Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare facilities
The Association of Hospital Characteristics With Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Prices
Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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Calendar Year 2027 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Final Rule (CMS-1850-F)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2027. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to the inpatient only (IPO) list, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) rate setting, updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) programs, a cost-of-living adjustment to the nonlabor share of outpatient hospital service payments provided in Alaska and Hawaii, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2027. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to the inpatient only (IPO) list, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) rate setting, updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) programs, a cost-of-living adjustment to the nonlabor share of outpatient hospital service payments provided in Alaska and Hawaii, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2027. Summarizes provisions related to remote monitoring, improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs, Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services, RHC and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) mental health and telecommunication visits, the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2027. Summarizes provisions related to remote monitoring, improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs, Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services, RHC and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) mental health and telecommunication visits, the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program, and more.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Updates to Critical Access Hospital Rural and Distance Evaluations
Outlines changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) State Operations Manual regarding Critical Access Hospital (CAH) distance and rural evaluation requirements. Includes guidance on Necessary Provider status, the evaluation of CAH location and distance requirements for existing CAHs when there is a newly certified acute care hospital, and the decennial evaluation of rural and distance status beginning in calendar year 2033.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Outlines changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) State Operations Manual regarding Critical Access Hospital (CAH) distance and rural evaluation requirements. Includes guidance on Necessary Provider status, the evaluation of CAH location and distance requirements for existing CAHs when there is a newly certified acute care hospital, and the decennial evaluation of rural and distance status beginning in calendar year 2033.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in the United States by County, 2010–2024: A State-by-State Report
Provides national-, state-, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care availability between 2010-2024. Includes maps and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties, including rural micropolitan and rural noncore counties.
Author(s): Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Provides national-, state-, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care availability between 2010-2024. Includes maps and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties, including rural micropolitan and rural noncore counties.
Author(s): Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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October 2026 MACPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) October 2026 meeting. Covers hospital cost drivers, drug price negotiation in the Medicaid program, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder in Medicaid, access to behavioral health services for adult Medicaid enrollees with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Transcript from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) October 2026 meeting. Covers hospital cost drivers, drug price negotiation in the Medicaid program, utilization management for medications for opioid use disorder in Medicaid, access to behavioral health services for adult Medicaid enrollees with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and more. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Aligning Payment Strategy with Community Need: A Framework for Rural Healthcare Leaders
Describes a framework for rural health providers to build partnerships with payers. Discusses what payers need, knowing the true cost of access, defining services needed for each community, and using data and transformation planning as contracting tools.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Describes a framework for rural health providers to build partnerships with payers. Discusses what payers need, knowing the true cost of access, defining services needed for each community, and using data and transformation planning as contracting tools.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Operational Challenges During Public Health Emergencies in Safety-Net Hospitals
Results of a study identifying challenges faced by safety net hospitals (SNHs) and approaches to strengthen future emergency response capacity. Based on data from 10 SNHs, including 3 in rural areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Tara Kirk Sell, Vanessa Grégoire, Madisen S. Neufeld, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(10), e2640799
Date: 10/2026
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Results of a study identifying challenges faced by safety net hospitals (SNHs) and approaches to strengthen future emergency response capacity. Based on data from 10 SNHs, including 3 in rural areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Tara Kirk Sell, Vanessa Grégoire, Madisen S. Neufeld, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(10), e2640799
Date: 10/2026
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Rural Hospital AI Use and Evaluation
Highlights a study exploring the rural and urban differences in the adoption, use, and evaluation of predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in U.S. hospitals. Bases findings on the 2023 American Hospital Association's Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement and compares AI usage across Critical Access Hospitals, Medicare-Dependent Hospitals, and Sole Community Hospitals, as well as by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Josiah A. Cruikshank, Brian E. Whitacre, Alison F. Davis
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70237
Date: 10/2026
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Highlights a study exploring the rural and urban differences in the adoption, use, and evaluation of predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in U.S. hospitals. Bases findings on the 2023 American Hospital Association's Annual Survey Information Technology Supplement and compares AI usage across Critical Access Hospitals, Medicare-Dependent Hospitals, and Sole Community Hospitals, as well as by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Josiah A. Cruikshank, Brian E. Whitacre, Alison F. Davis
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(4), e70237
Date: 10/2026
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January 2027 Annual Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Monthly Facility Payment Amount
Presents the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Presents the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) monthly facility payment amount for Calendar Year 2027.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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