Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Hospitals
Beyond Geography: Using a Cluster-Based Analysis to Conceptualize the Rurality of Veterans Health Administration Hospitals
Presents a study exploring non-geographic factors of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals that facilitate or impede access to care for rural veterans. Compares hospital complexity, number of veteran enrollees, and average drive times by percentage of rural veterans served by the 110 VHA hospitals surveyed.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Michihiko Goto, M. Bryant Howren, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70195
Date: 08/2026
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Presents a study exploring non-geographic factors of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals that facilitate or impede access to care for rural veterans. Compares hospital complexity, number of veteran enrollees, and average drive times by percentage of rural veterans served by the 110 VHA hospitals surveyed.
Author(s): Alexandra B. Caloudas, Michihiko Goto, M. Bryant Howren, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70195
Date: 08/2026
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Rural Residence and Postsurgical Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Explores the post-surgical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing four common inpatient general surgery operations: appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, or incisional hernia repair. Compares quality outcomes including mortality, complications, 30-day readmissions, and discharge disposition for rural and nonrural Medicare beneficiaries using Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) data from 2016 to 2023.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Adrian Diaz, Brooke C. Bredbeck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2626959
Date: 08/2026
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Explores the post-surgical outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing four common inpatient general surgery operations: appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, or incisional hernia repair. Compares quality outcomes including mortality, complications, 30-day readmissions, and discharge disposition for rural and nonrural Medicare beneficiaries using Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) data from 2016 to 2023.
Author(s): Cody Lendon Mullens, Adrian Diaz, Brooke C. Bredbeck, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2626959
Date: 08/2026
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Indiana Kidney Program Improves Outcomes Through Proactive Care and Education
Profiles the Kidney Care Options (KCO) Program developed by Major Health Partners (MHP) in rural Shelby County, Indiana. Shares how the nurse-led, interdisciplinary KCO program provides patient education, care coordination, patient advocacy, and other supports early in the treatment process so patients can make informed decisions about their kidney care.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Profiles the Kidney Care Options (KCO) Program developed by Major Health Partners (MHP) in rural Shelby County, Indiana. Shares how the nurse-led, interdisciplinary KCO program provides patient education, care coordination, patient advocacy, and other supports early in the treatment process so patients can make informed decisions about their kidney care.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Federal Policy Priorities to Strengthen Rural Health and Maximize Rural Health Transformation Program Investments
Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents policy recommendations for Congressional and CMS actions to bolster rural health and ensure Rural Health Transformation Program investments are transparent, durable, and effective. Covers recommendations related to telehealth and health information technology investments, the rural healthcare workforce, and rural hospital programs and eligibility.
Author(s): Daisy Kim, Maya Sandalow
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Calendar Year 2026 Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Guide for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals
Provides an overview of the requirements of the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program for calendar year 2026. Covers information about participation requirements, measures, data submission, and helpful resources.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Services Advisory Group
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Provides an overview of the requirements of the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program for calendar year 2026. Covers information about participation requirements, measures, data submission, and helpful resources.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Services Advisory Group
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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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Georgia Rural Counties with Rural Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Emergency Hospital, and Rural Counties without a Hospital
County-level map showing rural Georgia counties containing a Critical Access Hospital, Rural Emergency Hospital, or other rural hospital. Also indicates rural counties containing no hospital.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia State Office of Rural Health
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County-level map showing rural Georgia counties containing a Critical Access Hospital, Rural Emergency Hospital, or other rural hospital. Also indicates rural counties containing no hospital.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia State Office of Rural Health
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Georgia Counties with Rural, Critical Access, and Rural Emergency Hospitals
Map showing Georgia counties with rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Emergency Hospitals.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia State Office of Rural Health
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Map showing Georgia counties with rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and Rural Emergency Hospitals.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia State Office of Rural Health
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National Burden of Bicyclist Hospitalizations in the United States by Rurality, 2016–2020
Examines bicycle injuries and hospitalizations in the United States by geography. Utilizes 2016-2020 HCUP-NIS data to analyze 124,000 rural versus urban bicycle hospitalizations, with data further broken down according to patient demographics, hospital region, admission and discharge characteristics, motor vehicle crash (MVC) involvement, and injury severity and/or death.
Author(s): Amir Ghanbari, Ryan M. Carnahan, Joseph E. Cavanaugh, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70194
Date: 07/2026
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Examines bicycle injuries and hospitalizations in the United States by geography. Utilizes 2016-2020 HCUP-NIS data to analyze 124,000 rural versus urban bicycle hospitalizations, with data further broken down according to patient demographics, hospital region, admission and discharge characteristics, motor vehicle crash (MVC) involvement, and injury severity and/or death.
Author(s): Amir Ghanbari, Ryan M. Carnahan, Joseph E. Cavanaugh, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70194
Date: 07/2026
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An Exploratory Analysis of U.S. Health System Workforce Trends
Examines the impact of hospital mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and changes in health system affiliations on workforce availability. Utilizes 2018 and 2020-2023 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Compendium of U.S. Health Systems data to examine hospital system membership and system workforce characteristics. Provides breakdowns of primary care physician, all physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant workforce supply per bed according to hospital characteristics such as census region, ownership, operating margin, and rurality.
Author(s): Deborah Odihi, Tyler Malone
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Examines the impact of hospital mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and changes in health system affiliations on workforce availability. Utilizes 2018 and 2020-2023 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Compendium of U.S. Health Systems data to examine hospital system membership and system workforce characteristics. Provides breakdowns of primary care physician, all physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant workforce supply per bed according to hospital characteristics such as census region, ownership, operating margin, and rurality.
Author(s): Deborah Odihi, Tyler Malone
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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