Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health workforce
State-level Interstate Medical Licensure Policies for Telehealth From 2018-2022: Assessing Changes Before and After the Onset of the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency
Describes the changes in state telehealth-related policies pertaining to physician medical licensure for the provision of out-of-state telehealth services that occurred between 2018 and 2022. Discusses the Interstate Medical License Compact (IMLC) and states' participation over time.
Author(s): Priyanka Vakkalanka, Tracy Young, Knute D. Carter, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Describes the changes in state telehealth-related policies pertaining to physician medical licensure for the provision of out-of-state telehealth services that occurred between 2018 and 2022. Discusses the Interstate Medical License Compact (IMLC) and states' participation over time.
Author(s): Priyanka Vakkalanka, Tracy Young, Knute D. Carter, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, June 2025
Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Covers proposed reforms to the physician fee schedule updates and the accuracy of relative payment rates; supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage; home healthcare use among Medicare Advantage enrollees; Part D prescription drug plans for beneficiaries in fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage; Medicare beneficiaries in nursing homes; the inclusion of rural providers in current Medicare fee-for-service quality reporting programs; and recommendations related to reducing beneficiary cost sharing for outpatient services at Critical Access Hospitals. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Evaluates Medicare payment issues and provides recommendations to the U.S. Congress. Covers proposed reforms to the physician fee schedule updates and the accuracy of relative payment rates; supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage; home healthcare use among Medicare Advantage enrollees; Part D prescription drug plans for beneficiaries in fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage; Medicare beneficiaries in nursing homes; the inclusion of rural providers in current Medicare fee-for-service quality reporting programs; and recommendations related to reducing beneficiary cost sharing for outpatient services at Critical Access Hospitals. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Pharmacy Deserts in Rural Pennsylvania
Describes the landscape of pharmacies and pharmacists in Pennsylvania as of May 2025 and examines the projected impact of Rite Aid pharmacy closures. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies and pharmacists, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing areas within a 5-mile radius of all pharmacies and all non-Rite Aid pharmacies, with shadings showing urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Describes the landscape of pharmacies and pharmacists in Pennsylvania as of May 2025 and examines the projected impact of Rite Aid pharmacy closures. Features statistics on numbers of pharmacies and pharmacists, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and county-level maps showing areas within a 5-mile radius of all pharmacies and all non-Rite Aid pharmacies, with shadings showing urban and rural areas.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Recruitment and Retention of Rural Health Professionals in Minnesota
Discusses barriers and facilitators to rural health recruitment and retention. Analyzes interview and focus group data from rural health professionals in Minnesota related to themes such as scope of practice, patient and community connections, access to housing and child care, loan forgiveness programs, and more.
Author(s): Hannah MacDougall, Selam Woldegerima, Carrie Henning-Smith, Teri Fritsma, Andrew P.J. Olson
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(3), e14453
Date: 06/2025
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Discusses barriers and facilitators to rural health recruitment and retention. Analyzes interview and focus group data from rural health professionals in Minnesota related to themes such as scope of practice, patient and community connections, access to housing and child care, loan forgiveness programs, and more.
Author(s): Hannah MacDougall, Selam Woldegerima, Carrie Henning-Smith, Teri Fritsma, Andrew P.J. Olson
Citation: Health Services Research, 60(3), e14453
Date: 06/2025
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North Carolina Primary Care - Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)
County-level map of Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in North Carolina, with shadings showing ranges of HPSA scores.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Office of Rural Health
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County-level map of Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in North Carolina, with shadings showing ranges of HPSA scores.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Office of Rural Health
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North Carolina Health Professional Shortage Area: 2024 Profile
Fact sheet on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in North Carolina, covering primary, mental health, and dental HPSAs. Includes county-level maps showing population and geographic HPSA score ranges, and indicates counties that contain at least one HPSA facility.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Office of Rural Health
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Fact sheet on Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in North Carolina, covering primary, mental health, and dental HPSAs. Includes county-level maps showing population and geographic HPSA score ranges, and indicates counties that contain at least one HPSA facility.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Office of Rural Health
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Health Care Vacancies and Turnover in Kansas
Provides data and trends of the Kansas healthcare workforce, including information on vacancies and turnover, data on nursing supply, hospital financial trends, projected job openings, and primary care physician Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) by county.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Hospital Association
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Provides data and trends of the Kansas healthcare workforce, including information on vacancies and turnover, data on nursing supply, hospital financial trends, projected job openings, and primary care physician Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) by county.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Hospital Association
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2025 National Shortage Designation Update Informational Session (NSDU): Introducing New Data to Existing HPSAs
Webinar highlighting updates to the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSAs) and Maternity Care Target Area (MCTAs) source data, eligibility criteria, and other aspects of the the shortage designation process. Includes discussion of Rural Health Clinics, tribally-run clinics, and other aspects of rural healthcare. See video description for transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Matt Patterson
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Webinar highlighting updates to the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSAs) and Maternity Care Target Area (MCTAs) source data, eligibility criteria, and other aspects of the the shortage designation process. Includes discussion of Rural Health Clinics, tribally-run clinics, and other aspects of rural healthcare. See video description for transcript.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): Matt Patterson
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Inadequate EMS in Rural Wisconsin: Strategies to Improve Reliability
Examines emergency medical services (EMS) in rural Wisconsin and provides a comparative analysis of EMS across rural counties and in other states. Focuses on policy interventions, recruitment and retention, training barriers, EMS infrastructure, financial constraints, and more. Includes data from an EMS reliability survey and interview feedback from EMS professionals.
Additional links: Brief
Author(s): Francis Amedoadzi, Anthony Carreno, Sammy Rothman, Lisa Severini, Gatiosso Traore
Date: 05/2025
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Examines emergency medical services (EMS) in rural Wisconsin and provides a comparative analysis of EMS across rural counties and in other states. Focuses on policy interventions, recruitment and retention, training barriers, EMS infrastructure, financial constraints, and more. Includes data from an EMS reliability survey and interview feedback from EMS professionals.
Additional links: Brief
Author(s): Francis Amedoadzi, Anthony Carreno, Sammy Rothman, Lisa Severini, Gatiosso Traore
Date: 05/2025
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Montana AHEC - HRSA: Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Provides details of Montana's Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program. Discusses how regional AHECs have helped deliver high-quality healthcare to rural communities throughout the state.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Montana Area Health Education Center, Montana Office of Rural Health
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Provides details of Montana's Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program. Discusses how regional AHECs have helped deliver high-quality healthcare to rural communities throughout the state.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Montana Area Health Education Center, Montana Office of Rural Health
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