- Weathering the Storm Together: Community Resiliency Hubs Hold the Promise of Local Self-Sufficiency and Supportive Mutual Aid
- Virginia Tech Researchers Bring Rural Families into the Nation's Largest Study of Early Brain and Child Development
- Expanding Access to Cancer Care for Rural Veterans
- VA: Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee, Notice of Meeting
- Scaling Rural Wellness with Clever Collaboration
- Stroudwater Associates Enhances Rural Healthcare Dashboard with New Data to Support State Rural Transformation Grant Applications
- Harvest Season Is Here: Busy Times Call for Increased Focus on Safety and Health
- HHS Dispatches More Than 70 Public Health Service Officers to Strengthen Care in Tribal Communities
- Wisconsin Rural Hospitals Team up to Form Network
- CMS Launches Landmark $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program
- American Heart Association Provides Blood Pressure Kits at Southeast Arkansas Regional Libraries to Support Rural Health
- Broadening Access to Minimally Invasive Surgery Could Narrow Rural-Urban Health Gaps
- Instead of Selling, Some Rural Hospitals Band Together To Survive
- Help Line Gives Pediatricians Crucial Mental Health Information to Help Kids, Families
- Rural Health: A Strategic Opportunity for Governors
New Research Examines Rural Hospital Sustainability and Healthcare Market Consolidation in Pennsylvania
A recent study finds persistent gaps in staffing, services, and health outcomes, with no consistent improvements associated with hospital consolidation
Rural hospitals continue to face significant workforce, service, and access challenges, while mergers, acquisitions, and health system affiliations were not associated with consistent improvements across key hospital measures, according to new research released by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
The report, Rural Hospitals in Pennsylvania in the Context of Healthcare Market Consolidations, was conducted by researchers at The Pennsylvania State University and examines general acute care hospitals across the Commonwealth from 2016 through 2023. Researchers combined statewide hospital data with interviews and virtual site visits to examine rural hospital utilization, service availability, quality, financial performance, and changes in hospital ownership.
The study found that rural hospitals generally operate with fewer physicians and registered nurses, lower patient volumes and occupancy rates, and fewer specialized services than urban hospitals. One of the most pronounced differences involved neonatal care: only about one in five rural hospitals provided Level II or higher neonatal intensive care, compared with approximately one-half of urban hospitals.
Across four major clinical conditions, rural hospitals also had higher mortality rates but lower 30-day readmission rates than urban hospitals, raising questions about how commonly used quality measures should be interpreted in rural settings.
The full report, Rural Hospitals in Pennsylvania in the Context of Healthcare Market Consolidations, is available at www.rural.pa.gov/publications/research-reports.
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Created in 1987 under the Rural Revitalization Act, the Center serves as a resource for rural policy within the General Assembly and works to promote and sustain the vitality of Pennsylvania’s rural and small communities.
Documentary Trailer Focuses on Minimally Invasive Oral Health Care
ChartHouse Films is set to release a new documentary on minimally invasive care and preventive dentistry. The documentary will feature interviews with Dr. Jeremy Keeper and Dr. Jonny Norris. Dr. Norris presented on minimally invasive dental care at the 2025 PA Oral Health Summit where he presented.
Just Released: 300K+ Updated Data Points on the Appalachian Region
A new data overview from ARC highlights continued economic progress across Appalachia, including declining poverty, rising income levels and improved educational attainment.
Key takeaways from the 16th annual edition of The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2020–2024 American Community Survey, also known as “The Chartbook,” are below. 📊
📉 Decline in Poverty Rates
The share of Appalachian residents in poverty fell by 1 percentage point between 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 — slightly outpacing the national decline of 0.9 points.
💵 Income Levels Up
Median household income in Appalachia increased by 4.3%, reaching $67K.
🎓 Higher Educational Attainment
Bachelor’s degree attainment among adults ages 25+ rose 3.3 percentage points to 28%. Among those degree holders, 31.8% earned their degree in a STEM field.
🏠 Lower Housing Cost Burdens
The share of cost‑burdened households in Appalachia is 7 percentage points below the U.S. average.
🌄 Strong Population Growth in Southern Appalachia
Southern Appalachia grew by 15% between 2010 and 2024.
We’re also excited to share that, for the first time, The Chartbook analyzes Appalachian counties according to their designation in ARC’s County Economic Status Classification System.
The Chartbook offers a world of insight into the Appalachian Region — explore it now!
Advocacy in Action: How Kentucky Protected Community Water Fluoridation and Medicaid Access
What does effective advocacy look like?
A recent article from the CareQuest Institute highlights how oral health advocates in Kentucky successfully worked to protect community water fluoridation and preserve access to dental care for Medicaid beneficiaries.
As Pennsylvania community health centers continue to serve as key access points for oral health services, this case study offers valuable insights into coalition-building, patient advocacy, and policy engagement.
Planning a School-Based Dental Event? Apply for Free Supply Kits
Through the Henry Schein Cares Package, eligible community health centers can request free turnkey supply kits designed to support school-based dental education and outreach. Whether you’re planning a dental screening or oral health education event, these kits can help you focus on providing care instead of sourcing supplies.
Learn more about the Henry Schein Cares Package, review eligibility requirements, and submit your request today.
March of Dimes Releases New Maternal Care Deserts Report
The March of Dimes recently released their 2026 report Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S.
The report provides one of the most comprehensive analyses of maternity care access across the country and shows that, while some communities have made progress, too many families still face significant barriers to receiving the care they need.
CMS Sends $90M to South Dakota, $35M to Pennsylvania for Rural Care
From Becker’s Health IT
The Trump administration announced two new rural health awards, delivering $90 million to South Dakota and $35 million to Pennsylvania through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
The RHTP, created under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, directs $50 billion over five years to help states modernize rural healthcare delivery. CMS oversees the program through its Office of Rural Health Transformation and is distributing funds to all 50 states on a rolling basis for fiscal year 2026.
South Dakota’s $90 million will fund health IT modernization, cybersecurity upgrades and interoperability improvements across rural and tribal communities. The state’s plan also covers diagnostic and surgical capacity, maternal health resources and workforce recruitment. The award follows more than $31 million in “Rural Strong” grants South Dakota has already received for 28 projects across 20 health systems.
Pennsylvania’s $35 million will support new screening technology, additional operating rooms and expanded medical transportation for rural providers, with up to $1 million available per eligible location. Pennsylvania has already committed $42 million to 66 qualified projects under the program, and Sen. Dave McCormick said the state’s total fiscal year 2026 allocation stands at $193,294,054.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz issued nearly identical statements on both awards, saying the funding reflects a patient-first approach to rural health.
“This is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home,” Dr. Oz said.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the program gives states flexibility to design solutions for their own rural populations while requiring accountability for results.
In South Dakota, Gov. Larry Rhoden said the funding will help modernize care while protecting patient data, and Sen. John Thune and Sen. Mike Rounds both credited the state’s plan with putting providers on a path to financial sustainability.
In Pennsylvania, Rep. John Joyce, a physician who practiced in rural communities for more than 25 years, said the funding will strengthen the workforce and modernize technology and facilities. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie said the state has secured nearly $200 million through the program this fiscal year for projects spanning buildings, transportation, maternal care and mental health services.
CMS Announces Upcoming Changes for Provider Off-Campus Outpatient Departments
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changes to implement new statutory requirements affecting certain off-campus outpatient departments. Providers with affected departments could begin preparing now by reviewing their provider enrollment information and understanding upcoming changes to payment requirements.
Upcoming Changes for Off-Campus Outpatient Departments of a Provider: Section 6225 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2026, establishes new payment requirements for certain off-campus outpatient departments of a provider beginning January 1, 2028. To continue receiving payment for covered items and services, providers will be required to obtain, and bill under, a separate National Provider Identifier (NPI) for each affected department and submit an initial attestation demonstrating compliance with the provider-based regulations within the prior two years. The law also requires a subsequent attestation within a timeframe specified by the Secretary.
The statute defines off-campus outpatient departments of a provider to mean provider-based departments that are not located on the campus of the provider or are not within of the regulatorily-specified distance from a remote location of a hospital.
What’s Happening:
CMS published proposals for implementing the new legislation in the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems proposed rule, which was published in the Federal Register on July 7, 2026 (91 FR 41734). CMS encourages stakeholders to review the proposed rule and submit comments during the public comment period to help CMS finalize the proposals relating to the implementation process. Note that comments must be submitted by August 31, 2026.
New Pennsylvania Data Released on Utilization and Volume for Every County in the State
The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) released a new set of County-Level Utilization Reports and County-Level Condition-Specific Reports today.
The County-Level Utilization Reports display the total number of ambulatory/outpatient cases and inpatient hospitalizations for Pennsylvania residents from October 1 through December 31, 2025, (Q4 of 2025). Each report separates the information into inpatient and outpatient utilization. Inpatient data are further categorized by age, payer type, and sex. Outpatient data include those same categories, with an additional breakdown by facility type.
The County-Level Condition-Specific Reports shed light on key health care conditions, by offering volume data at the county level. These PHC4 reports focus on eight conditions, containing raw counts and rates for each. The reporting covers data from January 1 through December 31, 2025.
Producing comprehensive sets of County-Level Health Care Utilization Reports and County-Level Condition-Specific Reports directly support PHC4’s mission.
PHC4 invites all stakeholders to review these reports, available now at County-Level Health Care Reports – PHC4. Recognizing these data is key in supporting research, business, and health care communities, PHC4 regularly connects with professionals seeking standard or custom data. Questions can be directed to general@phc4.org.
PHC4 is an independent council formed under Pennsylvania statute (Act 89 of 1986, as amended by Act 15 of 2020) in order to address rapidly growing health care costs. PHC4 continues to produce comparative information about the most efficient and effective health care to individual consumers and group purchasers of health services. In addition, PHC4 produces information used to identify opportunities to contain costs and improve the quality of care delivered. For more information, visit phc4.org or access the reports here.
Hallways to Health, School-Based Health Care Conference 2027
Join us for the inaugural Pennsylvania School-Based Health Care Conference 2027.
Pennsylvania’s Hallways to Health inaugural statewide conference for school-based health care will bring together practitioners and providers from across the state and nation to immerse themselves innew knowledge and peer support to ground their work for effective school-based health care.
The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, State College PA. Thursday March 11, 2027, 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Friday, March 12, 2027, 9:00am to 4:00pm.