Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health insurance
Shifting Care Patterns: How Medicaid Policies Shape Family and Formal Care Use
Analyzes the impacts of Medicaid 1915(c) waivers on likelihood of receiving formal versus family care among adults aged 70 years and older with functional limitations, utilizing 2011-2019 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data. Highlights the significance of waiver payments for family caregiving for population subgroups including Medicaid beneficiaries, rural residents, and people living with dementia.
Author(s): Johanna Thunell, Elise M Parrish, Katherine E M Miller
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(9), e70715
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes the impacts of Medicaid 1915(c) waivers on likelihood of receiving formal versus family care among adults aged 70 years and older with functional limitations, utilizing 2011-2019 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data. Highlights the significance of waiver payments for family caregiving for population subgroups including Medicaid beneficiaries, rural residents, and people living with dementia.
Author(s): Johanna Thunell, Elise M Parrish, Katherine E M Miller
Citation: Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(9), e70715
Date: 09/2025
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Health Insurance Coverage in Rural and Urban Areas in the U.S., 2023
Describes the health insurance status of United States residents in 2023, with breakdowns by age groups and urban or rural location. Uses data from the 2024 American Community Survey.
Author(s): Sarah Eisenstein, Xiaoyu Huang, Timothy McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Describes the health insurance status of United States residents in 2023, with breakdowns by age groups and urban or rural location. Uses data from the 2024 American Community Survey.
Author(s): Sarah Eisenstein, Xiaoyu Huang, Timothy McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Best Practices for Implementing the Continuum of Crisis Services Under Medicaid and CHIP
Provides guidance for states to maintain a continuum of behavioral health crisis care for patients covered by Medicaid and CHIP. Details core elements of the continuum of crisis care and how Medicaid and CHIP function within that framework. Highlights considerations for rural communities.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Provides guidance for states to maintain a continuum of behavioral health crisis care for patients covered by Medicaid and CHIP. Details core elements of the continuum of crisis care and how Medicaid and CHIP function within that framework. Highlights considerations for rural communities.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Usual Source of Care Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years Post-ACA, 2010-2017
Examines self-reported usual source of care (USC) after Affordable Care Act implementation among various income groups and geographical areas. Utilizes 2010–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to analyze USC with breakdowns according to low, middle, and high income as well as rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Sara Shahbazi, John D. Goodson
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 23(5), 457-459
Date: 09/2025
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Examines self-reported usual source of care (USC) after Affordable Care Act implementation among various income groups and geographical areas. Utilizes 2010–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to analyze USC with breakdowns according to low, middle, and high income as well as rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Sara Shahbazi, John D. Goodson
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 23(5), 457-459
Date: 09/2025
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Evaluation of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration: CCA Extension Final Report (Covering 2016-2021)
Provides an overview of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD), focusing on the 26 hospitals that participated during the extension period authorized by the 21st Century Cures Act (2016-2021). Describes the characteristics of active RCHD participants before they joined the demonstration, the Medicare payments received under the program, and the impact of the RCHD on hospital financial measures.
Additional links: Appendices, At-A-Glance, Executive Summary
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: American Institutes for Research, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD), focusing on the 26 hospitals that participated during the extension period authorized by the 21st Century Cures Act (2016-2021). Describes the characteristics of active RCHD participants before they joined the demonstration, the Medicare payments received under the program, and the impact of the RCHD on hospital financial measures.
Additional links: Appendices, At-A-Glance, Executive Summary
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: American Institutes for Research, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Nursing Homes Failed to Report 43 Percent of Falls With Major Injury and Hospitalization among Their Medicare-Enrolled Residents
Explores the extent to which falls with major injury that resulted in hospitalization among Medicare-enrolled nursing home residents were accurately reported by nursing homes in Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments between July 2022 and June 2023. Compares the nursing home and patient characteristics associated with higher rates of unreported falls, including nursing home size, ownership structure, rurality, and overall star rating.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Explores the extent to which falls with major injury that resulted in hospitalization among Medicare-enrolled nursing home residents were accurately reported by nursing homes in Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments between July 2022 and June 2023. Compares the nursing home and patient characteristics associated with higher rates of unreported falls, including nursing home size, ownership structure, rurality, and overall star rating.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on CY 2026 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B for Payment Policies
Comment on a July 16, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of a proposal to allow Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to provide and bill for medical visits via telehealth and be paid at Physician Fee Schedule (PFS)-equivalent rates through December 2026.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comment on a July 16, 2025, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of a proposal to allow Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to provide and bill for medical visits via telehealth and be paid at Physician Fee Schedule (PFS)-equivalent rates through December 2026.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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September 2025 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2024 meeting. Covers Medicare payment operations and improving payment accuracy, a discussion with the Comptroller General of the United States regarding the Government Accountability Office's work related to improper payments in the Medicare program and opportunities to improve program sustainability, Medicare's overall financial situation, access to hospice and services under the Medicare hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer, and the relationship between changes in Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospital finances.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2024 meeting. Covers Medicare payment operations and improving payment accuracy, a discussion with the Comptroller General of the United States regarding the Government Accountability Office's work related to improper payments in the Medicare program and opportunities to improve program sustainability, Medicare's overall financial situation, access to hospice and services under the Medicare hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer, and the relationship between changes in Medicare Advantage enrollment and hospital finances.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comparing Utilization of Home Health Care Between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries by Rural-Urban Status
Policy report describing differences in utilization of home health care between beneficiaries enrolled in Traditional Medicare (TM) and Medicare Advantage (MA), and by rural or urban status. Examines differences in use of home health overall, provision of specific services, including physical and occupational therapy, and receipt of care from home health agencies by enrollment in TM and MA. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Policy report describing differences in utilization of home health care between beneficiaries enrolled in Traditional Medicare (TM) and Medicare Advantage (MA), and by rural or urban status. Examines differences in use of home health overall, provision of specific services, including physical and occupational therapy, and receipt of care from home health agencies by enrollment in TM and MA. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Expiring Health Provisions of the 119th Congress
Outlines the healthcare-related funding and governmental authorities that will expire during the 119th Congress, calendars year 2025-2026, if not extended through congressional action. Highlights similar provisions that expired during the 118th Congress (2023-2024). Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Outlines the healthcare-related funding and governmental authorities that will expire during the 119th Congress, calendars year 2025-2026, if not extended through congressional action. Highlights similar provisions that expired during the 118th Congress (2023-2024). Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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