Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Risk Adjustment in the Medicare Advantage Population Using Encounter Data
Examines the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk model by comparing 2016-2022 Traditional Medicare (TM) claims and Medicare Advantage (MA) encounter data. Analyzes differences in the TM-based model and MA-based model and discusses risk-adjusted MA payment, MA payment policy, and enrollment incentives for various populations, including rural.
Author(s): Caroline S. Carlin, Roger Feldman, Jeah Jung
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(5), e70165
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk model by comparing 2016-2022 Traditional Medicare (TM) claims and Medicare Advantage (MA) encounter data. Analyzes differences in the TM-based model and MA-based model and discusses risk-adjusted MA payment, MA payment policy, and enrollment incentives for various populations, including rural.
Author(s): Caroline S. Carlin, Roger Feldman, Jeah Jung
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(5), e70165
Date: 10/2026
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Digital Health Readiness and Medicare Primary Care Spending: Nationwide County-Level Observational Analysis
Analyzes associations between county-level digitalization and Medicare primary care spending for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in 2,993 counties between 2017 and 2023 using the Digital Health Index. Discusses the differences when comparing within a county over time and between counties, as well as the impact on healthcare access and socioeconomic factors.
Author(s): Zhaoqiang Zhou, John Geracitano, Baiming Zou, Saif Khairat
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes associations between county-level digitalization and Medicare primary care spending for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in 2,993 counties between 2017 and 2023 using the Digital Health Index. Discusses the differences when comparing within a county over time and between counties, as well as the impact on healthcare access and socioeconomic factors.
Author(s): Zhaoqiang Zhou, John Geracitano, Baiming Zou, Saif Khairat
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28
Date: 09/2026
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Historical State Actions Aligned with Approved RHTP Uses
Describes state legislation enacted to address rural health topics that coincide with priorities of the Rural Health Transformation Program, including chronic disease management, the healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, health technology, behavioral health, and healthcare payment.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Describes state legislation enacted to address rural health topics that coincide with priorities of the Rural Health Transformation Program, including chronic disease management, the healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, health technology, behavioral health, and healthcare payment.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
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Urban and Rural Hospital Closures in Georgia, 2022-2024
Results of a study examining postclosure changes in discharge volume, charges, and length of stay at hospitals within 35 miles of a hospital closure in Georgia from 2022-2024. Includes statistics on characteristics of discharges from hospitals that remained open, as well as outcomes associated with a closure, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Kajal Patel, Young-Rock Hong, Jennifer Lom, Mohammed K. Ali
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2635085
Date: 09/2026
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Results of a study examining postclosure changes in discharge volume, charges, and length of stay at hospitals within 35 miles of a hospital closure in Georgia from 2022-2024. Includes statistics on characteristics of discharges from hospitals that remained open, as well as outcomes associated with a closure, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Sara D. Turbow, Kajal Patel, Young-Rock Hong, Jennifer Lom, Mohammed K. Ali
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2635085
Date: 09/2026
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Rural Hospitals: Policy and Infrastructure Opportunities in the Rural Health Transformation Program
Describes state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) initiatives and investments intended to support rural hospital stability. Covers policies to stabilize rural hospitals through operational modernization, shared services, and targeted technical assistance; regionalization and hub-and-spoke care models; care delivery transformation; maternal and perinatal healthcare access; health information technology advances and interoperability; and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Describes state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) initiatives and investments intended to support rural hospital stability. Covers policies to stabilize rural hospitals through operational modernization, shared services, and targeted technical assistance; regionalization and hub-and-spoke care models; care delivery transformation; maternal and perinatal healthcare access; health information technology advances and interoperability; and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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RHC Cost Reporting Fall 2026
Recording of a September 14, 2026, webinar providing an overview of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) cost reporting. Covers key cost report drivers, including allowable costs, RHC visits and provider productivity, Medicare vaccine reimbursement, and Medicare bad debt. Discusses RHC benchmarking and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a September 14, 2026, webinar providing an overview of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) cost reporting. Covers key cost report drivers, including allowable costs, RHC visits and provider productivity, Medicare vaccine reimbursement, and Medicare bad debt. Discusses RHC benchmarking and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Rural Health Value Virtual Summit: Rural Healthcare Information Technology
Summarizes an April 2026 summit of rural value-based care thought leaders regarding the implementation of health information technology (HIT) to support value-based care. Identifies five themes that emerged from discussion and recommendations for healthcare leaders who want to invest in technology to support value-based care and value-based payment.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes an April 2026 summit of rural value-based care thought leaders regarding the implementation of health information technology (HIT) to support value-based care. Identifies five themes that emerged from discussion and recommendations for healthcare leaders who want to invest in technology to support value-based care and value-based payment.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Public Agency Health Center Monograph
Describes the programmatic requirements related to public agency health centers operating within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Covers key HRSA requirements, governance expectations, co-applicant board responsibilities, fiscal and personnel considerations, and common compliance challenges.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Describes the programmatic requirements related to public agency health centers operating within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Covers key HRSA requirements, governance expectations, co-applicant board responsibilities, fiscal and personnel considerations, and common compliance challenges.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Numerous Overlapping Programs Add Complexity, Unpredictability to Rural Hospital Finances
Analyzes payments between 1997 and 2024 to 2,942 rural hospitals participating in at least one Medicare-specific payment program, including the Sole Community Hospital, Medicare-Dependent Hospital, Critical Access Hospital, or Low-Volume Hospital programs. Discusses the impact of the programs and policy changes throughout the study period on hospital finances.
Author(s): Carolyn San Soucie, Michael E. Chernew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(9)
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes payments between 1997 and 2024 to 2,942 rural hospitals participating in at least one Medicare-specific payment program, including the Sole Community Hospital, Medicare-Dependent Hospital, Critical Access Hospital, or Low-Volume Hospital programs. Discusses the impact of the programs and policy changes throughout the study period on hospital finances.
Author(s): Carolyn San Soucie, Michael E. Chernew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(9)
Date: 09/2026
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Outpatient Care Fragmentation and Patient Satisfaction With Care
Examines the relationship between outpatient care fragmentation and Medicare patient satisfaction. Utilizes 2020-2022 survey data from 2,294 Medicare beneficiaries to analyze physician and practice-level fragmentation alongside patient satisfaction, measured by perceived accessibility, communication, coordination, and quality as experienced by rural, suburban, and urban Medicare populations.
Author(s): Isabella Ratto, Neelam Ahmed, Mengyuan Chen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70220
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship between outpatient care fragmentation and Medicare patient satisfaction. Utilizes 2020-2022 survey data from 2,294 Medicare beneficiaries to analyze physician and practice-level fragmentation alongside patient satisfaction, measured by perceived accessibility, communication, coordination, and quality as experienced by rural, suburban, and urban Medicare populations.
Author(s): Isabella Ratto, Neelam Ahmed, Mengyuan Chen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70220
Date: 09/2026
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