Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
CAH Quality Inventory & Assessment - State Flex Program Resources
Provides ancillary materials related to the 2025 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory & Assessment (Assessment) for State Flex Programs (SFPs). Includes resources on the background and components of the Assessment for State Flex Programs, a template email that State Flex Programs can use to send to CAHs regarding the Assessment, and instructions for State Flex Programs detailing how to use the Assessment Data Tool for 2025 Assessment.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Robert Barclay, Megan Lahr
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Provides ancillary materials related to the 2025 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory & Assessment (Assessment) for State Flex Programs (SFPs). Includes resources on the background and components of the Assessment for State Flex Programs, a template email that State Flex Programs can use to send to CAHs regarding the Assessment, and instructions for State Flex Programs detailing how to use the Assessment Data Tool for 2025 Assessment.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Robert Barclay, Megan Lahr
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Medicare Learning Network: Hospital Price Transparency
Contains information on federal hospital price transparency regulations and compliance, what patients need to know, and a list of helpful websites.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Contains information on federal hospital price transparency regulations and compliance, what patients need to know, and a list of helpful websites.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Reporting and Performance of Maternity-Related Quality Measures in Critical Access Hospitals
Describes the characteristics of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) with and without labor and delivery services. Examines CAH quality reporting and performance on five key measures related to maternity care and birth outcomes. Explores relationships between maternity care quality performance and CAH characteristics such as system affiliation, volume, and location. Identifies quality measures related to maternity and birth outcomes that are most feasible and relevant for CAHs and rural hospitals.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Mikayla Reinke, Hamdi Abas
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Describes the characteristics of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) with and without labor and delivery services. Examines CAH quality reporting and performance on five key measures related to maternity care and birth outcomes. Explores relationships between maternity care quality performance and CAH characteristics such as system affiliation, volume, and location. Identifies quality measures related to maternity and birth outcomes that are most feasible and relevant for CAHs and rural hospitals.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Mikayla Reinke, Hamdi Abas
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Delivering Quality: Maternity Care Innovation in Critical Access Hospitals
Presents case studies of six Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) that are high performers on maternity care quality measures. Summarizes interviews with leaders from each CAH regarding the benefits of their Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, use of safety bundles, training activities, and other successes in providing maternity care.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Hamdi Abas, Megan Lahr, Mikayla Reinke
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Presents case studies of six Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) that are high performers on maternity care quality measures. Summarizes interviews with leaders from each CAH regarding the benefits of their Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, use of safety bundles, training activities, and other successes in providing maternity care.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Hamdi Abas, Megan Lahr, Mikayla Reinke
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Improving the Value Proposition of Critical Access Hospitals – Lessons from Federal and State Initiatives
Report details how federal and state initiatives can support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) transition to value-based payment models. Provides examples of initiatives that offer models for use by State Flex Programs (SFPs) for supporting CAHs' transformation to value-based care.
Author(s): John Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Bridget Harr
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Report details how federal and state initiatives can support Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) transition to value-based payment models. Provides examples of initiatives that offer models for use by State Flex Programs (SFPs) for supporting CAHs' transformation to value-based care.
Author(s): John Gale, Rebecca Stearns, Bridget Harr
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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MBQIP Report Resources
Provides a list of resources for State Flex Programs (SFPs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to support them in utilizing quarterly Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) reports in quality improvement activities.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Provides a list of resources for State Flex Programs (SFPs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to support them in utilizing quarterly Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) reports in quality improvement activities.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Prepublication Requirements: Requirement Revisions Related to NFPA Codes and CMS CoPs
Outlines new and revised Joint Commission requirements for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) effective March 1, 2026. Changes clarify elements of performance (EPs) based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements and further align Joint Commission standards with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs).
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Outlines new and revised Joint Commission requirements for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) effective March 1, 2026. Changes clarify elements of performance (EPs) based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements and further align Joint Commission standards with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs).
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint Commission
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Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)
Printable map that shows the location of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) nationwide by state. Data source: data.HRSA.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional links: CAH Facility Table
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Printable map that shows the location of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) nationwide by state. Data source: data.HRSA.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Additional links: CAH Facility Table
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Measuring State Flex Program Impact: Tools to Support Outcome Measurement and Evaluation
Toolkit designed to help State Flex Programs (SFPs) with manage and document project performance and comply with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's expectations regarding outcome measurement and reporting. Provides blank worksheets for SFPs as they work through the steps for their projects, as well as links to outcome measurement resources.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Author(s): John Gale, Bridget Harr
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Toolkit designed to help State Flex Programs (SFPs) with manage and document project performance and comply with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's expectations regarding outcome measurement and reporting. Provides blank worksheets for SFPs as they work through the steps for their projects, as well as links to outcome measurement resources.
Additional links: Webinar Recording
Author(s): John Gale, Bridget Harr
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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MBQIP Fundamentals Guide for State Flex Programs: A Guide for Flex Coordinators on the Current Status of the MBQIP
Provides an overview of the history and current status of the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). Offers links to resources to support Flex program personnel and relevant subcontractors understand the basics of MBQIP.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance (RQITA) Resource Center
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Provides an overview of the history and current status of the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). Offers links to resources to support Flex program personnel and relevant subcontractors understand the basics of MBQIP.
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance (RQITA) Resource Center
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