Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
The Relationship Between Low Social/Emotional Support and Health Care Affordability Among Rural and Urban Residents
Highlights a study examining rural and urban differences in the effect social and emotional supports have on the health and financial impacts of healthcare costs. Breaks down data by feelings about medical bills, age, insurance type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70034
Date: 05/2025
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Highlights a study examining rural and urban differences in the effect social and emotional supports have on the health and financial impacts of healthcare costs. Breaks down data by feelings about medical bills, age, insurance type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70034
Date: 05/2025
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Impact of Hospital Closure on Rural Communities: A Qualitative Study
Examines the impact of rural hospital closure on access to care, and identifies ways that rural communities adapt to hospital closures. Utilizes interview excerpts from 25 informants examining themes related to pre-closure conditions, impacts on communities and health systems, and actions by communities, states, health systems, and emergency medical services.
Author(s): Redwan Bin Abdul Baten, Mina Shrestha, Fred Ullrich, Whitney Zahnd, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Examines the impact of rural hospital closure on access to care, and identifies ways that rural communities adapt to hospital closures. Utilizes interview excerpts from 25 informants examining themes related to pre-closure conditions, impacts on communities and health systems, and actions by communities, states, health systems, and emergency medical services.
Author(s): Redwan Bin Abdul Baten, Mina Shrestha, Fred Ullrich, Whitney Zahnd, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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2024 National CAH Quality Inventory & Assessment National Report
Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2024 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; and CAH quality payment model participation.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2024 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; and CAH quality payment model participation.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2025 Improvement Activities Performance Category Quick Start Guide
Provides an overview of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements, data collection, and data submission for the improvement activities performance category for the 2025 performance year. Includes information about special status scoring for small practices and clinicians located in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements, data collection, and data submission for the improvement activities performance category for the 2025 performance year. Includes information about special status scoring for small practices and clinicians located in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Catalog of Value-Based Initiatives for Rural Providers
Summarizes rural-relevant, value-based programs currently or recently implemented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CMS Innovation Center. Designed to help rural healthcare leaders identify HHS value-based programs that are suitable for rural participation. Contains descriptions of each demonstration and provides direct links to the corresponding agency web page.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes rural-relevant, value-based programs currently or recently implemented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CMS Innovation Center. Designed to help rural healthcare leaders identify HHS value-based programs that are suitable for rural participation. Contains descriptions of each demonstration and provides direct links to the corresponding agency web page.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Medicare Shared Savings Program: Rule Changes and Implications for Rural Health Care Organizations
Summarizes changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) that take effect in January 2023 for current participants, and in January 2024 for organizations applying for a January 1, 2024 start. Discusses the potential impact of these changes on rural health and participation considerations.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Shared Savings Program (SSP) that take effect in January 2023 for current participants, and in January 2024 for organizations applying for a January 1, 2024 start. Discusses the potential impact of these changes on rural health and participation considerations.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Exploring Oral Health and Care Access among Adults with Disabilities
Report discusses the challenges adults with disabilities have accessing oral healthcare. Explores the role of transportation, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and metro versus non-metro location, among other factors, as barriers to oral healthcare access for people with disabilities.
Author(s): Morgan Santoro, Lisa J. Heaton, Rebecca Preston, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Report discusses the challenges adults with disabilities have accessing oral healthcare. Explores the role of transportation, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and metro versus non-metro location, among other factors, as barriers to oral healthcare access for people with disabilities.
Author(s): Morgan Santoro, Lisa J. Heaton, Rebecca Preston, et al.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Evolving Remote Monitoring: An Evidence-Based Approach to Coverage and Payment
Reports on trends in utilization of remote patient monitoring (RPM) and discusses policy and payment approaches for effectively and efficiently utilizing RPM, particularly via Medicare and Medicaid. Includes data and discussion of rural barriers to RPM access.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Reports on trends in utilization of remote patient monitoring (RPM) and discusses policy and payment approaches for effectively and efficiently utilizing RPM, particularly via Medicare and Medicaid. Includes data and discussion of rural barriers to RPM access.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Peterson Center on Healthcare
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Assisting Rural Consumers
Offers information and guidance for Navigators and certified application counselors helping rural healthcare consumers. Covers rural-relevant considerations and policy updates regarding Federally-facilitated and State-based Marketplaces, Medicaid/CHIP, and Medicare. Outlines tips for assisters to address barriers to care and conducting outreach in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Offers information and guidance for Navigators and certified application counselors helping rural healthcare consumers. Covers rural-relevant considerations and policy updates regarding Federally-facilitated and State-based Marketplaces, Medicaid/CHIP, and Medicare. Outlines tips for assisters to address barriers to care and conducting outreach in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Critical Access Hospital Case Study on Recruitment & Retention
Webinar recording on strategies for recruitment and retention at Critical Access Hospitals, featuring Rob Bloom of Wintergreen and Rich Duvall of North Star Health Alliance. Discusses best practices for aligning workforce incentives, benefits, and organizational goals in rural CAHs. See video description for transcript.
Author(s): Rob Bloom, Rich Duvall
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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Webinar recording on strategies for recruitment and retention at Critical Access Hospitals, featuring Rob Bloom of Wintergreen and Rich Duvall of North Star Health Alliance. Discusses best practices for aligning workforce incentives, benefits, and organizational goals in rural CAHs. See video description for transcript.
Author(s): Rob Bloom, Rich Duvall
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health
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