New data from Chartis indicates that instability continues to threaten the rural health safety net through reimbursement pressure, rural hospital vulnerability and the deterioration of population health status in our rural communities.

For more than 2 decades, state and regional ‘networks’ of rural hospitals have helped blunt safety net instability by improving quality, expanding access to resources, and emphasizing the transition to value-based care. Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) are gaining momentum within many of these networks as an evolutionary step forward, offering opportunities for operational improvement as well as impacting community health status.

Join us on Tuesday, June 10 at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT as we gather senior leadership from some of the nation’s leading rural hospital networks to dive into what it takes to make value-based care networks successful. We’ll explore lessons learned and discuss how the reality of the rural health safety net is fueling the need for greater collaboration across the continuum of care.

Special Guest: Brock Slabach

Brock joined NRHA in 2008. He is NRHAs Chief Operating Officer.

He was a rural hospital administrator for more than 21 years and has served on the board of the National Rural Health Association and the regional policy board of the American Hospital Association.

Brock specializes in rural health system development that encompasses population health and the varied payment programs moving rural providers into value-based purchasing models. He serves on the Board of Commissioners of Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Organization (RHRCO).

Brock is the 2015 recipient of the Calico Quality Leadership Award of the National Rural Health Resource Center, received the American Society of Healthcare Pharmacists (ASHP) Board of Directors’ Award of Honor for 2018 and the NRHA’s President’s Award in 2023.

Brock earned a master of public health degree in health administration from the University of Oklahoma and is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

The latest Chartis data indicates that ~60% of rural hospitals are now affiliated with a health system. As the rural health safety net grows more unstable, hospitals are increasingly tackling the question of whether to be affiliated or not in earnest.

The trend toward affiliation isn’t surprising but it also isn’t for everyone. System affiliation can often mean access to much-needed resources, advanced technologies, and support for services. Yet for many rural hospitals, independence remains meaningful and the ability to localize the decision-making process continues to present an appealing path forward.

The latest research from Chartis indicates that America’s rural communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable as health disparities widen and access to care options dwindle. For more than a decade now, innovative models such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have helped to reduce fragmentation and create more care continuity for rural populations. Across the country, we’ve seen varied approaches for achieving and driving success, many of which are built on innovation and adaptation.

Join us for a special discussion focused on the key components of a rural innovation strategy and how to best leverage innovation featuring insight from CEOs at some of the nation’s top performing rural hospitals and networks.

Every US health system is facing unprecedented scrutiny from media, lawmakers, special interest groups and others. Hospitals need to be proactive in telling their story and building a coalition of advocates now to head off any unwarranted attack.

Join communications and advocacy experts from Jarrard Inc. for a conversation about the evolving healthcare landscape, building a narrative that positions you for success in this new landscape and identifying and engaging with a group of supporters who can advocate on your behalf.

New Chartis data indicates that enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans across rural communities has jumped 49% since 2019. Across rural America, Medicare Advantage plans now account for 38% of all Medicare-eligible patients. In some states, that percentage already exceeds 50%.

For rural hospitals, Medicare Advantage plans present unique challenges. Reimbursement rates are lower, denials are frequent and administering multiple plans stretches already thin resources. There are also few reporting requirements, which make it difficult to understand how they are performing and at what cost.

Watch this previous session in the Leading Rural Health Education series to learn how Medicare Advantage is reshaping hospital operations.