Article: Analyzing the Road Ahead for Rural Healthcare: Recent & Upcoming Changes

How hospital leadership can drive financial stability and clinical quality with telepharmacy in 2026 

November 2025 

One third of rural hospitals are at risk of closure today.¹ Here’s how leaders are embracing strategies like telepharmacy to support sustainability and preserve access to care. 

Challenges Ahead for Rural Hospitals 

Key changes on the horizon could intensify margin strain in the year ahead. For example: 

• Medicaid eligibility changes could increase coverage loss and uncompensated care. 
• Projected Medicare sequestration increases may reduce reimbursement and further strain budgets. 
• Marketplace premium and coverage shifts could drive higher uninsured rates in rural communities. 
  
  

With significant financial uncertainties ahead, leaders must evaluate practical solutions that can stabilize operations without increasing financial burden. 

Where Leaders Are Turning Next 

Many are turning to telepharmacy support to boost coverage, ease staffing pressure, and improve care quality—core themes in our latest article on the year ahead. 

Download the full article to explore the risks, trends, and strategic considerations for rural hospitals in 2026. 

² Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform. Rural hospitals at risk of closing. August 2025. Accessed October 22, 2025. https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf