Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities
RHC Cost Reporting Fall 2026
Recording of a September 14, 2026, webinar providing an overview of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) cost reporting. Covers key cost report drivers, including allowable costs, RHC visits and provider productivity, Medicare vaccine reimbursement, and Medicare bad debt. Discusses RHC benchmarking and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a September 14, 2026, webinar providing an overview of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) cost reporting. Covers key cost report drivers, including allowable costs, RHC visits and provider productivity, Medicare vaccine reimbursement, and Medicare bad debt. Discusses RHC benchmarking and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Rural Health Value Virtual Summit: Rural Healthcare Information Technology
Summarizes an April 2026 summit of rural value-based care thought leaders regarding the implementation of health information technology (HIT) to support value-based care. Identifies five themes that emerged from discussion and recommendations for healthcare leaders who want to invest in technology to support value-based care and value-based payment.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Summarizes an April 2026 summit of rural value-based care thought leaders regarding the implementation of health information technology (HIT) to support value-based care. Identifies five themes that emerged from discussion and recommendations for healthcare leaders who want to invest in technology to support value-based care and value-based payment.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Public Agency Health Center Monograph
Describes the programmatic requirements related to public agency health centers operating within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Covers key HRSA requirements, governance expectations, co-applicant board responsibilities, fiscal and personnel considerations, and common compliance challenges.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Describes the programmatic requirements related to public agency health centers operating within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Covers key HRSA requirements, governance expectations, co-applicant board responsibilities, fiscal and personnel considerations, and common compliance challenges.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Numerous Overlapping Programs Add Complexity, Unpredictability to Rural Hospital Finances
Analyzes payments between 1997 and 2024 to 2,942 rural hospitals participating in at least one Medicare-specific payment program, including the Sole Community Hospital, Medicare-Dependent Hospital, Critical Access Hospital, or Low-Volume Hospital programs. Discusses the impact of the programs and policy changes throughout the study period on hospital finances.
Author(s): Carolyn San Soucie, Michael E. Chernew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(9)
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes payments between 1997 and 2024 to 2,942 rural hospitals participating in at least one Medicare-specific payment program, including the Sole Community Hospital, Medicare-Dependent Hospital, Critical Access Hospital, or Low-Volume Hospital programs. Discusses the impact of the programs and policy changes throughout the study period on hospital finances.
Author(s): Carolyn San Soucie, Michael E. Chernew, Benjamin D. Sommers
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(9)
Date: 09/2026
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Risk Factors for Loss of Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in Rural and Urban Hospitals
Examines factors associated with loss of obstetric services in hospitals. Analyzes 3,108 rural and urban hospitals in 2010 and then again in 2023 to observe rates of unit or hospital closure. Includes breakdown of hospital characteristics such as distance to nearest obstetric hospital, birth volume, hospital ownership, county unemployment, and more.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263122
Date: 09/2026
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Examines factors associated with loss of obstetric services in hospitals. Analyzes 3,108 rural and urban hospitals in 2010 and then again in 2023 to observe rates of unit or hospital closure. Includes breakdown of hospital characteristics such as distance to nearest obstetric hospital, birth volume, hospital ownership, county unemployment, and more.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263122
Date: 09/2026
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RHC Compliance 101 - Fall 2026
Recording of a September 9, 2026, webinar providing an overview of federal Rural Health Clinic (RHC) regulations and requirements.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a September 9, 2026, webinar providing an overview of federal Rural Health Clinic (RHC) regulations and requirements.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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2026 RHC Billing 101 - Fall
Recording of a September 3, 2026, webinar providing an overview of traditional Medicare billing guidelines for Rural Health Clinics. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a September 3, 2026, webinar providing an overview of traditional Medicare billing guidelines for Rural Health Clinics. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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September 2026 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2026 meeting. Covers the context for Medicare payment policy, issues relating to Medicare Part D and potential policy directions, MedPAC's work plan regarding ambulatory surgical centers, the use of post-acute care services by beneficiaries in fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Advantage risk adjustment at the plan level.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2026 meeting. Covers the context for Medicare payment policy, issues relating to Medicare Part D and potential policy directions, MedPAC's work plan regarding ambulatory surgical centers, the use of post-acute care services by beneficiaries in fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Advantage risk adjustment at the plan level.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Medicare Advantage: Plan Options and Enrollment Trends in Arkansas
Explains how Medicare Advantage plans affect healthcare delivery, Medicare enrollment, and payment practices in Arkansas. Includes discussion of reimbursement challenges in rural hospitals.
Author(s): Jennifer Wessel, Chris Ray
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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Explains how Medicare Advantage plans affect healthcare delivery, Medicare enrollment, and payment practices in Arkansas. Includes discussion of reimbursement challenges in rural hospitals.
Author(s): Jennifer Wessel, Chris Ray
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
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So You Want To Become A Health Center
Provides guidance for organizations interested in establishing a new health center under the HRSA Health Center Program. Includes information on pathways of entry into the Health Center Program; Health Center Program benefits and eligibility; strategies for assessing community need; governance, financial, and operational considerations, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Provides guidance for organizations interested in establishing a new health center under the HRSA Health Center Program. Includes information on pathways of entry into the Health Center Program; Health Center Program benefits and eligibility; strategies for assessing community need; governance, financial, and operational considerations, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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