Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare quality
Implementing Measurement-Based Care in Virtual Mental Health Services for Rural Veterans: Provider Insights from a Pre-Implementation Evaluation
Examines behavioral health provider perspectives on measurement-based care (MBC) implementation in rural and virtual Veterans Health Administration (VHA) settings in the South Central United States. Utilizes qualitative survey feedback from 46 providers on issues such as MBC use, benefits and drawbacks of MBC, and educational needs for successful MBC implementation.
Author(s): Amanda Heeren, Kimberly McCoy, Lindsey Fuhrmeister, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 694
Date: 04/2026
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Examines behavioral health provider perspectives on measurement-based care (MBC) implementation in rural and virtual Veterans Health Administration (VHA) settings in the South Central United States. Utilizes qualitative survey feedback from 46 providers on issues such as MBC use, benefits and drawbacks of MBC, and educational needs for successful MBC implementation.
Author(s): Amanda Heeren, Kimberly McCoy, Lindsey Fuhrmeister, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 26, 694
Date: 04/2026
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A Closer Look at Rural Nursing Homes
Compares characteristics of nursing homes in rural and urban areas including patient population data, distribution, and ownership. Also discusses payer mix, healthcare quality, and staffing levels. Highlights changes between 2015 and 2025 for some data.
Author(s): Priya Chidambaram, Alice Burns, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Compares characteristics of nursing homes in rural and urban areas including patient population data, distribution, and ownership. Also discusses payer mix, healthcare quality, and staffing levels. Highlights changes between 2015 and 2025 for some data.
Author(s): Priya Chidambaram, Alice Burns, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Health Care Access and Quality for New York Veterans Provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Community Care
Features information on healthcare access and quality for New York veterans: Volume I focusing on veteran's healthcare policy changes and Volume II focusing on methods and supporting data. Discusses the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Program, geographic access to care for veterans, quality of care, and policy implications for VA Community Care.
Additional links: Volume II
Author(s): Claire E. O'Hanlon, Catria Gadwah-Meaden, Nsheng Dong, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Features information on healthcare access and quality for New York veterans: Volume I focusing on veteran's healthcare policy changes and Volume II focusing on methods and supporting data. Discusses the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Program, geographic access to care for veterans, quality of care, and policy implications for VA Community Care.
Additional links: Volume II
Author(s): Claire E. O'Hanlon, Catria Gadwah-Meaden, Nsheng Dong, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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2025 National CAH Quality Inventory & Assessment National Report
Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2025 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; CAH quality payment model participation; and CAH quality improvement topic priorities.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Robert Barclay
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents a high-level summary of key data points from the September-November 2025 National Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment. Includes data on CAH system affiliation; median average daily census and emergency department volume; median swing bed admissions and swing bed length of stay; hospital inpatient, behavioral health and specialty care, and outpatient and other service lines; CAH quality payment model participation; and CAH quality improvement topic priorities.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Robert Barclay
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Post-Hospital Access to Preferred and High-Quality Skilled Nursing Facilities for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder
Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
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Examines access to preferred and high-quality skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) among Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizes 2017-2021 Medicare inpatient claims data to analyze 6,490,593 patients with OUD and their likelihood to enter preferred and high-quality SNFs according to patient demographics and urbanicity of metro, micro, small town, or rural.
Author(s): Talia S. Benheim, Momotazur Rahman, Andrew R. Zullo, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(2), e70110
Date: 04/2026
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Prioritizing High-Volume Repair Hospitals with Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, for Rural and Nonrural Patients
Examines associations between in-hospital ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) mortality, hospital rAAA repair volume, patient rurality, and patient transfer status, using 2015-2020 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database (HCUP SID) data of 1,744 patients who underwent rAAA repair in New York and Florida.
Author(s): Neha H. Shetty, Hasan Nassereldine, Kristina E. Rudd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Vascular Surgery, 83(4), 1089-1099
Date: 04/2026
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Examines associations between in-hospital ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) mortality, hospital rAAA repair volume, patient rurality, and patient transfer status, using 2015-2020 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database (HCUP SID) data of 1,744 patients who underwent rAAA repair in New York and Florida.
Author(s): Neha H. Shetty, Hasan Nassereldine, Kristina E. Rudd, et al.
Citation: Journal of Vascular Surgery, 83(4), 1089-1099
Date: 04/2026
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Heart Failure Readmissions in Urban and Rural Hospital Settings: An Analysis of 30-Day Readmissions Using the 2021 Nationwide Readmissions Database
Analyzes how 30-day hospital readmission for heart failure varies by rural or urban dwelling using 2021 National Readmissions Database data. Includes data breakdowns by payment type, patient demographics, related health conditions, and other clinical factors.
Author(s): Kendra J. Duran, Janice L. Hinkle, Linda C. Copel
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70138
Date: 03/2026
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Analyzes how 30-day hospital readmission for heart failure varies by rural or urban dwelling using 2021 National Readmissions Database data. Includes data breakdowns by payment type, patient demographics, related health conditions, and other clinical factors.
Author(s): Kendra J. Duran, Janice L. Hinkle, Linda C. Copel
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70138
Date: 03/2026
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Michigan Rural Maternal Health Environmental Scan: Final Report
Provides an overview of maternal health in rural Michigan. Includes information on challenges, innovations, and policy opportunities in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs); hospital and emergency obstetric readiness; Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) initiatives; and supporting access to maternal healthcare.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
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Provides an overview of maternal health in rural Michigan. Includes information on challenges, innovations, and policy opportunities in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs); hospital and emergency obstetric readiness; Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) initiatives; and supporting access to maternal healthcare.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Michigan Center for Rural Health
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2026 MIPS Eligibility Decision Tree
Presents information to determine if providers are eligible to participate in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in the 2026 Performance Year. Includes information on the low-volume threshold criteria.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Presents information to determine if providers are eligible to participate in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in the 2026 Performance Year. Includes information on the low-volume threshold criteria.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): Traditional MIPS Scoring Guide for the 2026 Performance Year
Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides details on how scores are calculated for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), one of two tracks under the Medicare Quality Payment Program. Explains the four performance categories that affect Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability. Includes information for small practices.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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