Rural Hospitals resources via the Rural Health Information Hub

News: CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems; Quality Reporting Programs; Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating; Hospital Price Transparency; and Notice of Closure of a Teaching Hospital and Opportunity To Apply for Available Slots; Correction

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 08:38:24 -0600

Notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) making technical corrections to the November 25, 2025, final rule. This correction is applicable January 1, 2026.

Resource: A Comparison of Independent and System-Affiliated Rural Hospitals

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:18:08 -0600

Compares independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by organizational characteristics, financial performance, and county characteristics. Presents Medicare Cost Report data from 2023-2024 on the number and percentage of independent and system-affiliated rural hospitals by state, ownership characteristics, Medicare payment classification, use of swing beds, financial distress, and more. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Resource: U.S. Hospital List (2025)

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:42:35 -0600

Excel file providing a comprehensive list of urban and rural U.S. hospitals that were reported open as of January 1, 2025. Includes 4,541 acute care hospitals and 1,472 specialty hospitals. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Resource: 2026 Stability of the Rural Health Safety Net: State and National Data Tables

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:26:18 -0600

Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies such as sequestration and bad debt reimbursement on rural hospital revenues, jobs, and gross domestic product. Presented at the February 2026 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute.

Resource: Chartis Center for Rural Health Research & Resources for the 2026 National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute Conference

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:17:31 -0600

Offers research and analysis of the stability of the rural healthcare safety net. Includes 2026 Rural State of the State, and presentation slides on this report from the 2026 National Rural Health Association Policy Institute. Provides links to national and state data tables showing the financial impact of federal policies on rural hospitals.

Resource: Rural Healthcare Challenges Deepen as the Rural Health Transformation Program Ramps Up

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:09:48 -0600

Examines the impact of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program and the ongoing issues of rural hospital closures and financial losses, Medicaid policy, workforce shortages, diminishing access to rural healthcare services, and more. Discusses themes in state RHT applications and how they plan to utilize RHT funding.

Resource: Financial Assistance Policy, Hospital Charity Care, and Medical Debt in Collections

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:13:11 -0600

Explores whether Oregon's state-level financial assistance policy (FAP) was associated with a lower percentage of the population with medical debt in collections, increase in hospital charity care, and decrease in bad debt in the first 3 years after implementation. Compares county- and hospital-level data from Oregon with data from a sample of hospitals that expanded Medicaid in 2014 but had not implemented a state-level FAP by 2022. Supplemental content includes data by metropolitan and non-metropolitan status.

Resource: Rural Hospital Bypass by Patients With Commercial Health Insurance

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:38:56 -0600

Results of a study examining rural hospital bypass rates among commercially insured patients, and hospital payments from patients who bypassed their nearest hospitals. Features statistics with breakdowns by clinical category and 4 levels of population density.

Resource: Changes in the Availability of Inpatient Psychiatric Beds Across Rural and Urban Areas, 2012-2021

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:54:24 -0600

Policy brief describing numbers of Critical Access Hospitals and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals providing inpatient psychiatric care, and comparing these to urban PPS hospitals. Also examines psychiatric unit closure rates and the effect on access to behavioral health services in rural areas. -- Maine Rural Health Research Center

Resource: Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in the United States by County, 2010–2023: A State-by-State Report

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:21:17 -0600

Provides national, state, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care access from 2010-2023. Displays county-level maps of changes in hospital-based services availability between 2010-2023, highlighting changes from 2022 to 2023. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural counties. -- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Resource: What to Ask (About) a Hospital

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:24:33 -0600

Describes payment and financial considerations for hospitals as it relates to the hospital's organizational structure, type of care provided, location, patient population, training programs, and alternative payment models. Discusses rural considerations throughout with a close analysis in Section 6: How a Hospital's Location Matters.

Resource: Changes in Bed-Based Measures of Surge Capacity from 2018 to 2022 among Rural and Urban Hospitals

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:52:35 -0600

Policy brief describing how hospitals' inpatient capacity changed from 2018-2022 and examining trade-offs between cost-saving reductions and emergency preparedness. Features statistics on hospitals' average daily census (ADC) and number and percentage of unoccupied beds, with breakdowns by year and urban or rural location. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Resource: Do Changes in Hospital Ownership Affect Staffing?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:10:29 -0600

Findings brief examining whether transition from government or nonprofit to for-profit hospital ownership is associated with changes in staffing levels in rural hospitals. Utilizes 2011-2023 CMS Healthcare Cost Reporting Information System (HCRIS) data. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program

Resource: Community Healers: How Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Leads in Health and Wellness

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:10:35 -0600

Discusses how the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) addresses the health needs of its community, by integrating Cherokee culture and Western medical care as a way to improve community health. Documents CIHA's work in promoting relationships between federal and state entities and Native Nations. -- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Resource: In Rural Communities, Where Child Care Is Often Scarce, Healthcare Organizations Are Finding Creative Ways to Help

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:14:58 -0600

Features rural healthcare organizations in Indiana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin that have partnered with childcare providers, schools, and other organizations to support affordable child care in their communities. -- Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: Availability of Higher-Level Neonatal Care Services in Rural US Counties, 2010-2022

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:27:40 -0600

Policy brief showing changes in availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural counties from 2010 to 2022, and how this availability differs by rural county type. Features statistics with breakdowns by all rural, micropolitan, and noncore areas. -- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Resource: Calendar Year 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Final Rule (CMS-1834-FC)

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0600

Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2026. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to hospital price transparency; Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; hospital quality start ratings; and more. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Resource: Rural Hospital Financial Distress: Relative Risk in 2025

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:44:54 -0600

Infographic with a state-level map showing the number and percent of rural hospitals in each state at highest relative financial distress risk in 2025. Features statistics showing states with multiple hospitals, one hospital, and no hospitals at highest risk. Includes information on states with highest percentage of rural hospitals at highest relative risk of financial distress. -- North Carolina Rural Health Research Program, The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research

Resource: Third Party Negotiated Hospital Pricing in Rural and Urban Hospitals within 12 U.S. States

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:04:45 -0600

Examines the gross and negotiated pricing for common services in rural and urban hospitals. Bases findings on samples from 12 states and focuses on costs of routine care, imaging, and childbirth. -- Rural and Underserved Health Research Center

Resource: Is My Hospital Rural?

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:44:26 -0600

An infographic that provides a U.S. map showing state-level rural hospital coverage versus total hospital coverage. Includes information on bed availability, access, and economic impact. -- American Hospital Association

Funding opportunity: USDA Rural Hospital Technical Assistance

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:24:43 -0600

Technical assistance for rural hospitals to identify and address healthcare needs and strengthen local healthcare systems. The overall goal of the program is to enhance hospital systems for improved efficiency and financial performance, bolster quality of care, and support communities. -- National Rural Health Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Resource: Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation for Rural Providers, with Kevin Biese and Natalie Elder

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:55:12 -0600

An episode of the Exploring Rural Health podcast featuring Kevin Biese, MD, Chair of the Board of the American College of Emergency Physicians Geriatric Emergency Accreditation program, and Natalie Elder, MD, Director of Geriatric Emergency Medicine for the University of Vermont Health Network. Focuses on the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation and the standards of rural geriatric care that it ensures. -- Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: 2010-2023 County-Level Hospital-Based Obstetric Care Status

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:28:33 -0600

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 2010-2023. Available for download as an XLS file. -- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Resource: An Enhanced Method for Identifying Hospital-Based Obstetric Unit Status, Version 2 with Addendum

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:04:38 -0600

Results of a study using data from American Hospital Association annual surveys from 2010-2018 to conduct single- and multi-year assessments of obstetric unit status and to identify closures of obstetric units. Compares results obtained through the enhanced method with results of a survey sample of rural hospitals with obstetric units open at the time of the assessment and those with recently closed units. Addendum describes methodology updates since a previously published January 2022 report as well as additional findings using 2010-2023 data. -- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Resource: The Evolving Role of Critical Access Hospitals in Rural Physician Training

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:00:30 -0600

Research letter examining prevalence of Critical Access Hospital (CAH)-based training and comparing CAHs with other rural teaching hospitals to evaluate potential for expansion. Features statistics on characteristics of training programs in CAHs and other rural teaching hospitals.

Resource: Financial Challenges of Providing Obstetric Services at Rural US Hospitals

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:46:09 -0500

Presents a study on the financial challenges faced by rural hospitals operating obstetric units. Bases findings on survey data from hospital administrators detailing financial factors such as payer mix, fixed costs, and workforce, among other measures.

Resource: Evaluation of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration: CCA Extension Final Report (Covering 2016-2021)

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:13:38 -0500

Provides an overview of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD), focusing on the 26 hospitals that participated during the extension period authorized by the 21st Century Cures Act (2016-2021). Describes the characteristics of active RCHD participants before they joined the demonstration, the Medicare payments received under the program, and the impact of the RCHD on hospital financial measures. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Resource: Hospital Trends in the Use, Evaluation, and Governance of Predictive AI, 2023-2024

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:46:24 -0500

Describes trends in the foundational use, evaluation, and governance of predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in hospitals using data from the 2023 and 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on the differences in acute care hospitals' use of predictive AI by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, independent/system affiliation, and electronic health record (EHR) vendor. -- Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

Resource: Tax-Exempt Hospitals Provided Nearly $149 Billion in Total Benefits to Their Communities

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:16:28 -0500

Summarizes the benefits nonprofit hospitals provide their communities based on an analysis of IRS Form 990 Schedule H. Addresses the percent spent on financial assistance, health professions education, medical research, community building activities, and other categories included on Schedule H. Includes data for rural and Critical Access Hospitals. -- American Hospital Association

Resource: Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs: Strategies for Financial Analyses and Considerations for Maintaining Services

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:08:11 -0500

A guide for Critical Access Hospital and other rural hospital executives to use when assessing the financial viability of their Labor & Delivery programs. Outlines three strategies that may bring a Labor & Delivery program closer to sustainability and prevent unnecessary closure of services in rural areas. -- Flex Monitoring Team