Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
MVP Transition Toolkit for Small Practices
Zip file download, provides resources for small practices that participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) to support the transition from traditional MIPS reporting to MIPS Value Pathways (MVP) reporting. Includes an MVP Transition Guide for Small Practices and a Measure Mapping Tool.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Zip file download, provides resources for small practices that participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) to support the transition from traditional MIPS reporting to MIPS Value Pathways (MVP) reporting. Includes an MVP Transition Guide for Small Practices and a Measure Mapping Tool.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): Small Practice Countdown to 2026 Performance Year (PY) Data Submission
Checklist outlining the steps small practices must follow to submit Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2026 performance year data. Highlights key dates and links to key resources for small practices.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Checklist outlining the steps small practices must follow to submit Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2026 performance year data. Highlights key dates and links to key resources for small practices.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Federal Policy Priorities to Strengthen Rural Health and Maximize Rural Health Transformation Program Investments
Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Rural Clinically Integrated Network Readiness Assessment Tool
Self-assessment tool designed to help rural healthcare organizations evaluate their readiness for participation in a clinically integrated network (CIN) and identify strategic considerations and opportunities for successful CIN participation.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Self-assessment tool designed to help rural healthcare organizations evaluate their readiness for participation in a clinically integrated network (CIN) and identify strategic considerations and opportunities for successful CIN participation.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services: Improving Multi-Payer Alignment in Value-Based Care
Summarizes findings from the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee's (PTAC) review of information on improving multi-payer alignment in value-based care. Describes key issues and characteristics related to improving multi-payer alignment in value-based care from proposals that have previously been submitted to PTAC. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Summarizes findings from the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee's (PTAC) review of information on improving multi-payer alignment in value-based care. Describes key issues and characteristics related to improving multi-payer alignment in value-based care from proposals that have previously been submitted to PTAC. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Collaboration to Contracting: A Guide to Rural Clinically Integrated Networks
Identifies 5 pillars of successful rural clinically integrated network (CIN) development. Covers legal matters, governance, care delivery, data infrastructure, and financial sustainability. Includes action steps for administrators of CINs.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Identifies 5 pillars of successful rural clinically integrated network (CIN) development. Covers legal matters, governance, care delivery, data infrastructure, and financial sustainability. Includes action steps for administrators of CINs.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Health Care Access, Preventive Care, and Affordability Among Rural Adults With Cardiometabolic Conditions: Medicare Advantage Versus Traditional Medicare
Examines the differences in healthcare experiences for rural adults with cardiometabolic conditions who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) versus traditional Medicare. Utilizes 2021-2022 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data from 4,274 rural beneficiaries and analyzes MA versus traditional Medicare coverage related to issues such as healthcare access, preventive care, and affordability.
Author(s): Nicholas Chiu, Andrew Oseran, Archana P. Tale, Rishi K. Wadhera
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 15, 15
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the differences in healthcare experiences for rural adults with cardiometabolic conditions who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) versus traditional Medicare. Utilizes 2021-2022 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data from 4,274 rural beneficiaries and analyzes MA versus traditional Medicare coverage related to issues such as healthcare access, preventive care, and affordability.
Author(s): Nicholas Chiu, Andrew Oseran, Archana P. Tale, Rishi K. Wadhera
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 15, 15
Date: 07/2026
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Calendar Year 2026 Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Guide for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals
Provides an overview of the requirements of the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program for calendar year 2026. Covers information about participation requirements, measures, data submission, and helpful resources.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Services Advisory Group
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Provides an overview of the requirements of the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program for calendar year 2026. Covers information about participation requirements, measures, data submission, and helpful resources.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Services Advisory Group
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FY 2027 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1849-F)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2027 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, the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, the Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fiscal year 2027 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, the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, the Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program, and more.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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How Medicaid Directors Stay Connected to Members: Lessons from Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Wisconsin
Examines how Medicaid leaders field feedback from their members and stay engaged with their communities. Includes information from a Medicaid director in Nevada who toured the state to learn about local perspectives of Medicaid providers and members living in rural and frontier areas. Wisconsin example shows how feedback was used to inform the state's Rural Health Transformation proposal, while Pennsylvania focused on providing better coordination of services to members.
Author(s): Disha Williams
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Examines how Medicaid leaders field feedback from their members and stay engaged with their communities. Includes information from a Medicaid director in Nevada who toured the state to learn about local perspectives of Medicaid providers and members living in rural and frontier areas. Wisconsin example shows how feedback was used to inform the state's Rural Health Transformation proposal, while Pennsylvania focused on providing better coordination of services to members.
Author(s): Disha Williams
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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