Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Medicare
Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model Evaluation: Final Report
Provides an overview of the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, which tested whether identifying and addressing core health-related social needs (HRSNs) of community-dwelling beneficiaries improves health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and reduces unnecessary healthcare utilization. Describes the AHC Model's impacts on key outcomes for Medicaid, FFS Medicare, and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through December 2023 and final lessons learned.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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Provides an overview of the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, which tested whether identifying and addressing core health-related social needs (HRSNs) of community-dwelling beneficiaries improves health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and reduces unnecessary healthcare utilization. Describes the AHC Model's impacts on key outcomes for Medicaid, FFS Medicare, and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries through December 2023 and final lessons learned.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, RTI International
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A Comparison of Independent and System-Affiliated Rural Hospitals
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.
Author(s): Aditya R. Pillutla, Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink, Tyler Malone
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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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.
Author(s): Aditya R. Pillutla, Sruthi Malavika Srinivasan, Kristie Thompson, George Pink, Tyler Malone
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Factors Associated with High vs. Low Implementation of Medicare's Chronic Care Management Programme in Wyoming Primary Care Practices
Identifies factors associated with rural primary care practices' participation in the Medicare Chronic Care Management (CCM) program, using interview data of 13 healthcare professionals at 6 sites in Wyoming. Compares characteristics of high and low implementation sites, including discussion of healthcare team communication, evaluation, leadership, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth Punke, Lucas A. Wall, Christine L. McKibbin, et al.
Citation: Primary Health Care Research & Development, 27, e19
Date: 02/2026
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Identifies factors associated with rural primary care practices' participation in the Medicare Chronic Care Management (CCM) program, using interview data of 13 healthcare professionals at 6 sites in Wyoming. Compares characteristics of high and low implementation sites, including discussion of healthcare team communication, evaluation, leadership, and more.
Author(s): Elizabeth Punke, Lucas A. Wall, Christine L. McKibbin, et al.
Citation: Primary Health Care Research & Development, 27, e19
Date: 02/2026
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Chartis Center for Rural Health Research & Resources for the 2026 National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute Conference
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.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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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.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Update to the Payment for Historically Excepted Tribal Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for Calendar Year (CY) 2026
Provides an overview of updates to the historically excepted Tribal Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Prospective Payment System (PPS) rate for calendar year 2026.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of updates to the historically excepted Tribal Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Prospective Payment System (PPS) rate for calendar year 2026.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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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 and 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 and 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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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 and 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 and Medicaid Services
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Health Panel Comment Letter - Contract Year 2027 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs
Offers comments in response to a November 28, 2025, proposed rule regarding policy and technical changes to the Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, and Medicare Cost Plan programs for contract year 2027. Includes data on trends in chronic condition special need plans (C-SNPs) and institutional special needs plans (I-SNPs) between 2016 and 2025 and MA plan offerings by county metropolitan status.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Offers comments in response to a November 28, 2025, proposed rule regarding policy and technical changes to the Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, and Medicare Cost Plan programs for contract year 2027. Includes data on trends in chronic condition special need plans (C-SNPs) and institutional special needs plans (I-SNPs) between 2016 and 2025 and MA plan offerings by county metropolitan status.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Rural Emergency Hospital Educational Webinar and Fireside Chat
Recording of a January 8, 2026, webinar for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other small rural hospitals exploring the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Describes the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, and REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services and resources. Features a discussion with two hospital executives that led their facilities through the conversion to REH status. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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Recording of a January 8, 2026, webinar for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other small rural hospitals exploring the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Describes the REH designation, policy and regulatory requirements, and REH Technical Assistance Center (TAC) services and resources. Features a discussion with two hospital executives that led their facilities through the conversion to REH status. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
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