Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health insurance
Barriers to Health Care among Rural Adults by Disability Status
Examines various barriers to healthcare access for rural adults with a disability. Utilizes 2022 National Health Interview Survey data to analyze rural adults with disabilities compared to rural adults without disabilities, with further breakdowns by demographic and socioeconomic variables as well as delayed healthcare due to cost, inability to afford prescription medication, clinic hours or availability, transportation, travel time, or insurance status.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Mariana Tuttle, Ingrid Jacobson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70086
Date: 10/2025
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Examines various barriers to healthcare access for rural adults with a disability. Utilizes 2022 National Health Interview Survey data to analyze rural adults with disabilities compared to rural adults without disabilities, with further breakdowns by demographic and socioeconomic variables as well as delayed healthcare due to cost, inability to afford prescription medication, clinic hours or availability, transportation, travel time, or insurance status.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Mariana Tuttle, Ingrid Jacobson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70086
Date: 10/2025
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Healthcare Access and Health Related Quality of Life of New Mexican Adults: Results from the 2023 New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Reports on healthcare access and health-related quality of life in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data. Covers topics including self-reported quality of mental and physical health, health insurance coverage, routine healthcare check-ups, flu vaccination among older adults, and likelihood of having a personal healthcare provider. Provides data breakdowns for each topic by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Reports on healthcare access and health-related quality of life in New Mexico using New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (NM BRFSS) data. Covers topics including self-reported quality of mental and physical health, health insurance coverage, routine healthcare check-ups, flu vaccination among older adults, and likelihood of having a personal healthcare provider. Provides data breakdowns for each topic by level of rurality and other demographics.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): 2024 Performance Year/2026 MIPS Payment Year - Payment Adjustment User Guide
Provides information on Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) payment adjustments for calendar year 2026. Describes how 2024 MIPS scores relate to 2026 payment adjustments and how payment adjustments are applied. Offers answers to frequently asked questions.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides information on Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) payment adjustments for calendar year 2026. Describes how 2024 MIPS scores relate to 2026 payment adjustments and how payment adjustments are applied. Offers answers to frequently asked questions.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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The New Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Program: Will It Improve Access to Care for Rural Americans?
Discusses rural hospital closures and the potential impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Provides U.S. maps showing Medicaid Expansion states and rural hospital closures as well as data specific to REHs in Texas.
Author(s): Suzanne B. Daly, Wei You, Elizabeth I. Merwin
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4)
Date: 10/2025
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Discusses rural hospital closures and the potential impact of the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Provides U.S. maps showing Medicaid Expansion states and rural hospital closures as well as data specific to REHs in Texas.
Author(s): Suzanne B. Daly, Wei You, Elizabeth I. Merwin
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4)
Date: 10/2025
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Rural-Urban Differences in Dietary Intake Across Pregnancy Trimesters: A Multisite Prospective Cohort Study
Examines the relationship among dietary intake during pregnancy, socioeconomic status (SES), and rural versus urban location. Analyzes screening data from 495 pregnant women with rural versus urban breakdowns according to study site; demographics; SES variables of income, education, and insurance status; and fiber intake. Discusses the impact of rurality and SES on nutrition during pregnancy.
Author(s): Alex H. Crisp, Bethany Barone Gibbs, Jacob B. Gallagher, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70085
Date: 10/2025
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Examines the relationship among dietary intake during pregnancy, socioeconomic status (SES), and rural versus urban location. Analyzes screening data from 495 pregnant women with rural versus urban breakdowns according to study site; demographics; SES variables of income, education, and insurance status; and fiber intake. Discusses the impact of rurality and SES on nutrition during pregnancy.
Author(s): Alex H. Crisp, Bethany Barone Gibbs, Jacob B. Gallagher, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70085
Date: 10/2025
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Medicare Waiver Expiration & Telehealth FAQs
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the expiration of Medicare telehealth waivers on September 30, 2025. Covers in-person visit requirements, billing procedures, and the applicability of policies across different care settings, including Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Additional links: Chart: Telehealth Medicare Post-September 30, 2025
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the expiration of Medicare telehealth waivers on September 30, 2025. Covers in-person visit requirements, billing procedures, and the applicability of policies across different care settings, including Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Additional links: Chart: Telehealth Medicare Post-September 30, 2025
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Investing in Primary Care: The Nurse Practitioner Will See You Now
Describes opportunities to support advancement of preparation and growth for nurse practitioners (NPs) to meet the population's primary care needs. Explores the importance of NPs in rural and underserved communities, and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Jessica McCann, Margaret Flinter
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Describes opportunities to support advancement of preparation and growth for nurse practitioners (NPs) to meet the population's primary care needs. Explores the importance of NPs in rural and underserved communities, and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Author(s): Jessica McCann, Margaret Flinter
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care Plans Have Limited Behavioral Health Provider Networks and Inactive Providers
Examines the availability of behavioral health providers in selected Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicaid managed care networks in 2023. Analyzes provider network lists and MA and Medicaid encounter data for four MA and two Medicaid managed care plans from 10 selected urban and rural counties across five states. Describes the proportion of the behavioral health workforce in each county included in the plans' networks. Discusses the extent to which managed care plans had inactive providers in their network and why these providers did not deliver services to enrollees. Includes data on the percentage of inactive providers in rural and urban counties. Offers recommendations to monitor and improve the accuracy of provider networks.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines the availability of behavioral health providers in selected Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicaid managed care networks in 2023. Analyzes provider network lists and MA and Medicaid encounter data for four MA and two Medicaid managed care plans from 10 selected urban and rural counties across five states. Describes the proportion of the behavioral health workforce in each county included in the plans' networks. Discusses the extent to which managed care plans had inactive providers in their network and why these providers did not deliver services to enrollees. Includes data on the percentage of inactive providers in rural and urban counties. Offers recommendations to monitor and improve the accuracy of provider networks.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Transforming Rural Health Care Through Medicaid Innovation: Tip Sheet Series
Informational tip sheets discussing the use of Medicaid innovations to assist states in creating their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program applications. Covers issues such as behavioral health, school-based services, integrated care access, community health workers, community paramedicine, specialty care, and healthcare technology. Provides examples, strategies, Medicaid policy information, and resources.
Additional links: Improving Access to Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Individuals in Rural Areas, Leveraging Community Health Workers to Address Rural Health Care Needs, Leveraging Community Paramedicine to Address Rural Health Needs, Leveraging Peers and Lay Counselors to Address Behavioral Health Care Workforce Shortages in Rural Areas, Using Project ECHO to Deliver Specialty Care in Rural Areas, Using School-Based Services to Improve Access to Preventive Health Care for Children in Rural Areas, Using Tech-Enabled Solutions to Improve Care Quality and Access in Rural Areas
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nancy Archibald, Karla Silverman, Lauren Scannelli Jacobs
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Informational tip sheets discussing the use of Medicaid innovations to assist states in creating their Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program applications. Covers issues such as behavioral health, school-based services, integrated care access, community health workers, community paramedicine, specialty care, and healthcare technology. Provides examples, strategies, Medicaid policy information, and resources.
Additional links: Improving Access to Integrated Care for Dually Eligible Individuals in Rural Areas, Leveraging Community Health Workers to Address Rural Health Care Needs, Leveraging Community Paramedicine to Address Rural Health Needs, Leveraging Peers and Lay Counselors to Address Behavioral Health Care Workforce Shortages in Rural Areas, Using Project ECHO to Deliver Specialty Care in Rural Areas, Using School-Based Services to Improve Access to Preventive Health Care for Children in Rural Areas, Using Tech-Enabled Solutions to Improve Care Quality and Access in Rural Areas
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nancy Archibald, Karla Silverman, Lauren Scannelli Jacobs
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Model Frequently Asked Questions
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation. Covers general information, Conditions of Participation, and REH payment policies.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, Rural Health Redesign Center
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