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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance

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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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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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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Prepublication Requirements: Obstetrical Services Requirements
Outlines new and revised Joint Commission standards and Elements of Performance (EPs) for Critical Access Hospitals to align with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs) regarding obstetric care.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Critical Access Hospital and Hospital Requirements Streamlined to Reduce Burden
Outlines streamlined Joint Commission requirements for accreditation and Elements of Performance (EPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes links to survey process guides, disposition reports, and crosswalk and crosswalk compare reports for each deemed program's Conditions of Participation and the equivalent Joint Commission EPs.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Prepublication Requirements: Revisions to Rural Health Clinic Requirements to Align with CMS CfCs
Outlines revisions to Joint Commission standards and Elements of Performance (EPs) for Rural Health Clinics. Changes reflect regulatory updates that were effective January 1, 2025, regarding the provision of primary care services and basic laboratory services requirements.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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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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Financial Performance of Rural and Urban Nursing Homes: A Comparative Analysis
Presents a study comparing the financial performance between rural and urban nursing homes. Discusses the different structural barriers and facilitators that affect the operating margins in rural and urban facilities.
Author(s): Gregory N. Orewa, Rohit Pradhan, Akbar Ghiasi, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70053
Date: 07/2025
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Quickstart Roadmap for a Solo Tele-Nutrition Practice
Guide outlining steps to setting up a solo tele-nutrition practice. Discusses technology selection, workflow design, and patient engagement.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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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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