Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce
State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2026
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of October 2026. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, professional requirements, and licensing.
Additional links: Infographic, Interstate Licensure Compacts – State Compact Participation Chart, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of October 2026. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, professional requirements, and licensing.
Additional links: Infographic, Interstate Licensure Compacts – State Compact Participation Chart, State Summary Chart
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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November 2026 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) November 2026 meeting. Covers changes to the Medicare physician fee schedule that affect primary care, charge-based coinsurance at Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), an analysis of aberrant patterns of care among hospice and home health providers, findings from MedPAC focus groups, and Medicare eligibility notification and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) operations and funding.
Additional links: Charge-based Coinsurance at Rural Health Clinics, Findings from MedPAC's Focus Groups with Medicare Beneficiaries and Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Pharmacists
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) November 2026 meeting. Covers changes to the Medicare physician fee schedule that affect primary care, charge-based coinsurance at Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), an analysis of aberrant patterns of care among hospice and home health providers, findings from MedPAC focus groups, and Medicare eligibility notification and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) operations and funding.
Additional links: Charge-based Coinsurance at Rural Health Clinics, Findings from MedPAC's Focus Groups with Medicare Beneficiaries and Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Pharmacists
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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The State of Mental Health in America 2026
Report presents data on mental health and substance use for youth and adults across all 50 states. Highlights barriers to mental health wellness, such as lack of mental healthcare coverage, mental health workforce shortages, and cost of treatment, among other factors. Discusses some challenges specific to rural communities.
Author(s): Maddy Reinert
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health America
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Report presents data on mental health and substance use for youth and adults across all 50 states. Highlights barriers to mental health wellness, such as lack of mental healthcare coverage, mental health workforce shortages, and cost of treatment, among other factors. Discusses some challenges specific to rural communities.
Author(s): Maddy Reinert
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health America
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Rural Health Transformation Program State Programmatic Snapshots: 2026 Release - Year 2 Funding
Provides an overview of each state's Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives and focus areas. Describes policy action commitments outlined in states' project narratives and the funding states received related to these commitments for budget period 2. Includes overall funding amounts received by states for budget periods 1 and 2.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of each state's Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives and focus areas. Describes policy action commitments outlined in states' project narratives and the funding states received related to these commitments for budget period 2. Includes overall funding amounts received by states for budget periods 1 and 2.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Washington's RHT Funds Are 100% Obligated
Provides an overview of the recipients of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding for budget period 1 in Washington. Lists organizations by RHTP initiative.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Health Care Authority
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Provides an overview of the recipients of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding for budget period 1 in Washington. Lists organizations by RHTP initiative.
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: Washington State Health Care Authority
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Intentional Rural GME: A Study of Competency Needs for Rural Family Medicine
Results of a study identifying 7 competency domains suggested to be important for successful rural practice and strategies to support their development during residency. Uses data from focus groups with 11 family medicine program directors, faculty, and residents and interviews with 11 early-career rural family physicians in 2023.
Author(s): David Schmitz, Annie Koempel, Andrew Bazemore
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(10), 767-775
Date: 11/2026
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Results of a study identifying 7 competency domains suggested to be important for successful rural practice and strategies to support their development during residency. Uses data from focus groups with 11 family medicine program directors, faculty, and residents and interviews with 11 early-career rural family physicians in 2023.
Author(s): David Schmitz, Annie Koempel, Andrew Bazemore
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(10), 767-775
Date: 11/2026
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Distribution and Accessibility of Board-Certified Pharmacists: A Cross-Sectional Geospatial Study
Examines the composition, accessibility, and geographic distribution of board-certified pharmacists (BCPs) in the United States. Uses 2026 Board of Pharmacy Specialties data to analyze distribution of BCPs by specialty, state, and metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location. Includes county-level U.S. maps showing distribution of BCPs as well as BCP density per 100,000 residents.
Author(s): Krystal K. Haase, Eric J. MacLaughlin, Amanda N. Charlton
Citation: Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 9(11), e70318
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the composition, accessibility, and geographic distribution of board-certified pharmacists (BCPs) in the United States. Uses 2026 Board of Pharmacy Specialties data to analyze distribution of BCPs by specialty, state, and metropolitan, micropolitan, or small town/rural location. Includes county-level U.S. maps showing distribution of BCPs as well as BCP density per 100,000 residents.
Author(s): Krystal K. Haase, Eric J. MacLaughlin, Amanda N. Charlton
Citation: Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 9(11), e70318
Date: 11/2026
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Solving Georgia's Healthcare Staffing Crisis Locally
A recorded podcast featuring Jim Matney, president and CEO of Colquitt Regional Health System in rural Georgia. Discusses workforce development and rural healthcare pathways, focusing on physician residency programs, a high school practical nursing program, and collaboration with local colleges.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Elisa Arespacochaga, Jim Matney
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A recorded podcast featuring Jim Matney, president and CEO of Colquitt Regional Health System in rural Georgia. Discusses workforce development and rural healthcare pathways, focusing on physician residency programs, a high school practical nursing program, and collaboration with local colleges.
Author(s): Tom Haederle, Elisa Arespacochaga, Jim Matney
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Association Between Rural Attitudes in Family Medicine Residency and Rural Employment
Explores rural family medicine residents' attitudes at residency completion and how they are associated with subsequent rural employment. Based on data from a study conducted from 2021-2025 survey of residents in two Mountain Area Health Education Center programs.
Author(s): Bryan Hodge, Julianne M. Power, Gwyneth DeHart, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(10), 799-803
Date: 11/2026
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Explores rural family medicine residents' attitudes at residency completion and how they are associated with subsequent rural employment. Based on data from a study conducted from 2021-2025 survey of residents in two Mountain Area Health Education Center programs.
Author(s): Bryan Hodge, Julianne M. Power, Gwyneth DeHart, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(10), 799-803
Date: 11/2026
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Policy Pathways to Support NP-Owned Primary Care Practices in Rural Areas
Examines various policy pathways to develop the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce and provide accessible primary care in rural areas. Uses 2024 Medicare claims data to show the concentration of NP-only practices by state and draws on focus groups with NP owners to highlight strengths and challenges of rural NP-owned practices. Discusses state-level policy actions that reduce barriers facing NP-owned primary care practices.
Author(s): Monica O'Reilly-Jacob, Jennifer Perloff
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Examines various policy pathways to develop the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce and provide accessible primary care in rural areas. Uses 2024 Medicare claims data to show the concentration of NP-only practices by state and draws on focus groups with NP owners to highlight strengths and challenges of rural NP-owned practices. Discusses state-level policy actions that reduce barriers facing NP-owned primary care practices.
Author(s): Monica O'Reilly-Jacob, Jennifer Perloff
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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