Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Benefit enrollment and application
Assisting Rural Consumers
Offers information and guidance for Navigators and certified application counselors helping rural healthcare consumers. Covers rural-relevant considerations and policy updates regarding Federally-facilitated and State-based Marketplaces, Medicaid/CHIP, and Medicare. Outlines tips for assisters to address barriers to care and conducting outreach in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Offers information and guidance for Navigators and certified application counselors helping rural healthcare consumers. Covers rural-relevant considerations and policy updates regarding Federally-facilitated and State-based Marketplaces, Medicaid/CHIP, and Medicare. Outlines tips for assisters to address barriers to care and conducting outreach in rural areas.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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March 2025 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) March 2025 meeting. Covers research and proposals related to reforming physician fee schedule updates and improving the accuracy of relative payment rates, reducing beneficiary cost-sharing for outpatient services at Critical Access Hospitals, Medicare insurance agents, Medigap, payment for ground ambulance services, home healthcare use among Medicare Advantage enrollees, and institutional special needs plans. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Additional links: Mandated Report: Payment for Ground Ambulance Services, Reducing Beneficiary Cost-Sharing for Outpatient Services at Critical Access Hospitals
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) March 2025 meeting. Covers research and proposals related to reforming physician fee schedule updates and improving the accuracy of relative payment rates, reducing beneficiary cost-sharing for outpatient services at Critical Access Hospitals, Medicare insurance agents, Medigap, payment for ground ambulance services, home healthcare use among Medicare Advantage enrollees, and institutional special needs plans. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Additional links: Mandated Report: Payment for Ground Ambulance Services, Reducing Beneficiary Cost-Sharing for Outpatient Services at Critical Access Hospitals
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Healthcare Insurance Coverage, Affordability of Coverage, and Access to Care, 2021-2024
Provides an overview of health insurance access between 2021 and 2024. Provides data on the national uninsured rate, enrollment in new insurance plans after a consumer's Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) disenrollment, and indicators on healthcare access and affordability for both children and adults. Includes select data on rural consumers, such as projected savings and uninsurance rates.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of health insurance access between 2021 and 2024. Provides data on the national uninsured rate, enrollment in new insurance plans after a consumer's Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) disenrollment, and indicators on healthcare access and affordability for both children and adults. Includes select data on rural consumers, such as projected savings and uninsurance rates.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Texas Medicaid and CHIP Reference Guide: Fifteenth Edition
Reference guide for aspects of Texas's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs, including caseload and costs, eligibility and enrollment, available services, program administration, and quality of care. Features information on rural-specific policies for reimbursement, time and distance standards, the Rural Access to Primary Care and Preventive Services Program, rural hospitals, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Reference guide for aspects of Texas's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs, including caseload and costs, eligibility and enrollment, available services, program administration, and quality of care. Features information on rural-specific policies for reimbursement, time and distance standards, the Rural Access to Primary Care and Preventive Services Program, rural hospitals, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: Texas Health and Human Services
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Results of USDA's Food and Nutrition Service-Administered School Food Authority Survey III on Supply Chain Disruption and Student Participation
Analyzes supply chain disruptions impacting school nutrition assistance programs during the 2023-2024 school year. Utilizes survey data from School Food Authorities (SFAs) to examine school meal applications and eligibility, reported supply chain challenges, impacts on school food operations, food and labor costs, student participation, strategies to address supply chain issues, and more. Includes data breakdowns according to SFA size and urban, suburban, or rural location.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Analyzes supply chain disruptions impacting school nutrition assistance programs during the 2023-2024 school year. Utilizes survey data from School Food Authorities (SFAs) to examine school meal applications and eligibility, reported supply chain challenges, impacts on school food operations, food and labor costs, student participation, strategies to address supply chain issues, and more. Includes data breakdowns according to SFA size and urban, suburban, or rural location.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Comparing Models That Integrate Obstetric Care and WIC on Improved Program Enrollment During Pregnancy: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
A study protocol that outlines the potential impact of linking women who are receiving obstetric care directly with the Women, Infants, and Children's (WIC) Program. Discusses plans to recruit 240 low-income, rural, pregnant patients from Pennsylvania and analyze WIC usage, social determinants of health, health status, and more.
Author(s): Kirstie M. Herb Neff, Kelsey Brandt, Alex R. Chang, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 3393
Date: 12/2024
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A study protocol that outlines the potential impact of linking women who are receiving obstetric care directly with the Women, Infants, and Children's (WIC) Program. Discusses plans to recruit 240 low-income, rural, pregnant patients from Pennsylvania and analyze WIC usage, social determinants of health, health status, and more.
Author(s): Kirstie M. Herb Neff, Kelsey Brandt, Alex R. Chang, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 3393
Date: 12/2024
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USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T): Rapid Cycle Evaluation of Seven Interventions (Summary)
Examines interventions to improve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program operations and delivery. Analyzes text messaging strategies to increase program enrollment, with examples from rural areas.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Examines interventions to improve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program operations and delivery. Analyzes text messaging strategies to increase program enrollment, with examples from rural areas.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Trends in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates: Fiscal Year 2020 and Fiscal Year 2022
Presents information on eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) alongside actual participation in SNAP. Presents information on households, children, elderly, refugees, low-income families, persons with disabilities, and other groups enrolled in the program. Tables A.3 and B.3 show rural versus urban participation.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Alma Vigil, Nima Rahimi
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Presents information on eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) alongside actual participation in SNAP. Presents information on households, children, elderly, refugees, low-income families, persons with disabilities, and other groups enrolled in the program. Tables A.3 and B.3 show rural versus urban participation.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Alma Vigil, Nima Rahimi
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Beneficiary and Clinician Perspectives on Medicare and Other Issues: Findings from 2024 Focus Groups in Select States
Summarizes findings from 24 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and June 2024, including three virtual focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, organization of care, and prescription drugs.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Summarizes findings from 24 focus groups of Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible) beneficiaries, and clinicians conducted between May and June 2024, including three virtual focus groups of rural Medicare beneficiaries. Highlights themes that emerged across the focus groups covering Medicare coverage options, access to care, telehealth, organization of care, and prescription drugs.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Minnesota Chartbook Section 5: Public Health Insurance Programs
Provides information on public insurance programs in Minnesota, including Medicare, Medical Assistance (Medicaid), and MinnesotaCare. Includes data on enrollment, spending, distribution of enrollees, and enrollee location by region and county.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Provides information on public insurance programs in Minnesota, including Medicare, Medical Assistance (Medicaid), and MinnesotaCare. Includes data on enrollment, spending, distribution of enrollees, and enrollee location by region and county.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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