Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural Emergency Hospitals
REH: Key Staffing Considerations
Describes key considerations to developing staffing plans for Rural Emergency Hospitals that balance operational needs and workforce stability.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Describes key considerations to developing staffing plans for Rural Emergency Hospitals that balance operational needs and workforce stability.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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North Dakota Critical Access Hospitals/Rural Emergency Hospital & Referral Centers
Map of North Dakota showing delineated counties with Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), and referral centers.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Map of North Dakota showing delineated counties with Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), and referral centers.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Early Evaluation of the Rural Emergency Hospital Program
Results of a study conducted January 2023 to December 2025, to assess differences between hospitals that converted to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status and eligible rural hospitals that did not. Includes statistics on the financial performance of the hospitals before and after conversion, and hospital features and services provided, with breakdowns by REH or non-REH status.
Author(s): Mitchell Mead, Nina M. Clark, Janice C. Probst, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e269217
Date: 04/2026
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Results of a study conducted January 2023 to December 2025, to assess differences between hospitals that converted to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status and eligible rural hospitals that did not. Includes statistics on the financial performance of the hospitals before and after conversion, and hospital features and services provided, with breakdowns by REH or non-REH status.
Author(s): Mitchell Mead, Nina M. Clark, Janice C. Probst, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e269217
Date: 04/2026
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Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Model Frequently Asked Questions
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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Characterizing Early Adopters of the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation
Compares 42 hospitals that have received Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designations to the 447 REH-eligible hospitals that have not converted to identify characteristics of early converters. Characteristics evaluated include Critical Access Hospital status, ownership and affiliations, healthcare utilization, staffing, available services, and finances.
Author(s): Jonah M. Graves, R.J. Waken, Fengxian Wang, Paula Chatterjee, Karen E. Joynt Maddox
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(3)
Date: 03/2026
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Compares 42 hospitals that have received Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designations to the 447 REH-eligible hospitals that have not converted to identify characteristics of early converters. Characteristics evaluated include Critical Access Hospital status, ownership and affiliations, healthcare utilization, staffing, available services, and finances.
Author(s): Jonah M. Graves, R.J. Waken, Fengxian Wang, Paula Chatterjee, Karen E. Joynt Maddox
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(3)
Date: 03/2026
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An Early Look at Profitability Before and After Conversion to Rural Emergency Hospital
Examines the impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation on profitability of hospitals. Analyzes Medicare Cost Reports (MCRs) from 32 REHs before and after conversion and provides information on REH total and operating margins.
Author(s): Aditya Pillutla, George Pink, Kristie Thompson, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Examines the impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation on profitability of hospitals. Analyzes Medicare Cost Reports (MCRs) from 32 REHs before and after conversion and provides information on REH total and operating margins.
Author(s): Aditya Pillutla, George Pink, Kristie Thompson, Mark Holmes
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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2025-2026 Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review Final Recommendations Report
Reviews the 24 pre-rulemaking quality measures the Battelle's Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) considered during the 2025-2026 Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review (PRMR) cycle. Discusses measures for clinician, hospital, and post-acute care/long-term care programs. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Partnership for Quality Measurement
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Reviews the 24 pre-rulemaking quality measures the Battelle's Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) considered during the 2025-2026 Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review (PRMR) cycle. Discusses measures for clinician, hospital, and post-acute care/long-term care programs. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Partnership for Quality Measurement
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REH Learning Brief: Obstetric Care in Rural Emergency Hospitals
Describes how three Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) approach delivering obstetric-related care. Discusses challenges to providing obstetric services each facility faced prior to their conversion to REH status, and strategies implemented under the REH designation. Identifies common strategies these facilities take to support obstetric care without traditional labor and delivery services.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Candice Talkington, Annette Schnabel, et al.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Describes how three Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) approach delivering obstetric-related care. Discusses challenges to providing obstetric services each facility faced prior to their conversion to REH status, and strategies implemented under the REH designation. Identifies common strategies these facilities take to support obstetric care without traditional labor and delivery services.
Author(s): Hope Burch, Candice Talkington, Annette Schnabel, et al.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Trauma and Emergency Surgical Care at Rural Emergency Hospital-Eligible Facilities: Interstate Variation and Policy Implications for Rural Health Systems
Explores trauma and emergency general surgery volumes at hospitals eligible to become Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). Analyzes 2021 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data from California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, and Wisconsin, to describe the volume of emergency general surgery and trauma care performed at REH-eligible hospitals. Examines the characteristics of the populations and communities served by hospitals eligible for REH designation compared with those served by REH-ineligible hospitals. Discusses the potential impact of converting to the REH designation on access to trauma and emergency general surgery.
Author(s): Nina M. Clark, Alexandra H. Hernandez, Cody L. Mullens, et al.
Citation: Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 100(5), 768-776
Date: 01/2026
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Explores trauma and emergency general surgery volumes at hospitals eligible to become Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). Analyzes 2021 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data from California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, and Wisconsin, to describe the volume of emergency general surgery and trauma care performed at REH-eligible hospitals. Examines the characteristics of the populations and communities served by hospitals eligible for REH designation compared with those served by REH-ineligible hospitals. Discusses the potential impact of converting to the REH designation on access to trauma and emergency general surgery.
Author(s): Nina M. Clark, Alexandra H. Hernandez, Cody L. Mullens, et al.
Citation: Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 100(5), 768-776
Date: 01/2026
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REH: Service Line Development
Summarizes an educational session regarding how a Rural Emergency Hospital can evaluate service line opportunities. Identifies building blocks for effective service line development, best practices, and key takeaways for leaders.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Summarizes an educational session regarding how a Rural Emergency Hospital can evaluate service line opportunities. Identifies building blocks for effective service line development, best practices, and key takeaways for leaders.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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