How to Maximize Reimbursements for Rural Health Clinics In 2023, hospitals absorbed $130 billion in Medicare and Medicaid underpayments — a roughly 14% annual increase over 2019.1 And underpayments are one reason providers can benefit from knowing how to maximize reimbursements for rural health clinics (RHCs). Why? Because a higher portion of RHC payments come […]
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Critical Access Hospital Requirements for Care Centers in Transition Critical access hospitals (CAHs) get financial protection and access to government resources to support care in rural areas. Hospitals are only eligible for the CAH designation if they participate in the Medicare program. To earn the CAH designation, facilities also need to meet certain critical access
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Understanding Internet Options for Rural Areas Access to reliable high-speed Internet is missing from too many rural communities. And that limits access to essential healthcare services, which impacts patient care. It also plays a key role in connecting underserved communities to essential other resources and opportunities. But major Internet service providers (ISPs) are expanding to
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The Rural Emergency Hospital Designation: What to Know The rural emergency hospital designation gives rural hospitals a way to stay open when inpatient care becomes unprofitable. Instead of running inpatient units, hospitals can shift to a model that relies on emergency and outpatient services. This arrangement provides more consistent Medicare reimbursements and reduces financial uncertainty.
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Azalea Celebrates National Rural Health Day National Rural Health Day is the third Thursday in November. In 2025, that’s November 20. At Azalea, our mission is to help underserved (aka rural) healthcare providers improve patient care and their profitability. And so we honor and celebrate the National Rural Health Day this year and everyday all
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Webinar: Clinically Integrated Networks and Future Financial Success The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will impact rural healthcare a lot. And by 2030 CMS is mandating that all Medicare users and most Medicaid users be treated on a value-based care model. It’s a perfect storm of pressures on rural healthcare providers and patients. It’s
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OBBBA Medicaid Impact: Strategies for Rural Healthcare The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will hurt rural healthcare by hurting rural Medicaid recipients. It’s estimated that the OBBBA Medicaid impact on rural areas will result in up to 2.7 million people losing Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage by 2034.1 While the Rural Health
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Fee-for-Service vs Value-Based-Care — What to Know The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) aims to move Medicare users from a Medicare fee-for-service model and most Medicaid users to a value-based care model by 2030. But what is value-based care and what does your rural hospital or health clinic need to do to adapt
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Webinar: How to Navigate Rural Healthcare Grants in 2026 The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in July 2025 will impact funding and even the availability of many traditional federal grants. The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program may help, but isn’t the only option. In this webinar, find practical ideas for how
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How to Do a Payer Mix Healthcare Analysis to Prepare for OBBBA Impacts The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is bringing a lot of changes to Medicaid coverage in the U.S. One good way for rural health clinics and hospitals to prepare is to do a payer mix healthcare analysis to better understand how
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