child Care Is Often Scarce, Healthcare Organizations Are Finding Creative Ways to Help
Features rural healthcare organizations in Indiana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin that have partnered with childcare providers, schools, and other organizations to support affordable child care in their communities.
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features rural healthcare organizations in Indiana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin that have partnered with childcare providers, schools, and other organizations to support affordable child care in their communities.
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Measuring State Flex Program Impact: Tools to Support Outcome Measurement and Evaluation
Toolkit designed to help State Flex Programs (SFPs) with manage and document project performance and comply with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's expectations regarding outcome measurement and reporting. Provides blank worksheets for SFPs as they work through the steps for their projects, as well as links to outcome measurement resources.
Author(s): John Gale, Bridget Harr
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Toolkit designed to help State Flex Programs (SFPs) with manage and document project performance and comply with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's expectations regarding outcome measurement and reporting. Provides blank worksheets for SFPs as they work through the steps for their projects, as well as links to outcome measurement resources.
Author(s): John Gale, Bridget Harr
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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