Waverly Health Center Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Rural Health Care
Waverly Health Center (WHC) has received two significant national recognitions, further reinforcing its commitment to delivering high quality, person-centered care to Northeast Iowa.
UnityPoint at Home Named Among the Nation’s Best in Home Health Care
UnityPoint at Home has been recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national leader in clinical excellence.
Lincoln Regional Center and Whitehall Successfully Complete Survey to Remain Accredited by the Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
In January 2026, the Lincoln Regional Center (LRC) and Whitehall earned Accreditation from The Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the next three years after an extensive review for compliance with national standards of healthcare quality and patient safety.
Iowa to Receive $209 Million From CMS to Strengthen Rural Health Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a historic $50 billion investment through the Rural Health Transformation Program, aimed at strengthening health care delivery in rural communities across all 50 states. As part of this initiative, Iowa will receive $209,040,064 in fiscal year 2026, ranking 18th in the total funding amount compared to other states for this year.
MercyOne Receives 5-Star CMS Rating for Fifth Consecutive Year
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center is proud to announce that it has received a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the 5th consecutive year.
Good Samaritan and St. Francis Recognized with 4-Star CMS Rating; St. Francis Skilled Care Achieves Top Distinction
On Aug. 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2025 Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. Both CHI Health Good Samaritan and CHI Health St. Francis well surpassed the national average and achieved four stars.
Medicaid Payment Increases Allow Hospitals to Re-Evaluate Capital Projects and Leverage Capital Markets
With the uncertainty of the pandemic behind us, many hospitals have shifted focus to capital projects postponed during the past few years. This, combined with the recent increase in Medicaid payments, has caused many hospitals to re-evaluate projects and consider how to best leverage the capital markets given their financial resources.
Sanford Health Hospitals Achieve Top Rankings in North Dakota and South Dakota
For the third consecutive year, Sanford USD Medical Center has been named the No. 1 hospital in South Dakota, and Sanford Medical Center Bismarck has been named the No. 1 hospital in North Dakota, according to Newsweek’s 2025 Best-in-State Hospital rankings.
Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Now Eligible for Special Enrollment and Medigap Coverage
The federal government has recently sent this information to the Department of Insurance with regard to Great Plains Hospital no longer taking Medicare Advantage plans.
Great Plains Health Grants Special Enrollment Period and Guaranteed Issue for Medicare Advantage Holders to Switch to Traditional Medicare
Great Plains Health patients who hold a Medicare Advantage Plan can now easily switch to Traditional Medicare, thanks to a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and guaranteed issue rights granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and confirmed by the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
Sanford Health Plan’s Align Earns Second Consecutive 4.5-Star Rating from CMS
Sanford Health Plan’s Medicare Advantage plan, Align powered by Sanford Health Plan, received a 4.5-star out of 5 stars rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the 2025 plan year for its plans available in North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa, placing them among the highest-rated in the region as well as the nation.
Boone County Health Center Recognized as “Top Hospital for Nurse Communication
Boone County Health Center is proud to announce that it has been recognized as a ‘top hospital for nurse communication’ in Nebraska by Becker's Hospital Review.
CMS Awards Sanford Fargo 5-Star Rating
Sanford Medical Center Fargo received a 5-star rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
CMS Awards Prairie Lakes 5-Star Quality Rating for the Second Consecutive Year
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) recently received an overall five out of five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) based on data evaluating outcomes, patient experience, and processes.
CMS Awards Good Samaritan 5 Stars; St. Francis Skilled Care Receives Top Recognition
On July 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings for 2024 and CHI Health Good Samaritan was awarded the highest achievement possible.
Prestigious 5-Star Rating Awarded to Spencer Hospital
Spencer Hospital has been honored with a 5-Star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Earns National Recognition As Top Rural And Community Hospital
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) has once again been recognized as one of the Top 20 Rural and Community Hospitals in the nation by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), for the seventh time since its inception eight years ago.
North Dakota Health And Human Services (HHS) Receives Federal Approval To Expand The State’s Medicaid Autism Spectrum Disorder Waiver To Serve More Children And Families
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has received final approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand access and add services to the state’s Medicaid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) waiver.
American Medical Association (AMA): New Prior Authorization Regulation To Benefit Patients And Physicians
“The American Medical Association (AMA) applauds Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Brooks-LaSure for heeding patients and the physician community in a final rule that makes important reforms in government-regulated health plans’ prior authorization programs for medical services
Brookings Health Earns Birthing-Friendly Designation From Medicare & Medicaid
Brookings Health System was recently bestowed an inaugural Birthing-Friendly designation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS). It is the first-ever hospital quality designation by the Department of Health & Human Services that specifically focuses on maternal health.