New Resources Identified in the Past 30 Days:

Controlled, Before-and-After Analysis and Pre–Post Surveys to Assess the Effects of a Community-Wide Sanitation System on Environmental Contamination, Infection Risk and Well-Being in Alabama's Black Belt: Study Protocol
A study protocol focused on implementation of a community-wide sanitation system in a rural area of Alabama. Utilizes controlled, before-and-after (CBA) data collection of pathogens and bacteria to analyze impact of sanitation systems on public health and well-being.
Author(s): Olivia A. Harmon, Megan E. J. Lott, David A. Holcomb, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(4), e108477
Date: 04/2026
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Expanding Zero Suicide: Qualitative Assessment of Community Mental Health Center Partnerships Supporting Rural Suicide Prevention
Examines the impact of the Zero Suicide framework and its ability to promote community mental health supports. Utilizes semi-structured interview feedback from Zero Suicide organizations served by a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) and discusses suicide prevention partnerships, information sharing, and staffing in rural areas.
Author(s): Ryan Marawala, Thomas Delaney
Citation: Community Mental Health Journal
Date: 04/2026
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Experiences of People with Disabilities in Rural America 2026 Infographic ADSC
Infographic on disability in rural America using American Community Survey data. Includes data on prevalence, employment, and poverty.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Research on Disability
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Geographic Variation in Average Salary Expense Among Rural Hospitals Nationwide, 2018–2022
Examines the change in hospital wages between 2018–2019 and 2021–2022, with a focus on the geographic variation in these changes among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals. Describes the variation in average salary expense per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee for rural hospitals from 2018 to 2022. Appendices include the median salary expense per FTE of rural hospitals each year by U.S. Census region, state Medicaid expansion status, Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA), Frontier and Remote Area (FAR) code, and by state.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Health Care Access and Quality for New York Veterans Provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Community Care
Features information on healthcare access and quality for New York veterans: Volume I focusing on veteran's healthcare policy changes and Volume II focusing on methods and supporting data. Discusses the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Program, geographic access to care for veterans, quality of care, and policy implications for VA Community Care.
Additional links: Volume II
Author(s): Claire E. O'Hanlon, Catria Gadwah-Meaden, Nsheng Dong, et al.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Medicare Wage Index Trends in Rural and Urban Hospitals Before and During the Low Wage Index Policy, 2018–2022
Provides an overview of the wage index and its role in hospital reimbursement and financial stability. Describes the pattern of wage index values for rural and urban prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals from 2018 to 2022. Explores the impact of the low-wage index policy (LWIP), which was implemented in fiscal year 2020, and the potential implications of its discontinuation in fiscal year 2025.
Author(s): Saleema Karim, George Pink, Kristie Thompson, Mark Holmes
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Navigating Tribal Transportation Funding
A fact sheet that describes tribal transportation funding opportunities as well as strategies to coordinate transportation services and programs in tribal areas.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Community Living, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
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Nursing Facilities in Rural Areas
Offers a group of data tables comparing rural and urban data at the state level for a variety of distribution, payer, ownership, quality, and nurse workforce staffing indicators in certified nursing facilities. Data available annually between 2015 and 2025.
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Payer Mix Shifts and Profitability at Critical Access Hospitals, 2011 to 2023
Analyzes 1,384 Critical Access Hospitals between 2011 and 2023 to determine the impact of changes in commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, and uncompensated care on their finances. Discusses reimbursement policy based on study findings.
Author(s): Yusheng Jia, Yue Li, Xueya Cai, Samuel J. Enumah
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 04/2026
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Average Salary Expense in Rural and Urban Hospitals Before and During the Low Wage Index Policy, 2018–2022
Examines and compares wage patterns of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals, and Urban PPS hospitals as related to the Low Wage Index Policy (LWIP) in effect from 2020-2022. Utilizes hospital data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Healthcare Cost Report Information System (HCRIS) between 2018 and 2022 and analyzes median salaries. Discusses the impact of Medicare payments and LWIP on hospitals.
Author(s): Saleema Karim, George Pink, Kristie Thompson, Mark Holmes
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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