New Policy Brief on Effects of System Affiliation on Rural Hospitals

The Flex Monitoring Team has released a new policy brief, The Association Between System Affiliation and Financial Performance in Critical Access Hospitals.

There is growing evidence to suggest that affiliation with a health system may have important implications for rural hospitals. However, most studies have not investigated the effects of system affiliation on CAHs, specifically, and it is important for hospitals and state Flex programs to anticipate the consequences and potential impact of system affiliation.

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between system affiliation and the financial indicators included in the Critical Access Hospital Measurement and Performance Assessment System (CAHMPAS).