Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
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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Reducing Rates of Cesarean Delivery in Rural US Communities: A Systematic Review of Interventions and Approaches to Care
Provides a review of literature that analyzes interventions designed to reduce rural cesarean birth disparities. Discusses 9 studies and outlines their patient-, provider-, or health system-level interventions and focuses on strategies tailored for rural health.
Author(s): Jena L. Funakoshi, Hannah M. Collins-Doijode, Kathryn L. Braun
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Provides a review of literature that analyzes interventions designed to reduce rural cesarean birth disparities. Discusses 9 studies and outlines their patient-, provider-, or health system-level interventions and focuses on strategies tailored for rural health.
Author(s): Jena L. Funakoshi, Hannah M. Collins-Doijode, Kathryn L. Braun
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Rural Sepsis Care in Action: Real-world Insights and Successes Through CDC's Sepsis Core Elements
Summarizes virtual learning sessions with three rural healthcare organizations regarding the implementation and advancement of sepsis improvement efforts. Discusses practical strategies to improve sepsis care delivery, implementation approaches from rural hospitals, and lessons learned.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Summarizes virtual learning sessions with three rural healthcare organizations regarding the implementation and advancement of sepsis improvement efforts. Discusses practical strategies to improve sepsis care delivery, implementation approaches from rural hospitals, and lessons learned.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A Twelve-Year Retrospective Analysis of a Journey Towards Rural Level I Trauma Center Verification
Discusses the goals, implementation strategies, and challenges of a rural trauma center in Montana which became an ACS Level I Trauma Center in 2023. Includes data on 8,947 trauma activations between 2011 and 2022, discussing quality of care, patient volume, and program infrastructure in a rural setting.
Author(s): Lanny C. Orr, Alexa Peterson, Tessa C. Savell, et al.
Citation: Open Access Emergency Medicine, 18, 618725
Date: 07/2026
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Discusses the goals, implementation strategies, and challenges of a rural trauma center in Montana which became an ACS Level I Trauma Center in 2023. Includes data on 8,947 trauma activations between 2011 and 2022, discussing quality of care, patient volume, and program infrastructure in a rural setting.
Author(s): Lanny C. Orr, Alexa Peterson, Tessa C. Savell, et al.
Citation: Open Access Emergency Medicine, 18, 618725
Date: 07/2026
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When Policy Exists but Practice Fails: Rethinking Cognitive Screening as a Public Health Delivery Problem
An essay that discusses gaps in early dementia detection and the related impact of public health delivery constraints in rural communities. Examines policy efforts and state-level examples to improve dementia care.
Author(s): Brian Kim
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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An essay that discusses gaps in early dementia detection and the related impact of public health delivery constraints in rural communities. Examines policy efforts and state-level examples to improve dementia care.
Author(s): Brian Kim
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Evaluation of the ACO REACH Model: Evaluation Report 3
Presents key findings from an evaluation of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) REACH Model's first performance year, as well as the two years of the preceding Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model. Examines model participants' implementation experiences and the model's impact on cost, utilization, and quality outcomes. Includes information on the participation of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the model.
Additional links: Appendices, CMS Perspective Report, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presents key findings from an evaluation of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) REACH Model's first performance year, as well as the two years of the preceding Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model. Examines model participants' implementation experiences and the model's impact on cost, utilization, and quality outcomes. Includes information on the participation of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the model.
Additional links: Appendices, CMS Perspective Report, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Rural Pediatric Readiness: Improving Emergency Care for Kids
Features rural providers in Texas and Wyoming working to improve their ability to provide quality emergency care to pediatric patients, as well as a pediatric readiness training program in Georgia.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features rural providers in Texas and Wyoming working to improve their ability to provide quality emergency care to pediatric patients, as well as a pediatric readiness training program in Georgia.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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MBQIP Report Resources
Provides a list of resources for State Flex Programs (SFPs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to support them in utilizing quarterly Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) reports in quality improvement activities.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Provides a list of resources for State Flex Programs (SFPs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to support them in utilizing quarterly Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) reports in quality improvement activities.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Introduction to Rural Clinically Integrated Networks
Provides an overview of clinically integrated networks (CINs), including common CIN characteristics and the relationship between CINs and healthcare value. Offers examples of CINs comprised of independent rural healthcare organizations.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Provides an overview of clinically integrated networks (CINs), including common CIN characteristics and the relationship between CINs and healthcare value. Offers examples of CINs comprised of independent rural healthcare organizations.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Value
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Michigan - Improving Diabetic Eye Exam Rates: A Practical Guide for Rural Health Clinics
A guidebook for Rural Health Centers (RHCs) in Michigan to screen and provide quality care for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Provides recommendations for DR screening, workflow, referral to eye care providers, and reducing barriers in rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
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A guidebook for Rural Health Centers (RHCs) in Michigan to screen and provide quality care for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Provides recommendations for DR screening, workflow, referral to eye care providers, and reducing barriers in rural areas.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
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