June 22, 2026: CMS Proposal to Reduce SDPs, a Local Hospital Closure & an Arkansas Rural Health Hub

Rural Health News is a weekly segment of Rural Health Today, a podcast by Hillsdale Hospital. News sources for this episode: Forvis Mazars, “CMS Rule Signals Shift in Medicaid State-Directed Payments,” June 11, 2026, https://www.forvismazars.us/forsights/2026/06/cms-rule-signals-shift-in-medicaid-state-directed-payments. Medicaid.gov, “State Directed Payments,” https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/managed-care/guidance/state-directed-payments. Sturgis Hospital, “Sturgis Hospital Closure,” https://sturgishospital.com/sturgis-hospital-closure/. The Association of American Medical Colleges, “AAMC Statement on Proposed Rule on Medicaid Supplemental Payments,” May 21, 2026, https://www.aamc.org/news/press-releases/aamc-statement-proposed-rule-medicaid-supplemental-payments. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, “Proposed Rule: Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-For-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments (CMS-2449-P),” May 20, 2026, https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/document/proposed-rule-medicaid-managed-care-state-directed-payments-and-medicaid-fee-service. Michigan Health & Hospital Association, “CMS Releases FY 2027 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule,” April 17, 2026, https://www.mha.org/newsroom/cms-releases-fy-2027-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-system-proposed-rule/. Federal Register, “Medicaid Program; Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-for-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments,” May 22, 2026, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/22/2026-10292/medicaid-program-medicaid-managed-care-state-directed-payments-and-medicaid-fee-for-service-targeted. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “Medicaid Managed Care State Directed Payments and Medicaid Fee-For-Service Targeted Medicaid Practitioner Payments Proposed Rule (CMS-2449-P,” May 20, 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicaid-managed-care-state-directed-payments-medicaid-fee-service-targeted-medicaid-practitioner. Andrea Hooten, “New Rural Health Hub Connects Arkansans to Healthcare Resources, Opportunities,” June 15, 2026, https://news.uams.edu/2026/06/15/new-rural-health-hub-connects-arkansans-to-healthcare-resources-opportunities/, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences News. 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.