In September 2023, Rural Health Innovations, the for-profit consulting arm of the National Rural Health Resource Center, was contracted by the Episcopal Health Foundation to conduct a review and assessment of the Texas Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model design and rollout. The assessment included an examination of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation initiatives, an analysis of the Texas CHART Model design and related communications with hospitals and partners, an analysis of state hospital finances, and interviews with more than a dozen key informants.
Resources
The Center's searchable Resource Library features articles, reports, webinars, podcasts, toolkits, and other materials developed by trusted industry leaders to guide and support rural health stakeholders.
Resource Type
Toolkits
Programs
Topics
Series
Services
520 results found
Evaluation reporting to program stakeholders should be included in Flex Program activities. Reporting supports overall program transparency and development, stakeholder buy-in, engagement, and accountability.
State Flex Programs remain vital because of the web of relationships developed and maintained within communities, providers, networks, states, regions, and nationally. It is imperative that state Flex Programs have the skills, capacity, and commitment to build and sustain partnerships, new and old, to support rural providers and rural stakeholders.
State Flex Programs need to have an in-depth understanding of the policies and regulations governing the Flex Program, as well as a basic understanding of the policy-making process and other policies and regulations affecting rural providers.
State Flex Programs must understand QI principles, resources, and trends to support CAHs in advancing QI.
The Flex Program and CAH designation was established and remains in place because of the financial vulnerability of small rural hospitals. CAH financial and operational improvement is one of the required program areas of the Flex Program.
State Flex Programs can help CAHs transition into value-based systems, population health models, and future opportunities through education, network support, facilitation of new partnerships, and technical assistance.
It is important for state Flex Programs to understand the community needs of CAH and RHC service areas to develop or leverage program activities in support of health system development, community engagement, and population health improvement.
Interactive
Frequently Asked Questions
Access the answers to questions frequently asked about the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program (RHSP).
The National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center) has launched the 2025 update to its Population Health Toolkit, which is designed to assist State Offices of Rural Health, state Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Programs and individual health care organizations as they seek to better understand, manage and improve population health in their communities and states.
Review the process the Rural Hospital Stabilization Program uses to analyze applications and select hospitals to participate.
The Cancer Screening and Prevention Toolkit features messaging that emphasizes cancer prevention and awareness, highlighting the powerful motivation of living not just for oneself, but for others.
America’s rural health care system faces growing challenges in accessing capital funding for essential infrastructure projects. This paper provides a historical overview of major capital funding programs and analyzes the persistent challenges that prevent rural health care providers from converting available funding into usable capital—undermining sustainability in rural health systems.
Outlines a compilation of states' criteria for designation as a necessary provider. Describes how each state has addressed local considerations or unique requirements.
This document outlines four performance management tools: Balanced Scorecard, Baldrige, Lean and Studer. These tools have been identified as effective methods for managing performance improvement with small rural hospitals.
HIT networks can use this tool to assess organizational strengths and weaknesses and identify areas needing attention.
These samples from an HIT network can serve as reference documents for networks interested in incorporating the Balanced Scorecard into their strategic and evaluation planning efforts.
This document summarizes the consensus of a discussion with CAH financial leaders and experts about the most important performance indicators, the CAH financial distress model from the FMT, CAH interventions for optimizing financial performance and the evolving health care system.
This guide to Direct connectivity standards is designed to assist health care providers in understanding and implementing health information exchange using Direct protocols. It includes descriptions of technologies used, a glossary of terms and recommendations on implementing Direct.
Determining whether your practice is ready to build or join a HIE can be a challenge. This guide provides some basic information for providers to consider while evaluating options for HIE.