Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health insurance
Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): Traditional MIPS Scoring Guide for the 2025 Performance Year
Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2025 Merit-Based Incentive Payment (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs) Implementation Guide
Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs), a voluntary reporting option that can be used to meet MIPS reporting requirements for the 2025 performance year. Describes subgroup reporting, reporting requirements, scoring, performance feedback and public reporting, and how to register to report an MVP. Includes information on considerations and exceptions for small practices and clinicians in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs), a voluntary reporting option that can be used to meet MIPS reporting requirements for the 2025 performance year. Describes subgroup reporting, reporting requirements, scoring, performance feedback and public reporting, and how to register to report an MVP. Includes information on considerations and exceptions for small practices and clinicians in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Medicare Telehealth Trends Report
Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2025. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Describes the trends of telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2025. Presents data on the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries that used a telehealth service by calendar quarter and by Medicaid eligibility, type of Medicare eligibility, demographic characteristics, and rural/urban residence.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The 2025 State of Poverty in Ohio Report
Provides information on poverty in Ohio, with a focus on pharmacy, food, and additional healthcare/human services deserts. Includes county-level information on individual and family poverty rates, food insecurity, insurance status, housing, and more.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies
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Provides information on poverty in Ohio, with a focus on pharmacy, food, and additional healthcare/human services deserts. Includes county-level information on individual and family poverty rates, food insecurity, insurance status, housing, and more.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies
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Adult Ratings of Neighborhood Medical Care Availability in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas, United States 2021
Statistical brief examining perceptions of medical care availability and quality in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas, utilizing 2021 AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality and age group, insurance status, physical health status, and more.
Author(s): Sandra L. Decker, Xue Wu
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Statistical brief examining perceptions of medical care availability and quality in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas, utilizing 2021 AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data. Includes data breakdowns by level of rurality and age group, insurance status, physical health status, and more.
Author(s): Sandra L. Decker, Xue Wu
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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AHEAD CMS-Designed Medicare FFS HGB Calculator Tool for Acute Care Hospitals Demonstration
Provides an overview and demonstration of the CMS-Designed Medicare Fee-for-Service Hospital Global Budget (HGB) Calculator Tool, which aims to support fee-for-service acute care hospitals in understanding the HGB financial methodology for the AHEAD Model. Discusses how an AHEAD Medicare Fee-for-Service Hospital Global Budget is constructed.
Additional links: AHEAD Model CMS-Designed Medicare FFS Acute Care Hospital Global Budget Calculator Tool, AHEAD Model: CMS-Designed Medicare Hospital Global Budget Acute Care Hospital Calculator Tool At-A-Glance
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview and demonstration of the CMS-Designed Medicare Fee-for-Service Hospital Global Budget (HGB) Calculator Tool, which aims to support fee-for-service acute care hospitals in understanding the HGB financial methodology for the AHEAD Model. Discusses how an AHEAD Medicare Fee-for-Service Hospital Global Budget is constructed.
Additional links: AHEAD Model CMS-Designed Medicare FFS Acute Care Hospital Global Budget Calculator Tool, AHEAD Model: CMS-Designed Medicare Hospital Global Budget Acute Care Hospital Calculator Tool At-A-Glance
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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AHEAD CMS-Designed Medicare FFS Hospital Global Budget Calculator Tool for Critical Access Hospital
Provides an overview and demonstration of the CMS-Designed Medicare Fee-for-Service Hospital Global Budget (HGB) Calculator Tool for Critical Access Hospitals, which aims to support eligible CAHs in understanding the key elements of the AHEAD Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) HGB methodology. Discusses key differences in the hospital global budget construction and methodology for critical access hospitals and fee-for-service hospitals.
Additional links: AHEAD Model CMS-Designed Medicare FFS Critical Access Hospital Global Budget Calculator Tool, AHEAD Model: CMS-Designed Medicare Hospital Global Budget Critical Access Hospital Calculator Tool At-A-Glance
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview and demonstration of the CMS-Designed Medicare Fee-for-Service Hospital Global Budget (HGB) Calculator Tool for Critical Access Hospitals, which aims to support eligible CAHs in understanding the key elements of the AHEAD Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) HGB methodology. Discusses key differences in the hospital global budget construction and methodology for critical access hospitals and fee-for-service hospitals.
Additional links: AHEAD Model CMS-Designed Medicare FFS Critical Access Hospital Global Budget Calculator Tool, AHEAD Model: CMS-Designed Medicare Hospital Global Budget Critical Access Hospital Calculator Tool At-A-Glance
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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FY 2026 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Final Rule — CMS-1833-F
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2026 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and the discontinuation of the low-wage index hospital policy for FY 2026 and subsequent years.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2026 hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule. Includes information about the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and the discontinuation of the low-wage index hospital policy for FY 2026 and subsequent years.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Use of Telebehavioral Health Services by Critical Access Hospitals in the United States: A Qualitative Study of the Impacts of Medicare Flexibilities and Future Opportunities
Analyzes interviews with 22 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) administrators and providers to identify how telebehavioral health is used in CAHs, the impact of Medicare billing flexibility, and opportunities and challenges for telebehavioral healthcare moving forward.
Author(s): Christopher M. Shea, Sharita Thomas, Marah Maaita, Heidi O'Connor, Yvonne Jonk
Citation: Digital Health, 11
Date: 07/2025
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Analyzes interviews with 22 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) administrators and providers to identify how telebehavioral health is used in CAHs, the impact of Medicare billing flexibility, and opportunities and challenges for telebehavioral healthcare moving forward.
Author(s): Christopher M. Shea, Sharita Thomas, Marah Maaita, Heidi O'Connor, Yvonne Jonk
Citation: Digital Health, 11
Date: 07/2025
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Partners in Progress: Pursuing Medical-Dental Integration in Ohio
Report explores dental health integration into primary care in Ohio and a way to expand oral healthcare access in the state. Discusses access issues in rural area, shortage areas, among Medicaid recipients, and details how integration can help close the gap.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Report explores dental health integration into primary care in Ohio and a way to expand oral healthcare access in the state. Discusses access issues in rural area, shortage areas, among Medicaid recipients, and details how integration can help close the gap.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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