Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare
2026 MIPS Eligibility Decision Tree
Presents information to determine if providers are eligible to participate in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in the 2026 Performance Year. Includes information on the low-volume threshold criteria.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Presents information to determine if providers are eligible to participate in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in the 2026 Performance Year. Includes information on the low-volume threshold criteria.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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What to Know About Medicare Coverage of Telehealth
Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2027, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, program integrity, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Discusses telehealth use by Medicare patients before, during, and after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Notes temporary telehealth provisions set to expire December 31, 2027, telehealth provisions made permanent, and trends in use since 2020. Includes rural and urban comparisons of telehealth use since 2020. Discusses payment models for Medicare and Medicare Advantage, current policies related to telehealth, program integrity, and the cost of coverage through Medicare.
Author(s): Alex Cottrill, Juliette Cubanski, Tricia Neuman
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): Traditional MIPS Scoring Guide for the 2026 Performance Year
Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Growth in Medicare Advantage by Organizational Size Across Rural and Urban Counties
Explores changes in the Medicare Advantage (MA) markets in rural and urban counties. Draws findings from enrollment data from 2019-2026. Breaks down findings by rural, micropolitan, and metropolitan counties.
Author(s): Dan M Shane, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70134
Date: 03/2026
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Explores changes in the Medicare Advantage (MA) markets in rural and urban counties. Draws findings from enrollment data from 2019-2026. Breaks down findings by rural, micropolitan, and metropolitan counties.
Author(s): Dan M Shane, Fred Ullrich, Keith J. Mueller
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70134
Date: 03/2026
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2026 Merit-Based Incentive Payment (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs) Implementation Guide
Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs), a voluntary reporting option that can be used to meet MIPS reporting requirements for the 2026 performance year. Describes subgroup reporting, reporting requirements, scoring, performance feedback and public reporting, and how to register to report an MVP. Includes information on considerations and exceptions for small practices.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathways (MVPs), a voluntary reporting option that can be used to meet MIPS reporting requirements for the 2026 performance year. Describes subgroup reporting, reporting requirements, scoring, performance feedback and public reporting, and how to register to report an MVP. Includes information on considerations and exceptions for small practices.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Understanding Upcoming Deadlines of New Section 504 Requirements
Recording of a March 30, 2026, webinar reviewing updates to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, titled "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance," that take effect for Medicare and Medicaid providers, including Rural Health Clinics, in summer 2026. Describes new requirements for the accessibility of medical treatment, kiosks, web content, mobile applications, medical equipment and facilities, and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a March 30, 2026, webinar reviewing updates to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, titled "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance," that take effect for Medicare and Medicaid providers, including Rural Health Clinics, in summer 2026. Describes new requirements for the accessibility of medical treatment, kiosks, web content, mobile applications, medical equipment and facilities, and more. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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CMS Innovation Center: Obligations and Model Testing Progress
Discusses the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Center's (Innovation Center) financial obligations from 2011 through 2024 and how it used the funds to develop and test new healthcare payment and service delivery models. Describes the outcomes of model testing, highlighting four models that CMS certified for expansion. Explores the extent to which the Innovation Center uses selected performance management practices to regularly assess its efforts.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Center's (Innovation Center) financial obligations from 2011 through 2024 and how it used the funds to develop and test new healthcare payment and service delivery models. Describes the outcomes of model testing, highlighting four models that CMS certified for expansion. Explores the extent to which the Innovation Center uses selected performance management practices to regularly assess its efforts.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2026 Reporting Options Comparison Resource
Provides an overview of the similarities and differences among the three Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting options: Traditional MIPS, MIPS Value Pathways (MVP), and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Performance Pathway (APP)/APP Plus. Designed to help providers understand which reporting options may be best for their practice. Includes information on reporting flexibilities and scoring for small and rural practices.
Additional links: 2026 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Reporting Options At-A-Glance for Small Practices
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the similarities and differences among the three Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting options: Traditional MIPS, MIPS Value Pathways (MVP), and Alternative Payment Model (APM) Performance Pathway (APP)/APP Plus. Designed to help providers understand which reporting options may be best for their practice. Includes information on reporting flexibilities and scoring for small and rural practices.
Additional links: 2026 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Reporting Options At-A-Glance for Small Practices
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Medicare Advantage Enrollment 2025
Describes the percentage of rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans between 2021-2025. Presents data on the changes in MA penetration rates in urban and rural counties during this time. Includes data on MA penetration rates in 2025 in urban and rural counties by state.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Describes the percentage of rural and urban Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans between 2021-2025. Presents data on the changes in MA penetration rates in urban and rural counties during this time. Includes data on MA penetration rates in 2025 in urban and rural counties by state.
Author(s): Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Health Insurance Coverage in Rural and Urban Missouri: Update
Reports on 2024 health insurance coverage in Missouri, comparing both rural and urban residents within the state and against national averages. Includes analysis of health insurance type, by age groups, and changes since 2023.
Author(s): Sarah A. Eisenstein, Timothy D. McBride
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington University in St. Louis Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research
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Reports on 2024 health insurance coverage in Missouri, comparing both rural and urban residents within the state and against national averages. Includes analysis of health insurance type, by age groups, and changes since 2023.
Author(s): Sarah A. Eisenstein, Timothy D. McBride
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington University in St. Louis Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research
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