Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
Shared Savings Program Fast Facts
Provides summary statistics on the Medicare Shared Savings Program as of January 1, 2026. Offers data on the number of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), assigned beneficiaries, total earned shared savings, and quality scores each year since 2012; the number and percent of ACOs in each track; and more. Includes information on ACO participants, including the number of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) participating in the program.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides summary statistics on the Medicare Shared Savings Program as of January 1, 2026. Offers data on the number of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), assigned beneficiaries, total earned shared savings, and quality scores each year since 2012; the number and percent of ACOs in each track; and more. Includes information on ACO participants, including the number of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) participating in the program.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provider-Level Variation in the Delivery of Primary Care Telehealth for the Rural Medicare Advantage Population
Results of a study comparing use of telehealth primary care between rural and nonrural Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries by providers' level of telehealth delivery. Based on data from claims for MA beneficiaries enrolled in Humana Inc. plans from January 2021 to June 2024.
Author(s): Debra Bozzi, Amanda Sutherland, Melanie Canterberry, Emily Boudreau, Gosia Sylwestrzak
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70127
Date: 02/2026
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Results of a study comparing use of telehealth primary care between rural and nonrural Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries by providers' level of telehealth delivery. Based on data from claims for MA beneficiaries enrolled in Humana Inc. plans from January 2021 to June 2024.
Author(s): Debra Bozzi, Amanda Sutherland, Melanie Canterberry, Emily Boudreau, Gosia Sylwestrzak
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70127
Date: 02/2026
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Small Practices Guide: Getting Started with Electronic Clinical Quality Measure (eCQM) Reporting
Provides an overview of electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Describes how small practices can report eCQMs, whether participating as an individual clinician, group, subgroup, or Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Describes how small practices can report eCQMs, whether participating as an individual clinician, group, subgroup, or Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Telehealth FAQ Calendar Year 2026
Provides information on Medicare telehealth regulations and payment policy for calendar year 2026. Includes information on audio-only services, behavioral health services, direct supervision, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides information on Medicare telehealth regulations and payment policy for calendar year 2026. Includes information on audio-only services, behavioral health services, direct supervision, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Small Practices Guide: Getting Started with Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Clinical Quality Measure (CQM) Reporting
Provides an overview of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) clinical quality measures (MIPS CQMs). Describes how small practices can report MIPS CQMs, whether participating as an individual clinician, group, subgroup, or Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) clinical quality measures (MIPS CQMs). Describes how small practices can report MIPS CQMs, whether participating as an individual clinician, group, subgroup, or Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entity.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Medicare Benefit Policy Manual: Chapter 13 - Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Services
Current regulations, as of March 2025, regarding Medicare payment policies for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Current regulations, as of March 2025, regarding Medicare payment policies for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Geographical Barriers to Surgical Treatment for Cataract among California Medicare Beneficiaries
Analyzes geographic factors associated with receipt of cataract surgery among California Medicare beneficiaries, using 2017 California Medicare Database claims data. Breaks down data by travel time or distance to care, rurality, and race or ethnicity.
Author(s): Karla Murillo, Ken Kitayama, Fei Yu, Victoria L. Tseng, Anne L. Coleman
Citation: Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, 52(6), 544-550
Date: 01/2026
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Analyzes geographic factors associated with receipt of cataract surgery among California Medicare beneficiaries, using 2017 California Medicare Database claims data. Breaks down data by travel time or distance to care, rurality, and race or ethnicity.
Author(s): Karla Murillo, Ken Kitayama, Fei Yu, Victoria L. Tseng, Anne L. Coleman
Citation: Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, 52(6), 544-550
Date: 01/2026
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Transforming Rural Hospitals Through Telehealth Partnerships: Strategic Playbook
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.
Author(s): E. Warr, B. Buquez, R. Kruis, J. Augenstein, J. McElligott
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) - Telehealth Center of Excellence
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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.
Author(s): E. Warr, B. Buquez, R. Kruis, J. Augenstein, J. McElligott
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) - Telehealth Center of Excellence
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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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Purchased/Referred Care and Cancer: Overview and Options for Tribal Consideration
Describes the Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) program of the Indian Health Service (IHS) and discusses how it functions in the cancer care pathways for Oklahoma tribal communities. Offers recommendations to tribal leaders for working with and alongside the program to improve health outcomes while supporting self-determination. Recommendations discuss tribal governance, collaborations, service delivery models, care coordination, and engaging with federal policymakers.
Author(s): Grace Fox
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Native Nations Center for Tribal Policy Research
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Describes the Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) program of the Indian Health Service (IHS) and discusses how it functions in the cancer care pathways for Oklahoma tribal communities. Offers recommendations to tribal leaders for working with and alongside the program to improve health outcomes while supporting self-determination. Recommendations discuss tribal governance, collaborations, service delivery models, care coordination, and engaging with federal policymakers.
Author(s): Grace Fox
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Native Nations Center for Tribal Policy Research
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