Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare business and finance
"The Crux of the Community": A Qualitative Focus Group Study of the Impact of Community Pharmacy Closures in Colorado and Utah
Discusses themes identified in focus groups of pharmacy workforce that had experienced a community pharmacy closure in Colorado or Utah. Themes discussed include community impacts, pharmacy operations, job experience, and patient impact. Highlights rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Michael J. DiStefano, Nai-Chia Chen, Carl V. Asche, Kelly E. Anderson, T. Joseph Mattingly, II
Citation: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 66(1)
Date: 01/2026
view details
Discusses themes identified in focus groups of pharmacy workforce that had experienced a community pharmacy closure in Colorado or Utah. Themes discussed include community impacts, pharmacy operations, job experience, and patient impact. Highlights rural considerations throughout.
Author(s): Michael J. DiStefano, Nai-Chia Chen, Carl V. Asche, Kelly E. Anderson, T. Joseph Mattingly, II
Citation: Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 66(1)
Date: 01/2026
view details
Rural Emergency Hospitals: Emerging Patterns of Adaptation and Community Perception
Examines characteristics of Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) and their impact on the community. Utilizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cost report data to compare hospitals that converted to REHs to hospitals that did not convert. Analyzes issues such as hospital finances, local healthcare access, economic stabilization, REH reputation and use, community perceptions of quality, and more.
Author(s): Anders Van Sandt, Kaitlyn Line, Anja Gruber, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70112
Date: 01/2026
view details
Examines characteristics of Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) and their impact on the community. Utilizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cost report data to compare hospitals that converted to REHs to hospitals that did not convert. Analyzes issues such as hospital finances, local healthcare access, economic stabilization, REH reputation and use, community perceptions of quality, and more.
Author(s): Anders Van Sandt, Kaitlyn Line, Anja Gruber, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70112
Date: 01/2026
view details
Providing Accountable Care Organizations the Ability to Expand the Use of Telehealth: Report to Congress
Analyzes the telehealth use and spending among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries assigned to Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Compares the rate of telehealth use across ACO and non-ACO providers between 2020 and 2023, as well as across provider types, dual eligibility, HPSA-status of patient residence, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Analyzes the telehealth use and spending among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries assigned to Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Compares the rate of telehealth use across ACO and non-ACO providers between 2020 and 2023, as well as across provider types, dual eligibility, HPSA-status of patient residence, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2026 Small Practice Eligibility and Participation Frequently Asked Questions
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding small practice participation and eligibility for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2026 performance year. Covers individual and group eligibility, the low-volume threshold, changes to group composition during the performance year, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding small practice participation and eligibility for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2026 performance year. Covers individual and group eligibility, the low-volume threshold, changes to group composition during the performance year, and more.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Indian Health Service and Health Care Affordability Issues Among American Indian/ Alaska Native People by Rurality
Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Report explores healthcare affordability and Indian Health Services (IHS) utilization among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) in rural and urban communities. Highlights rates of patients receiving care at IHS, privately insured, and uninsured in rural and urban communities, among other measures.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Katie Rydberg, Alexis Swendener, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2026 Improvement Activities Performance Category Quick Start Guide
Provides an overview of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements, data collection, and data submission for the improvement activities performance category for the 2026 performance year. Includes information about special status scoring for small practices and clinicians located in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
Provides an overview of Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) requirements, data collection, and data submission for the improvement activities performance category for the 2026 performance year. Includes information about special status scoring for small practices and clinicians located in a rural or Health Professional Shortage Area.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
view details
The Importance of the Health Care Sector to the Kansas Economy
Describes how the healthcare sector contributes to the Kansas economy in terms of available jobs, income, and quality of life. Provides data on contributions and growth projected through 2032 and includes discussions focused on rural areas.
Author(s): Donna K. Ginther, Pat Oslund, Thomas Becker
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kansas Hospital Association, University of Kansas Institute for Policy & Social Research
view details
Describes how the healthcare sector contributes to the Kansas economy in terms of available jobs, income, and quality of life. Provides data on contributions and growth projected through 2032 and includes discussions focused on rural areas.
Author(s): Donna K. Ginther, Pat Oslund, Thomas Becker
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kansas Hospital Association, University of Kansas Institute for Policy & Social Research
view details
Towards Consistency for Behavioral Health Paraprofessionals - Part 1: Where We Stand — A National Landscape of BHP Formalization
Examines how states regulate, educate, and reimburse behavioral health and substance use paraprofessionals. Identifies variations in credentials, training requirements, scope of practice, and financing. Includes a set of state profiles examining how selected states have approached development and regulation of behavioral health paraprofessionals. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Hannah L. Maxey, Mykayla Moore
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, Indiana University School of Medicine
view details
Examines how states regulate, educate, and reimburse behavioral health and substance use paraprofessionals. Identifies variations in credentials, training requirements, scope of practice, and financing. Includes a set of state profiles examining how selected states have approached development and regulation of behavioral health paraprofessionals. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Hannah L. Maxey, Mykayla Moore
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, Indiana University School of Medicine
view details
Preparing Hawaiʻi's Health Centers for Value-Based Care: A Cross-Center Needs Assessment and Readiness Report
Discusses health centers' readiness to implement value-based care models in Hawaii, covering topics including data infrastructure, staffing, financial planning, leadership, and payer relations. Compares findings from urban, suburban, and rural or remote health centers.
Author(s): Navya Karkada, Sheryl Irie, Jermy Domingo, Cristina Vocalan
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Hawaii Primary Care Association
view details
Discusses health centers' readiness to implement value-based care models in Hawaii, covering topics including data infrastructure, staffing, financial planning, leadership, and payer relations. Compares findings from urban, suburban, and rural or remote health centers.
Author(s): Navya Karkada, Sheryl Irie, Jermy Domingo, Cristina Vocalan
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Hawaii Primary Care Association
view details
Iowa Health & Human Services System County Snapshots
Provides 2026 snapshots of all Iowa counties related to population characteristics, access to healthcare, mental health, substance use, economic stability, housing, transportation, and health behaviors and outcomes.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
view details
Provides 2026 snapshots of all Iowa counties related to population characteristics, access to healthcare, mental health, substance use, economic stability, housing, transportation, and health behaviors and outcomes.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
view details