Rural Hospitals resources via the Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: Rural Residence and Postsurgical Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:25:48 -0500

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.

Resource: Why Are Rural Hospitals Closing in the U.S.? Predictors Identified Using Explainable Machine Learning

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 08:26:09 -0500

Examines rural hospital closures in the U.S. from 2011 to 2022. Utilizes national longitudinal data and explainable machine learning (XML) to analyze 2,683 rural hospitals according to financial, operational, and demographic characteristics as well as closure risks. Discusses the utility of longitudinal data integrated into XML to observe hospital trends and create early warning systems.

Resource: CJR-X (Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Expanded) Model

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 08:23:18 -0500

Provides information on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center's CJR-X (Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Expanded) Model, a mandatory nationwide episode-based payment model that aims to improve patient care and care coordination for Original Medicare patients undergoing hip, knee, and ankle replacements. -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

News: CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; Other Policy Changes; and Adoption of Updated Versions of Certain Health Information Technology Standards

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:56:25 -0500

Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revising the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals for fiscal year 2027. This rule also makes changes to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals; and requirements for certain quality programs, among other things. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) also adopts certain health information technology (health IT) standards and specifications on behalf of HHS. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.

News: CMS: Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:48:47 -0500

Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the prospective payment system (PPS) rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year 2027. Among other things, this rule includes classification and weighting factors for the IRF prospective payment system's case-mix groups, finalizes the third and final year of the 3-year phase-out of the rural adjustments, and updates the IRF Quality Reporting Program and changes to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. This rule also summarizes comments received in response to requests for information regarding alternative data sources for the IRF PPS wage index and potential future IRF PPS payment reform. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.

News: CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2027 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System-Rate Update

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:36:50 -0500

Notice of final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the FY 2027 prospective payment rates, outlier threshold, and wage index for Medicare Inpatient Hospital Services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), including psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or Critical Access Hospital. Among other things, this rule also refines the IPF PPS outlier policy, implements a standardized IPF patient assessment, and removes two measures used in the IPF Quality Reporting Program. These regulations are effective October 1, 2026.

Event: AR Triage: What to Fix First to Move from Backlog to Cash Flow

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:24:23 -0500

News: An Ohio University Professor's Research Shows the Struggles of Rural Hospitals Are Complex

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:31:25 -0500

Interview with Cory Cronin, associate professor at Ohio University's Department of Social and Public Health. He discusses the issues involved in nonprofit rural hospitals spending their community benefit budgets, a requirement to invest in improving the health of the local community overall.

Resource: Rural Hospital Financial Performance: Tools for Data-Driven Decision Making

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:19:04 -0500

Webinar recording featuring speakers from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and the North Carolina Rural Health Research Center discussing two data-driven tools, the Rural Hospital Financial Performance Dashboard and the Hospital Financial Distress Index, that can provide valuable insights into the financial health of rural hospitals. -- Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: The Evolution of U.S. Hospital Markets

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:01:54 -0500

Data visualization tool regarding hospital mergers, closures, ownership changes, and market concentration. Includes interactive maps exploring how hospital markets have changed since 2000 and forecasting the impact of potential ownership changes and closures on hospital market concentration.

Resource: Rural Sepsis Care in Action: Real-world Insights and Successes Through CDC's Sepsis Core Elements

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:03:37 -0500

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. -- American Hospital Association

Resource: MedPAC Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program, 2026

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:11:57 -0500

Provides an overview of Medicare spending and highlights data on Medicare beneficiary demographics, dual-eligible beneficiaries, quality of care provided through the Medicare program, and other payer liability. Examines settings of care, including rural-specific provider sites, as they relate to spending, access to care, and Medicare and operating margins. Compares rural and urban beneficiaries and providers throughout. Chart 6-2 addresses rural hospital closures and Rural Emergency Hospital conversions. -- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

Resource: Predictors of Rural Hospital Closures in the United States: A Systematic Review and Call for AI-Driven Early Warning Systems

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:24:22 -0500

Examines financial, workforce, policy, economic, market, and demographic factors related to rural hospital closures and the development of AI warning systems based on these factors. Analyzes studies, published between 2013-2024, on rural hospital closures to identify closure predictors and discusses the creation of tools that may assist in identifying hospital distress, allowing stakeholders to intervene in a timely way.

Resource: Concordance Between Social Needs Screening and Availability of Associated Programs in US Hospitals

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:35:28 -0500

Examines the extent to which hospitals screen patients for social needs by analyzing data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) survey. Explores the alignment between hospitals that screen for social needs and the availability of programs to address those needs. Compares data on social needs screening and corresponding programs at hospitals by rural and urban location, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status, region, ownership, and participation in accountable care organizations (ACOs). -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis

Event: 2027 12th Annual Rural Hospital Innovation Summit

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:02:04 -0500

New Orleans LA
May 18, 2027 -- National Rural Health Association

Resource: Factors Influencing Rural Hospitals to Participate and Remain in Accountable Care Organizations

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:12:50 -0500

Examines factors that impact rural hospital participation in Medicare and accountable care organization (ACO) models. Utilizes interview feedback from rural hospital executives regarding ACO participation and discusses themes such as financial incentives, value-based reimbursement, population health, healthcare quality, and more.

Resource: 2010-2024 County-Level Hospital-Based Obstetric Care Status

Wed, 27 May 2026 09:32:40 -0500

County-level dataset containing the county Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, county, state, and indicator of whether each county had hospital-based obstetrics care in years 2010-2024. Available for download as an XLS file. -- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Resource: Determinants of Rural Hospital Closures or Conversions in the United States

Mon, 18 May 2026 08:53:01 -0500

Examines determinants leading to rural hospital closures or conversion to outpatient-only facilities. Provides data on hospital closures and conversions from 2012 to 2023 and analyzes potential determinants such as inpatient occupancy rates, ownership type, proximity to an urban county, profit margin, and more. -- HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

Event: Leveraging System Strengths to Solve Capacity Gaps in Limited-Resource Environments Community of Learning - Session #4

Tue, 12 May 2026 15:26:18 -0500

-- Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health

Event: Leveraging System Strengths to Solve Capacity Gaps in Limited-Resource Environments Community of Learning - Session #3

Tue, 12 May 2026 15:23:39 -0500

-- Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health

Resource: Transforming Rural Hospitals Through Telehealth Partnerships: Strategic Playbook

Tue, 12 May 2026 11:05:41 -0500

Provides hospital leaders with strategies to foster telehealth partnerships within health systems to improve rural hospital financial sustainability, clinical capacity, and long-term viability. Discusses rural hospital strain as well as the economic, community, and population health value of rural hospitals and how telehealth partnerships can mitigate financial issues and create sustainability. Includes a telehealth partnership maturity model, practical framework, and rural hospital implementation considerations.

Resource: Medicare Payment for Rural or Geographically Isolated Hospitals, 2026

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:31:18 -0500

Displays data on Medicare payment adjustments for Sole Community Hospitals, Medicare-Dependent Hospitals, Low-Volume Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals. Includes information on the number of qualifying hospitals by state and eligibility criteria. -- Congressional Research Service

Resource: Geographic Variation in Average Salary Expense Among Rural Hospitals Nationwide, 2018–2022

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:19:09 -0500

Examines the change in hospital wages between 2018–2019 and 2021–2022, with a focus on the geographic variation in these changes among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals. Describes the variation in average salary expense per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee for rural hospitals from 2018 to 2022. Appendices include the median salary expense per FTE of rural hospitals each year by U.S. Census region, state Medicaid expansion status, Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA), Frontier and Remote Area (FAR) code, and by state. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Resource: Medicare Wage Index Trends in Rural and Urban Hospitals Before and During the Low Wage Index Policy, 2018–2022

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:19:18 -0500

Provides an overview of the wage index and its role in hospital reimbursement and financial stability. Describes the pattern of wage index values for rural and urban prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals from 2018 to 2022. Explores the impact of the low-wage index policy (LWIP), which was implemented in fiscal year 2020, and the potential implications of its discontinuation in fiscal year 2025. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Resource: Average Salary Expense in Rural and Urban Hospitals in 2022 Compared with 2018, by Hospital Characteristics

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:54:45 -0500

Explores how the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected wage disparities across rural and urban hospitals. Describes the median wages by total employee full-time equivalents (FTE) for rural and urban hospitals from 2017-2018 to 2021-2022. Compares the growth in labor cost for rural and urban hospitals by selected hospital characteristics, including system affiliation, hospital ownership, and number of acute care beds. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Resource: Average Salary Expense in Rural and Urban Hospitals Before and During the Low Wage Index Policy, 2018–2022

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:55:44 -0500

Examines and compares wage patterns of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals, and Urban PPS hospitals as related to the Low Wage Index Policy (LWIP) in effect from 2020-2022. Utilizes hospital data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Healthcare Cost Report Information System (HCRIS) between 2018 and 2022 and analyzes median salaries. Discusses the impact of Medicare payments and LWIP on hospitals. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Resource: Strategies for Critical Access Hospital Financial and Operational Performance Improvement: A Systematic Review

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:26:13 -0500

Summarizes findings from a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature published since 2000 regarding financial and operational performance improvement interventions implemented by Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals in the United States and in other developed countries. Identifies key intervention areas, including service line optimization, revenue and cost management, and technology adoption, among others. Describes how State Flex Programs and hospital administrators can use these findings to inform decision-making and resource allocation. -- Flex Monitoring Team

Resource: Closing the Digital Divide: AI Governance for Rural Hospitals

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:38:21 -0500

Explores how rural healthcare leaders can design artificial intelligence (AI) governance frameworks that reflect the realities of rural care. Summarizes a discussion among rural healthcare leaders regarding their experiences with AI governance and identifies 7 best practices. -- American Hospital Association

Resource: Telling the Hospital Story: Rural Hospitals in Action

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:50:26 -0500

Provides stories focused on hospital programs, strategies, and partnerships that showcase quality healthcare in rural communities. -- American Hospital Association

Resource: An Examination of All-Payer Inpatient Rural Hospital Bypass

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:18:36 -0500

Examines the extent to which rural patients bypassed their nearest rural hospital for inpatient care in eight states. Analyzes data on inpatient hospital admissions for rural residents of these states using the 2018 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID). Identifies factors associated with hospital-level bypass rates by patient and hospital characteristics. -- ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center