Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Differential Effects of Social Determinants on Cancer Survival by Age at Diagnosis: A Population-Based Study in Alabama
Examines whether the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on cancer survival differs by age at diagnosis. Utilizes 2010-2019 Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry data on adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, colorectal, or lung cancers and analyzes survival rate alongside social vulnerability, rurality, and insurance status.
Author(s): Mackenzie E. Fowler, Geetanjali Saini, Elizabeth Baker, Mahak Bhargava, Ritu Aneja
Citation: Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 17(8), 103094
Date: 11/2026
view details
Examines whether the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on cancer survival differs by age at diagnosis. Utilizes 2010-2019 Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry data on adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, colorectal, or lung cancers and analyzes survival rate alongside social vulnerability, rurality, and insurance status.
Author(s): Mackenzie E. Fowler, Geetanjali Saini, Elizabeth Baker, Mahak Bhargava, Ritu Aneja
Citation: Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 17(8), 103094
Date: 11/2026
view details
Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2025 Performance Year/2027 MIPS Payment Year - Payment Adjustment User Guide
Provides information on Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) payment adjustments for calendar year 2027. Describes how 2025 MIPS scores relate to 2027 payment adjustments and how payment adjustments are applied. Offers answers to frequently asked questions.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Provides information on Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) payment adjustments for calendar year 2027. Describes how 2025 MIPS scores relate to 2027 payment adjustments and how payment adjustments are applied. Offers answers to frequently asked questions.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Paying for Clinical AI: Principles for Policymakers
Provides an overview of clinical applications of artificial intelligence (clinical AI) tools and use cases. Describes payment challenges related to the use of clinical AI. Outlines seven principles that should guide payment policies for clinical AI.
Author(s): Allison Kwon, Maya Sandalow
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
Provides an overview of clinical applications of artificial intelligence (clinical AI) tools and use cases. Describes payment challenges related to the use of clinical AI. Outlines seven principles that should guide payment policies for clinical AI.
Author(s): Allison Kwon, Maya Sandalow
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
January 2027 Annual Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Monthly Facility Payment Amount
Presents the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Presents the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Rural Value-Based Care and Payment: From Payment Fundamentals to Rural Design
Slides presented to Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) staff during a two-day seminar in October 2026. Provides an overview of Medicare payment systems and mechanisms for rural healthcare providers. Explores the difference between fee-for-service and value-based payment systems and the applicability of value-based care and payment (VBC/P) models to rural providers. Discusses factors that influence whether a rural VBC/P approach is likely to succeed.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details
Slides presented to Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) staff during a two-day seminar in October 2026. Provides an overview of Medicare payment systems and mechanisms for rural healthcare providers. Explores the difference between fee-for-service and value-based payment systems and the applicability of value-based care and payment (VBC/P) models to rural providers. Discusses factors that influence whether a rural VBC/P approach is likely to succeed.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
view details
Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program Legislative Quarterly Report: Q3 July 1 - Sept. 30, 2026
Provides a brief overview of the 29 programs that comprise Oklahoma's Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), including budget allocation, obligated funds, and implementation status through September 30, 2026. Includes highlights of activities conducted with RHTP funding between July 1 - September 30, 2026.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State Department of Health
view details
Provides a brief overview of the 29 programs that comprise Oklahoma's Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), including budget allocation, obligated funds, and implementation status through September 30, 2026. Includes highlights of activities conducted with RHTP funding between July 1 - September 30, 2026.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State Department of Health
view details
Rural Health Transformation Program State Programmatic Snapshots: 2026 Release
Provides an overview of each state's Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives and focus areas, as well as policy action commitments outlined in states' applications.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Provides an overview of each state's Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives and focus areas, as well as policy action commitments outlined in states' applications.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Rural Health Transformation Program Planned State Initiatives: Budget Period 1
Presents an overview of initiatives planned by states as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program organized across eight categories: population health, workforce, payment and service models, health system innovation, accessible care, technology, disease prevention and care, and health promotion.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Presents an overview of initiatives planned by states as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program organized across eight categories: population health, workforce, payment and service models, health system innovation, accessible care, technology, disease prevention and care, and health promotion.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Rural Emergency Hospital Revenue Cycle: Building a Strong Billing Foundation
Describes essential elements of Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) revenue cycle readiness. Covers post-conversion REH enrollment and compliance; outpatient claim, coding, and documentation accuracy; and collaboration across the revenue cycle.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
view details
Describes essential elements of Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) revenue cycle readiness. Covers post-conversion REH enrollment and compliance; outpatient claim, coding, and documentation accuracy; and collaboration across the revenue cycle.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
view details
Building on the 2025 National Academies Pharmacy Workshop: Pharmacy Deserts in the United States
Describes pharmacy access in the United States, including discussions of "pharmacy desert" definitions by rurality, drivers of recent pharmacy desert trends, and the impact of pharmacy deserts on health outcomes. Highlights potential policy strategies for addressing pharmacy deserts with a focus on the pharmacy workforce, reimbursement and payment models, new technologies, and service delivery models.
Author(s): Lucas A. Berenbrok, Delesha Carpenter, Teresa M. Salgado, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(10)
Date: 10/2026
view details
Describes pharmacy access in the United States, including discussions of "pharmacy desert" definitions by rurality, drivers of recent pharmacy desert trends, and the impact of pharmacy deserts on health outcomes. Highlights potential policy strategies for addressing pharmacy deserts with a focus on the pharmacy workforce, reimbursement and payment models, new technologies, and service delivery models.
Author(s): Lucas A. Berenbrok, Delesha Carpenter, Teresa M. Salgado, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(10)
Date: 10/2026
view details