Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals
Rural Emergency Hospital Revenue Cycle: Building a Strong Billing Foundation
Describes essential elements of Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) revenue cycle readiness. Covers post-conversion REH enrollment and compliance; outpatient claim, coding, and documentation accuracy; and collaboration across the revenue cycle.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Describes essential elements of Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) revenue cycle readiness. Covers post-conversion REH enrollment and compliance; outpatient claim, coding, and documentation accuracy; and collaboration across the revenue cycle.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Miles From Specialty Care, This Island Hospital Has a Plan
Podcast episode discussing how Nantucket Cottage Hospital, a 14-bed hospital 30 miles from the Massachusetts coast, uses telehealth to improve patient care and reduce unnecessary patient transfers.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Podcast episode discussing how Nantucket Cottage Hospital, a 14-bed hospital 30 miles from the Massachusetts coast, uses telehealth to improve patient care and reduce unnecessary patient transfers.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Veterans' Views on Alcohol Use and Experience of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Treatment and Subsequent Alcohol Use Disorder Care at Two Highly Rural-Serving VA Hospitals: A Qualitative Study
Presents findings from interviews with veterans with alcohol use disorder (AUD) about the alcohol withdrawal syndrome treatment they received at two rural-serving Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Highlights perceived barriers to care and makes suggestions to improving it.
Author(s): Tony Pomales, Daniel Ball, Jeydith Gutierrez, James C. Willey
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 49, 902-917
Date: 10/2026
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Presents findings from interviews with veterans with alcohol use disorder (AUD) about the alcohol withdrawal syndrome treatment they received at two rural-serving Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Highlights perceived barriers to care and makes suggestions to improving it.
Author(s): Tony Pomales, Daniel Ball, Jeydith Gutierrez, James C. Willey
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 49, 902-917
Date: 10/2026
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Philanthropic Funding Helps Rural Providers Access Ultrasound Equipment and Training
Discusses the benefits of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for rural patients and facilities. Describes funding from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust for POCUS equipment and training and shares experiences of rural Minnesota and North Dakota providers who received this support.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Discusses the benefits of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for rural patients and facilities. Describes funding from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust for POCUS equipment and training and shares experiences of rural Minnesota and North Dakota providers who received this support.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Survival Versus Scale: The Effects of Critical Access Hospital Designation
Explores whether designation-based hospital subsidies, specifically the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program, preserve meaningful access to care. Describes the effects of CAH designation on hospital finances, capacity, and organizational outcomes between 1995-2010. Discusses the implications of hospital preservation and reduced operational scale on access to care and patient health.
Author(s): Ian M. McCarthy, Katie Leinenbach
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Bureau of Economic Research
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Explores whether designation-based hospital subsidies, specifically the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program, preserve meaningful access to care. Describes the effects of CAH designation on hospital finances, capacity, and organizational outcomes between 1995-2010. Discusses the implications of hospital preservation and reduced operational scale on access to care and patient health.
Author(s): Ian M. McCarthy, Katie Leinenbach
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Bureau of Economic Research
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Providing Care to the Surprisingly Large Rural Population in the US: A Healthy Dialogue With Julie Donohue and Mark Holmes
Summarizes a podcast episode featuring a discussion with Mark Holmes, director of The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Julie Donohue, professor and chair of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh and deputy editor at JAMA Health Forum. Describes challenges facing rural health and the potential impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Additional links: Providing Rural Health Care Is Really Hard; 60 Million Americans Rely on It, Transcript
Author(s): Derek C. Angus, Matthew B. O'Connor
Citation: JAMA
Date: 10/2026
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Summarizes a podcast episode featuring a discussion with Mark Holmes, director of The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Julie Donohue, professor and chair of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh and deputy editor at JAMA Health Forum. Describes challenges facing rural health and the potential impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Additional links: Providing Rural Health Care Is Really Hard; 60 Million Americans Rely on It, Transcript
Author(s): Derek C. Angus, Matthew B. O'Connor
Citation: JAMA
Date: 10/2026
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Cardiometabolic Outcomes and Program Participation in Prescription for Your Health: A Rural Hospital-Based Wellness Program in Appalachia
Examines the impact of a hospital-based wellness program on participant health in rural West Virginia. Analyzes data from 585 participants related to changes in selected cardiometabolic measures such as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. Discusses how locally developed hospital-based wellness models can address population health in rural Appalachia.
Author(s): Adam Baus, Anthony Yeager, Julie Carr, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 10/2026
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Examines the impact of a hospital-based wellness program on participant health in rural West Virginia. Analyzes data from 585 participants related to changes in selected cardiometabolic measures such as weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. Discusses how locally developed hospital-based wellness models can address population health in rural Appalachia.
Author(s): Adam Baus, Anthony Yeager, Julie Carr, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 10/2026
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South Dakota Department of Health - Maternal and Infant Health Task Force Strategic Plan
Report provides an overview of maternal and infant health outcomes and needs in South Dakota. Discusses access challenges in rural counties, particularly in counties with hospitals that lack obstetric units, and compares obstetric services in rural and urban hospitals. Details maternal and infant health initiatives throughout the state.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Report provides an overview of maternal and infant health outcomes and needs in South Dakota. Discusses access challenges in rural counties, particularly in counties with hospitals that lack obstetric units, and compares obstetric services in rural and urban hospitals. Details maternal and infant health initiatives throughout the state.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Regional Highlights: Changes in Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in the US, 2010-2024
Describes changes in availability of obstetric services at hospitals in the 4 U.S. census regions, including hospitals that lost obstetric services and the percentage of all hospitals without obstetric services. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Describes changes in availability of obstetric services at hospitals in the 4 U.S. census regions, including hospitals that lost obstetric services and the percentage of all hospitals without obstetric services. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Medicare Payment Basics: Outpatient Hospital Services Payment System
Outlines Medicare's payments for outpatient hospital services, including considerations for rural sole community hospitals.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Outlines Medicare's payments for outpatient hospital services, including considerations for rural sole community hospitals.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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