Lots of news around rural providers and solutions for providing care to folks outside of metro areas -- which happens to be 72 percent of the land in the U.S. Here are a few things of interest that we are reading right now: 

•  "CMS finalizes rural wage index boost" Starting Oct. 1, rural hospitals across the U.S. will get the wage index boost they have long begged for, the CMS' said in its final rule on inpatient prospective hospital payments for fiscal 2020. Article 

• "FCC revamps telecomm program for rural healthcare providers" The Federal Communications Commission has introduced reforms to the Rural Health Care Program intended to make it easier for hospitals and other medical providers in remote areas to receive access to broadband and telecommunications services. Article

• "Presidential candidate sees telemedicine as key to rural health". Democrat Michael Bennet unveiled his telehealth-focused rural plan, which increases resources for IT investments; he also recently introduced a separate Senate bill to boost broadband in underserved areas. Article