Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Addendum to HCUP Statistical Brief #308: Rural and Urban Hospital Differences in Inpatient Stays Involving Sepsis, 2019 and 2021, Addition of 2022 Data
Explores inpatient hospital stays related to sepsis using the 2019 and 2022 State Inpatient Databases (SID) for 47 States and the District of Columbia. Presents data on the percentage of stays related to sepsis, lengths of stay, costs of stay, and outcomes for sepsis stays for over 4,200 community hospitals. Compares data for rural and urban hospitals by ownership, bed size, teaching hospital status, and safety net designation. Updates an August 2024 report to include data for 2022.
Author(s): Joanna Jiang, Lan Liang, Meghana Chandra, Sai Loganathan
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Explores inpatient hospital stays related to sepsis using the 2019 and 2022 State Inpatient Databases (SID) for 47 States and the District of Columbia. Presents data on the percentage of stays related to sepsis, lengths of stay, costs of stay, and outcomes for sepsis stays for over 4,200 community hospitals. Compares data for rural and urban hospitals by ownership, bed size, teaching hospital status, and safety net designation. Updates an August 2024 report to include data for 2022.
Author(s): Joanna Jiang, Lan Liang, Meghana Chandra, Sai Loganathan
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, June 2025
Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to transitions from pediatric to adult care for Medicaid-covered children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Also discusses appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment services for children, findings from MACPAC's analytic work on access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, an overview on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and self-direction for Medicaid home- and community-based services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Semi-annual report to Congress from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Covers recommendations related to transitions from pediatric to adult care for Medicaid-covered children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Also discusses appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment services for children, findings from MACPAC's analytic work on access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid, an overview on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and self-direction for Medicaid home- and community-based services. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility PPS for FY 2026
Comments on an April 30, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2026. Includes comments on the potential impact of replacing payment weights on small and rural IRFs.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on an April 30, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule addressing updates to the prospective payment system for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2026. Includes comments on the potential impact of replacing payment weights on small and rural IRFs.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on Inpatient Prospective Payment System for FY 2026
Comments on an April 30, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems (PPS). Discusses proposals to update inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) payment rates, update wage index values and policies, modify the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), and remove the proposed health-equity adjustment from the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comments on an April 30, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule revising the hospital inpatient and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems (PPS). Discusses proposals to update inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) payment rates, update wage index values and policies, modify the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), and remove the proposed health-equity adjustment from the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Organizational Factors Associated with Using Telehealth Services: Perspectives from Leaders of Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers
Research and policy brief examining organizational factors influencing telehealth use in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Summarizes interviews with RHC and FQHC key informants to discuss perceptions of telehealth, implementation challenges, operational challenges, and opportunities for innovation. Provides suggestions for policy and reimbursement approaches to improve telehealth provision and access.
Author(s): Constance van Eeghen, John A. Gale, Erika Ziller, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Research and policy brief examining organizational factors influencing telehealth use in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Summarizes interviews with RHC and FQHC key informants to discuss perceptions of telehealth, implementation challenges, operational challenges, and opportunities for innovation. Provides suggestions for policy and reimbursement approaches to improve telehealth provision and access.
Author(s): Constance van Eeghen, John A. Gale, Erika Ziller, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Preventing Medical Debt among Rural Residents: Example Programs from Hospitals in Minnesota and Montana
Highlights the ways some rural hospitals are working to reduce medical debt for their patients. Presents a number of strategies from hospitals in Minnesota and Montana that aim to reduce patient medical debts through financial assistance programs and cost-cutting measures. Features case-studies reviewing the structure of each hospital's debt reduction efforts.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Sushma Shankar, Mariana Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Highlights the ways some rural hospitals are working to reduce medical debt for their patients. Presents a number of strategies from hospitals in Minnesota and Montana that aim to reduce patient medical debts through financial assistance programs and cost-cutting measures. Features case-studies reviewing the structure of each hospital's debt reduction efforts.
Author(s): Katie Rydberg, Sushma Shankar, Mariana Tuttle, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Quality Payment Program (QPP) 2023: Participation and Payment Results At-a-Glance
Provides an overview of the results of the Quality Payment Program (QPP) for the 2023 performance year. Highlights the percentages of small and rural providers receiving negative, neutral, and positive payment adjustments for 2025.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the results of the Quality Payment Program (QPP) for the 2023 performance year. Highlights the percentages of small and rural providers receiving negative, neutral, and positive payment adjustments for 2025.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Iowa Community Health Centers and Value-Based Care
Describes how Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) and two sister organizations, IowaHealth+ and INConcertCare, pursued value-based care opportunities before joining the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Discusses the network's Medicaid value-based care contract; a partnership with Main Street Health to expand value-based contracting and provide more comprehensive, integrated primary care to patients with Medicare Advantage; data analytics; strategic planning and roadmaps; and next steps.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Describes how Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) and two sister organizations, IowaHealth+ and INConcertCare, pursued value-based care opportunities before joining the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Discusses the network's Medicaid value-based care contract; a partnership with Main Street Health to expand value-based contracting and provide more comprehensive, integrated primary care to patients with Medicare Advantage; data analytics; strategic planning and roadmaps; and next steps.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Health Care Vacancies and Turnover in Kansas
Provides data and trends of the Kansas healthcare workforce, including information on vacancies and turnover, data on nursing supply, hospital financial trends, projected job openings, and primary care physician Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) by county.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Hospital Association
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Provides data and trends of the Kansas healthcare workforce, including information on vacancies and turnover, data on nursing supply, hospital financial trends, projected job openings, and primary care physician Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) by county.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Hospital Association
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Economic Hardship and Health Within Sociodemographic and Occupational Groups — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2022–2023
Reports on economic hardship measures and self-rated health among employed and recently unemployed adults. Hardship measures included lack of health insurance, cost of medical care, employment instability, food insecurity, housing insecurity, utility insecurity, lack of reliable transportation, and receipt of food benefits. Provides data by occupation, including for people employed in farming, fishing, and forestry.
Author(s): Sharon R. Silver, Jia Li, Taylor M. Shockey
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(19), 326-333
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on economic hardship measures and self-rated health among employed and recently unemployed adults. Hardship measures included lack of health insurance, cost of medical care, employment instability, food insecurity, housing insecurity, utility insecurity, lack of reliable transportation, and receipt of food benefits. Provides data by occupation, including for people employed in farming, fishing, and forestry.
Author(s): Sharon R. Silver, Jia Li, Taylor M. Shockey
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(19), 326-333
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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