Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Providing Accountable Care Organizations the Ability to Expand the Use of Telehealth: Report to Congress
Analyzes the telehealth use and spending among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries assigned to accountable care organizations (ACOs). Compares the rate of telehealth use across ACO and non-ACO providers between 2020 and 2023, as well as across provider types, dual eligibility, HPSA-status of patient residence, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Analyzes the telehealth use and spending among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries assigned to accountable care organizations (ACOs). Compares the rate of telehealth use across ACO and non-ACO providers between 2020 and 2023, as well as across provider types, dual eligibility, HPSA-status of patient residence, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Rural Emergency Hospitals: Emerging Patterns of Adaptation and Community Perception
Examines characteristics of Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) and their impact on the community. Utilizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cost report data to compare hospitals that converted to REHs to hospitals that did not convert. Analyzes issues such as hospital finances, local healthcare access, economic stabilization, REH reputation and use, community perceptions of quality, and more.
Author(s): Anders Van Sandt, Kaitlyn Line, Anja Gruber, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70112
Date: 01/2026
view details
Examines characteristics of Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) and their impact on the community. Utilizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cost report data to compare hospitals that converted to REHs to hospitals that did not convert. Analyzes issues such as hospital finances, local healthcare access, economic stabilization, REH reputation and use, community perceptions of quality, and more.
Author(s): Anders Van Sandt, Kaitlyn Line, Anja Gruber, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70112
Date: 01/2026
view details
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2026 Small Practice Eligibility and Participation Frequently Asked Questions
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding small practice participation and eligibility for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2026 performance year. Covers individual and group eligibility, the low-volume threshold, changes to group composition during the performance year, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding small practice participation and eligibility for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2026 performance year. Covers individual and group eligibility, the low-volume threshold, changes to group composition during the performance year, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Indian Health Service and Health Care Affordability Issues Among American Indian/ Alaska Native People by Rurality
Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2026 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 2026 performance year. Includes information about special status scoring for small practices and clinicians located in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Provides an overview of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements, data collection, and data submission for the improvement activities performance category for the 2026 performance year. Includes information about special status scoring for small practices and clinicians located in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Model Frequently Asked Questions
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
view details
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
view details
Hospice Care Chartbook 2025
Provides an overview of hospice care, including patient demographics, characteristics of live discharges, organizational trends, and Medicare spending for hospice services. Includes charts and graphs throughout, as well as state-by-state data. Slides 16 and 34 highlight the percentage of Medicare decedents that did and did not use hospice in 2024 and the number of hospices between 2019 and 2024 by rurality, respectively.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: KNG Health Consulting, National Alliance for Care at Home, Research Institute for Home Care
view details
Provides an overview of hospice care, including patient demographics, characteristics of live discharges, organizational trends, and Medicare spending for hospice services. Includes charts and graphs throughout, as well as state-by-state data. Slides 16 and 34 highlight the percentage of Medicare decedents that did and did not use hospice in 2024 and the number of hospices between 2019 and 2024 by rurality, respectively.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: KNG Health Consulting, National Alliance for Care at Home, Research Institute for Home Care
view details
Nevada Medicaid Cost Driver Analysis, 2025
Report analyzing 2016-2024 Medicaid data to determine drivers of healthcare costs in Nevada. Data analyzed by plan type, service category, geography, age, and sex.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Nevada Health Authority
view details
Report analyzing 2016-2024 Medicaid data to determine drivers of healthcare costs in Nevada. Data analyzed by plan type, service category, geography, age, and sex.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Nevada Health Authority
view details
January 2026 Annual Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Monthly Facility Payment Amount
Presents the monthly Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2026.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Presents the monthly Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2026.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2026 MIPS Quick Start Guide for Small Practices
Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Outlines 6 steps for small practices regarding participation in the 2026 performance year. Includes information on performance category redistribution policies for small practices.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Outlines 6 steps for small practices regarding participation in the 2026 performance year. Includes information on performance category redistribution policies for small practices.
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details