August 10, 2026: Primary Elections, Payer Contract Transparency, & Caring for Rural Unhoused Populations

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode:  Alan Condon, “The payer policy problem draining hospital revenue: 6 things to know,” July 31, 2026, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/the-payer-policy-problem-draining-hospital-revenue-6-things-to-know/?origin=BHRE&utm_source=BHRE&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&oly_enc_id=8018I7467278H7C, Becker’s Hospital Review. Healthcare Financial Management Association, “The State of Payer Negotiations: Data, Visibility and Financial Performance,” July 28, 2026, https://www.hfma.org/payment-reimbursement-and-managed-care/the-state-of-payer-negotiations-data-visibility-and-financial-performance/?utm_campaign=Content_HFMA_Daily_FY25&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_sqU-ITZrRHYjTCRg3wX_BPCV_UEg8eQO0vlN23NIY3lBeIVfkOCMVL5EidB4mJqt8Z9fdfBLrCzlCnlctJJCR3svg4OhK4YSNvRAX5xhxnppMlJc&_hsmi=430796013&utm_content=430796013&utm_source=hs_email.  Dede Biles, “Healthcare for the Homeless in Aiken provides assistance and education about local resources,” August 4, 2026, https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/local/aiken-rural-health-services-homeless/article_3f3f5ac4-1685-46d3-905a-65b6a613e64d.html, Aiken Standard. Rural Health Today is a production of Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Michigan and a member of the Health Podcast Network. Our host is JJ Hodshire, our producer is Kyrsten Newlon, and our audio engineer is Kenji Ulmer. Special thanks to our special guests for sharing their expertise on the show, and also to the Hillsdale Hospital marketing team. If you want to submit a question for us to answer on the podcast or learn more about Rural Health Today, visit ruralhealthtoday.com.