Key Takeaways for 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 year, […]
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Key Takeaways on OBBBA Medicaid Impact 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 Transformation
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Key Takeaways for Fee-for-Service vs Value-Based Care 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. The goal reflects a broader shift in the healthcare industry, as providers, payers, and policymakers move away from traditional
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Key Takeaways on Medicare Prior Authorization Changes in 2026 Several Medicare changes in 2026 are underway. A few won’t have an immediate impact. But others could have a big impact on both providers and patients — in a good way. This article covers key changes, how they’ll benefit providers and patients, and what providers want
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Key Takeaways on Payer Mix in Healthcare 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 changes to their Medicaid payer mix
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Key Takeaways for One Big Beautiful Bill Next Steps On July 4, 2025, Donald Trump signed H.R.1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into public law. In this article, I outline some of the key provisions of the bill and recommended One Big Beautiful Bill next steps for rural healthcare hospitals, clinics, and providers. Key
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Key Takeaways on the Future of Value-Based Care Healthcare in the United States is experiencing a major transformation. The shift from fee-for-service (FFS) models, which emphasize quantity over quality, to value-based care (VBC), which prioritizes patient outcomes, continues to gain momentum. Especially those in rural areas—understanding VBC isn’t just an opportunity; it’s a necessity. Here’s
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Key Takeaways to Understand Rural Emergency Hospitals Rural hospitals are struggling. COVID-19’s aftermath, fewer patients, and staff shortages have forced some to shut down. And when a hospital closes, your community feels it: longer travel for care, higher healthcare costs, and a hit to the local economy. To help address this crisis, Congress introduced the rural
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Key Takeaways on Cloud Computing in Healthcare The healthcare industry has long relied on on-premise servers to manage critical tasks like storing patient records, scheduling, billing, and daily operations. However, growing challenges such as increased cybersecurity risks, rising IT costs, and stricter compliance requirements now make this approach less sustainable—and far more costly in the
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Key Takeaways for Technology in Rural Healthcare Solutions If you’re a rural healthcare provider, you know how tough it is to deliver quality care in underserved areas. With 91% of rural counties facing a shortage of primary care physicians, finding solutions is critical. Over 57 million Americans depend on rural hospitals and clinics like yours,
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