Rural

Rural hospitals provide essential health care services to some 57 million people. Because of their size, modest assets and financial reserves, and higher percentages of Medicare patients, small and rural hospitals disproportionately rely on government payments.
Method I Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) Under Method I, the CAH bills Medicare for facility services and clinicians’ professional services separately under the physician fee schedule (PFS). In this case, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will not make MIPS adjustments to a…
Join top practitioners and thinkers who share strategies and resources for accelerating the shift to a more integrated, high performing, and sustainable rural health care system.
Today, the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and America's Essential Hospitals filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to prevent significant…
The MACRA Physician Quality Payment Program Final Rule for CY 2018 continues a flexible approach to the MACRA's physician quality payment program urged by hospitals, health systems, and the more than 500,000 employed and contracted physicians with whom they partner to deliver care.
CMS’s decision in today’s rule to cut Medicare payments to hospitals for drugs covered under the 340B program will dramatically threaten access to health care for many patients, including uninsured and other vulnerable populations. It is not based on sound policy and punishes hospitals and patients…
The AHA welcomes today’s announcement of a public health emergency for the opioid epidemic and the Administration’s efforts to enhance access to treatment. This declaration appropriately highlights the urgent need to act so that fewer of our fellow citizens are suffering.
This issue of the Small or Rural Update discusses Congress’ activity around replacing and repealing the Affordable Care Act as well as reviews the federal budget, AHA representation and advocacy, rulemaking and regulatory policy.
Rural hospitals provide critical health care services to millions of Medicare patients in communities across the country.
April is National Minority Health Month, dedicated to raising awareness about health disparities that continue to affect minority populations–and to accelerating health care equity. Nearly 1,500 hospitals and health systems are participating in the AHA's #123forEquity Pledge to Eliminate Health…