By Amy Oliver – A rural hospital leader told me recently that she had finally upgraded her whole hospital’s internet from 200 Mbps to 1 Gbps, and she was genuinely excited about it, because in rural health, those are the wins. I think about that every time someone talks about rolling out AI, telehealth, and cybersecurity in rural communities like it’s a simple switch to flip.

CMS has released important Quality Payment Program updates. 2026 MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) Registration is open until November 30 and a reminder: 2026 Quality Payment Program Exception Applications are available.

By Alexander Vitenas – A payment collected months before surgery and a payment collected after a procedure can leave the same balance due. But they tell different stories. One may be a prepayment tied to a planned treatment before a final charge existed. The other may be payment against an established balance. Looking only at the final number can hide how it came to be.

By Dan L. Dodson – This month’s Defense Desk, brought to you by Fortified Health Security, is a perfect blend for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Learn what six years of hosting a monthly roundtable for healthcare cybersecurity leaders has taught Dan about the value of building the kind of room where that conversation is possible, and how you can build one yourself.